sharp and square, covers lightly marked, a touch of foxing to outer leaves and edges, otherwise internally bright and clean. A very good set. ¶ Gilson E79, E82, E86, E88, E89 (first eds.). £2,500 [157109] 7 BABBAGE, Charles. On the Economy of Machinery and Manufactures. London: Charles Knight, 1832 a turning point in economic writing First edition of this elemental work in the eventual development of all computational devices, a very attractive copy bound for presentation by Greenock Mathematical School, inscribed by the master Robert Buchanan to one John N. Reid on 21 July 1835. On the Economy of Machinery and Manufactures was Babbage’s most successful lifetime publication, selling 3,000 copies. It is considered “a turning point in economic writing and firmly established Babbage as a leading authority of the industrial movement” ( ODNB ). Prompted by the demands for precision in the construction of his first calculating engine, Babbage had made a survey of factories and workshops both in England and Europe. The work demonstrates Babbage’s remarkable prescience. He proposed many scientific management techniques for the first time, including subdivided work, cost accounting, and merit pay systems. He advocated the decimalization of currency, foresaw the role of tidal power as an energy source, and predicted the exhaustion of coal reserves.
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8 BALDWIN, James. Giovanni’s Room. New York: The Dial Press, 1956 “perhaps home is not a place but simply an irrevocable condition” First edition of Baldwin’s second novel, a cornerstone of 20th-century gay fiction. Following the success of Go Tell It on the Mountain (1953), Baldwin won a Guggenheim grant to produce his next book, but his American publisher Knopf turned the manuscript down, fearing its homosexual themes would alienate his existing audience. The work was picked up by the Dial Press, with whom Baldwin would publish regularly. Giovanni’s Room , “relating the homosexual relationship of an American expat in Paris and featuring an all-white cast of characters, was a book Baldwin had to write, he said in an interview with Richard Goldstein, ‘to clarify something for myself’” ( ANB ). It is now widely considered one of the most influential novels of the era. Octavo. Original black cloth-backed green marbled paper boards, spine lettered in silver. With dust jacket. Minor rubbing to spine ends and corners, a very good copy indeed in the like jacket, price-clipped, spine faintly browned creasing and occasional nicks to edges, a couple of short closed tears to head of front panel, small chips to spine and flap fold ends, slight soiling to rear panel, remaining a lovely example. £2,250 [159884]
5 ALLEN, H. Warner. The Wines of France. London: T. Fisher Unwin Ltd, 1924 great wine is a work of art First edition of this entertaining study on French wines, attractively bound by Bayntun-Rivière with vine and grape motifs. Allen worked as a correspondent of the British press at the French front during the First World War before retiring to Berkshire to concentrate on writing books. A prolific novelist of detective fiction, Allen is best known for his numerous works on the history of wine. “In all of his publications on the subject, vinous information was nicely interwoven with literary and historical allusions. He travelled widely among the European vineyards; his accurate judgement of wine was recognized by all amateurs qualified to assess this, and he was greatly respected by the leaders of the wine trade” ( ODNB ). The present work is a comprehensive survey of wine-making methods in France, focusing on the history and characteristics of the main wine- districts, and analysing “the pleasurable sensations which great wines produce”(preface). Octavo (214 × 131 mm). Recently bound in red morocco by Bayntun-Rivière, spine with gilt raised bands, gilt lettering and grape tools in gilt to compartments, covers, board edges and turn-ins bordered with vine and grapes gilt roll, marbled endpapers, edges gilt. A fine copy. £1,250 [159830]
Octavo (163 × 101 mm). Contemporary prize binding of red straight-grain morocco, neatly rebacked with the original spine laid down, spine lettered in gilt, gilt in compartments, wide gilt border to covers enclosing blind arms of Greenock Mathematical School, marbled endpapers and edges. Engraved title leaf, engraved vignette, diagrams and tables to the text. Greenock Mathematical School presentation inscription to initial binder’s blank. Extremities neatly restored, light rubbing, slight foxing to initial and final few leaves else contents clean; a very good copy. ¶ Einaudi 223; Goldsmiths’ 27346; Kress C.3013; Mattioli 158; Norman 92 Anthony Hyman, Charles Babbage, Pioneer of the Computer , 1982. £3,750 [155681]
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6 AUSTEN, Jane. The Novels. London: Macmillan and Co., 1906–10 beautifully illustrated set A lovely set of the Macmillan editions, first published between 1895 and 1897, beautifully illustrated by Hugh Thomson. Thomson (1860–1920) was one of the most notable book illustrators of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and his illustrations for Jane Austen’s novels remain widely regarded as classics in the field. “The artist’s light touch and feeling for period manners provide a charming and accessible gloss to the author’s work” ( ODNB ). 5 volumes, octavo (189 × 124 mm). Contemporary half vellum bound for Henry Young & Sons of Liverpool, spines with raised bands, brown morocco title labels, elaborate gilt decoration in compartments, blue cloth sides ruled in gilt, marbled endpapers, top edges gilt, others untrimmed. With black and white illustrations by Hugh Thomson. Bindings
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DECEMBER 2022
All items are fully described and photographed at peterharrington.co.uk
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