Rare books from Northern Lights Rare Books

London: Doubleday, 1996. 1st Edition . Hardcover. Fine/Fine. First Printing of the UK edition. Unquestionably one of the most influential statesmen of the 20th Century. A substantial heavy book which is prone to losing its shape but this is a Fine, tight unread copy in Fine dustjacket. SIGNED (for the seller in person) by Mikhail Gorbachev at the title page. The signing took place at what was then Waterstones' branch located in Harrods Department Store in Knightsbridge, London. As you can imagine there was a very, very long queue and I was fortunate enough to be very near the front of that queue because after only 15 or 20 minutes of signings his security people interrupted the line a few places behind me and told the remaining hundreds of customers to get lost. I would estimate that maybe only 50 or 60 of us got our books signed that day - his only scheduled signing that I know of in the UK at that time.

Helsinki: Schildts, 1968. 1st Edition . Soft cover. Very Good/Good. First Printing. Printed in the original Swedish language. The first edition of Tove Jansson's Sculptor's Daughter. Softcover, pp. 146(7), index, plain white card covers in dustjacket which is fixed to the book at the spine. 21 x 13 cm, edges untrimmed. A signed presentation copy of this important book from the author to her Godmother, the artist Ragni Cawen. At the front endpaper the author has written "Till Ragni av Tove. -68" and underneath has drawn a little heart. A unique and touching copy. Shelf-worn at the edges and corners of the covers and showing its age a little but overall in VG condition.

Helsinki: Schildts, 1974. 1st Edition . Hardcover. Fine/Very Good. First Printing, the true first edition of Tove Jansson's first full-length novel for adults. Publshed in Helsinki by Schildts, the author's Swedish-language publisher in her native Finland. Set in a Florida retirement centre, Solstaden is, in the author's own words, "a book about what it's like to get old and I have described the love of two very young and beautiful people in the city of the elderly.". Hardcover in dustjacket, pp.171. The dustjacket illustration by the author. Printed in the Swedish language. A Fine, tight, square copy, appears unread. The dustjacket has minor rubbing/wear to the extremities otherwise VG. SIGNED in black ink at the title page by the author, extremely rare thus.

Helsinki: Schildts, 1994. 1st Edition . Hardcover. Fine/Fine. 1994, First thus, the revised, illustrated edition. When first published in 1968, Tove Jansson insisted that her first foray into adult's literature would not include illustrations of any kind - so intent was she in distancing herself from the Moomins. By 1994, however, she had mellowed somewhat, and she agreed to the inclusion of photographs from her personal family archive - as well as one of her own drawings - for this revised edition of her semi auto-biographical work, Sculptor's Daughter. The original Schildts Swedish language editions of Tove Jansson's works are always the most difficult to acquire due to their comparatively tiny print-runs. And this title is no exception. EXTREMELY hard to find and particularly in such superb condition as this copy. SIGNED copies of either edition are amongst the most elusive of all her works - they simply do not appear on the open market. You are more likely to find an original leaf… Read More

Finland: Self-published, 1961. 1st Edition . No Binding. Fine. A stunning colour lithograph by Tuulikki Pietilä (1917-2009), Finland's most influential graphic artist of the 20th Century. Numbered 11/29 (lower left) and hand-signed/dated in pencil by the artist (lower right). Framed and under glass, the frame measures 26.5" x 20.5" approx. Image measures 18" x 12.5" approx. Appears to be in Fine condition.

London: Harrap & Co, 1985. 1st Edition . Hardcover. Near Fine/Near Fine. First Printing. A splendid and unique copy of the Ralph Steadman illustrated version of Treasure Island - inscribed by the artist at the front endpapers to fellow artist and writer Posy Simmonds. Inscription reads, "For Posy Simmonds from me, Ralph Steadman". In addition to the huge inscription in gold ink the artist has drawn a skeleton beneath the existing skull illustration. Bumped at the crown and lower corners, otherwise Near Fine. Dustjacket - unclipped, tiny chip to the surface of the rear panel, Near Fine. Provenance: From the library of Posy Simmonds

Stockholm: Svensk Filma, 1987. No Binding. Fine. A quite sensational item of movie memorabilia! A cinema poster or flyer for the 1980's re-screening in Stockholm, Sweden, of Ingmar Bergman's 1949 movie "Törst" (The Thirst). The poster has been inscribed, signed and dated by Ingmar Bergman. Professionally framed by the original recipient and is under glass. The actual poster or flyer is presumably a reproduction of the original poster for the re-screening event. The frame measures approximately 16" x 12.25" and the poster will, thus, be very slightly smaller. To the verso of the frame there is a printed sticker from the framers stating (in Swedish) - "The artwork is insulated with cardboard. 100% cotton" (Google translate). I interpret this to mean that it is cotton-backed. The inscription is located below the final titles and is in blue ink. It reads, "Till TAPANI, MED HJÄRTLIG HÄLSNING OCH TACK FRÄN INGMAR BERGMAN, 10.3.87" (To… Read More

New York: Harcourt, 2005. 1st Edition . Hardcover. Fine/Fine. First Printing of the first US edition. A signed presentation copy inscribed by Ralph Steadman with his usual flourish and accompanied by an original drawing which.just has to be viewed rather than described in words (please see accompanying images). Bumped at the foot of the backstrip but otherwise Fine in Fine unclipped dustjacket. A very memorable copy of this lovely book.

Tampere, Finland: Tampere Art Museum, 1986. 1st Edition . Soft cover. Near Fine. First Printing. An incredibly rare item of Moomins memorabilia. In 1986 Tove Jansson and her life-partner, the artist Tuulikki Pietilä, donated a huge collection of Moomins-related artwork to Tampere Art Museum, Finland. The collection comprised over 1000 drawings and paintings and 38 three-dimensional tableaux. The collection was first displayed in The Moomins exhibition at Tampere Art Museum along with other original sketches and book illustrations by Jansson. The tableaux were miniature Moomin-themed dioramas crafted by Jansson, Tuulikki Pietilä and their friend, Pentti Eistola. The donation also comprised other works of art by Jansson as well as archival Moomins-related material. An exhibition catalogue was, of course, published to mark the occasion and we are pleased to be able to offer for sale a particularly significant example. Printed in the Finnish language, the catalogue comprises 72 pages with text… Read More

San Francisco: The Downbeat Club, 1948. 1st Edition 1st Printing. No Binding. Good. Circa 1948/49. A table-card from the Downbeat club in Market Street, San Francisco advertising a residency by Billie Holiday and Willie Smith, the saxaphonist, which has been inscribed and autographed by Lady Day and also signed by musicians Willie Smith and Jerome Richardson. Smith later contributed to the album Lady Sings the Blues. Unfolded, the card measures approximately 9.5 inches by 5.75 inches. With printed red lettering on a pale yellow background. The card is in overall Good or better condition, with some light spots and small finger-marks/stains. There is one tiny pin-hole to each of the two top corners. The inscription/signatures are in ink and each are clear. Billie Holiday has written, "For Kell, Best always" and signed her name below. The signature is expansive and flowing. Willie Smith's signature appears to have written with a different pen, the ink being much darker than the… Read More

Paris: Maeght Editeur, 1970. 1st Edition 1st Printing. Hardcover in Slipcase. Near Fine. Loose leaves in illustrated wrappers as issued, housed in publisher's light blue chemise and slipcase. Printed on velin de Lana, folio, pp. 30. With 2 original colour double-page lithographs by the artist and 6 after. One of 150 copies, signed by Joan Miró at the colophon. CONDITION REPORT: Slipcase: Minor sunning at margins, front and back. Small chip to fabric at one upper corner. Microscopic chip to fabric at front panel near upper corner left. VG. Chemise: upper cover bowing. One very small chip to each spine tip i.e. loss of blue fabric. Finger mark to upper cover. VG. Contents: One single spot to the upper margin of the first four pages (artwork not affected). Otherwise excellent, Fine.

Finland: Self-published, 1961. 1st Edition . No Binding. Fine. Mounted, framed and glazed. Image 31cm x 41 cm, frame 53cm x 61cm. Not examined under frame, appears to be in Fine clean condition, a few minor ripples evident. Signed in the plate and hand-signed/dated in pencil lower right, numbered 6/30 lower left.

Helsinki: Schildts, 1972. 1st Edition 1st Printing. Hardcover. Fine/Very Good. Published in Helsinki by Schildts, Tove Jansson's publisher in her native Finland, the original first printing of the book by which she is arguably best-known nowadays. Printed in the Swedish language. Of legendary scarcity and in superb condition. In the publisher's 1/4 cloth with marble-effect boards, pp. 119 (120), the binding is firm and square, corners sharp. The block remains fresh and white and is free from previous owner names, finger-marking etc. A Fine example. The dustjacket is in VG shape without loss. A small nick to the top edge of the rear panel, minor shelf-wear along the top edge. Fixed to the title-page a beautiful example of the author's hand-signed autograph in green ink. A spectacular copy of this classic work.

Porvoo: WSOY, 1996. 1st Edition 1st Printing. Hardcover. Fine. Pietilä, Tuulikki. First Thus, the Finnish language edition of Tove Jansson's final, original book which was published in English as "Notes from an Island" in 2021. Written with her life-partner, Tuulikki Pietilä (who provides the striking illustrations) the book describes episodes from the many years spent at their remote summer cottage off the coast of Southern Finland and is a touching finale from these two great artists. Blue cloth with silver titles at the backstrip, pp. 102, a Presentation copy inscribed and dated to its recipients by Tuulikki ("in friendship") in the year of publication and signed simply by both "Tove" and "Tuulikki". A very pleasing copy of this attractive book.

Helsinki: Holger Schildts Forlag, 1962. 1st Edition 1st Printing. Hardcover. Fine. An attractive copy of the true first edition of the Moomins book published in English as Tales from Moominvalley. This lovely example has been enhanced even more with a signature-cut of Tove Jansson which has been neatly pasted in at the title-page. Original 1/4 cloth, pictorial boards, pp. 166(7), illustrated by the author with vignettes and numerous full page drawings. Includes the story, The Invisible Child. which is the title of the book in Swedish. Fine condition, very minor bumps and rubs to the corners incurring slight loss of colour. Free from owner names etc, exceptionally clean and bright without the normal print soiling at the rear board.