Selected Titles and Recent Acquisitions

The Rocky Horror Show, by Richard O'Brien

This is an original programme for the first performance which was held at The Royal Court Theatre Upstairs in June 1973. The venue could hold just 63 audience members, so there were hardly any of these programmes produced and I would imagine hardly any have survived, I've never seen an original before. Provenance: This came from the collection of the actor, Anthony Gardner (1938-2023), who stared in many films, TV shows and on stage and also started the production company, Scorpius. Condition: It has creasing, slight browning, quite grubby to the rear (possibly this could be cleaned) and a pin hole towards the top inner corner.

£750

Richard Marsh, The Beetle.

Eighth Edition, same format as the First Edition. Original pictorial red cloth, 351 printed pages complete with 4 plates and one page of adverts at the rear. Condition: Bumped to the corners and spine ends, some rubbing to the cloth, one inch tear to the top lower side of the spine, creased down the spine, foxed and browned end papers and further occasional foxing and browning to the pages, small mark to the top fore edge.

£350.00

A wonderful original C. H. Chapman drawing featuring Billy Bunter in a number of different poses. Signed to the lower right and also signed and inscribed to the reverse by Chapman. Circa 1930s. I'm sure I recognise this illustration but can't remember what it was published in. I've been reading and collecting Billy Bunter books and comics for nearly 40 years and have noticed how these Chapman illustrations don't seem to turn up any more, which is strange when you think how many illustrations he must have made. Nicely framed, but not glazed. The frame measures approximately over 15 x 19.5 inches. Quite browned and there are quite a few whited-out areas where Chapman would have made some adjustments before the printing process.

£300.00

Charles Dickens, American Notes for General Circulation.  First Edition 1842.  Complete in two volumes, nicely bound in matching half-leather, bound without half-title pages. Title page to both volumes dated 1842, 308 printed pages to vol.1, 306 printed pages to vol.2, first state with page X misnumbered XVI. Condition: Both have scuffing to the corners and spine ends, some wrinkling to the cloth and very occasional foxing.

£180.00

A. G. Street, Farmer's Glory, First Printing 1932, signed by A. G. Street to the title page and with a photograph of the author with an Elliott & Fry (London photography studio) to the reverse, loosely inserted. Original blue/green cloth, 312 printed pages. Condition: Quite sunned to the spine, slightly bumped to the corners and spine ends, previous owner's name and address to the front free end paper, slight foxing to the fore edge and first few pages. The dust jacket is chipped to the corners and spine ends, price clipped, rubbed, browned to the spine, foxed and has paper reinforcements to the reverse.

£200.00

Kate Greenaway (1846 - 1901), Original pen and ink of a girl, a young woman and a baby in a rural setting titled "September". There is a faint pencil inscription towards the left section of the drawing that reads; "September, from a child, thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 2 Tim II 14". Great provenance, because it was exhibited in May 1968 at The Fine Art Society in London and has their label affixed to the rear of the frame. Founded in 1876 The Fine Art Society have exhibited some of the greatest artists of all time at their gallery. It was bought from the gallery by a lady who then passed it on to her descendants in 2011 and my brother bought it from them. The drawing is approx. 12.5cm x 9cm. Nicely mounted, framed and glazed, the frame measures approx. 26.5cm x 24cm. The mount is lightly discoloured.

£350.00

Graham Greene, A Sense of Reality

First Edition 1963, published by The Bodley Head.  Signed and inscribed to the title page by Graham Greene to Koo Stark; "For Koos, from Graham Greene". Koo Stark (photographer, actress and former girlfriend of Prince Andrew) appeared in Shades of Greene, a television adaptation of several Graham Greene stories, and she has cited Greene as a mentor. The book is the First UK printing, bound in the original green cloth. Condition: Occasional slight signs of thumbing to the contents, otherwise a tidy book. The dust jacket has light edge wear with a small tear to three of the corners and bottom of the spine and has slight creasing.

£400.00

Elsie J. Oxenham, Original Painting By Percy Tarrant