Month: April 2020

Categories
Book News Fine Press First Editions

A notable and ‘scarlet’ book of the 20th Century

Ulysses by James Joyce
from Shakespeare and Company, Paris

Here is a volume with a further famous publishing history. Originally published in a fragile paperback binding with the Greek flag blue cover, it is now hard to find in good condition. Following an unsuccesful serialisation in the Little Review, Ulysses was published (in English) by Shakespeare and Company, the independent bookstore in Paris which had been established in 1919 by the American expatriate Sylvia Beach — and which became the gathering-place for such literary greats as Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ezra Pound, Gertrude Stein and of course James Joyce. A printer was found in Maurice Darantière of Dijon.

Indeed, the story of how Shakespeare and Company came to be the publisher of this work is shrouded in varying accounts and is not as clear as may first appear. Sylvia Beach’s own account can be found in her biographical volume “Shakespeare and Company” first appearing in 1959, this account has been amended in more recent times by Edward L. Bishop.

The publication process was not nearly as straightforward as had been anticipated, due in part to Joyce’s continual rewriting of the text and its complexity. The publication date was continually moved back and eventually it was first published in 1922 in a number of variant editions.

It was the 1926 edition, (it being the 8th printing overall, in effect the true second edition) that was the first printing of Ulysses to have the type entirely reset, to correct the legion of typographic errors in the hurried first printing that had carried through all the previous printings, thus basically making the 8th printing the 2nd Shakespeare and Company edition. The work was accomplished with Joyce’s participation, and became one of the key Shakespeare and Company printings, now early and desirable. All this making for a bibliographically interesting volume.

We feature two copies of the 1926 printing, one in the original blue paper wrappers and the other finely rebound in full scarlet leather with black title and two raised bands to spine, by J. Walters, in matched slipcase, the binding is most attractive. a striking binding to match the content.

Categories
Book News West Yorkshire Local History

Peter Brears: A Local & National Treasure


Peter Brears has been director of both York and Leeds’ City Museums, has acted as consultant to the National Trust, English Heritage, the Historic Royal Palaces, the winner of numerous prizes including the André Simon award for his book, Cooking and Dining in Medieval England, the standard text on the subject.

He has written extensively on traditional foods and cookery in Yorkshire, as well as a ground breaking illustrated catalogue of domestic and farmhouse materials in Torquay Museum. He supervised the reconstruction of several important historical kitchens, including those at Hampton Court, Ham House, Cowdray Castle and Belvoir Castle.

Peter is a long standing member of Wakefield Historical Society and a former member of its Council. In addition he has written and illustrated Wakefield Historical Publications’ most recent book. The Buildings of Tudor and Stuart Wakefield. This is of far more than just local interest, it indicates the significance of provincial towns in general and of the development of Wakefield in particular. It is splendidly illustrated with Peter’s own drawings of the buildings many of which he recorded prior to demolition in the 1960s and 70s. This is probably the most significant book relating to Wakefield history since J.W. Walker’s Wakefield History and Its People in the 1930s. It is an essential read for all local historians and those interested in vernacular architecture. This is available for immediate delivery at just £19 + £3 postage.

Categories
Antiquarian Book News T. E. Lawrence

Association copies

Sometimes the book can mean so much more than just the physical object. It can have an association with a person or persons that lifts it above the ordinary edition.

We are always on the lookout for such items. Perhaps in our world of T.E. Lawrence the object all sublime might be a book from the Clouds Hill library, perhaps but not always bearing the “Clouds Hill” bookplate. They turn up from time to time. At present we have two such in our stock.

Clouds Hill library bookplate

However occasionally a volume turns up that is unusual and exciting in its own right, one such is a copy of  Suleiman Mousa’s, 1966 “T E Lawrence, An Arab View” being a copy from the library of Arabist, diplomat and TE Lawrence scholar St John Armitage, He had a fine library and was learned, especially on TE Lawrence and St John Philby. He was always helpful in the organisation of exhibitions and conferences. Laid in is a postcard from Mousa as well as other related material. In itself the book is not uncommon, but with the associated item a fascinating “association” copy.

Away from the field of TE, another fascinating item is “Lyric Poetry of Glees, Madrigals, Etc Being a Supplement to the Collection of Clark and Leete and Bellamy”. Published privately in 1911 for the Noblemen and Gentlemen’s Catch Club. This copy is beautifully bound in full black leather being the copy of Sir Edgar Speyer with his name in glorious gilt to the front cover. Speyer, elected to the club in 1903 was a supporter of the musical arts and a friend of several leading composers, including Edward Elgar, Richard Strauss and Claude Debussy. He was chairman of the Classical Music Society for ten years, and he largely funded the Promenade Concerts between 1902 and 1914. His non-musical charitable activities included being honorary treasurer of the fund for Captain Scott’s Antarctic expedition. For his philanthropy he was made a baronet in 1906 and a Privy Counsellor in 1909. Speyer is listed in the current membership in this volume. The Noblemen and Gentlemen’s Catch Club was founded in 1761 and became influential in the promotion of music with very many important members whom are listed in this volume. So a further  attractive and significant association copy.

We hope to feature other such treasurers from our inventory in the future.