Search Results: Authors starting with W from David Brass Rare Books, Inc.

London: Privately Printed for Mr. & Mrs. F.T. Davies, 1891. A Night in Town" - Probably Louis Wain's Very First Published 'Cat Caricature' [WAIN, Louis, artist]. [DOBSON, Austin, contributor]. A Book of Drawings. By A. Bryan, L. Davis, A.T. Elwes, Harry Furniss, J. Jellicoe, Louise Jopling, J.B. Partridge, Jo. Pennell, R.H. Moor, H. Railton, Hugh Thomson, L. Wain, C. Wilkinson & W. Wilson: with a prefatory poem by Austin Dobson. London: Privately Printed for Mr. & Mrs. F.T. Davies, [1891]. One of a hundred large paper copies on hand-made paper, signed by F.T.W. Davies, the plates individually signed by the illustrators. 43, [1 imprint] pp. Folio (12 7/8 x 10 3/8 inches; 326 x 263 mm.). Original thin white vellum over parchment wrappers. Front cover decoratively stamped and lettered in gilt. A near fine copy. The two Louis Wain drawings, each of which is signed by Wain in pencil are: "A Night in Town" and [A Single Cat]. From studying the 209 entries in Rodney Dale's A List of Books Illustrated… Read More

London: Raphael Tuck & Sons, Ltd., 1905. Onward, For Kitten and Country Furry Fun For All WAIN, Louis. Frolics in Catland. Father Tuck's "Travels in Fairyland" No. 9174. London: Raphael Tuck & Sons, Ltd., n.d. [c. 1905?]. First 'Untearable' edition. Oblong quarto (8 5/8 x 10 3/4 in; 220 x 273 mm). [28] pp. With eight full-page and numerous color text illustrations. Verses by Norman Gale. Quarter red cloth over color pictorial paper glazed boards. Pictorial endpapers printed in blue and orange. Child's neat signature dated 1918 to ownership page. Inner hinges expertly strengthened. Some light wear to corners, otherwise a remarkably good example of this rare title. At the end of the nineteenth century, Louis Wain (1860-1939), the Edwardian cat artist who went mad, became a household name as an illustrator of cats, whom he depicted in all sorts of activities, from skating and playing cricket to driving motor cars, attending dances, and playing musical instruments. "He invented a cat style, a cat… Read More

London: Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1929. A Collaboration... WALPOLE, Hugh. & PRIESTLEY, J.B. Farthing Hall. London: Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1929. First edition. Octavo (7 1/2 x 5 inches; 191 x 127 mm.). [viii], [1]-275, [1, blank], [4 advertisements] pp. Publishers green ribbed cloth, spine lettered in gilt. A fine copy in the publisher's gray printed dust jacket, spine slightly darkened, a couple of small closed edge tears, small piece (1/8 inch) missing from top of spine. An excellent copy. The novel is a collaboration between Hugh Walpole and John Boynton Priestley. Walpole, the older novelist, writes as the young artist, while Priestley takes the character of the middle-aged academic. Sir Hugh Seymour Walpole, CBE (1884-1941) was an English novelist. He was the son of an Anglican clergyman, intended for a career in the church but drawn instead to writing. Among those who encouraged him were the authors Henry James and Arnold Bennett. John Boynton Priestley (1894-1984) was an English… Read More

London: Printed for Richard Phillips, 1804. The "Best Edition" of Marshall's Classic Biography Near Fine in Contemporary Mottled Sheep [WASHINGTON, George]. [MARSHALL, John]. The Life of George Washington, Commander in Chief of the American forces during the war which established the independence of his country, and first President of the United States. Compiled under the inspection of the Hon. Bushrod Washington, from original papers bequeathed to him by his deceased relative. To which is prefixed, an introduction, containing a compendious view of the colonies planted by the English on the continent of North America. By John Marshall, Chief Justice of the United States, &c. &c. London: Printed for Richard Phillips, 1804-1807. First (and best) London Edition (in octavo) and, according to Howes, the best edition of all. Five octavo volumes (8 3/16 x 5 1/8 inches; 208 x 131 mm.). xxxvi, 579, [1], 2 folding maps; folding engraved frontispiece; viii, 245, 254-633, [3]; folding engraved frontispiece;… Read More

Paris: Chez G. Engelmann [et] Gihaut, 1824. The Life of a Young Girl who Follows the Wrong Path and Loses her Honor... Depicted in Seventeen Hand Colored Lithographs by Émile Wattier WATTIER, Émile, illustrator. Un An de la vie d'une jeune fille, Roman Historique en XVII chapitres, écrits par son confident et lithographiés par M. Wattier. Paris: Chez G. Engelmann [et] Gihaut, 1824. First edition. Large quarto (13 1/4 x 10 inches; 335 x 254 mm.). Facsimile cover title. Seventeen hand-colored lithographed plates by Engelmann after Wattier. Modern maroon cloth, front cover with facsimile title pasted on. The seventeen charming plates by Émile Wattier (1800-1868) depict a young girl meeting and falling in love with a handsome young man, her liaison with him, and subsequent pregnancy, her receiving a letter saying that he has gone away, and finally her arranged marriage to a much older man. Scarce. No copies have appeared at auction over the past 100 years; OCLC locates just four copies in… Read More

Paris: Sazerac et Duval, 1826. The Day of an Actress, or Twelve Scenes of Day and Night Twelve Hand-Colored Lithographed Plates WATTIER, Édouard. [La Journée d'une actrice, ou Douze scènes de jour et de nuit, Lithographiées par Ed. Wattier. Paris: Sazerac et Duval, 1826]. First edition. Large folio (14 1/4 x 10 1/2 inches; 362 x 267 mm.). Twelve hand-colored lithographed plates. Plates lithographed by Engelmann & Langlumé. Bound without the four leaves of text. Mid twentieth century olive green cloth with red leather spine label ruled and lettered in gilt, plain endpapers. A few minor marginal tears. Front and rear free endpapers a little chipped on fore-margin. An excellent example of this very rare suite. A charming suite of twelve hand colored lithographs depicting the life in the day of an actress from 10:00 am to midnight. Rare. OCLC & KVK locate just two examples in libraries and institutions worldwide: Boston Public Library (MA, US); Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (Germany) Note:… Read More

[Boston & New York]: Atlantic-Little Brown, 1971. With an Inscribed Photograph of Orson Welles affixed to the Front Free Endpaper WELLES, Orson. The Citizen Kane Book. Raising Kane by Paul Kael [&] The Shooting Script by Herman J. Mankiewicz and Orson Welles. Now Published for the First Time and illustrated with Eighty-one Frames from the Film and the Cutting Continuity of the Completed Film. [Boston & New York]: Atlantic-Little Brown, 1971. First edition. Large quarto (11 x 8 3/8 inches; 280 x 213 mm.). [vi], [1]-440 pp. Illustrated in black & white. Publishers gray cloth over boards, front cover and spine lettered in silver. Pictorial dust jacket. A fine copy in a near fine dust jacket. Affixed to the front free endpaper is a fine 10 x 8 inch black & white photograph inscribed "To Paul [R. Palmer] Best Wishes Orson Welles" George Orson Welles (1915-1985) was an American director, actor, writer, and producer who is remembered for his innovative work in film, radio, and theater. He is… Read More

London: George Newnes Limited, 1919. The Outline of History by H.G. Wells in the Original Twenty-Four Parts A Good Set in the Original Color Illustrated Wrappers WELLS, H.G. The Outline of History. Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind. Written with the Advice and Editorial Help of Mr. Ernest Barker, Sir H. H. Johnston, Sir E. Ray Lankester, and Professor Gilbert Murray. London: George Newnes Limited, [1919-1920]. First edition. Twenty-four quarto parts (11x 8 1/2 inches; 280 x 216 mm.). 780 continuous pp. Publisher's wrappers printed in full color. Forty-seven color and miscellaneous black & white illustrations throughout by J.F. Horrabin. Original pictorial publisher's notice affixed to upper wrapper of volume 15 to announce a price increase for the subsequent issues. Approximately one third of the front wrapper of volume VI neatly excised, loss to upper corner of upper wrapper to volume XVII, pencil under-linings and marginal notes in some volumes. Some wear to a few spines, nonetheless,… Read More

New York & London: Harper & Brothers, 1945. A Realistic Fantasy About A Talking Mouse" WHITE, E.B. Stuart Little. Pictures by Garth Williams. New York & London: Harper & Brothers, 1945. First edition (stated on copyright page with 10-5 and I-U). Octavo (8 x 5 1/4 inches; 202 x 134 mm.). viii, 131, [1 blank] pp. Five full-page line drawings (including frontispiece) and numerous line-drawings in the text. Publishers gray linen over boards, front cover and spine pictorially decorated in orange and green, pictorial endpapers printed in green. A fine copy in the original first issue color pictorial dust jacket (with $2.00 on front flap). Jacket spine very slightly darkened, minimal wear at top of spine, a few short edge tears, otherwise excellent. E[lwyn] B[rooks] White (1899-1985) first book for children. Stuart Little is a 1945 children's novel widely recognized as a classic in children's literature. Stuart Little was illustrated by the subsequently award-winning artist Garth Williams, also his… Read More

New York & London: Harper & Brothers, 1945. A Realistic Fantasy About A Talking Mouse" WHITE, E.B. Stuart Little. Pictures by Garth Williams. New York & London: Harper & Brothers, 1945. First edition (stated on copyright page with 10-5 and I-U). Octavo (8 x 5 1/4 inches; 202 x 134 mm.). viii, 131, [1 blank] pp. Five full-page line drawings (including frontispiece) and numerous line-drawings in the text. Publishers gray linen over boards, front cover and spine pictorially decorated in green and white, pictorial endpapers printed in green. A very good copy in the original first issue color pictorial dust jacket (with $2.00 on front flap). Jacket spine very slightly darkened, chipped at top and bottom of spine, a few short edge tears. E[lwyn] B[rooks] White (1899-1985) first book for children. Stuart Little is a 1945 children's novel widely recognized as a classic in children's literature. Stuart Little was illustrated by the subsequently award-winning artist Garth Williams, also his first work… Read More

New York: Harper & Brothers, 1949. The reader will find certain observations to be no longer true of the city, owing to the passage of time and the swing of the pendulum" WHITE, E.B. Here is New York. NewYork: Harper & Brothers, [1949]. First edition, later printing. Small quarto (7 3/8 x 5 1/8 inches; 187 x 130 mm.). [1]-54, [4] pp. Photograph of New York frontispiece and full page illustration [E.B. White's willow tree] by Edward C. Caswell. Publishers gray cloth over boards, front cover and spine lettered in red, neat ink signature on front flyleaf. A very good copy. "This piece about New York was written in the summer of 1948 during a hot spell. The reader will find certain observations to be no longer true of the city, owing to the passage of time and the swing of the pendulum." (Foreword). E[lwyn] B[rooks] White (1899-1985) was an American writer. He was the author of several highly popular books for children, including Stuart Little (1945), Charlotte's Web (1952), and The Trumpet of the… Read More

London: Elkin Mathews and John Lane at the Sign of the Bodley Head, 1893. I can resist anything except temptation" "Life is far too important a thing ever to talk seriously about" WILDE, Oscar. Lady Windermere's Fan. A Play About a Good Woman. London: Elkin Mathews and John Lane at the Sign of the Bodley Head, 1893. First edition. One of fifty large-paper copies on hand-made paper. Quarto (8 5/8 x 6 5/8 inches; 220 x 169 mm.). [i, blank], [i], limitation], [iii-xvi], 132 pp. Handsomely bound by Zaehnsdorf ca. 1897 (stamp-signed in gilt on front turn-in) and with their exhibition stamp in black on rear paste-down. Full dark green crushed levant morocco, covers bordered in gilt enclosing a six-line gilt border. Spine with five raised bands decoratively framed and lettered in gilt in compartments, gilt-ruled board edges, multi gilt-lined turn-ins, top edge gilt, others uncut. With the bookplates of the renowned collector C. S. Ascherson (dated 1897) and Paul Louis Weiller (also a famous book… Read More

: , 1950. Two Gnomes WILLIAMS, R. James, illustrator. [Two Gnomes]. [N.p., ca. 1950]. Original watercolor depicting two gnomes standing under the branch of a tree. On the branch is an owl looking down at them. Signed R. James Williams on lower right corner. Image size: 9 1/8 inches x 11 1/2 inches; 230 mm x 295 mm. Framed size: 15 1/2 inches x 18 3/4 inches; 395 mm x 4 75 mm. Matted, framed and glazed. Richard James Williams (1876-1964) was a British artist and the headmaster of the Worcester School of Arts and crafts. He was the editor of and major contributor to their periodical, The Three Pears. He also illustrated several children's books.

London: Published for the Author, 1823. Written While the Insane Author Was Living in a Gravel Pit [WILLIAMS, Charles, illustrator]. MITFORD, John. The Adventures of Johnny Newcome in the Navy. A Poem, In Four Cantos, With Notes. The Third Edition. London: Published for the Author and sold by Sherwood, Neely and Jones [et al], 1823. Third edition in book form, originally issued 1819 in eight monthly parts. Quarto (10 3/16 x 6 3/16 in; 259 x 158 mm). vii, [1, To the Binder], 284 pp. Twenty hand-colored aquatint engravings with tissue guards. Handsomely bound (ca. 1895) by Samuel Tout of London (stamp-signed) in full deep crimson morocco with gilt-tooled corner-pieces and rolls. Gilt-rolled board edges. Gilt-ruled raised bands, gilt decorated and ornamented compartments. Broad turn-ins with gilt-tooled corner-pieces. Top edge gilt, others uncut. Original paper backstrip with printed label preserved at rear. With the nautical bookplate of James Stewart Geikie, M.D. A fine and very tall copy. Not… Read More

London: Edward Orme, 1819. The Manners, Customs, Scenery, and Costume of a Territory, Now Intimately Blended with the British Empire" (Preface) Forty Magnificent Hand-Colored Aquatint Plates WILLIAMSON, Captain Thomas, [Author, Illustrator], [HOWITT, Samuel, Illustrator]. Oriental Field Sports; Being a Complete, Detailed, and Accurate Description of the Wild Sports of the East; and exhibiting, in a novel and interesting manner, the Natural History of the Elephant, the Rhinoceros, the Tiger, the Leopard, the Bear, the Deer, the Buffalo, the Wolf, the Wild Hog, the Jackall, the Wild Dog, the Civet, and other Undomesticated Animals... as likewise the different species of Feathered Game, Fishes, and Serpents. The Whole interspersed with a variety of Original, Authentic, and Curious Anecdotes, Taken from the Manuscript and Designs of Captain Thomas Williamson... The Drawings by Samuel Howitt, Made Uniform in Size, and Engraved by the First Artists. Second Edition. London: Published by Edward Orme,… Read More

London: Printed for G. Kearsley, at Johnson's Head, No. 46, Fleet Street, 1789. Satires With An Irresistible Mix of Coarseness and Genuine Good Humour The Scarce Suppressed Edition [WOLCOT, John]. PINDAR, Peter. Expostulatory Odes to a Great Duke, and a Little Lord. By Peter Pindar, Esquire. London: Printed for G. Kearsley at Johnson's Head, 1789. First edition, suppressed. Reissued by Kearsley later in the same year as a New Edition, and in a pirated edition out of Dublin. Quarto in 2s (10 3/16 x 8 1/4 in; 258 x 206 mm). 56 pp. Contemporary quarter calf over marbled boards, worn. Front joint pulling. Contemporary repairs to margin of leaf O2 and to gutter margin of pp. 2-3.. Contemporary inked notes and stain to titlepage. A good copy of a volume scarce in this, it's original incarnation. "John Wolcot [pseud. Peter Pindar] (bap. 1738, d. 1819), poet and satirist. In 1785 appeared the first canto of The Lousiad: an Heroi-Comical Poem, lampooning George III for a rumoured incident in which the… Read More

London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1906. The Perfect Gift for the Amateur Naturalist WOOD, Rev. J.G. Natural History Rambles: Lane and Field. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1906. Small octavo (6 1/4 x 4 1/8 inches; 159 x 104 mm.). x, 246 pp. Illustrated with many text engravings. Full contemporary tree calf, covers double gilt ruled, spine decoratively tooled and lettered in gilt in compartments, gilt board edges and turn-ins, marbled edges, marbled endpapers. School prize label (dated 1908) on front paste-down. Near fine. The Rev. J.G. Wood's "single object throughout [his career was] to popularize the study of natural history by rendering it interesting and intelligible to non-scientific minds. In this he was thoroughly successful; and to him was due the impulse that, coming at the right moment, turned public attention to the subject, while not a few naturalists... owe their first inspiration to his writings" (DNB).

London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1871. Popularizing the Study of Natural History WOOD, Rev. J.G. Strange Dwellings being a description of the habitations of animals abridged from 'Homes without hands'... with designs by W.F. Keyl, J.B. Zwecker, and E. Smith. London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1871. First edition thus. Octavo (7 3/16 x 4 3/4 inches: 183 x 121 mm.). xii, 411, [1] pp. Woodcut frontispiece, vignette title-page and over fifty wood engravings in the text. Bound by Rivingtons (stamp-signed on front blank) in contemporary full blue calf, covers with double gilt rules, spine with five raised bands, decoratively tooled in gilt in compartments with red morocco label lettered in gilt. Gilt board edges, all edges marbled, marbled endpapers. Homes without hands first appeared in 1865. The Rev. J.G. Wood's "single object throughout [his career was] to popularize the study of natural history by rendering it interesting and intelligible to non-scientific minds. In this he was thoroughly… Read More

London: B. Crosby, 1803. So Scarce It's No Laughing Matter WOODWARD, George Moutard. Attempts at Humour, Poetical and Physiognomical. London: Printed for the Author; Published by B. Crosby and Co., 1803. First edition. Quarto (10 x 7 5/8 in; 253 x 193 mm). 27, [1, blank] pp. Eight hand-colored etchings with original tissue guards, designed by Woodward and etched by Percy Roberts. Original printed blue-gray wrappers in later custom cloth dust jacket. Housed in a later leather-edged slipcase, its cloth matching that of the dust jacket. Exceptionally scarce. Not in Abbey, Tooley, or other standard references. OCLC records only five copies in institutional holdings worldwide. Eight verses by Woodward accompanied by his designs: 1. Giles and his Guinea. 2. Tom Long, Smith, the Doctor. 3. Female Constancy. 4. The Difficult Question. 5. Delia's Complaint at Sixty. 6. The Epicure and the Poets. 7. The Pilgrim. 8. Jack at the Play. "The Author deems it necessary to observe, that some of the following… Read More

London: S.W. Fores, 1801. Three of George Moutard Woodward's Hand-Colored Prints from "Symptoms of the Shop" WOODWARD, George Moutard, artist, SANSON, Francis, printmaker. Symptoms of the Shop. London: S.W. Fores, 1801. First edition. Quarto (10 1/8 x 8 1/16 inches; 257 x 265 mm.). Three (of twelve) hand colored 'Satirical' stipple engravings on wove paper drawn by Woodward and etched by Sanson (numbers 7, 8, and 10). Each with the plate number at the top right margin and with lithographed text at the top of the image. On each of the lower margins is "Pub. June 1st 1801 by S.W. Fores No.50 Piccadilly Prints and Drawings lent on the plan of a Library Folio's of Caricatur lent out for the Evening." / Symptoms of the Shop" / "Drawn by G. Woodward Etchd by F. Sansom". Some light marginal soiling, otherwise near fine. Plate #7. "After all there is nothing like the true old orthodox principles..." Plate #8. "I have brought your Honor home your new suit..." Plate #10. "Madam - I was once a Minister and… Read More