Search Results: Titles starting with A from Rooke Books

London: Henry Frowde; Hodder & Stoughton, 1912. First edition. Hardback. Very Good. 6.5" by 5.5". Doris Ewen; Mary Ewen. A very scarce first edition of this charming collection of verses for children's names through the alphabet. First edition. Very scarce. Dated from the British Library and inscription to the front pastedown. With twenty-six colour panels. Collated complete. A collection of folding colour panels, with charming verses written about children with names beginning with each letter of the alphabet from "Ambitious Andrew" to "Zealous Zoe." Written and illustrated by Doris and Mary Ewen. In the original pictorial paper covered boards with a pink ribbon tie. Externally, smart with light shelf wear to the extremities. Sunning to the spine and the odd small mark to the boards. Internally, firmly bound. Panels are very bright and clean with the odd small closed tear to the folds. A 3" closed tear to the fold between panels P and Q. The odd spot… Read More

Not Stated: Not Stated, 1906. First edition. Cloth. Very Good. 6.5" by 4.5". None. A very scarce first edition of Joseph Thurston's guidebook to living with good health. The first edition of this work.A vanishingly scarce early work on healthy eating. A turn of the century treatise containing practical suggestions on the proper living of day-to-day life to lead a healthy life. Pioneering, though little noticed at the time. Written by Joseph M. Thurston.Undated, dated from Jisc from a copy held at the British Library. In the original publisher's quarter cloth binding with paper to the boards. Externally, smart. A little rubbing and a few minor marks to the boards and spine. A little bumping to the head and tail of the spine and to the extremities. Front hinge is starting but firm. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are lightly age-toned and clean with just a couple of odd spots. Very Good

London: William Heinemann LTD, 1955. Paperback. Very Good Indeed. 7.5" by 5". None. An uncommon to see proof copy of the Observer's prize story anthology for 1954, this anthology including Brian Aldiss' first sci-fi story published in book form. A proof copy.An anthology of short stories submitted for the Observer's competition to find the best short story set in the year 2500 A.D. Most notably this anthology includes 'Not For an Age' by Brian Aldiss, his first science fiction story published in book form, ranking third after the reader's vote.The winning story was 'Return of the Moon Man' by E. L. Malpass. With an introduction by Angus Wilson. In the original publisher's paper wraps. Externally, smart. A little age-toning to the spine and extremities of the wraps. Pencil note to the rear wrap. Very light edge wear, including creasing to the spine. Only a few small marks to the wraps. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright and clean. Very Good Indeed

Norway: Apothekernes LAboratorium, 1980. Fine Binding. Fine. 10" by 7". Various. A finely bound copy of proceedings in Oslo regarding 'Antibacterials in Nutrition' from 1980. A very scarce publication.Comprising proceedings of the mid-summer symposium. With methods of evaluation, safety, and modes of action. Inscription to the verso of front endpaper, 'To John, with best wishes' signed by the editor. Prior owner's bookplate to the front pastedown, 'John Gadd'. A letter is loosely inserted from the editor G.D Rosen. The letter refers to this book and states 'We hope too that it will remind you of various interesting topics presented and discussed during the Mid-summer Symposium.' This book is intended to stimulate new thought on growth promoters, their uses and the future of growth promoters. In addition Rosen notes in his letter 'We plan to make 1983 a year for encouraging more farmers, feed compounders, official bodies, etc. to review growth promoters, their true roles..'Bound by R & H… Read More

London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1890. First edition. Cloth. Very Good. 8" by 6". Various. The first edition of this moving biography on the missionary Alexander Murdoch Mackay, complete with a portrait frontispiece and folding map. The first edition of this work.A touching biography on Alexander Murdoch Mackay, an important missionary to Uganda, commonly known as Mackay of Uganda. He died quickly after falling sick with malarial fever. Illustrated with a frontispiece by H. Manesse, and one colour folding map.Written by his sister, also a missionary, Alexina Ruthquist. Collated, complete. In the original publisher's cloth binding. Externally, generally smart, with some rubbing and a few small marks to the boards and spine. Light bumping to the head and tail of the spine and to the extremities. Front hinge is starting but firm. Prior owner's ink inscription to the recto to the front endpaper. INternally, generally firmly bound. Pages are bright and clean with a few scattered spots. Small closed tear… Read More

London: A Fullarton and Co, [1833]. First edition. Leather. Very Good. 9" by 11". J Bell. A beautifully bound, first edition of this gazetteer of England and Wales. With all forty-four engraved county maps in a lovely condition. A very scarce first edition copy, not seen at auction since 2002. This particular copy has been bound without the title and preliminaries. With later endpapers, and in a very smart oblong half calf binding. With the folding uncoloured engraved map of England & Wales, laid on linen in addition to 44 engraved county maps by Archibald Fullarton. The tree engravers involved in the work are Gray and Son, Josiah Neele and Co and Robert Scott. Collated, with all maps. Lacking the title page and preliminaries as mentioned. A prior owner has written the plate number neatly to the outer margin. A lovely example of this scarce work. In a half calf binding with marbled paper boards. Externally, in an excellent condition with minor shelfwear. Internally,… Read More

London: Macmillan, 1982-7. First edition. Cloth. Fine/Fine. 8" by 5". None. Signed first UK editions of the first three of Sue Grafton's popular detective series, the 'Alphabet Murders'. In the original unclipped dustwrappers. In three volumes, being the first three novels in Sue Grafton's 'Alphabet Murders' series. The first edition thus of these works, being the first UK editions. Each volume is signed by the author to the title page. Each in the original unclipped dustwrapper. '"A" Is for Alibi' is a crime novel, set in the fictional city Santa Teresa in southern California. The novel follows the thirty-two year old private detective Kinsey Millhone, who is hired to solve the murder of a prominent divorce lawyer Laurence Fife. He had been killed eight years previously and his recently released wife was arrested for the death. The lawyer's death was linked to a similar death of a woman in Los Angeles. Both had died after taking poisonous oleander capsules, which had been… Read More

London: Harry Margary (Guildhall Library), 1987. Cloth. Near Fine/Very Good. 12" by 9". Not Stated. A smart copy of this A to Z of the London of over one hundred years ago, with maps throughout. Illustrated with fifty-nine map sheets from Bacon's New Large-Scale Ordinance Atlas of London & Suburbs. This A to Z enables its readers to find their way around London as it was over one hundred years ago. With details of streets, banks, theatres, statues, named terraces, and more. From the work of George Washington Bacon, an American mapmaker and publisher known for developing a successful business producing maps of London. With introductory notes by Ralph Hyde, an English art historian who was curator of graphic arts at the Guildhall Library in London, and considered a pre-eminent historian and writer on the subject of Panoramic painting. In the original red cloth binding. Externally, very smart with light shelf wear only. Original unclipped dust wrapper is also smart with light shelf… Read More

Not Stated: Not Stated, C1810. Leather. Good. -. Various. A fascinating unique bound collection of poems and illustrations. Compiled by one Alfred Coulson and addressed 'to his friends at Yate Court,' this is a deeply personal and moving piece of himan history from around the turn of the c.18. With pasted-in plates and cuttings of places visited and newsworthy figures, handwritten thoughts and poems, artistic figures, and even a pressed plant cutting, this is a poignant token of a rich friendship. In a quarter-calf binding with marbled boards. Externally, smart with some rubbing, particularly to spine, with slight loss to head of spine. Pictorial and armorial bookplates (presumably of Coulson) to frontpapers. Internally, binding tender. Pages mildly age toned. Good

Medina: The A. I. Root Company , 1983. Cloth. Fine. 9" by 6" . Not Stated . A lovely copy of this encyclopaedia dedicated to apiculture by A. I. Root. New edition of this work, originally published in 1877. Written by Amos Root, well-known Ohio entrepreneur known for his innovative techniques for beekeeping, an important business of US economy during the late nineteenth century. Published by his own company the A. I. Root. Revised by E. R., H. H., and J. A. Root as well as L. R. Goltz.A complete encyclopaedia dedicated to apiculture. A lovely work with numerous illustrations in text. In the original publisher's full faux-leather binding. Externally lovely with minor shelf wear only. Internally, firmly bound. Pages bright and clean. Fine

London : Robert Hale Ltd., c1950. Cloth. Very Good/Good. 10" by 7.5". Gladys M. Rees. A charmingly illustrated children's book by ilustrator and author Gladys Rees. Containing a new alphabet, early lessons and eighty nursery rhymes, including illustrated classics such as Sing a Song of Sixpence. In stiff paper wraps with original unclipped dustwrapper. Externally, smart iwth some light rubbing and bumping. Wear to head and tail of spine. Dustrwapper sound with chipping, creasing and loss. Ink inscription to front flyleaf. Internally, firmly bound. Pages bright and clean. Very Good

London: Henry J. Drane, c1904. Cloth. Good. 5.5" by 4". Not Stated . An illustrated guide to stamp collecting written by esteemed philatelist Fred Melville A scarce work by eminent British stamp collector Frederick John Melville. In this discussion of the hobby, Mellville offers insights into classification, the detection of fakes, and explores what stamps can reveal about their originating cultures. Melville was the founder and contemporary president of the Junior Philatelic Society, and the work is thought to be his second book on stamp collecting. Illustrated with nineteen plates, showing stamps from across the world between 1849 to 1902. Collated and complete. Prior owners ink inscription to the front end paper. One page of publisher's adverts to the rear. Undated, dated c1904 from Jisc from copies held at the University of Cambridge. In the original publisher's cloth binding. Externally, smart, with minimal marks on the boards and spine. Minor chipping to illustrations on front… Read More

Tours: Maison Alfred Mame et Fils , [1930]. Cloth. Very Good Indeed. 11.5" by 9.5". JOB. Smart copy of this anthology of children's tales by French critic Jules Lemaitre, embellished with coloured illustrations by JOB. Collection of children's tales in alphabetical order by French critic and dramatist Jules Lemaitre. Each story stands for a letter in the alphabet, opening with 'Ane' and closing with 'Zero'.Dated from the copy held at the British Library. Featuring lovely coloured embellishments by French illustrator Jacques Marie Gaston Onfroy de Bréville, known a JOB. Collated, complete with half title, frontispiece, and fifty-four illustrated leaves of text. In the original publisher's quarter cloth binding over pictorial boards. Externally very smart with minor shelf wear only, chipped and bumped slightly to head and tail of spine and extremities. Internally, generally firmly bound. Pages clean. Very Good Indeed

Aarau : Gelbftverlag der Stadt Aarau , c1940. Cloth. Very Good. 18" by 14.5". Walther Merz . A large portfolio containing a series of black and white photographs illustrative of Aarau in Switzerland, an uncommon work. A series of plates illustrating four-hundred years of Aarau, Swiss German-speaking town, capital of the northern Swiss canton of Aargau. Compiled by historian Walther Merz. An uncommon volume, dated from other copies seen. Title page and captions are in the original German. With thirty-one of thirty-two plates of numerous images present, lacking plate IV 'Aarau von Norden 1612 von Hans Ulrich Fisch I. One in colour.  Portfolio, housed in the original publisher's full cloth casing. Externally very smart with minor bumping to head and tail of spine and extremities, generally soiled. Each plate unbound as called for. Pages bright and clean. With thirty one plates of photographic illustrations, one in colour. Very Good

New York : George H. Doran, 1921 . First edition. Cloth. Very Good. 8" by 5.5". None. The very scarce first US edition of John Knittel's debut novel. The personal copy of the author's son, the publisher Robert Knittel. The very scarce first US edition of Indian-born Swiss writer John Knittel's commercially successful first novel, set on the Cornish coast.With the inscription of the author's son, Robert Knittel, to the front free endpaper. Robert was editorial director of publisher William Collins, and the husband of Academy Award winning German born actress Luise Rainer.With a preface from the author's friend, the journalist and writer Robert Hichens, who encouraged Knittel to embark on his English language fiction career. Rebacked, in the publisher's original cloth binding. With boards restored, original back strip laid down, and retaining the original endpapers. Discolouration to back strip and board perimeters. Front hinge lightly strained. Internally, generally firmly bound, with title page… Read More

New York: Thomas Seltzer, 1922. First edition. Cloth. Very Good. 8" by 5.5". Not Stated. The first US edition, second printing of D. H. Lawrence's picaresque novel Aaron's Rod. The first US edition, second printing of this work, published in the same month as the first, in the publisher's original cloth binding. Ink inscription to the front free end paper. Aaron's Rod is a picaresque novel by the notable modernist author D. H. Lawrence, whose most well-known works were the subject of censorship trials for their explicit language and portrayals of sexuality. He is now held to be an imaginative writer of artistic integrity. Aaron's Rod was first published in the US by Thomas Seltzer in April 1922, closely followed by this second printing within the same month, before the UK edition was published in June 1922. In the publisher's original cloth binding. Externally sound, with marks to the front board, and fading and shelf wear to the spine. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright with the odd… Read More

Paris: Gallimard, 1970. First edition. Paperback. Near Fine. 7.5" by 4.5". None. A lovely first edition of this French novel by Marguerite Duras. The first edition of this work, published at the same time as a limited edition to sixty five numbered copies printed on vellum. The original French edition.Following David and Sabana, members of a communist group, as they arrive at a country house where they meet a man named Abahn, who they were sent to guard but end up killing. Another man named Abahn joins them and the three spend the night discussing existential ideas of understanding, capitalism, violence, and revolution, while a gun lurks in the background the entire time.A thought-provoking and suspenseful novel, exploring human's existence and suffering in the contemporary world.  In the original publisher's paper wraps. Externally lovely with only minor shelf wear and a slight sunning to the spine. Internally, firmly bound. The pages are bright and clean. Near Fine

London: Macmillan, 1974. First edition. Cloth. Fine/Near Fine. 8" by 5". None . Bright first edition of this novella by Muriel Spark enclosed in its unclipped dust wrapper. The first edition of this work. Novella concerned with the Catholic convent of Crewe and the political intrigues surrounding the election of a new abbess. Written by Muriel Spark, famous Scottish novelist. Complete with unclipped dust wrapper. In the original publisher's full cloth binding. Externally very smart with minor shelf wear only. Dust wrapper unclipped and very smart with only minor shelf wear. Internally, firmly bound. Pages bright and clean. Fine

London: C. F. Kell, 1877. First edition. Leather. Good. 22" by 15". James Neale. A scarce edition of this beautifully illustrated work on the Abbey in Hertfordshire, for subscribers only. Scarce work. First edition. Printed for subscribers only, not published. Illustrated with coloured title page and fifty-nine photolithographic plates. Collated complete. Contains a general history of the Abbey Church, general dimensions, and descriptions of the plates. Illustrated by James Neale, an artist and architect of the Royal Academy. Bound in quarter calf with brown cloth boards. Externally, smart with rubbing and bumping to the extremities. Joints starting but firm. The odd mark to the board. Small sticker to the front board. Internally, disbound. Pages are bright and clean with the odd spot. A few small closed tears to pages. Free Public Library of Wigan embossed stamp to the odd page. Bookplates to the front endpaper and pastedown. Good

London: Frederick Muller Ltd., 1946 . First edition. Cloth. Near Fine/Very Good. 8" by 5.5". Margaret Horder. The first edition of the fourth entry in Elsie J. Oxenhams second generation Abbey girls series. The first edition, first impression of this work, in the publisher's original price unclipped dust wrapper.With a frontispiece and a small number of vignette illustrations by Margaret Horder.In this novel, 'the story shows how the Hamlet Club had fallen on evil days, and how a new start and a new life came through the energy of the eldest member of the next generation', according to the publisher.With the inscription of J. Coast, December 1948 to the front free endpaper. In the publisher's original cloth binding, with price unclipped dust wrapper. Externally, fine. Inscription to front free endpaper. Significant closed tear to dust wrapper front wrap head, with small loss of paper to back strip head. Light chipping to back strip tail. Rubbing to the head of the fore edge of the front wrap.… Read More