Search Results: Poetry from Rare Illustrated Books

London: World's End Press, 1974. After producing a portfolio of plates titled 'Aphrodite', Brunskill purchased a nineteenth century Lion platen press built for Frederick Ulmer. 'The Romaunt of the Rose' was the second book printed on the press, with type composition by Edward Ash. The poem was started in French by Guillaume de Loris in 1237 and translated by Chaucer shortly thereafter. Edition limited to 75 copies, with an original double page etching signed by the artist, 290mm x 410mm, 54 pages printed on De Wint handmade paper, edges uncut, blind blocked frontis, vibrant pictorial boards; a fine copy.

London: George C. Harrap, 1930. Willy Pogany. The great epic Persian erotic love poem illustrated by the masterful Hungarian artist, Willy Pogany. Signed by Pogany, limited edition of 750 copies, the English issue, original etching, a lovely copy.

Kirribili: J.T. Kirtley, 1924. First Edition. Printed on handmade paper with hand-set type and hand-coloured decorations by Donald Finley. Edition limited to 125 copies, numbered and signed by the author and artist. A surprisingly profound collection of works for such an unassuming volume. Scarce. Maorilander poet, Dora Wilcox (Mary Theodora Joyce Wilcox, 1873 - 1953) distinguished herself in 1927 by winning the prize for composing an ode to commemorate the opening of parliament in Canberra titled 'Australia in Luce'. Octavo, bound in the original paper wrappers and tied with a lilac ribbon, a very good copy.

Thomas Nelson and Sons: London, 1927. Ethel Everett. I WISH IT WOULD RAIN 'I WISH it would rain, oh! I wish it would rain ; But there isn't a cloud in the sky, And the dust is a-blowing down Buttercup Lane, And everywhere's perfectly dry.' A collection of poems for young children. Perhaps one of the most beautiful books in the the Enid Blyton canon with delightful colour plates and line drawings. Small quarto, illustrated endpapers, 128 pages, frontispiece and eight full page colour plates, numerous full-page black& white illustrations throughout; bound in original decorated cloth, top-edge gilt and others uncut; some foxing, a lovely copy.

Sussex: Pear Tree Press, 1902. Edmund Waller (1606-1687) was respected for his command of language and prowess as an orator. The romantic poems featured in this rare edition are among his more sensitive works and form a pleasing contrast to the Royalist verse penned during the English Civil war. The present edition is limited to 300 copies and is printed on hand-made paper with uncut fore and bottom edges. A confident and stylised work. Octavo, quarter cloth with paper label; a near fine copy.

London: Duckworth and Company, 1915. Charles Robinson. Illustrated by Charles Robinson. Robinson's plates are gentle and humorous, executed in warm watercolour tones admirably suited to Shakespeare's poetry. Quarto, frontispiece and eleven tipped colour plates with printed tissue-guards, decorations and vignettes by Robinson throughout; original blind-blocked red cloth, slightly marked, four of the plates are mildly creased at one corner, a very good copy otherwise.

London: Kegan Paul, 1895. THOMSON, Hugh. A gorgeous collection of Dobson's poetry with Thomson's characteristic illustrated vignettes throughout. Housed in a magnificent rich gilt binding. DEDICATION TO * * * What would our modern maids to-day? I watch, and can't conjecture : A dubious tale?—an Ibsen play?— A pessimist Lecture?- I know not. But this, Child, I know : You like things sweet and seemly ; Old-fashioned flowers, odd shapes in Bow, "Auld Robin Gray" (extremely) ; You —with my "Dorothy" —delight In fragrant cedar-presses ; In window-corners warm and bright, In warm, and lilac dresses ; You can still read, at any rate, Charles Lamb and "Evelina" :-- To You, My Dear, I dedicate This "STORY OF ROSINA.". First edition. Octavo, bound in original gilt-decorated red cloth, a fine bright copy.

Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1911. First Edition. Florence Kate Kingsford Cockerell. First edition: an Egyptian fragment translated by Gilbert Murray. The classicist explains in his preface that "the origin of this tale is in Demotic Egyptian, in prose, on a fragmentary papyrus dated ‘the first month of winter, in the fifteenth year' of some king unnamed. Palaeographical evidence suggests some date about 100 B.C. ...it so fascinated me that I presently found myself, to the neglect of more urgent duties, putting it into English verse and filling up the gaps in the narrative." 'SETNE KHAMUAS, son of RAMESES, High Priest of PTAH, beneath his garden trees Dwelt with his wife and children; wise was he In Books of power and ancient Masteries. And much he pondered on a tale they told, How NEFREKEPTA, dead in days of old, Held still the Book of HERMES which is THOTH Hid in his tomb, and never loosed his hold...'. Quarto, uncut, with colour-printed frontispiece and woodcut tail-piece by Florence Kingsford… Read More

Gate Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London: Vincent Brooks, Day & Son, 1891. First Edition. With Photo-etched illustrations by Mrs E.M. Boyd, Mr R. Andre, and the Author. Small quarto, 64 pages, 240 mm x 180 mm, previous owner's bookplate, previous owner's gift inscription on front free endpaper, slight water damage to upper edge, a very good copy of this scarce and lovely book.

San Francisco: Paul Elder, 1909. Will Jenkins. Decorated by Will Jenkins with typography by J.H. Nash and specially printed at the Tomoye Press. Small octavo, original printed wrappers, tipped frontispiece, covers a little sunned otherwise fine.