Search Results: Titles starting with K from Rooke Books

London: Macmillan, 1994-2004. First edition. Cloth. Near Fine/Near Fine. 9" by 6". None. Fine first UK editions of five of Sue Grafton's exciting and deceptive crime novels in her 'Alphabet' series. The first UK editions, first impressions of these works. In the original unclipped dustwrappers. Five novels in Sue Grafton's 'Alphabet Murders' series. Containing; 'K is for Killer', published in 1994. 'M is for Malice', published in 1997. 'P is for Peril', published in 2001. 'Q is for Quarry', published in 2002. 'R is for Ricochet', published in 2004. Written by Sue Grafton, who is best known for this influential and popular series of detective novels, known as the 'alphabet series'. She started writing her detective novels after a bitter divorce and custody battle, which resulted in Grafton imagining ways to kill or maim her ex-husband, providing inspiration for this detective series. Sadly, Grafton died before she was able to finish the series, writing a total of… Read More

London: Hutchinson, 1956 . First edition. Cloth. Very Good Indeed/Very Good Indeed. 8.5 by 6". None. The first edition of this standalone occult mystery novel from Dennis Wheatley, in the original dust wrapper. The first edition, first impression of this novel, in the publisher's original price clipped dust wrapper.An occult mystery novel with science fiction elements.Sir Gifford Hillary, who works at the Ministry of Defence, has outspoken views on top-secret measures to counter the threat of Soviet aggression. On a warm autumn night, Sir Gifford inexplicably witnesses his own murder. In the publisher's original cloth binding, with price unclipped dust wrapper. Externally, excellent. Small closed tears to front wrap head and tail, with light chipping and minor loss to back strip head, and a touch of edgewear to back strip tail. Internally, firmly bound. Pages bright, with spotting to title page, and further instances of light spotting throughout. Very Good Indeed

London : Trubner and Co , 1887. First edition. Cloth. Very Good. 7.5" by 5". None . A very scarce book of Kabail vocabulary written by Francis William Newman. The first edition.Very scarce.Bound in the original publisher's binding. Written by the English classical scholar Francis William Newman this book compiles a list of Kabail vocabulary. It is formatted in alphabetical order. Each word is broken down with an English translation. Bound in the original publishers binding. Externally very smart. Cracking to the front hinge but internally firmly bound. Light spotting to the text block. Pages bright and clean. Very Good

London: Picador, Macmillan, 1998. First edition. Cloth. Fine/Fine. 9" by 5.5". None. A philosophical and partially autobiographical work by Leon Wieseltier. First Edition, first impression with the number line 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Held in original unclipped dustwrapper. This work is historical, philosophical with an interior autobiographical nature. It follows Wieseltier's spiritual journey during a year of mourning following the death of his father. He went daily to the synagogue to recite the Kaddish. The flyleaf notes that 'Between his prayers and his everyday responsibilities, he sought out ancient, medieval and modern Jewish texts in pursuit of the Kaddish's history and meaning.' Leon Wieseltier is an American writer, critic and philosopher. For many years he was the literary editor of The New Republic. In original cloth binding with original unclipped dustwrapper. Externally, excellent condition with very little shelfwear. Dustwrapper is excellent with minor shelfwear to the head and… Read More

London: The Sirius Book Company LTD, 1992 . First edition. Cloth. Fine/Fine. 9.5" by 6". Not Stated. A signed limited edition of Keith Roberts's penultimate literary work, with a loosely inserted signed typed letter from the author referring to his recent MS diagnosis. The first edition, first impression of this work, with this being number 118 of 150 copies signed by the author.With a loosely inserted two page typed letter, dated December 1993 and hand signed by the author. Addressed to 'Billy', and beginning 'this is to advise you that in effect I died in March 1990, when I was finally diagnoses as suffering from multiple sclerosis [...] a so far unexplained complication has led to me contributing a major piece of my anatomy to the hospital incinerator. I am therefore a one-legged hasbeen, at the age of fifty eight'. He goes on to discuss the challenges of authoring, producing and getting published this title, and concludes with 'for me, life has been reduced to a daily battle to avoid the… Read More

Cape Town; Rotterdam: A.A. Balkema, 1974. Hardback. Near Fine. 22" by 15.5". Unamed. A lavish and scarce facsimile of this nineteenth travel work, featuring the artwork of George French Angas. With a new introduction by Frank R. Bradlow. A facsimile reprint of the original 1849 edition, with reproductions of the original hand-coloured lithographs. Illustrated with 30 tipped-in plates. Collated, complete. This work features a series of drawings taken from the author travels throughout the continent of Africa. Written by George French Angas, the noteworthy explorer and artist. This a limited edition copy, being number 669 of 950. In a full faux leather binding. Externally smart, with patches of rubbing to the head and tail of the spine, and to the minor odd mark to the boards. Crack to the tail of the rear joint. Internally firmly bound. Pages are bright and clean. Near Fine

London: Lawrence and Bullen, 1896. First edition. Cloth. Very Good. 10" by 6.5". A. D. McCormick. A first edition copy of this travel work, which was the first book to enlighten the West about the Kafirs. The first edition of this work in the publisher's original pictorial cloth binding. Ink inscription to the front free end paper. Illustrated with fifty-three plates and numerous in-text illustrations. Collated, complete. Sir George Scott Robertson was the first Victorian to travel into Kafiristan, and consequently this work, which recounts his experiences, was the first book to bring the culture of the Kafirs to a Western audience. It dispelled many popular beliefs concerning the customs and lineage of the Kafirs. Though Robertson's style and perspective is now somewhat outdated, this volume is still valuable as one of the few descriptions of the Kafirs' way of life prior to their mass conversion by Amir Abdur Rahman Khan of Afghanistan. In the publisher's original pictorial cloth binding.… Read More

London : The Richards Press, 1940 . First edition. Cloth. Very Good. 7" by 5". none . A charming first edition collection of Ernest Bramah's fantasy stories from the ancient story teller Kai Lung. Kai Lung Beneath The Mulberry-Tree is a collection of fantasy stories by Ernest Bramah who was an English writer. The stories feature Kai Lung a story-teller of Ancient China and Bramah wrote a series of books featuring him. The title comes from how Kai Lung would tell his stories, sat underneath a mulberry tree. There are sixteen pages of publisher's adverts to the rear. Rebound in a full cloth binding. Externally, smart. The spine is a little worn and bumped and there are a few marks to the boards. There is a mark to the front pastedown. There is a library stamp to the title page and library ink to the front free endpaper. Internally, firmly bound with generally bright clean pages and scattered spots throughout. Very Good

London: Grant Richards Ltd. , 1922. First edition. Cloth. Very Good. 7.5" by 5". None. A first edition copy of this work from the popular 'Kai Lung' series by Ernest Bramah, inscribed by Naomi Royde-Smith. The first edition. In the publisher's original pictorial cloth binding. Inscribed to the front free endpaper by Naomi Royde-Smith. Royde-Smith was a British writer and editor, best known for her role as the first female editor of the, 'Westminster Gazette'. A captivating fantasy novel following the reoccurring protagonist of 'Kai Lung', as he recites numerous tales regarding ancient China, in order to avoid being punished for treason. The books in the Kai Lung series usually revolve around the telling of many short stories. Ernest Bramah was an English author whose work spanned many genres including humour, science fiction and crime. His novel, 'What Might Have Been', was a major influence for George Orwell's classic, 'Nineteen Eighty-Four'. The half title page is present. In… Read More

London: Grant Richards Ltd. , 1924. Cloth. Very Good. 8.5" by 6.5". None. A signed, limited edition copy of this popular work from the 'Kai Lung' series about ancient China. An early edition, limited to 250 copies of which this is number 20. Signed by the author to the limitations page. In the publisher's original quarter cloth binding. With a preface by Hilaire Belloc A captivating fantasy novel following the reoccurring protagonist of 'Kai Lung', as he recites numerous tales regarding ancient China, in order to avoid being punished for treason. The books in the Kai Lung series usually revolve around the telling of many short stories. Ernest Bramah was an English author whose work spanned many genres including humour, science fiction and crime. His novel, 'What Might Have Been', was a major influence for George Orwell's classic, 'Nineteen Eighty-Four'. The half title page is present. With a presentation letter from one, 'P. G. Best', to one, 'Miss Reade', dated 1943,… Read More

London: Grant Richards, 1924 . Leather. Very Good Indeed/Very Good Indeed. 9.5" by 7". None. A beautifully bound, signed limited edition of Ernest Bramah's fantasy novel, in a half calf signed binding with slip case. First published in 1922, this is one of two-hundred and fifty signed copies of this limited edition to be produced, with this copy being number one-hundred and twenty-seven.In a half calf signed binding by A. Antinori of Rome, with moire covered boards and a marbled paper covered slip case.A captivating fantasy novel following the reoccurring protagonist of 'Kai Lung', as he recites numerous tales regarding ancient China, in order to avoid being punished for treason. The books in the Kai Lung series usually revolve around the telling of many short stories. Ernest Bramah was an English author whose work spanned many genres including humour, science fiction and crime. His novel, 'What Might Have Been', was a major influence for George Orwell's classic, 'Nineteen Eighty-Four'. In a half… Read More

Dusseldorf and Munich : Helmut Küpper vormals Georg Bondi, 1963-1964 . Cloth. Fine/Very Good Indeed. 9.5" by 6.5". Not Stated. Two reprint copies of this German work on Frederick II. Two volumes, which are reprint copies, being third reprint copies and a second reprint copy. In the original German. Frederick II was King of Sicily from 1198, King of Germany from 1212, King of Italy and Holy Roman Emperor from 1220 and King of Jerusalem from 1225. He ruled a vast area stretching from Sicily through Italy and to Germany, acquiring land through the Crusades. Both volumes have a frontispiece. With the original unclipped dust wrappers. In the original cloth binding. Externally, lovely. Internally, firmly bound with bright and clean pages. With the original unclipped dust wrappers which are very smart with some fading to the spines and a mark to the front wrap of volume ii. Some creasing to the extremities Fine

London: William Heinemann, 1915. Cloth. Good. 11" by 8". Edmund J Sullivan. A collection of cartoons about the German Kaiser, by the Art Nouveau artists Edmund Sullivan. Incomplete with forty plates out of forty-four. Missing four plates, pages 37, 43, 73, and 79. A collection of cartoons by Edmund Sullivan, a book illustrator who worked largely in the Art Nouvea style. At the time he was working in the late nineteenth century, book illustrations were on the rise, with authors like Charles Dickens' having etchings in all of their novels. He illustrated many books, including 'The French Revolution' by Thomas Carlyle. Prior owner's pencil signature to the head of the title page, 'Josef Faulkner, London'. In the original publisher's cloth binding. externally, smart. Loss to the tail of the spine, resulting in the tail of the hinges starting. Light bumping to the head of the spine and to the extremities. Minor markings and shelfwear to the boards. Offsetting to the recto of the front endpaper, and… Read More

London: Ward and Downey, 1889. First edition. Cloth. Very Good. 9.5" by 6.5". None. The first edition of E. Katherine Bates's scarce account of her world travels in the late nineteenth century. English gentlewoman Emily Katherine Bates's account of her travels in Tasmania, Sidney, Melbourne, New Zealand, China, Japan, Alaska, and the Canadian Pacific Railway.A novelist by profession, and widely travelled, Bates's first novel Egyptian Bonds (1879) depicts a group of English travellers on a Nile voyage, and her travel book A Year in the Great Republic (1887) recounts a tour of Canada and the United States. Bates also authored a number of works on spiritualism, including 1907's  Seen and Unseen.An excellent copy of this scarce first edition. In the publisher's original cloth binding. Bumping to back strip head and tail, otherwise externally excellent. Front hinge starting, with board holding firm. Internally, firmly bound. Pages clean and bright. Very Good

London : Peter Davies, 1931. Cloth. Very Good. 10" by 7.5". None. A scarce reprint of this devotional text by priest and printer Guy Marchant. Illustrated throughout with numerous vignette illustrations. Marchant's output was mainly of moderate-sized devotional texts but he is particularly famous for a series of works with 'magnificent woodcuts, including some of the finest illustrative work of the period'. These include five editions of the Danse macabre and seven editions of the Compost et kalendrier des bergers and an edition of the Calendrier des bergères. The Calendrier was translated into Scots English by Alexander Barclay (The Kalendayr of the shyppars, published by Antoine Vérard in 1503); an English version was produced in 1506. In a cloth binding. Externally sound, though with some marks and slight shelfwear. Internally, generally firmly bound although slightly strained in places. Institutional ink stamp to front pastedown. Pages are very bright and clean. Very Good

London: J. Parker & Co, 1900. Cloth. Very Good Indeed. 7" by 5". None. A very scarce copy of the calendar of events of the Woodard Schools, a group of Anglican schools. A very scarce work, with only one on Copac and WorldCat held at the Cambridge University. A calendar of the events, and information of the schools in the group of Woodard Schools, for the year 1900. Woodard Schools is a group of Anglican schools, which is affiliated to the Society of St Nicolas, based off the work of the Church of England priest Nathaniel Woodard. It is the largest group of Church of England Schools in England and Wales. Some of the schools in the group include Abbots Bromley School for Girls, Hurstpierpoint College, King's College Taunton, Queen's Mary School, Bloxham School, and Lancing College. In the original publisher's cloth binding. Externally, generally smart. A little bumping to the head and tail of the spine and to the extremities. Some marks and discolouration to the boards and spine. Front hinge… Read More

London: James Lacy, 1726 . First edition. Leather. Good. 6" by 4". None. The very scarce first edition of Benjamin Whitmill's early eighteenth century guide to gardening. The very scarce first edition of this work, very scarce in all editions.Benjamin Whitmill's guide offers information on the management of both the kitchen garden and flower garden, providing information on when to plant, tend and harvest various plants and crops, alongside advice on soil preparation and pruning.ESTC Citation No. T123566Lacking endpapers.  With ink inscriptions to front and rear pastedown, with the bookplate of lawyer and book collector David Stather to the front pastedown.With two pages of advertisements to the rear.The exceptionally scarce first edition of Whitmill's work, intended to be of use to gardeners of all levels of expertise. In a full calf binding. Rubbing to back strip head and tail, and board perimeters. Small losses to back strip head and tail. Front joint starting, with board firmly held. Rear… Read More

London : Offices of the Royal Historical Society, 1954. Cloth. Good. 8.5" by 6.5". None. The Royal Historical Society's reprint of the records of the abbey of St Edmund at Bury. With frontispiece map. Camden third series, volume LXXXIV. In a purple cloth binding. Externally sound, though with some marks, light bumping, and slight wear to the head and tail of the spine. Spine is slightly sunned also. Front hinge strained, with front pages detached. Internally, generally firmly although slightly strained in places. Institutional label to front pastedown, with numerous institutional ink stamps throughout. Pages are quite bright, and clean. Good

London: Jonathan Cape, 2006. First edition. Paperback. Fine. 9.5" by 6". None. An excellent uncommon uncorrected proof of Howard Jacobson's work of black comedy. This uncommonly found uncorrected proof of the first edition of Booker Prize winning author and journalist Howard Jacobson's 'Talooki Nights' tells the story of a withdrawn Jewish man's reconnection with his childhood friend recently released from prison. Jacobson is a celebrated novelist and journalist, frequently compared favourably to Philip Roth, and was longlisted for the Booker Prize with 'Talooki Nights' and winning it in 2010 for 'The Finkler Question'. First edition, free uncorrected proof in plain cover. A darkly hilarious work exploring what it means to be Jewish, Jacobson's 'Talooki Nights' cemented him as one of Britain's greatest comic literary writers. In the publisher's original pre-publication softcover binding. Externally, in excellent condition, with only very minor barely noticeable bumping to the head of the… Read More

London: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1887. Cloth. Good. 9" by 7.5". Alfred Fredericks. A smart illustrated edition from Mayo, set in the fantasy world of Kaloolah. Scarce work. Thirtieth thousand. Illustrated with frontispiece, thirteen plates, and many in-text images. Collated complete. An exciting account of the life of Jonathan Romer in the land of Kaloola, with reference to nineteenth century travellers's accounts. Written by William Starbuck Mayo, an American physician and author known for creating the fantasy worlds of "Kaloola" and "Framazugda." In the original green cloth binding. Externally, smart with light rubbing and minor bumping to the extremities. Light fading to the spine and the odd mark to the board. A small puncture to the rear board. Front hinge starting with front endpaper loosening. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are very bright with light scattered spotting. Good