J O N K E R S R A R E B O O K S
The first edition of Le Fanu’s most famous work and the first to gain the author widespread success. Its success is partly because it was, of its time, sui generis: it can be rightly viewed as a gothic novel, detec - tive fiction, and supernatural thriller without strictly conforming to any of these genres. It is also an early example of what has become known as the ‘locked room mystery’. Elizabeth Bowen notes in 1947, “Uncle Silas was in advance of, not behind its time: it is not the last belated Gothic romance but the first (or among the first) of the psychological thrillers.” Its reception was instant and warm and its influence long lasting, with Bram Stoker, Conan Doyle and M. R. James all acknowledging the in - fluence of Le Fanu’s work on their own. James famously commenting, “[He] succeeds in inspiring a mysterious terror better than any other writer... I do not think that there are better ghost stories anywhere than the best of Le Fanu’s.” Published in an edition of just 500 copies, the first edition has always been rare in commerce. Only three copies appear to have been sold at auction in the last 70 years. The binding, whilst unsigned, bears many of the hallmarks of a publish- er’s special binding. We have been unable to find conclusive evidence that such a binding was issued by the publishers, but a copy in a binding very similar to this was sold at Sotheby’s in 1949. ONE OF 45 COPIES ON VELLUM MORRIS, William GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE: A LECTURE FOR THE ARTS AND CRAFTS EXHIBITION SOCIETY Kelm- scott Press, 1893 [46720] First edition, one of 45 copies on vellum. Large 16mo. Original holland-backed boards with brown linen spine. Red and black ornate lettering on vellum with decorative arts and crafts style title letters. English architect Halsey Ricardo name inscribed in ink on the front free end paper. A near fine copy, with a few faint stains to the boards but internally bright and clean. $28,000 William Morris established the Kelmscott press in 1891, and proceeded to print over fifty three medieval style books. This particular title, first published at a half-crown, was produced from a lecture on Gothic Archi- tecture in 1889. The arrangement was printed during the Arts and Crafts exhibition of 1893. Due to its popularity, the text was reprinted twice during the two month Art and Crafts show, but the later issues correcting the errors on pp 41 “guilds” and 45 “Van Eyck.” Peterson states that all vellum copies con - tained the corrections of the second state, but this is one of a few known
versions in the first state. This copy belonging to Halsey Ralph Ricardo, an English architect, who taught at an Arts and Craft School in London and was later elected a Fel- low of the Royal Institute of British Architects and a member of the Art Workers Guild. Peterson A18, Cary 187 THE BLACK TULIP OF NINETEENTH CENTURY FICTION TROLLOPE, Anthony THE MACDERMOTS OF BALLY - CLORAN Thomas Cautly Newby, 1847 [44912]
First edition, first issue with ti - tle pages dated 1847. Three vol - umes. Contemporary half green morocco over marbled boards. Top edge gilt. A little wear to the corners of the binding and to the boards, but generally attractive. Internally very fresh with just a little foxing to the preliminary leaves. A very well preserved copy of a fabled rarity. $100,000 Trollope’s rare first work, described
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