Search Results: Authors starting with A from Books of Wonder

HENTY, G[eorge] A[lfred]. In Freedom's Cause. A Story of Wallace and Bruce. With Twelve Full-Page Illustrations by Gordon Browne. London: Blackie & Son, 1885. 12mo, 392pp. + 32 advts. Navy cloth pictorially stamped in gilt, black and burgandy; a.e.g. Burgandy endpapers; 12 b&w plates. Spine ends and corners a bit worn with a tiny chip to upper spine end, slight traces of internal foxing, else a tight, surprisingly bright copy.
First edition. A tale of the 13th century Scottish chieftains desperate struggle for independence from their English ruler Edward Longshanks. Their ultimate victory is highlight by the hard-fought series of battles conducted under the leadership of the legendary figures William Wallace and Robert Bruce. Though told through the eyes of a fictional protagonist, Archie Forbes, who estates have been wrongfully confiscated, Henty attempted to infuse his stories with accurate historical context. Henty's novels were ubiquitous during his day, and are relics of a particularly Victorian… Read More

HENTY, G[eorge] A[lfred]. For Name and Fame: Or Through the Afghan Passes.
With eight full-page illustrations by Gordon Browne. London: Blackie & Son, 1886. 8vo, 352pp. + 40 advts. Sage-green cloth pictorially stamped in gilt, dark green and red, blind stamped rules on rear. Brown endpapers; 8 full-page b&w illustrations. One-inch tear at bottom of outer rear hinge, spine ends and corners a bit worn, outer hinges a bit rubbed, spine slightly sunned and a tad cocked. Nonetheless, a solid, internally clean copy with the striking cover stamping still surprisingly bright.
First edition. Henty's tale of the most recent Afghan war of his time. The hero, after being wrecked and going through many stirring adventures among the Malays, finds his way to Calcutta and enlists in a regiment proceeding to join the army at the Afghan passes. He accompanies the force under General Roberts to the Peiwar Kotal, is wounded, taken prisoner, and carried to Cabul, whence he is transferred to Candahar to take part in the… Read More

HENTY, G[eorge] A[lfred]. By England's Aid: or, the Freeing of the Netherlands (1585-1604). With ten page illustrations by Alfred Pearse and four maps. NY: Scribner & Welford [1890]. 8vo, 384pp + 32 advts. Blue cloth pictorially stamped in gilt, black, orange and brown; all edges burnished olive-green. Maroon endpapers; 10 halftone plates. Spine ends lightly worn, lower edge and corners lightly rubbed, else a clean, remarkably bright copy.
First US edition. Set in 1585 through 1604, this sequel to Henty's By Pike and Dyke continues the story of the Dutch Protestant struggle for independence from their Spanish Catholic rulers. Two English brothers experience the major conflicts in the struggle meeting one of the greatest generals of the time, Sir Francis Vere. Their adventures include the defeat of the Spanish Armada, the battle of Cadiz and Ostend, life in Holland and Spain, and more. Henty's legendary storytelling once again captures the reader's imagination while educating his readers.

HENTY, G[eorge] A[lfred]. With Moore at Corunna. With Twelve Illustrations by Wal[ter] Paget. London: Blackie & Son, 1898. 12mo, 384pp + 32 advts. Green cloth pictorially stamped in black, white, reddish-brown, flesh-tone, and gilt; all edges green. Grey endpapers; 12 b&w half-tone plates. Spine ends lightly rubbed, corners a tad so, spine slightly cocked, rear board minutely scratched, some slight hand-soiling in margins, else a clean, tight, surprisingly bright copy.First edition. Newbolt 80.1. Terence O'Conner, a bright Irish lad, joins the Mayo Fusiliers as the Peninsular war begins, becoming a general's aid. His bravery, quick wits, and industry is rewarded with a commission as Colonel in the Portuguese army and he goes on to distinguished service – even being mentioned twice in the general orders of the Duke of Wellington.

HENTY, G[eorge] A[lfred]. On the Irrawaddy. With Eight Illustrations by W[illiam] H. Overend. London: Blackie & Son, 1897. 12mo, 352pp +32 advts. Olive cloth pictorially stamped in white, pale pink,, brown, and gilt; a.e.g. 8 b&w half-tone plates. Spine ends and corners lightly worn, spine slightly cocked, contents a tad shaken, some light hand-soiling to margins, else a clean, tight, surprisingly bright copy.First edition. Newbolt 77.1. Stanley, a young man whose uncle is a trader on the Indian and Burmese rivers, sets out to join him just as war is declared by Burmah against England. He joins the military where his familiarity with Burmese customs and language make him of such use that he is added to Sir Archibald Campbell's staff. After several narrow escapes in battles and adventures while scouting, he and a half -dozen men set out to rescue his captured cousin on to be besieged in an old ruined temple.

HENTY, G[eorge] A[lfred]. When London Burned. A Story of Restoration Times and the Great Fire. With Twelve Page Illustrations by J[oseph] Finnemore. London: Blackie and Son, 1895. 12mo, 388pp + 32 advts. Blue boards pictorially stamped in gilt, orange, black and white; all edges burnished olive green. Gray endpapers; 12 half-tone plates. Spine ends and corners lightly rubbed, a few pages very slightly foxed at edges, else a clean, tight copy.
First edition. Henty's tale of a young English teen living through the Plague, the Great London fire and the on-again-off-again war with the Dutch. The late-nineteenth century pictorial binding is especially eye-catching.

[PARRISH, Maxfield]. The Children's Book. A Collection of the Best and Most Famous Stories and Poems in the English Language. Chosen by Horace A. Scudder. With many Illustrations. Boston: Houghton Mifflin [1910]. 4to, vi 444pp. + [4] advts. Blue-green cloth stamped in gilt with color pictorial label affixed to front. Color plate frontispiece and numerous Illustrations in b&w. Spine ends and corners worn, edges less so, cover label lightly scuffed, front hinge mended, else an internally clean, tight copy. Scarce.
First Parrish-illustrated edition, being a new edition for 1910 featuring a full color cover by Maxfield Parrish and a color plate frontispiece by Arthur I. Keller. The numerous b&w drawings and engravings are by a variety of artists, including George Cruikshank and Gustave Doré. A compendium of fables, fairy tales, ballads, and poetry from the fables of Aesop to the fairy tales of Perrault, from the stories of the Arabian Nights to the travels of Gulliver. Copiously illustrated, including… Read More

[FAIRY TALES]. Polish Fairy Tales. Translated from A.J. Glinski by Maude Ashurst Biggs. Illustrated by Cecile Walton. London: John Lane the Bodley Head, 1920. 4to, xvi 96pp. Blue cloth decoratively stamped in gilt. Pictorial endpapers; 20 color plates plus b&w pictorial chapter-headings. Spine ends and corners a bit wron, rear free endpaper slightly discolored, else a clean, tight copy. Scarce.
First English edition. From the collection of award-winning children's book artist Charles Mikolaycak. A wonderful set of Polish fairy tales collected by A.J. Glinksi (Poland's master folklore writer, and his nation's equivalent of the Brothers Grimm) who spent many years in the mid-nineteenth century travelling all over his nation's lands, listening to and writing down the stories as told to him by the ordinary folk. Translated into English and featuring stunning color plates by the Scottish Symbolist painter, illustrator and sculptor Cecile Walton, this collection wonderfully captures the wide-ranging oral… Read More

MILNE, A[lan] A[lexander]. When We Were Very Young. [Illustrated by E.H. Shepard]. [NY]: E.P. Dutton [1925]. 8vo, xiv 100pp. Red quarter-cloth stamped in black with color pictorial boards. Pictorial endpapers in green ink; one b&w photograph and b&w illustrations throughout. Spine ends, lower edge and corners a bit rubbed, else a clean, tight copy in original color pictorial dust jacket (2½" closed tear at top of rear panel, 1" chip at head of spine, some tiny, closed tears along bottom edge). Rare in jacket.
First Holiday edition, issued the year after this title's first appearance, but a year before Winne-the-Pooh, this volume is much larger than the original trade edition and features a new, color illustrated dust jacket and cover, which is reproduced in black-and-white as the title page. This collection of poems by Milne with Shepard's inspired illustrations was the surprise hit of 1924, going through numerous printings in the first few months after its publication. This "Holiday edition" was… Read More

BECKER, Aaron. Wordless Trilogy Being: Journey, Quest, and Return. [Somerville, MA]: Candlewick Press [2013-2016]. Oblong 4tos, [40]pp each. Black, red, and navy boards with spines stamped in gold and each front pictorially stamped in blind. Pictorial endpapers; color illustrations on every page. Fine copies in original color pictorial dust jackets (no medal affixed to Journey). Each book is signed by the author/artist, Caldecott Honor Artist Aaron Becker, with his signature stamp.
First editions. 2014 Caldecott Honor Book for Journey! An ordinary child steps through a portal into a luminous and magical landscape, beginning her quest toward an uncertain destiny. This epic, three-part quest will see her captured by a sinister emperor, rescuing a jailed king, and finally reconnecting with her father, all wordlessly told with exquisite imagination and artistry in Becker's breathtaking illustrations.

ACEVEDO, Elizabeth. The Poet X. [NY]: Harper Teen [2018]. 8vo, [vi] 361pp. White speckled boards with spine stamped in black. Light rubbing to spine ends else a fine copy in a fine dust jacket (no medals affixed). Signed by the author, Elizabeth Acevedo.
First edition. 2019 Printz and National Book Award Winner! Xiomara Batista feels unheard and unable to hide in her Harlem neighborhood. Ever since her body grew into curves, she has learned to let her fists and her fierceness do the talking. But Xiomara has plenty she wants to say, and she pours all her frustration and passion onto the pages of a leather notebook, reciting the words to herself like prayers—especially after she catches feelings for a boy in her bio class named Aman, who her family can never know about.

ACKERMAN, Karen. Bingleman's Midway. Illustrated by Barry Moser. [Honesdale, PA]: Boyds Mills Press [1995]. Oblong 8vo, 32pp. White quarter-cloth stamped in red with burnt orange boards. Brown endpapers; color illustrations throughout. A fine copy in a fine dust jacket. Signed by the artist, Barry Moser.
First edition. As one boy discovers on a beautiful summer day, once you hear Bingleman shouting and the calliope streaming, and you're caught in the crowded midway, a carnival can cast a powerful spell on you!

ACKERMAN, Karen. Song and Dance Man. Illustrated by Stephen Gammell. NY: Alfred A. Knopf [1988]. 8vo, [32]pp. Color pictorial boards. Blue endpapers; color illustrations on every page. A fine copy in original color pictorial dust jacket (no medal affixed). Signed by the artist, Caldecott Medalist Stephen Gammell. Scarce thus.
First edition. 1989 Caldecott Medalist! When his two grandchildren follow Grandpa up to his attic, they are transported back in time as Grandpa opens a dusty trunk, pulls out a bowler hat and gold-tipped cane and shows off his skills from his time as a vaudevillian actor. Gammell's brightly colored pencil drawings leap off the page with their energy and verve!

AIKEN, Joan. The Far Forests. Tales of Romance, Fantasy, and Suspense. NY: Viking [1977]. 8vo, [vi] 154pp. Goldenrod quarter-cloth stamped in black with green boards. Goldenrod endpapers. Spine ends a tad rubbed, else a fine copy in original color pictorial dust jacket (½" closed tear at top of front panel, spine ends minutely rubbed). Signed by the author, Joan Aiken.
First edition. A collection of 15 short stories, filled with magic, mystery, romance, and Aiken's characteristic macabre humor. Featuring giant moths, cannibals, golden-eyed women, werewolves in lady's clothing, and visitors from outer space, these wonderful stories showcase Aiken's prodigious talents and range from the grisly, to the supernatural, to the comic. A masterful collection from the beloved author of The Wolves of Willoughby Chase.

AIKEN, Joan. The Wolves of Willoughby Chase. Illustrated from drawings by Pat Marriott. London: Jonathan Cape [1962]. 8vo, 159pp. Black boards with spine stamped in silver. Illustrated in b&w throughout. Afine copy in original color pictorial dust jacket (spine panel a tad sunned with slight wear at ends). With a bookplate signed by the author, Joan Aiken, laid in. Scarce.
First edition of the author's first novel, issued a year before the US edition. Joan Aiken's beloved introduction to The Wolves Chronicles. Wicked wolves and a grim governess threaten Bonnie and her cousin Sylvia when Bonnie's parents leave Willoughby Chase for a sea voyage. Left in the care of the cruel Miss Slighcarp, the girls can hardly believe what is happening to their once happy home. The servants are dismissed, the furniture is sold, and Bonnie and Sylvia are sent to a prison-like orphan school. It seems as if the endless hours of drudgery will never cease, but with the help of the gooseboy, Simon, and his flock, they… Read More

GARNER, Alan. The Weirdstone of Brisingamen. A Tale of Alderley. London: Collins, 1960. 8vo, 224pp. Blue cloth with spine stamped in silver. Differing map endpapers. Spine ends and corners lightly rubbed, else a clean, tight copy in original color pictorial dust jacket (light wear – chipping, creasing, small closed tears -- around edges and folds).
First edition. Deep in a cave, a wizard watches over the enchanted sleep of one hundred and forty knights who are to be awakened to fight a great evil. The problem is, he's lost the stone he needs to awaken them. When he saves the lives of two young children from the eerie creatures that chase them, he enlists them to find the Weirdstone of Brisingamen so that the forces of evil can be kept at bay. But will Colin and Susan be able to find the stone and bring it back before it's too late? The first book by this celebrated Carnegie Medalist.

GARNER, Alan. The Moon of Gomrath. NY: Henry Z Walck, Incorporated, 1967. 8vo, [viii] 184pp. Navy blue cloth stamped in gilt on the spine. A very good copy, with slight rubbing to edges of boards, previous owner's name in ink and embossed bookplate on front free endpaper, in publisher's original full-color pictorial dust jacket (price-clipped, spine slightly sunned).First American Edition. The enthralling sequel to The Weirdstone of Brisingamen. It is the Eve of Gomrath the night of the year when the Old Magic is aroused. Had Colin and Susan known this, they would never have lighted a fire on the Beacon, thereby releasing the uncontrollable ferocity of the Wild Hunt. Soon they are inextricably caught up in the struggle between their friend, the Wizard Cadellin, and the evil Morrigan. The strength of their courage will determine whether or not they survive the awaiting ordeal

ALDIN, Cecil. Us. Poughkeepsie, NY: Artists and Writers Guild [1935]. 8vo, [44]pp. Color pictorial paper wrappers. 6 full-page three-color illustrations and numerous b&w illustrations. Light worn at edges, some light wear to covers, else a clean, tight copy without dust jacket as issued.
First US edition. A charming story of a young girl and her dog, a little black Scotch Terrier puppy named Smut, as they go about their lives, encountering other dogs, policemen, and even horses. Cecil Aldin was a British artist best known for his paintings and sketches of animals and rural life, all of which is magnificently captured in this delightful tale.

PUSHKIN, Aleksandr. Pesn o Veshchem Olege (Song of Oleg the Wise). [Illustrated by Viktor Vasnetsov].
St. Petersburg: Ekspeditsii Zagotovlenya Gosudarstvennykh Bumag, 1899. 4to, 8pp. Single sheet, accordion folded into 6 leaves, [leporello style] with a printed page as front cover and another as rear cover. Four lush color chromolithographs, decorative initials, and full-color head- and tail-pieces by Vasnetsov. Corners a bit worn, edges lightly so, covers lightly soiled, else internally a sharp, bright copy. Rare.
First editon. Vasnetsov's most famous illustrated work, published on May 26 1899 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Pushkin's birth. Vasntsov's chromolithographs are truly enchanting – bursting with glorious color and capturing the power of Pushkin's lush tale. Kilgour 897.

RAYMOND, Alex. Flash Gordon. The Tournament of Death. Chicago: Pleasure Books [1935]. 8vo, [16]pp. Color pictorial boards. Color pictorial pop-up endpapers; color pictorial pop-up spread and numerous smaller b&w illustrations. Spine ends and corners lightly rubbed, else a fine copy with all pop-ups in working order.
First edition. This delightful pop-up book, based on the comic strip by Alex Raymond, is a true treasure for any collector of early pop-up books or fans of the beloved characterer!