Results for: Arthurian


Four volume typescript, approximately 8 inches by 10 inches. Individual original typewritten or carbon copy pages are bound with string into cloth and printed paper boards, with typewritten labels. Unpaginated; the four volumes are a little over 6 inches thick. Nearly every page has additions, corrections and strike-outs in either the author's hand, that of his daughter, or an unknown hand. Two copies of Fowler's 1919 forerunner work, 'Scenes from the Morte d'Arthur', written under his pseudonym Alan Seymour, have been cut up and incorporated into the typescript and also bear manuscript corrections. We understand that this set is one of a very small number--probably no more than five--of copies made up for submission to publishers, and may very well be one of only a couple of copies surviving. According to his biographer, Brian Stableford, 'The Song of Arthur' was his life's work. It was just finished when a bomb destroyed the manuscript in 1941. Wright spent much of the rest of his life recreating it. It was unpublished at his death in 1965. In 'The Song of Arthur', Wright intended to incorporate the whole body of Arthuriana into a single work of blank verse. Volume one commences with Book One, 'Merlin', and volume four concludes with Book XXIV, 'The Death of Arthur'. Some of the books are bound out of order, e.g., 'The Riding of Lancelot' (Book VIII) follows Book IX ('Tristam'). Light wear else in very good condition.
The Song of Arthur
Wright, S. Fowler
n.p.: n.p., n.d..
Price: $7,500.00
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First U.S. edition , first printing, of the first title; first editions, first printings of the remaining titles. Condition: "Over Sea, Under Stone" is fine and bright; the dustwrapper is price-clipped and has the tiniest bit of wear at the edges, else fine as well. "The Dark is Rising" is fine and bright; the dustwrapper is not price-clipped, has a short, closed marginal tear, and a bit of roughness along the top;l it does not have the Newbery Honor sticker. "Greenwitch" is fine in a fine, unclipped dustwrapper. "The Grey King" is foxed along the top else is fine; the dustwrapper is not price-clipped, but has light foxing to the reverse and uneven sunning of the front and rear panels; It does not have the Newbery Medal sticker. "Silver on the Tree" has a light residue from an old price-sticker on the front free endpaper else is fine; the dustwrapper is not price clipped and is fine. Contemporary Arthurian fantasy and the struggle between The Light and The Dark. "The Grey King" was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1976, and "The Dark is Rising" a Newbery Honor in 1974.
The Dark is Rising Sequence: Over Sea, Under Stone; The Dark is Rising; Greenwitch; The Grey King; Silver on the Tree
Cooper, Susan
New York: Harcourt, Brace & World; Atheneum, 1966-1977.
Price: $7,500.00
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12mo. (134),327pp. 19th century polished calf. Spine in 5 compartments, gilt title and rules. Boards blind-tooled in a lozenge design built up with a single floral tool. Engraved frontispiece of Gildas by William Marshall. First edition in English, translated from the Latin by Thomas Habington. Early handwritten notes on the front blanks. Signature of C. C. Dendy. Hinges cracked but strong; light edge wear; else a very good copy. Gildas provides some of the earliest commentary on the war effort associated with King Arthur. The first edition of the original Latin was pubished as Opus de Calimitate, Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae in 1525. STC 11895. Potthast, I, 525. Sarton I, 455. Lowndes, p. 790. ESTC S103163.
The Epistle of Gildas, the Most Ancient British Author, Who ... Acquired the Name of Sapiens
Gildas
London: T. Coats for William Cooke, 1638.
Price: $5,000.00
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Two large 8vo volumes. (4),lxiii,(3),xxxix,(1)383,(1);(4)495,(1)pp. Printed from Caxton's edition of 1485. With an Introduction and Notes by Robert Southey, the Poet Laureate of England. First edition with Southey's notes. Each volume with a large woodcut on the title page showing a knight and a dragon. Engraved gothic and figural initials. Bound to style in half navy blue morocco. Spines in six compartments with raised bands; deep blue leather lettering pieces, gilt. Marbled paper boards and endpapers. Text blocks lightly foxed else this is a very good set in a fine binding. This is the ninth printing of Malory, after Caxton (1485), De Worde (1498 & 1529), Copland (1557), East (ca. 1575), Stansby (1634) and two 12mo. editions in 1816. This was the first modern text of Malory which attempted to recapture the text as it was first published by Caxton. All contemporary advertisements indicate that this edition consisted only of 250 copies with 50 copies on large paper, though there is some suggestion from notes in the publisher's books that as many as 1000 copies may have been printed. Either way, this is a scarce but important printing.
The Byrth, Lyf, and Actes of Kyng Arthur; of His Noble Knights of the Rounde Table, Theyr Merveyllous Enquests & Adventures ...
Malory, Sir Thomas
London: Longman, Hurst, 1817.
Price: $5,000.00
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Small 8vo. (8),269,(2)pp. Woodcut portrait on reverse of title page, probably of Geoffrey, though it may be Merlin as there are no episcopal indicia. First separately printed edition of Geoffrey of Monmouth's Arthurian prophecies of Merlin; although written earlier, it was soon incorporated as book seven of his Historiae Regum Britanniae, and is here edited by Alain de Lille. 19th century half calf; spine in six compartments, gilt rules; black lettering label, gilt; pebble-grain cloth sides. Binding rubbed else a very good copy. Early 20th century bookplate and inscription of the author and librarian Ernest A. Baker (1869-1941), first director of the University of London School of Librarianship. Additional bookplate of James Stevens Cox, and ownership names on the preliminaries, including one dated 1838. In Latin.
Prophetia Anglicana, Merlini Ambrosii Britanni, Ex Incvbo Olim (Vt Hominvm Fama Est) Ante Annos Mille ducentos circiter in Anglia nati, Vaticinia & prædictiones: à Galfredo Monumetensi Latinè conversæ ...
Galfredus, Monumetensis.; Merlinus (Geoffrey of Monmouth; Merlin)
Francofvrti: Typis Ioachimi Bratheringij, 1603.
Price: $5,000.00
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First edition in English. 8vo. (ii),cxi,(xvii),401,(lv)pp. Contemporary full calf with the boards tooled in a panelled 'Cambridge' style. Nicely rebacked at an early time, with the spine in 6 compartments, and retaining the original boards. Cosmetic crack to the spine, wear at spine tip, lacks lettering label, else a very good copy with an armorial bookplate and a neat ownership name. Geoffrey's Historia dates from the 12th century and purports to be a history of Britain from its first settlement by Brutus to the death of Cadwallader in the 7th century. In contains one of the earliest developed narratives of King Arthur and dwells on Merlin and his prophecies. Originally written in Latin, this is the first translation into English, made by Aaron Thompson, who provides a lengthy preface giving his views on the authenticity of the History. Thompson based his translation on the Heidelberg edition of 1587; J. A. Giles later updated it in his edition of 1848. Scarce, and the earliest edition of Geoffrey in English. ESTC T146343.
The British History, Translated into English from the Latin of Jeffrey of Monmouth
(Geoffrey of Monmouth) Galfridus, Monumentensis, Bishop of St. Asaph
London: J. Bowyer, et al., 1718.
Price: $4,500.00
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Folio. (vi),251,(xxi),52,(xxxvi)pp. Title page in red and black. Beautifully printed on laid paper with ample margins. Engraved head and tail pieces; index. Contemporary full calf; spine in 7 compartments with raised bands. Old theological college stamp on the front blank. Edges and spine tips worn; hinges neartly repaired; lettering label perished; else a very good copy and near fine internally. The first and only edition of John Lewis's History, written in the early part of the 17th century but not published until 1729. Contains a considerable anount of material on King Arthur. The main history is followed by Lhuyd's Breviary of Britayne in the translation of Thomas Twine. Rare and important. ESTC T113293.
The History of Great-Britain, from the first Inhabitants thereof, 'till the Death of Cadwalader...: and of the Kings of Scotland to Eugene V. and also a short Account of the Kings, Dukes, and Earls of Bretagne...in which are several Pieces of Taliessin, an antient British Poet, and a Defence of the Antiquity of the Scottish Nation ... to this is added T
Lewis, John; Humphrey Lhuyd; and Thomas Twine
London: F. Gyles, et al, 1729.
Price: $4,500.00
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First editions, first printings. Altogether six volumes. The complete five volume set of the Prydain Cycle as well as the "Pages from the Book of III" Prydain Glossary by Douglas A. Rossman and Charles E. Rossman. The five Prydain books are all stated first editions, and are all in near fine condition in publisher's printed paper over boards. The dustwrappers of Taran and Llyr are price-clipped; the others are not; the prices range from $3.75 for 'The Book of Three' to $7.95 for 'The High King'. The dustwrappers are lightly sunned on the spines, with some soil else they are very good to near fine, except for the wrapper on Llyr, which is worn at the fold. The first and second titles are inscribed by Alexander to Kathy Osborn; the third and fourth titles are signed by Alexander on the half title; and the final title is inscribed by Alexander to Lee McDonough. 'The High King' has the Newbery medal sticker on the cover and is therefore second state; the remaining dustwrappers are all first state. The "Pages from the Book of III" is in wraps, unpaginated, and is essentially a Prydain glossary. Laid in is a handwritten note from Lloyd Alexander , "One drink of J&B...."
The Prydain Cycle, complete, signed: The Book of Three; The Black Cauldron; The Castle of Llyr; Taran Wanderer; and The High King; Pages from the Book of III.
Alexander, Lloyd
NY; Baltimore: Holt, Rinehart, Winston; T-K Graphics, 1964-1968.
Price: $4,000.00
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Unpublished manuscript. 200pp. written in ink on one side only, bound with cord into a light board cover. 7-1/2 x 9'. The manuscript, entirely in Webb's legible hand, contains a preface 'To the Critic'; a foreword by Albert C. R. Carter, King Arthur's Champion, Knights of the Round Table Club (est. 1720); the main textual sections divided into The Historic King Arthur and The Arthurian Romance; and four appendices: King Arthur's Grave at Glastonbury; Royal Pilgrimages to King Arthur's Tomb; Tintagel and Camelot; and King Arthur and Glastonbury. Laid in are three letters by Webb dated April, 1955, and addressed to Gerald Henderson, Deputy Knight Remembrancer of the Knights of the Round Table Club. In the letters, Webb transmits the manuscript, indicating that he has kept a copy and hoping that it might be published. Albert E. Webb was a printer and longtime resident of Glastonbury, whose published works include 'Glastonbury in Ynyswytryn (Isle of Avalon)'; 'Glastonbury Abbey'; and 'Glastonbury: Legend, Tradition, History'.
The Historic King Arthur and the Arthurian Romances
Webb, Albert E.
Glastonbury: n.p., (1955).
Price: $3,500.00
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Three parts in one. Small 8vo. (14)284,(6)pp. 18th century calf; spine in 6 comparments, gilt. Large printer's devices on each of the three title pages. The first part is an abridgement of Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum by Virunio, a native of Treviso. He abridged Geoffrey's history under a commission for the family of the Badaer, prominent Venetians who were originally from Britain. Part 2 is the Itinerarium Cambriae by Giraldus de Barri, who preached throughout Wales in 1188. Part 3 is Giraldus' description of Wales. Rebacked with the old, somewhat worn, spine nicely and neatly laid-on. Loose bookplate of Thomas Edward Watson laid-in. A couple of old ownership signatures, some old marginalia, a few minor stains, else a very good copy. STC 20103. ESTC S114973.
Britannicae Historicae Libri Sex .... Itinerarum Cambriae .... Cambriae Descriptio
Geoffrey of Monmouth; Ludovico Pontico Virunio; Giraldus Cambrensis
London: Henry Denham, 1585.
Price: $3,500.00
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8vo. (iv),160pp. One of 35 numbered copies in full vellum, gilt, signed by the artist. Top edge gilt. Color printed endpapers. Four pp. of color frontismatter embellished with gold ink; 12 color plates and numerous line drawings and decorations printed in either black or brown. Trace of soil else a fine, bright copy. The first Paul-illustrated edition, being one of only 35 copies printed on vellum paper, bound in vellum and signed by the artist. The tragic romance of Tristram and Isoude is beautifully captured in Paul's lush illustrations. Notable for the decorative initials in Celtic style. Rare.
The Romance of Tristram of Lyones & La Beale Isoude (Signed)
(Paul, Evelyn)
London: George R. Harrap & Company, [1921].
Price: $3,500.00
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Two volumes, 24mo. Each volume has an engraved frontispiece and dual title pages, one engraved in each volume and one typeset. The engraved pages are by Charles Warren after Thomas Uwins. Original tan printed paper over boards, the upper boards typeset within a decorative border, and the rear boards listing the publisher's advertisements (Walker British Classics) showing 59 titles of which King Arthur is the last. Neat stamp and small plate from a Jesuit College library on the reverse of the engraved title and on the half title, respectively, and with some handwritten numbers on the front pastedowns, a small handwritten number on the bottom margin of the titles, light wear to the edges, hinges partially cracked but firm, and light soil else a very good set with fine, unfoxed textblocks in a remarkably preserved fragile binding. Copies of this edition in the original printed boards are truly rare as nearly all were rebound. This is the seventh edition of Malory's Morte d'Arthur, preceded only by editions in 1485, 1498, 1529, 1557, 1578 and 1634, all but the last unobtainable, and the edition of 1634 edition extremely rare. After 1634 no editions of Malory were printed until this edition of 1816. In a modern custom clamshell case, red leather spine, gilt, with marbled paper sides.
The History of the Renowned Prince Arthur, King of Britain:: With His Life and Death, and all His Glorious Battles, Likewise, the Noble Acts and Heroic Deeds of His Valiant Knights of the Round Table
Malory, Thomas
London: Walker and Edwards, 1816.
Price: $3,500.00
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First editions, first printings. Five volumes. The complete set of the Prydain Cycle. 'The Book of Three' is near fine in very good dustwrapper, clipped and which as a crease along the bottom and a small marginal closed tear at the top. 'The Black Cauldron' is Inscribed by Alexander on the half title, "For Blanche Campbell, with friendliest wishes---"; a near fine copy; the dustwrapper is not price-clipped at the top, and shows the original price of $3.95; there is light rubbing and soil else it is very good. 'The Castle of Llyr' is fine in a near fine, clipped dustwrapper, showing just a touch of roughness at the tip of the spine. 'Taran Wanderer' is fine in a fine, clipped dustwrapper. 'The High King' is very good in publisher's blue paper printed boards, showing a bit of sunning at the top and on the spine; the dustwrapper is first state, (without the Newbery sticker), but has a library edition sticker; it is clipped and has light wear and soil to the edges and a light spot at the base f the spine where a label was removed. All volumes are in publisher's printed paper boards.
The Prydain Cycle: The Book of Three; The Black Cauldron (Signed); The Castle of Llyr; Taran Wanderer; and The High King
Alexander, Lloyd
NY: Holt, Rinehart, Winston, 1964-1968.
Price: $3,000.00
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Large 4to. xvii,(i),343,(i),(vi)pp. Contemporary full leather. Spine in 6 compartments; gilt rules; red leather lettering piece, gilt. Edges stained red. The first and last spine compartments have been artfully replaced else this is a very good copy. A bookplate has apparently been removed from the front pastedown, revealing an earlier armorial plate of Sr Francis Fust, Baronett. Wing B3077. A sequel to Blackmore's 'Prince Arthur' of 1695. 'King Arthur' opens with the Gallic lords imploring Arthur to intervene against the outrages of King Clotar (Louis XIV). This second Arthuriad incorporates contemporary themes (Locke and Newton) and looks to Milton as a model.
King Arthur. An Heroick Poem. In Twelve Books.
Blackmore, Richard
London: Awnsham & John Churchil, 1697.
Price: $2,750.00
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Glazed pictorial boards printed in color. Pictorial endpapers in color. Four fabulous and detailed double-page pop-up scenes, plus full and partial page black & white illustrations throughout. Aside from two tiny stains at the edges of the upper board, and a bit of shelf wear along the bottom edge, this is a fine copy with fine pop-ups. The scarce dustwrapper is present; it has a couple of light stains, a short marginal tear, and some light rubbing at the edges else about fine. A sharp copy of an early Disney work.
Mickey Mouse in King Arthur's Court
(Disney, Walt)
NY: Blue Ribbon Books, (1933).
Price: $2,500.00
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8vo. 72pp. Title page in red and black. Woodcut of Merlin, seated, and presumably prophesying to a group of people. Bound to style in full calf tooled in blind in 'Cambridge' style; spine in six compartments with raised bands; red leather lettering label, gilt marbled endpapers. The title page is soiled, was trimmed close at an early date, and lacks the bottom corner, clipping off the date of publication. ESTC T90064. The title continues: (Merlin) 'foretold the Fates and Fortunes of all the Kings and Queens that have sat on the British Throne, from Vortigern down to his present Majesty; His Prediction relating to the late Contest of Richmond Park. With Some other Events relating thereto, not yet come to pass, but no less wonderful than those that have already happened.' Title page defects noted above; the text block was trimmed closely at the bottom sometimes affecting the catchwords, and occasionally the final line of text, else this is a very good copy of rare book in a fine binding of contemporary style.
Merlin's Life and Prophecies, who flourish'd in the Fifth Century, and foretold the Fates and Fortunes of all the Kings ..
(Merlin)
London: M. Cooper; W. Reeve; et al., 1755.
Price: $2,500.00
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Two volumes. Engraved frontispieces and dual title pages, one engraved in each volume and one typeset. Contemporary tree calf; spines intricately gilt; black lettering labels, gilt. Remnants of ribbon markers present. The engraved titles and frontispieces have offset to each other, else the text blocks are clean. Spine tips worn and an old, nearly invisible repair to the hinge of volume 1, and some light staining to the engravings else this is a very good set. The first edition of Malory's Morte d'Arthur was printed by Caxton in 1485. The Caxton edition was followed by editions in 1498, 1529, 1557 and 1634. No further editions were printed until two competing editions were issued in 1816, of which this is reputedly the first. No editions earlier than the 1634 are obtainable, and a copy of the 1634 edition only rarely comes on the market. This 1816 edition is the first practically obtainable edition of the Morte d'Arthur.
The History of the Renowned Prince Arthur, King of Britain:: With His Life and Death, and all His Glorious Battles, Likewise, the Noble Acts and Heroic Deeds of His Valiant Knights of the Round Table.
Malory, Thomas
London: Walker and Edwards, 1816.
Price: $2,500.00
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Three volumes, all first printings, all signed by the author. The first volume, The Crystal Cave", is in original black textured paper over boards; gilt spine title; top edge stained red. The dustwrapper is not price-clipped. It has a tiny bit of roughness at the spine tip else it is fine as well. Inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, 'For John, with every good wish, Mary Stewart.' By far the finest copy of this title we have ever seen. Volume 2, The Hollow Hills, green textured paper with maroon and gilt on the spine; green top edge; map endpapers. A fine copy; the dustwrapper is not price-clipped, has a bit of roughness along the top edge, else near fine. Signed by the author on the title page and dated in the year of publication (1973). The third volume, The Last Enchantment, is in original brown textured paper, gilt spine title, map endpapers. There is a small crease at the top of the spine, and light wear along the bottom edge, else very good. The dustwrapper is not price-clipped; it has a trace of roughness along the edge else is near fine. Signed by the author on the title page.
Arthurian Trilogy (signed): The Crystal Cave; The Hollow Hills; The Last Enchantment
Stewart, Mary
London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1970-1979.
Price: $2,500.00
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First edition. 4to. xx,112pp. Contemporary half leather, marbled paper boards; spine tooled in gilt into 6 compartments, with floral tools and Celtic harps. Full page, hand colored engraved frontispiece by Rowlandson showing a bard and his harp on a mountainside surrounded by local listeners. Pp. 61-112 consist in full page engraved plates of bardic music. This volume comprises the Second Volume of the 'Musical, Poetical, and Historical Relicks of The Welsh Bards and Druids'. Text includes Bardic Triads, Taliesin's Creed, British Proverbs and a Dialogue between Arthur and Guinevere among many other collected relics. A contemporary hand has altered the date and place of publication. Light rubbing and edgewear, armorial bookplate, else a very good copy of a landmark study. Preceeded by 'Musical and Poetical Relicks of the Welsh Bards' in 1784 (enlarged in 1794), and followed by 'Hen Ganiadau Cymru' in 1820. The three volumes collect 209 bardic melodies, most of them Welsh.
The Bardic Museum, of Primitive British Literature; and Other Admirable Rarities ....
Jones, Edward, Bard to the Prince
London: Printed for the Author, 1802.
Price: $2,000.00
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Small folio. The secnd edition, corrected, to which is added an Index explaining the names of countries, cities, rivers, etc. (20),296,(4)pp. Contemporary full calf tooled in a Cambridge design. Spine extra gilt with title on red morocco label. Hinges cracked but strong; corners worn; bookplate; else a very good copy with a fine text block. Contemporary notes on the preliminaries. A fine copy. 'Prince Arthur' opens with Arthur's return to Britain to reclaim the crown, and culminates with the final single battle between Tollo and Arthur for control of the kingdom. Taken from Geoffrey, and modelled stylistically on Virgil ('I sing the Briton and his Righteous Arms'), Prince Arthur was a great favorite of King William. The first edition with an index. Wing B3081. Lowndes 211.
Prince Arthur. An Heroick Poem. In Ten Books.
Blackmore, Richard
London: Awnsham & John Churchill, 1695.
Price: $2,000.00
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