VERNE, Jules. The Works of Jules Verne. Including: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, From The Earth to the Moon, Five Weeks in A Balloon, To the Center of the Earth, Mysterious Island, Round the World In Eighty Days, etc. Edited by Charles F. Horne.

New York: F. Tyler Daniels Company, Inc., 1911. [39012 ]

15 volumes; 8vo. With black & white illustrations. Finely bound in recent maroon half morocco with gilt titles and extra gilt to spines in 5 compartments; matching cloth boards, top edges gilt. A beautiful set in a recent leather binding.

This item is available, along with many others, from Adrian Harrington £2750

ESCOFFIER, Auguste. Autograph letter signed twice. 1934 [12951]

Villa Fernand, Monte Carlo, 3 Decembre, 1934. One leaf folded and written on three sides together with original envelope. The condition of the letter is very good except the two top corners where perhaps once pinned to a board; the envelope is in two parts, partly lacking, without stamp and with insect damage. Addressed to Monsieur L. Donnadieu, Grand Hotel et Cafe du Commerce et Hotel de France reunis, Gaillac-sur-Tarn. Place stamped Monte Carlo. Signed both at the end of the letter and the P.S.
Escoffier writes thanking M. Donnadieu for the news of his marriage which came as a lovely but unexpected surprise since he had not received the invitation which must have been lost in the post. He wishes the couple a peaceful life with joy and happiness, a never-ending honeymoon. He also asks to be remembered to E. Bellegrade. (During prohibition in the United States Escoffier had arranged for Maison Bellgarde of Gaillac to ship their wines to New York marking the cases “Escoffier Sauces”.)

In the Post Script Escoffier goes on to write: “I accept your kind invitation with pleasure but, still rather tired, it will not be until next Spring when I take the road to Gaillac. I had to go to Paris during November and, upon the wise advice of my doctor, I have decided to spend the winter in the sun. I will write to you now and then. Business is not brilliant in America.” Alas, a few weeks later on 12th. February, 1935 Escoffier died at his home just a few days after his beloved wife Delphine. In January Escoffier had written to Louis Rampoldi: “My hand trembles ... and it is difficult for me to write.” The letter was typed so it may be supposed his letter to Donnadieu was one of the last written in his own hand. This legendary figure among chefs and gourmets alike, king of chefs and chef to kings was no more. His partnership with Cesar Ritz had changed the face of hotels and restaurants throughout the world becoming synonymous with the elegant style of life at the turn of the 20th.C. Despite his status Escoffier remained a modest and generous man as his letters show and this one is no exception. £1,750.00

Please visit: Janet Clarke 

ANONYMOUS [BARRETT, Francis. attrib.] [WESTCOTT, W. Wynn.] Lives of the Adepts in Alchemystical Philosophy, with a Critical Catalogue of the Books in this Science, and a Selection of the most Celebrated Treatises on the Theory and Practice of the Hermetic Art. London: Lackington, Allen & Co., 1814. [37924 ]

FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE with the 1814 (as opposed to 1815) date and slightly different wording of the title. Octavo (215mm x 130mm) pp. 384, [2 index]. Contemporary half red calf over marbled boards, raised bands with extra gilt and centres to spine and gilt titles to black title label. Marbled endpapers and edges. Bound without the folding plate somtimes found at page 296, and more often in the 1815 issue. Some rubbing to edges and to the gilt on the spine, but the book remains tight and the binding unrestored. Foxing to some leaves, heavier in places, but the majority of pages are clean. Older armorial bookplate of Joseph Swan to front pastedown, partialy covered by a 'The Westcott Hermetic Library' label, numbered in ink with '213'. W. WYNN WESTCOTT'S INK SIGNATURE, dated 1886, to top of title page and a further signature to the top of page 101. This uncommon first edition has been attributed to Francis Barrett, probably due to being published by Lackington - the publisher of his The Magus (1801). It contains 41 short biographies of Alchemists, an index of Alchemical books (with numerous mistakes, but many rare titles are listed) and most importantly 34 extracts from Alchemical works plus the 'Emerald Tablet', some of which are translated into English for the first time. These were unaccountably left out of A. E. Waite's 1888 edition. Dr. W. Wynn Westcott created his Hermetic Library for members of the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia, together with Dr. Robert Woodman, who he replaced as Supreme Magus in 1891. When Wescott and Woodman, together with S. L. MacGregor Mathers, founded the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in 1888, the library was also made available to members of that order. An interesting association copy of a scarce work.

£2250

Duveen [45] for the 1815 issue; Ferguson/Young [II 41]; Pritchard [50.1]

This item is available, along with many others, from Adrian Harrington

STUNNING SET OF THE GREAT WINCHESTER EDITION.

AUSTEN, Jane.

The Novels of Jane Austen (Comprising: Sense and Sensibility; Pride and Prejudice; Mansfield Park; Emma; Northanger Abbey; Persuasion and Letters).

Edinburgh: John Grant, 1911.

12 volume set, 8.5 inches tall. Half crushed morocco by Birdsall, one of the finest provincial binders of the Edwardian period (see our 12 volume set of Bronte). Half crushed morocco with fine gilt wide raised bands, delicate panels and gilt top edge. The armorial bookplate of John Tenant. Very slight rubbing to head and tailcaps. A most splendid set of this most famous of editions. £4500.00

McConnell Fine Books