J O N K E R S R A R E B O O K S
P R E S E N T A T I O N C O P I E S & M A N U S C R I P T S
WELLS TO W.W. JACOBS WITH A DRAWING 83. WELLS, H. G. MANKIND IN THE MAKING Chapman & Hall, 1903.
Kipps was made into a film in 1941. “Wells reined in the flights of fancy for this semi-autobi - ographical tale of a lowly draper’s assistant who comes into a fortune. Carol Reed’s measured direction and a pitch-perfect performance from Michael Redgrave add up to a small but perfect- ly-formed classic of British comic realism.” (Xan Brooks, The Guardian)
First edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth titled in gilt. Top edge gilt. Author’s presentation copy, inscribed byWells on the half-title to fellowwriter, W.W. Jacobs, “ToW.W. Jacobs / This little bale of Serious Reading fromH.G.W.” An original drawing by Wells shows Jacobs standing below a large bale of cotton suspended by a crane, presumably Well’s humorous reference to the weight of reading being dropped upon Jacobs. Line draw- ings by the author. A very good copy, bright externally, with front hinge splitting with minor fraying to the fore edge of the front endpaper. Early sections have some heavy foxing. [26705] £4,500 W. W. Jacobs was a contemporary of H.G. Wells and recipient of many inscribed first editions of Wells’s books. His own writings were often droll tales of seamen getting into scrapes, although he is perhaps best known for the supernatural thriller, “The Monkey’s Paw”. This volume, described by the publisher as sociological essays, “presents a general theory of social development and of social and political conduct.” Essays include topics such as: “The Beginning of the Mind and Language,” “Schooling,” and “The Cultivation of the Imagination.” The serious nature of this work (alluded to in the author’s inscription) gave rise to a jokey note from Jacobs later the same year, describing Wells as “Instructor to the British Empire.” A magnificent association copy, made particularly appealing by the comic sketch. PROVENANCE: From the library of William Wymark Jacobs (1863-1943) 84. WELLS, H. G. KIPPS The Story of a Simple Soul Macmillan, 1905. First edition. Original green cloth titled in gilt with decorations in blind. Author’s pres- entation copy, inscribed on the front half title to fellow author. W.W. Jacobs, “To W.W. Jacobs from H.G. Wells” A very good copy with some wear to the edges of the spine and foxing to the preliminary pages. [26701] £3,500
WELLS TO W.W. JACOBS 85. WELLS, H. G. WAR IN THE AIR and Particularly How Mr. Bert Smallways Fared While it Lasted Bell, 1908. First edition. Blue cloth with gilt titles. Inscribed by Wells on the half title, “To W.W. Jacobs from H.G.” A very good copy, light discolouration to the rear board and a little spotting to the page edges and margins. [26702] £6,000
WELLS TO HENRY HICK 86. WELLS, H.G. WHEN THE SLEEPER WAKES Harper, 1899.
First edition. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title, “Henry Hick, from H. G. Wells”. Dr Henry Hick came to know Wells through his old school friend George Gissing. When Wells became ill on a cycling holiday in 1898, he recuperated at Hicks’s house in New Romney, where he was visited by Edmund Gosse and Henry James. Three full page black and white plates. [36255] £4,500
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