Current Events & Trends | August 2023 | Alex Johnson

Five Rare Books for Collectors: Illustrated Books

Buddenbrooks

Alice In Wonderland

Highlights of Buddenbrooks' latest Illustrated Books including Art, Fine Press, Literature, and Children’s Books catalogue include:

* Alice's Adventures In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1866)

This is the true first printing of “Alice in Wonderland” comprising the sheets of the first edition still unbound
when Lewis Carroll and Tenniel decided in July 1865 to recall the edition printed by Macmillan in London. Some of those sheets were then authorized to be sold to Appleton in New York and thus the first available copies of this iconic work bore an American title page imprint over the original English sheets. With 42 illustrations by John Tenniel.

* Edward Detmold’s Fables of Aesop (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1909)

Limited first edition of 750 copies, numbered and signed by the artist. Illustrated with 25 beautiful plates in color by Edward J. Detmold, including two extra plates not found in the trade edition. This title represents, in our opinion, Detmold’s very best work. The artist’s powers in the delicate communication of nature’s spirit are exemplified by these wonderful paintings, rich with the wide variety of the colours in the spectrum.

Buddenbrooks

Edward Detmold’s Fables of Aesop

Buddenbrooks

Aubrey Beardsley’s Uncollected Works

Buddenbrooks

The Knave of Hearts by Louise Sanders

Buddenbrooks

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

* Aubrey Beardsley’s Uncollected Works (London: The Bodley Head, 1925)

First edition. With 162 plates, 155 reproducing drawings and artwork by Aubrey Beardsley, a number are in colour, and with plates are portraits and photos of Beardsley. Publisher’s original aqua-blue cloth with black lettering and pictorial designs on the upper cover and spine, in the rare dustjacket which reproduces the binding design in blue on gray paper. About as good a copy as one could ever hope to see.

* The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving (London: George G. Harrap, 1928)

First Edition, first issue with top edge gilt. With 8 impressive colour plates and numerous drawings in black and white throughout and with coloured illustrated endpapers all by Arthur Rackham. Employing his more adult and almost sinister style it is made all the more wonderful by Rackham’s illustrations.

* The Knave of Hearts by Louise Sanders (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1925)

First edition and the best issue bound in cloth and oversized. Decorated with a beautiful colourplate pictorial cover, stunning pictorial endleaves and a profusion of very fine colour illustrations throughout by Maxfield Parrish. Perhaps Parrish’s best work, and certainly a very scarce book in nice condition.