Highlights

London, Faber & Gwyer Limited, 1925 (but January 1926). Number 1 of 85 copies of the deluxe issue on hand-made paper, signed by T.S. Eliot (of which 75 copies were offered for sale).

Detail of a French Book of Hours, c.1490, with a dragon lurking amongst acanthus leaves. The dragon depicted on this Book of Hours leaf may well have been included in the illuminations as a reminder to the devout reader of the evils associated with the creature and to direct him or her to the safety and truth of the holy text where salvation was to be found. A fine leaf with a different panel of illuminations on the Verso.

London, Constable & Co, 1925. First edition. Martin Boyd's first novel, published under a nom de plume.

National Library of Australia. [Sydney]. (1989). Original printed poster to accompany a travelling exhibition held throughout Australia as part of the Bi-Centennial celebrations, this particular poster advertises the exhibition at the State Library of New South Wales, Sydney, to open on 11th January 1989. ' Celebrating the Books of Australia'. 84 x 59cm. A large striking image of a Lionel Lindsay woodcut, depicting a sulphur crested cockatoo munching through an old book. Poster design by Debbie McLeod SLNSW.

London: Edward Moxon & Co., 1859. First Edition. Morocco. Small octavo : [10] 261 [3] [6, with original binding laid onto the leaves] : t.e.g. : red morocco boards with edges ruled in gilt : turn ins also gilt ruled : five raised bands to spine, lettered and ruled in gilt with repeating wreath motif. Occasional minor fox mark. Near fine. Item #2484

London: 1821. 2 vols., small octavo, xii (lacking vii/viii), 12, xxiv ( lacking i - iv), 214 pp; [I], [215]-592 pp. With an engraved frontispiece to each volume, and 230 illustrations including three maps (two folding), 17 woodcuts and 6 engraved plates by Blake, and four other designs by Blake engraved by others. Original sheep rebacked to style, in a quarter calf box (just starting to show wear at the corners). The first volume is very good internally though showing more age-toning and with just the occasional fox mark and offsetting from prints, the second volume is very good. Item #22

In which are described the Character & the Condition of the Dutch Colonists of the Cape of Good Hope, & the several Tribes of Natives beyond its Limit. ...Comprehending also A Topographical & Statistical Sketch of the Cape Colony...2 volumes. Second & best edition, with additions ... By John Barrow London: T. Cadell and W. Davies, 1806. 4to. Original full calf with gilt borders to front & rear covers. Spines rebacked. Marbled end-papers. With 8 full-page coloured aquatints by S. Daniell, 9 folding charts of which the coloured ones show some offsetting, & Direction for Placing the Plates leaf.

London: Geo.[rge] Bishop, Horticultural And Commercial Printer, 1895. Attractive dummy catalogue from horticultural printers, George Bishop, issued as promotional material to develop new custom. This is an actual horticultural catalogue with detailed botanical information with the lithographed wrappers, a sample to show to prospective customers the fine quality of their printing and the high style of their design work. Interesting both from a printing point of view and from a botanical perspective, not to mention its beauty. A lovely copy of a scarce item.

[PLAISIR de FRANCE] Demeures et Jardins de France; Mansions and Gardens of France Published in Paris by Les Publications de France, no date [1953]. Stylish vintage photography book depicting many grand French estates. A magnificent choice for any desert island reading list. Quarto, with photographic illustrations in colour & black & white; bound in decorated cloth boards, 250 pages, a very good copy.

Rare: all published. The beautifully drawn and handcoloured plates of The Entomology of Australia make it one of the finest of all Australian illustrated natural history books, and one of a very select group of important colour-plate books on Australian natural history issued before 1840; others in this category include the famous books by Smith and Lewin. Gray’s was the second separately published work on Australian entomology.

Fairy Tales by Hans Andersen illustrated by Kay Nielsen. The deluxe edition bound in full vellum limited to 500 copies signed by Nielsen, of which this is number 244.