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21 CLARKE, Arthur C. The Young Traveller in Space. London: Phoenix House Ltd, 1954 First edition, first impression, signed by the author on the title page, of his children’s book explaining the potential future of space exploration only three years before the launch of Sputnik 1 and the international space race that followed; an inspiring work of non-fiction from the author of 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). Clarke has been described as exemplifying the ideal career trajectory of a science fiction writer; “the only writer to approach Clarke as an embodiment of this ideal has been Isaac Asimov. Yet Clarke has the edge” (James, p. 431). His “reputation will remain attached to a vision of the future that assumed, years before it happened, that space travel was both possible and desirable” ( ODNB ). Octavo. Original illustrated boards designed by Edmund Louis Blandford, spine and front cover lettered in white and red. With dust jacket. Colour frontispiece, 31 monochrome plates, and 6 diagrams. Gift inscription on front pastedown. A little soiling to foot of rear cover, rubbing at edges, book block toned, plates bright. A very good copy in like jacket, price-clipped, somewhat rubbed and creased, slight foxing, couple of closed tears to upper edges (one at head of front panel measuring 4 cm) with tape repairs on verso. ¶ Edward James, “Arthur C. Clarke”, A Companion to Science Fiction , 2005. £750 [154750] 22 CROMPTON, Richmal. William and the Witch. London: George Newnes Limited, 1964 First edition, presentation copy, inscribed by the author to her sister on the front free endpaper, “Gwen with much love from Ray (Richmal Crompton)”, together with the ownership signature and address of another member of the family.
This is the 34th William volume and the last to include illustrations by Thomas Henry. The volume contains five short stories about William and “the outlaws”. The front free endpaper carries the signature and address of Margaret Disher who was the niece of the recipient. Octavo. Original green cloth, lettering on spine and front cover in gilt, vignette on spine in gilt, top edge green. With dust jacket. Illustrations
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The Gremlins was the author’s first book. It was written as a promotional device for a feature-length Disney animation that was never produced, partly because the studio could not establish firm copyright in the “gremlin” characters (Dahl claimed to have invented them, though they had been common currency in the RAF and had appeared in print at least once before) and partly because the British Air Ministry wanted final approval of the script and production. It was eventually agreed that royalties would be split between the RAF Benevolent Fund and Dahl. The book is described on the title and the front cover as being “From the Walt Disney Production”; the Disney studio would write to Dahl in August 1943 after publication cancelling any further preproduction work. Quarto. Original red cloth-backed illustrated boards, spine lettered in black, yellow and red pictorial endpapers. With dust jacket. Coloured illustrations throughout. Corners slightly worn, surface scratches to covers, minor foxing, occasional light staining to top edge of a few leaves; a near-fine and attractive copy. Extremities of dust jacket slightly worn with some tears and abrasions; a very good and bright example. £12,500 [156233]
by Thomas Henry and Henry Ford. Very minor dampstaining to front cover, light foxing to edges, small crease to corner of front free endpaper, else a bright and very good copy. Extremities of dust jacket frayed with creases and minor loss, else an unfaded, unclipped and good example of the dust jacket. ¶ Lofts & Adley 33. £975 [151288] 23 DAHL, Roald. The Gremlins. New York: Random House, 1943 Inscribed and with authorial corrections First edition, first printing, presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title, “To John Strafford, with best regards, Roald Dahl, 3/6/43”. The US copyright card catalogue provides a publication date of 10 May 1943 and this copy is therefore inscribed within a month of publication. The recipient is currently unidentified. He is not apparently mentioned in Dahl’s autobiographical Going Solo or the biographies by Jeremy Treglown and Donald Sturrock. This copy contains two authorial corrections. On page 9, line 9 and again on page 22, line 2 the name “Barry” has been changed to “Gus”.
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All items are fully described and photographed at peterharrington.co.uk
CHILDREN’S BOOKS & ORIGINAL ARTWORK
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