This auction is live!
You need to be registered and approved to bid at this auction.
Watch the auctionThis auction is closed!
It is no longer possible to bid at this auction.
You are registered for this auction
You are now approved to bid at this auction.
Your auction registration is now pending
You have successfully registered for this auction, pending approval to bid. Please check your email for further information.
Your auction registration has been declined
Please contact the auctioneer for more information.
Live
Venue address
Forum Auctions
London
SW8 3NS
United Kingdom
The Library of Barry Humphries (at Forum Auctions)
This is a live online auction with auctioneer. For details on registration, bidding, viewing & condition reports, click “Important information” link.
The auction features a remarkable array of books, manuscripts, works on paper and objets from the extensive library of the legendary comedian, actor, author, and satirist Barry Humphries (1934-2023).
Bidding is available online via your Dreweatts Live account, by telephone or by commission bids through Dreweatts, or in person at Forum Auctions. Please contact Dreweatts to register all commission bids or telephone bids by 12 noon GMT the day before the auction.
Viewing by appointment at Forum Auctions: 4 Ingate Place, London SW8 3NS | www.forumauctions.co.uk. To book an appointment, please email: info@forumauctions.co.uk or call +44 (0) 20 7871 2640.
Auction dates
Mar 26, 2025 01:00 PM GMT
Viewing dates
By appointment only
|
Auction currency
|
GBP |
|
Buyer's premium
|
26 % (exc. Sales tax) |
|
Accepted cards for registration
|
|
|
Accepted cards for payment
|
|
|
Other payment methods
|
Featured lots
There are 243 lots within this auction
Refine results
Filter by
Estimate
Category
Brand
Item Type
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
![Franz von Bayros (1866-1924) , Oh! Maintenant notre sang s'unit, pen and ink, wash, [c.1910]](https://portal-images.azureedge.net/auctions-2025/drewea1-10544/images/a8c4061f-3415-4e4b-9187-b299011da5e9.jpg?h=175)
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
3,000 - 5,000 GBP
Franz von Bayros (1866-1924) Oh! Maintenant notre sang s'unit Pen and black ink, black wash, signed 'Choisy le Conin' and inscribed with title in the lower right corner, 300 x 285 mm (11 3/4 x 11 1/4 in), framed by Simon Cooper, [ circa 1890-1910] Provenance: Franz Lehar, Bad Ischl
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
62
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
2,000 - 3,000 GBP
θ Baudelaire (Charles).- Abel-Truchet (Louis) and others. Alfred Piat's collection of 40 original drawings relating to a publication of Baudelaire's 'Les Fleurs du Mal' , including original designs for book illustrations and title designs for themed menus relating to the publication, by French artists including Douas, D'Eaubonne, Van Muyden, Lacault, Chalus, Lecomte, Lemaitre, Wagner, and others anonymous, pen and inks, watercolours, on various papers, the majority signed, various sizes between approx. 270 x 215 mm (10 5/8 x 8 1/2 in) and 290 x 230 mm (11 1/2 x 9 in), loose, all held within wrappers with printed upper cover lettered 'Cabinet Alfred Piat', and 'Cent Bibliophiles' in brown ink in the upper centre, presented with some loose prints, preserved in custom morocco-backed chemise and slip-case (some splitting to joints at head and foot), [ circa 1890s] ⁂ Impressive collection of many fine original book illustrations and menu designs, presumably relating to Les Cent Bibliophiles' publication with Armand Rassenfosse.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
63
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
1,000 - 1,500 GBP
θ Davidson (John) and C.J. Wills . Laura Ruthven's Widowhood , 3 vol., first edition, floral endpapers (that in vol.1 with short tear to fore-edge), original olive-green cloth, slight bumping to spine tips and corners, an exceptionally fine, bright copy, preserved in custom morocco-backed pull-top box, [Sadleir 676; not in Wolff], 8vo, Lawrence & Bullen, 1892. ⁂ A remarkable example of this rare triple-decker, the only one published by the talented and tragic Davidson whose deteriorating physical and mental health contributed to his probable suicide in 1909. We can only trace this copy at auction in the last 50 years.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
64
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
2,000 - 3,000 GBP
θ Gray (John) Silverpoints, one of 250 copies on Van Gelder paper , Autograph Note signed from the author to Elkin Mathews on a proof title page tipped in following title, browning to endpapers, book labels of Thomas Hutchinson and William E. Fredeman to endpapers, original green cloth, gilt, designed by Ricketts, spine darkened, cloth a little dulled, slight fraying to spine tips and corners, preserved in custom morocco-backed drop-back box, 8vo, Elkin Mathews and John Lane, 1893. ⁂ A remarkable copy of this key work of decadent literature. The note, addressed from Gray to his publisher concerns the layout of the work "This is the way these pages should be arranged - as I have numbered them - according to Mr. Ricketts. So now Mr. Leighton can proceed with the binding". The note includes a ticket at the foot which was not used in the final production stating "The binding design of water and willow leaves is by C.S. Ricketts. The build of the book has throughout been founded on the Aldine Italic books." With the book label of noted pre-Raphaelite collector and authority William E. Fredeman.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
θ Gray (John) Silverpoints , first edition , number 219 of 250 copies, this copy on Spalding hand-made paper, decorative initials by Charles Ricketts, with 2 contemporary newspaper reviews and A.L.s. from bibliophile Stanley Scott to Beardsley collector W.G.Good loosely inserted, original green cloth decorated with gilt leaves and wavy lines, designed by Ricketts, uncut, preserved in custom morocco-backed Cockerell marbled paper folder with flaps, spine gilt, 8vo, Elkin Mathews and John Lane , 1893.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
66
θ Vale Press.- Longus. Daphnis and Chloe , translated by George Thornley, one of 210 copies, Old-Style type, wood-engraved illustrations by Charles Shannon and Charles Ricketts, decorative initials, some light offsetting, a few spots, small stamp in red ink to front free endpaper, contemporary purple morocco with double gilt fillet border and small ornaments to corners, ?by John Elliott (according to old cataloguing slip loosely inserted), spine titled in gilt t.,e.g., others uncut, a little rubbed and faded, particularly spine, top corner of upper cover bumped, [Watry A6], 4to, [The Vale for Elkin Mathews and John Lane] , 1893. ⁂ Although not strictly a Vale Press item, like the five issues of The Dial and Hero and Leander of 1894, it anticipates the press. The first true Vale Press publication was Milton's Early Poems issued in 1896.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
θ Vale Press.- Marlowe (Christopher) & George Chapman. Hero and Leander , one of 220 copies, Caslon type, wood-engraved illustrations and decorative initials by Charles Ricketts and Charles Shannon, some light spotting, bookplates of Minnie Caroline Bell and Rainforth Armitage Walker, original decorated vellum, gilt, with 'Pearl and Thread' design by Ricketts, uncut, preserved in cloth chemise and slip-case (a little rubbed), [Watry A7], 8vo, [The Vale for Elkin Mathews and John Lane] , 1894.
⁂ Again, not strictly a Vale Press item, but it contains the Vale Press device at end and at foot of the spine.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
1,500 - 2,000 GBP
θ Kieffer (René, binder ).- Haraucourt (Edmond) L'Effort : La Madone. L'Antechrist. L'Immortalité. La Fin du Monde , 4 parts in 1, number 118 for le Baron de Pommereul, [?of 180], hand-coloured decorative floral half-title, limitation and title by Leon Rudnicki, each part with pictorial title and text within pictorial or decorative border, many coloured, dark brown goatskin jansenist binding, by René Kieffer , spine titled in gilt with five raised bands, crimson goatskin mosaic doublures inlaid with leafy branches in brown and black goatskin within border of three thick gilt rules, signed at foot of front doublure and with his ticket, red patterned silk linings, with engraved bookplate of J.Soehnlin and original hand-coloured pictorial wrappers bound in, t.e.g., others uncut, spine slightly rubbed and faded, board slip-case (rubbed), 4to (binding 285 x 225mm.), Paris, Les Bibliophiles Contemporains , 1894. ⁂ Magnificent work with four stories illustrated by different symbolist artists, comprising: La Madone , colour lithographs after Alexandre Lunois; L'Antechrist , engravings after Eugene Couboin, hand-coloured by A.Charpentier; L'Immortalité , etchings and engravings by Carloz Schwabe, the latter hand-coloured by Charpentier; La Fin du Monde , pictorial title printed in silver and illustrations by Alexandre Séon.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
1,500 - 2,500 GBP
θ Beardsley (Aubrey).- Wilde (Oscar) Salome: A Tragedy in One Act, translated from the French, first English and first illustrated edition, one of 100 large paper copies on Japanese vellum , title & list of plates with pictorial borders, 10 plates and tail-piece by Aubrey Beardsley, 16pp. publisher's catalogue dated 1894 at end, small ink stain to upper margin of pp. 61-64 and following plate, later crushed green half morocco, light toning to spine, joints rubbed, t.e.g., [Gallatin p.46; Lasner 59; Mason 351], small 4to, Elkin Mathews & John Lane, 1894. ⁂ The limited issue on Japanese vellum of Beardsley's most celebrated work. Wilde had commissioned Beardsley to illustrate the book but was shocked by the results, feeling that the images overpowered his text. Beardsley mocked Wilde in his illustrations, depicting him as the 'Woman in the Moon' and as a jester in 'Enter Herodias'.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
![θ [Beardsley (Aubrey) & others.] The Yellow Book: An Illustrated Quarterly, 13 vol. [all …](https://portal-images.azureedge.net/auctions-2025/drewea1-10544/images/2c89ecb1-d661-4e51-b508-b299011d0100.jpg?h=175)
θ [Beardsley (Aubrey) & others.] The Yellow Book: An Illustrated Quarterly , 13 vol. [all published], plates, illustrations and decorations by Aubrey Beardsley , Laurence Housman, Walter Crane, Max Beerbohm and others, tissue guards, later issue without advertisements at rear, book-label of Tyrell's Bookshop, Adelaide to vol. 1 front pastedown, some light scattered spotting, light browning to endpapers but otherwise remarkably clean internally, original pictorial yellow cloth block in black, vol. 1 & 2 spines slightly dulled and with 1 or 2 nicks to ends, light rubbing, but overall a very crisp and bright set, [Lasner 65], small 4to, Elkin Mathews & John Lane, 1894-97. ⁂ With literary contributions by Henry James, Edmund Gosse, Kenneth Grahame, William Butler Yeats, HG Wells, and others.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
71
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
1,500 - 2,000 GBP
θ Beardsley (Aubrey).- Symons (Arthur) The Savoy: An Illustrated Quarterly , 8 vol., first edition, plates and illustrations by Beardsley, Sickert, Rothenstein, Beerbohm, Rossetti, Shannon etc., loosely inserted Christmas card in volume 1. without publisher's slip in vol.7, some foxing, vol.1 and 2 in original pink pictorial boards, the rest in original green pictorial wrappers, some light rubbing, soiling and fraying, vol. 4 with tear to head of upper cover, but generally a sharp and excellent set, with the original pink-wrappered suppressed prospectus, preserved in custom drop-back box, [Lasner 103 & 103a], 4to, Leonard Smithers, January-December , 1896 . ⁂ An excellent set of what Holbrook Jackson called "the most satisfying achievement of 'fin de siecle' journalism in England." The arrest of Oscar Wilde and the dismissal of Aubrey Beardsley as the art editor of The Yellow Book created difficulties for the artists and writers of the 1890s. Smithers's enterprise was therefore most timely. However, employing Beardsley was not without its problems - his cover illustration for no.1 having to be suppressed, for example, as it depicted a young boy urinating on The Yellow Book. Symons' editorship was crucial in recruiting writers such as Yeats, Conrad, Shaw, Verlaine, Ernest Dowson and John Gray.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
72
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
4,000 - 6,000 GBP
θ Beardsley (Aubrey).- Pope (Alexander) The Rape of the Lock, one of 25 copies on Japanese vellum , title printed in red and black, frontispiece, 6 plates and 2 illustrations, all by Aubrey Beardsley, Blairhame morocco book label to front pastedown, original pictorial vellum, gilt after a design by Beardsley, some light marking to endpapers, original pictorial vellum, gilt, slight bowing to covers, spine a little rubbed and dulled but a bright and excellent copy generally, t.e.g., others uncut, preserved in custom vellum-backed drop-back box, [Lasner 105], 4to, Leonard Smithers, 1896. ⁂ A lovely example of one of Beardsley's rarest and most technically accomplished works. This copy with the book label of noted collector and bibliophile Natalie Knowlton Blair (1887-1951).
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
73
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
1,000 - 1,500 GBP
θ Beardsley (Aubrey).- Pope (Alexander) The Rape of the Lock , "bijou edition" , one 50 copies on Japanese vellum initialled by the publisher , frontispiece, 2 illustrations and 8 plates by Aubrey Beardsley, 13pp. advertisements at end, some very light marginal toning, ink ownership inscription to front pastedown, original vellum, gilt, slight bowing to covers, light soiling, t.e.g., others uncut, an excellent example, [Lasner 105a], 16mo, Leonard Smithers , 1897. ⁂ The second edition with a new cover design by Beardsley. Though the limitation of this special edition is nominally double that of the first edition, copies are seemingly more rare in commerce with only one copy traced at auction.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
1,500 - 2,000 GBP
Beardsley (Aubrey) Autograph Letter signed to André Raffalovich , 4pp., Muriel, Exeter Rd, Bournemouth, , Feb 7 , 1897, discussing his pleasure at having a book by Rachilde dedicated to him ("I shall treasure her dédicance "), his attendance at a coming concert "entirely composed of Tchaikovsky's music and including his wonderful Symphonie Pathétique", disputes between the Roman and Anglican churches as well as Beardsley's own religious turmoil (" I wish my dear André I felt anywhere near to getting the great Peace you write to me of" ), creasing to foot, horizontal fold, preserved in custom folding chemise and morocco-backed slip-case, 8vo . ⁂ An excellent letter, written a little over a year before Beardsley's death to his close friend and principal influence in his late conversion to Catholicism, André Raffalovich . Beardsley's conversion would be formalised in March 1897.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
75
Aubrey Beardsley (1872-1898), After. Original advertising poster for The Yellow Book, Vol. XIII, April, 1897 Printed in blue on yellow paper, with printer's name 'C. Hentschel', sheet 387 x 290 mm (15 1/4 x 11 1/2 in), under glass, some minor surface dirt and faint damp-stains, handling creases, framed, 1897
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
76
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
2,500 - 3,000 GBP
θ Beardsley (Aubrey).- Dowson (Ernest) The Pierrot of the Minute. A Dramatic Phantasy in One Act, one of 30 large paper copies on Japanese vellum , from an edition limited to 330, title printed in red and black, frontispiece, pictorial initial letter, title-vignette, head- and tailpiece and cover design by Aubrey Beardsley, original pictorial vellum, gilt, slight bowing and light marking to covers, but a bright, near-fine example generally, preserved in custom vellum-backed drop-back box, [Lasner 115], 4to, Leonard Smithers , 1897. ⁂ A superb example of Dowson's only dramatic work in the delightful vellum binding designed by Beardsley.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
θ Beardsley (Aubrey) A Book of Fifty Drawings , one of 500 copies on Japanese vellum, portrait frontispiece, 50 plates by Beardsley, captioned plate guards, foxing to first plate and endpapers, ink ownership inscription of W. M. Hoole to front pastedown dated 1934 and with his neat ink annotations to the List of Drawings at end, original red pictorial cloth, gilt, very slight fading to spine, slight bumping to spine tips and corners, t.e.g., a remarkably sharp, fine copy, [Lasner 112], 4to, Leonard Smithers, 1897.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
78
θ Beardsley (Aubrey) A Second Book of Fifty Drawings, one of 50 copies on Japanese vellum , portrait frontispiece, fifty plates by Beardsley, captioned plate-guards, neat ink ownership inscription of W. M. Hoole to front pastedown, original pictorial vellum, gilt, covers a little bowed, bumping to spine ends, a little soiled, t.e.g., [Lasner 132], 4to, Leonard Smithers, 1899.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
79
θ Beardsley (Aubrey) The Story of Venus and Tannhäuser, first edition, one of 50 copies on Japanese vellum , from an edition limited to 300, light browning, upper hinge cracked but firm, chip to front free endpaper fore-edge, bookplate of Walter Delay Ward to front pastedown, original vellum, lettered in gilt, slight bowing to upper cover, light soiling, slight bumping to spine tips and corners, [Lasner 151], 4to, For Private Circulation, 1907. ⁂ The first complete publication of Beardsley's unfinished erotic novel, later published as Under the Hill.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
θ Schwob (Marcel) Mimes, with a prologue and an epilogue, one of 250 copies on vergé, signed presentation inscription from the author to Anatole France on front free endpaper, vellum gilt by Paul Vié, light spotting and soiling, t.e.g., original upper wrapper by Jean Webber bound in, preserved in custom morocco-backed drop-back box, 12mo, Paris, Mercure de France , 1894. ⁂ A lovely association copy from the symbolist poet to his friend, the journalist and novelist Anatole France.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
![θ Zola (Émile) [The Works], 12 vol., one of 10 sets on Japanese vellum, 1894-95](https://portal-images.azureedge.net/auctions-2025/drewea1-10544/images/ab5414fb-dab1-4703-992f-b299011d950e.jpg?h=175)
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
1,500 - 2,000 GBP
θ Zola (Émile) [The Works] , translated by Arthur Symons, Ernest Dowson, Havelock Ellis and others, 12 vol., one of 10 sets on Japanese vellum , titles printed in red and black, some light spotting to endpapers, contemporary polished calf, gilt, spines gilt in compartments with red a brown morocco labels, light rubbing and minor chipping to spine tips and corners, covers a little spotted, t.e.g., others uncut, 8vo, Printed by the Lutetian Society for private distribution amongst its members, 1894-95. ⁂ An attractive set of this handsome edition.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
82
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
1,500 - 2,000 GBP
θ Marius-Michel, binder .- Bourget (Paul) Pastels , number 59 of 200 copies, colour illustrations by Robaudi and Giraldon, finely bound in dark blue goatskin, by Marius-Michel , upper cover titled in gilt with recessed panel of cyclamens inlaid in burgundy, beige, lilac and green goatskin and stems tooled in blind, spine titled in gilt with four raised bands, pink floral silk doublures and linings, doublures within border of gilt fillets and lines of small dots with leafy ornament to corners, signed at foot of front turn-in, marbled flyleaves with bookplate of Louis Barthou and label of Paris Exposition Universelle de 1900, original pictorial wrappers bound in, g.e., board slip-case (slightly rubbed), 8vo (binding c.250 x 170mm.), Paris , 1895. ⁂ Handsome binding by the master binder. Marius-Michel (1846-1925) trained at his father's bindery but soon developed his innovative use of floral and plant motifs in bindings. This Art Nouveau style became the mode and he the supreme practitioner until Legrain's modern Art Deco designs emerged following the First World War, when Georges Cretté took over his master's business. This binding was exhibited at the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1900, at which Marius-Michel was awarded a Grand Prix and Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. An almost identical binding, with variation only in colours, is illustrated in Duncan & de Bartha's Art Nouveau and Art Deco Bookbinding , no.181 p.144.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
83
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
1,000 - 1,500 GBP
θ Raffalovich (Marc-Andre) Roses of Shadow, first edition , light foxing, original wrappers, minor chipping to spine tips, a fine copy, preserved along with A.L.s. from Walter Pater to the author's mother "I take this opportunity of telling you how much pleasure I have found in the acquaintance of your son André , for whom I hope all the happiness in life which his charming character, and interesting mind, deserves. Should you ever visit Oxford, it will be an honour to make you acquainted with its remarkable objects" (spotted, tipped onto card mount) in card chemise and custom calf drop-back box, large 8vo, Privately printed and not for general distribution, [c.1895]. ⁂ Raffalovich's rare one-act play with an excellent letter by Pater who encountered the young writer at Oxford. We can trace only one other example at auction.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
84
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
3,000 - 4,000 GBP
θ Symons (Arthur) London Nights, one of 50 large paper copies, the author's copy with his ink ownership inscription dated "June 25th 1895" to front free endpaper and later presentation inscription from him "To Dora [?Gordine]" above , with watercolour decorations by Charles Conder to front free endpaper (this with presentation inscription from him "Charles Conder to A Symons. Dieppe 95. October 1" below) and to pages 9, 11, 13. 15 and 25, 5 autograph poems by the author loosely inserted or tipped in, pencil inscriptions in the author's hand above 9 poems, occasional light foxing and some browning or offsetting, some finger-soiling, silver gelatine print photograph of Baudelaire's drawing of Jeanne Duval laid onto front pastedown, original cloth, some marking or staining, rubbed, housed in custom black morocco drop-back box, 8vo, 1895. ⁂ A remarkable copy enriched with six superb Conder watercolour drawings. The volume shows Symons in the process of revising the collection in the years following publication, some of the autograph poems are marked "For London Nights" by the author at head and appeared in subsequent editions. The pencil names to the head of the poems give some insight to the various figures in Symons' circle that inspired the works, including the Alhambra dancer Josephine Casaboni and the famous "Lydia" whose relationship with the author was an important source of inspiration. Symons later presented this copy to "Dora", likely the sculptor Dora Gordine (1895-1991) of whose works Symons was a great admirer to whom he would inscribe several works in his later years.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
θ Symons (Arthur, editor ) The Savoy, no. 1, lengthy signed inscription by Symons to front free endpaper recto and verso, plates and illustrations by Aubrey Beardsley, William Rothenstein, Charles Conder and others, browning to endpapers, original boards, browned, chipped and worn with old tape repairs to extremities, joints splitting, preserved in custom morocco-backed drop-back box, 4to , 1896. ⁂ A superb and long inscription by Symons, reminiscing about his time in Dieppe, discussing Charles Conder, Ernest Dowson and, in particular, Aubrey Beardsley. " Beardsley had a temperament curiously unlike ours: more imaginatively depraved, but with none of the animal in him. After days of silence he would begin one of his malicious, one of his evil drawings; and the more evil, the more malicious they were, the more they enchanted him. ?Malicious and abnormal - but with what sinister genius he achieved them!... My Savoy - it was no fault of mine - was doomed to fail... I was obliged to write the December number entirely by myself - with the aid of Beardsley. " Provenance: Jerome Kern (1885-1945), The later library of Jerome Kern, Parke Bennett Galleries, New York, 16 October 1962, lot 259.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
1,000 - 1,500 GBP
Symons (Arthur) Autograph manuscript signed of the essay "The Art of Translation in Prose and Poetry," 16pp. on 14 leaves, numerous revisions, signed and dated at end, with calligraphic title page in red and black, bound with a typescript of the same (neatly underlined throughout with initials and poetic quotations executed in red in a calligraphic hand), crushed brown half morocco by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, spine a little rubbed and sunned, 4to, 1904. ⁂ A working draft of this essay by Symons, possibly originally intended for his 1904 book of essays Studies in Prose and Verse. Symons discusses numerous writers including Edward Fitzgerald, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Goethe, Gauthier and Pope.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
87
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
1,200 - 1,800 GBP
Symons (Arthur) Autograph and typed manuscript signed of the essay "Baudelaire and his Letters", 30pp., comprising 3 pages of typescript and 27 pages of manuscript on 26 leaves , with 16 pages on verso containing a seemingly abandoned work of fiction and 6 pages of poetry , numerous corrections and deletions, first 3 leaves with hole to upper corner, some light marking and creasing to extremities, unbound, with initialled ?proof sheets of the published article, preserved folding chemise with bookplate of John Quinn and morocco-backed slip-case, 4to, [1919]. ⁂ An excellent manuscript by Symons on one of the key writers of the Decadent Movement, whose writing he helped to introduce to the British and American public. Symons' book Charles Baudelaire: A Study was published the year after this essay. This manuscript also includes a portion of rejected and unpublished work by Symons on the reverse.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
88
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
1,000 - 1,500 GBP
Symons (Arthur) Autograph manuscripts of his translations of the six condemned poems from Charles Baudelaire's Les Fleurs du mal , 19pp. including title on 19 leaves, recto only, with numerous autograph corrections and revisions, title page creased and a little browned with some chipping to extremities, some scattered spotted, old rust mark from (now discarded) paperclip to upper corner, later tie to upper corner with final leaf detached, preserved in custom folding chemise and calf-backed slip-case, 4to, 24-25 July 1919. ⁂ Symons' translations of the six poems famously banned by court order until 1949, "Femmes Damnees I.", "Les Bijoux", "A celle qui est trop gaie", "Les Metamorphoses du vampire", "Le Lethe", and "Lesbos". Baudelaire was one of the chief literary obsessions of Symons, these translations being one of the earliest in English, published by the Casanova Society in 1925.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
89
θ Symons (Arthur) Charles Baudelaire, one of 100 copies signed and numbered by the author, title printed in red and black, portrait frontispiece and 7 plates, 2 illustrations, newspaper clipping tipped onto front free endpaper, light browning to endpapers, original vellum-backed boards, some discolouration to spine, light browning to covers, t.e.g., others uncut, small 4to, Elkin Mathews, 1920.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
90
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
2,000 - 3,000 GBP
Charles Conder (1868-1909) Cushion design with two women in a circle with elaborate flourishes and decoration Watercolour on silk, 310 x 405 mm (12 1/4 x 15 7/8 in), under glass, some minor rubbing and creases to edges, presented within ornate Art Nouveau arched frame with metalwork decoration and inset stone, [ circa 1895-1898] Provenance: Fitz Thaulow ( Norwegian Impressionist painter , 1847-1906), Villa des Orchides; By descent, from whom acquired by Barry Humphries. ⁂ "On one of his many visits to Dieppe, between 1895 and 1898, Conder was the guest of Fitz Thaulow, the Norwegian Impressionist, at his house, the Villa des Orchides in the Rue des Fontaines. Whilst there he executed a number of panels on silk for the decoration of the house. He also improved, in watercolour, several cushion covers. The house was demolished at the turn of the century... but Conder's fragile and fugitive decorations miraculously survived in the possession of the Thaulow family in Oslo, from which collection this cushion was acquired. Thaulow was host to many notable artistic expatriates of the period, including Oscar Wilde in his post-vincular exile, and there exists no evidence that the cushion by Conder was not, at some time, depressed by the poet's pomaded occiput.' [Text by Barry Humphries]
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
91
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
1,000 - 2,000 GBP
Charles Conder (1868-1909) Two figures overlooking an idyllic coastal landscape Watercolour on silk, signed ‘C. Conder’ in the lower right corner, 245 x 425 mm (9 5/8 x 16 ¾ in), under glass, some minor surface dirt, framed , [ circa 1900] Provenance: The Estate of Irena Nebenzahl, Sydney; Sale. Shapiro Auctions, Australia, Australian and International Art , 23rd November 2021, lot 21
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
1,500 - 2,000 GBP
Charles Conder (1868-1909) Saturn Charcoal, coloured wash on paper Signed and dated ‘C. Conder 1900’ in the lower left corner 21 x 21 cm (8 ¼ x 8 ¼ in) Provenance: Christies, Melbourne, 1st August 1995, lot 145 Christie's, Melbourne, Australian and International Paintings, 25th November 1999, lot 477 ⁂ 'By Saturn they seek to represent that power which maintains the cyclic course of times and seasons... Saturn for his part got his name because he was "sated" with years; the story that he regularly devoured his own children is explained by the fact that time devours the courses of the seasons, and gorges itself "insatiably" on the years that are past...' [Quintus Lucilius Balbus, as quoted by Cicero]
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
1,000 - 1,500 GBP
Charles Conder (1868-1909) Portrait of William Rothenstein in a shower of tears Pencil, signed with initials and dated in the lower right corner, inscribed with title in the lower left corner, image 190 x 132 mm (7 1/2 x 5 1/4 in), under glass, framed, 1896 Provenance: Mr & Mrs Herbert D. Schimmel, New York Exhibited: Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum, The Circle of Toulouse-Lautrec: An Exhibition of the Work of the Artist and of His Close Associates , November 17-February 2, 1986, no. 51 ⁂ British-born artists William Rothenstein and Charles Conder (1868–1909) first crossed paths while studying in Paris in 1890, forming a friendship that would last a lifetime. Both young painters moved in influential circles, associating with many prominent artists and writers of the time, such as Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Oscar Wilde, and Auguste Rodin.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
94
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
1,000 - 1,500 GBP
λ William Rothenstein (1872-1945) Portrait of Charles Conder (1868-1909), seated on the floor Black and white chalks, on grey coloured paper, image 315 x 210 mm (12 3/8 x 8 1/4 in), under glass, minor surface dirt, framed, [ circa 1890s] ⁂ In October 1890, Rothenstein encountered Conder at Julian’s atelier. Described by Rothenstein as “a blond, rather heavily built man, blue-eyed, bearded, with long hair parted in the middle and falling over his eyes” (Rothenstein, 1938, p. 55), Conder would soon become Rothenstein’s closest friend and confidant during his early years in Paris. The drawing in question would appear to have been produced during the beginning of their friendship. This bond gradually faded as both men withdrew from their bohemian lifestyles following their respective marriages at the turn of the century; Rothenstein in 1899 and Conder in 1901.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
95
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
1,500 - 2,000 GBP
θ Wratislaw (Theodore) The Pity of Love. A Tragedy, one of five copies on Japanese vellum , light erasure marks to front free endpaper, original cloth, slight bumping and fraying to spine tips and corners, upper joint splitting at ends but firm, light marking to head of upper cover, preserved in custom half morocco drop-front box, 8vo, Swan Sonnenschein, 1895. ⁂ Exceptionally rare, we can trace no other copy of this limitation at auction. Wratislaw is one of the most elusive figures of the 1890s, both in his little-documented private life and in his works as most appeared to be published in small limited editions, as here.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
1,500 - 2,000 GBP
θ Wratislaw (Theodore) The Pity of Love. A Tragedy, number 1 of 21 large paper copies, signed presentation inscription from Ada Leverson to Edward Heron-Allen dated "Dec 9th 1902" to verso of introductory note, title printed in red, browning to endpapers, bookplate of Heron-Allen to front free endpaper, original black cloth, slight bumping and fraying to spine tips and corners, light rubbing to joint with short splits to ends, an excellent example, preserved in custom morocco-backed drop-back box, 8vo, Swan Sonnenschein, 1895. ⁂ Copy number one of this rare limitation, presented from one prominent figure of fin-de-siecle letters to another .
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
97
θ Rops (Félicien).- Uzanne (Octave) & others . Feminies... , number 36 of 183 copies on Japon, this copy for M.Colin fils, additional pictorial title by Gaujean after Krutke printed in colours, 8 engraved plates after Rops in 2 states (one colour, one plain with remarques), tissue guards, decorative floral/foliate borders in varying colours and vignettes by Rudnicki, original Art Nouveau pictorial wrappers by de Feure, uncut, an excellent copy preserved in modern terracotta morocco drop-back box, spine gilt with floral ornaments and dark red labels, tall 8vo, Paris , 1896.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
λθ Beerbohm (Max) The Works, first edition, A.L.s. from Beerbohm to Clement Shorter laid onto rear endpaper, press cuttings and photographs of Beerbohm and other figures laid onto pastedown and endpapers, neat ink note in purple ink to front free endpaper, original cloth, spine label renewed, spine darkened, spine ends a little frayed, preserved in custom morocco-backed drop-back box along with 3 additional A.L.s. from Beerbohm, an A.L.s. from Constance Beerbohm and a letter from Lady Rhondda , all preserved in folding chemise, 8vo, 1896. ⁂ " The whole thing places me in a rather awkward position with Beardsley as the drawings were among his best work..." A good group of letters from Beerbohm including two that show him imploring Shorter to retrieve two drawings by Beardsley, sent by Beerbohm to the offices of The English Illustrated Magazine . The drawings were to be included in an upcoming book (presumably Beardsley's Book of Fifty Drawings ) and Beardsley wrote to Beerbohm in the hope of obtaining them.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
99
θ Beerbohm (Max) Caricatures of Twenty-Five Gentlemen, first edition, first issue with "Leonard Smithers" to foot of spine, Edward Gordon Craig and Siegfried Sassoon's copy with bookplates to front pastedown (Sassoon's posthumous), pencil caricature of George Bernard Shaw by Craig titled "G.B.S. The Sailor's Friend" to rear endpaper, and drawing of a bat by Craig above the Frank Harris plate, plates by Beerbohm, some light corner creasing and light finger-soiling, book label of Henry Sotheran to front pastedown, original pictorial cloth, gilt, spine a little darkened, light rubbing and bumping to extremities, preserved in custom chemise and morocco-backed slip-case, 4to, Leonard Smithers , 1896. ⁂ An excellent provenance with evidence of Gordon Craig attempting his hand at caricature. Shaw and Craig knew each other well and feuded for much of their lives, though the drawing here appears to be an affectionate one.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
100
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
1,500 - 2,000 GBP
λ Max Beerbohm (1872-1956) Portrait of Mr Clemont Shorter, journalist and author (1857-1926) Brush and ink, grey wash, signed ‘Max’ centre right, and sitter's name insribed in the lower left quadrant, image 250 x 170 mm (9 7/8 x 6 5/8 in), under glass, minor abrasion and faint creases to each corner, framed, [ circa 1900-1920] Provenance: The Piccadilly Gallery, London, 1972, no. 47 Literature: Hart-Davis, Rupert, A Catalogue of the Caricatures of Max Beerbohm , 1972, no. 1520 ⁂ Clement Shorter (1857-1926) was author of 'The Brontë's Life and Letters', published in 1908.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
101
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
2,000 - 3,000 GBP
λ Max Beerbohm (1872-1956) Portrait of Marc-André Raffalovich (1864-1934), holding opera glasses and looking up to the stars Pen and black ink, grey wash, coloured crayon, signed in the lower centre, image 310 x 187 mm (12 1/4 x 7 3/8 in), under glass, some toning and minor surface dirt, Provenance: Michael MacLagan (British historian and herald, 1914-2003) Literature: Hart-Davis, Rupert, A Catalogue of the Caricatures of Max Beerbohm , 1972, no. 1206 ⁂ By family repute, Barry's acquisition of Beerbohm's portrait of Marc-André Raffalovich was the result of many years hard effort pursuing a deal, the result of a previous owner being reluctant to part with it, and was one of his favourite Beerbohm drawings. Marc-André Raffalovich was a French poet and author who wrote extensively on homosexuality. He is most remembered for his support of the arts and his enduring lifelong partnership with the English poet John Gray.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
102
λθ Beerbohm (Max) Seven Men, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author "John Drinkwater's copy - the one I would have given him had I been in England, and which he, being in England, foolishly bought. Max Beerbohm" to front free endpaper, light browning to text, autograph poem initialled by Beerbohm to Drinkwater laid onto front pastedown, ink ownership inscription of Drinkwater to front free endpaper (with his initialled pencil comments below) and his morocco book label to front pastedown, original cloth, faint ring marks to upper cover, spine darkened, slight fraying to spine tips and corners, extremities rubbed, preserved in red morocco drop-back box, 8vo, 1919. ⁂ A superb association copy of this short story collection, inscribed from Max to John Drinkwater and with a humorous poem by him about their mutual friend William Rothenstein titled "Lines on a Certain Friend's Great Talent for Swift Philosophical Generalisation". Rothenstein was the model for the central character in the eponymous first story of the present work, "Enoch Soames".
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
103
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
2,000 - 3,000 GBP
Dowson (Ernest) "a L'Aven" autograph manuscript poem signed by Dowson and inscribed "for Mrs. Griswold" , two four-line stanzas in purple ink dated 1 Octo. 1896, bound with numerous pencil sketches by largely unidentified Victorian artists, spotting to endpapers, label of Miller & Co. to front pastedown, original buckram, lettered in gilt, contents a little shaken, preserved in folding chemise and custom morocco-backed slip-case, oblong 12mo , 1896. ⁂ A pre-publication manuscript copy of Dowson's poem "To the River Aven". Manuscript poetry by Dowson is rare, we can trace only a handful of examples at auction. The poem would later be published but with the title in English and with the date of composition given as 25th January, 1898. The copy from the Bradley Martin collection (without book label, provenance supplied by book seller's description).
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
1,500 - 2,000 GBP
Dowson (Ernest) "To -----" autograph manuscript poem initialled by Dowson , 1p., 12 lines in pencil on recto with portion of autograph letter signed "Ernest D." on verso, vertical fold, tipped into card folder and preserved in chemise and custom morocco-backed slip-case (some spotting and fading), 8vo, n.d. ⁂ A characteristic manuscript roundel by Dowson on the reverse of a typically bitter letter . "You loved me once. I charge you sweet,/ Leave me this last, on faith, in spite/ Of broken vows & time's deceit,/ You loved me once?..." The letter from Dowson, to an unknown recipient, finds Dowson in self-pitying and rancorous form: "I read yr. 'Fr. Proverbs'. Excellent, but what is the good of writing? What is the good of anything? I would I know a curse infinite enough to assuage the spleen wherewith I contemplate all that is or has been or shall be." Manuscript material by Dowson is rare at auction. The roundel was first published by Desmond Flower in his Complete Poems of Ernest Christopher Dowson (1934, p.159), taken from a manuscript notebook of Dowson's, then in Flower's possession and now in the Morgan Library, and there given the title "To Helene". Included with the lot is a 1954 letter from Alexander D. Wainwright of Princeton University Library, thanking the recipient for the loan of Galsworthy and Dowson items for an exhibition and a letter from Desmond Flower, confirming the poems as being in Dowson's hand and speculating that the letter may be addressed to Dowson's Oxford friend Sam Smith.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
105
θ Shiel (M. P.) Shapes in the Fire, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author to Harold Taves to front free endpaper, address panel to Taves in Shiel's hand loosely inserted, pictorial title, 14pp. advertisements and 12pp. publisher's catalogue at rear, faint tape marks to endpapers, original brown cloth, lettered and decorated in red, spine lettered in gilt, spine very slightly darkened, light rubbing and bumping to extremeties, uncut, an excellent copy, 8vo, John Lane, 1896. ⁂ Shiel's second short story collection, including his weird fiction classics "Xelucha" and "Vaila", scarce inscribed. Harold Taves was a friend and correspondent of Shiel's who helped to sell Shiel's novels in Hollywood.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
1,000 - 1,500 GBP
θ Shiel (M. P.) The Purple Cloud, first edition, title printed in red and black, 4pp. advertisements and 31pp. catalogue (dated May 1901) at rear, light foxing, largely to title and following leaf, paper residue to front pastedown, original pictorial cloth, light browning to spine, spine ends and corners bumped, rubbing to extremities, an excellent example overall, preserved in green morocco drop-back box with purple and black onlays replicating original cloth, 8vo, Chatto & Windus, 1901. ⁂ Shiel's most enduring novel, an apocalyptic last man novel that influenced H.G. Wells and H.P. Lovecraft. Scarce in good condition.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
107
θ Shiel (M. P.) The Dragon, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author "The fact that God has a predilection for pigtails and microbes (to judge from their number) has always struck me, and there seemed to me such a picture in their overflowing with a stare into the West... But "the readers" seemed to prefer the first work to the second better - pigs as regard tales! M.P. Shiel. 1924 " to front free endpaper, 28pp. advertisements dated 1913 at rear, light browning to endpapers, slight surface abrasion to front pastedown, original pictorial cloth, spine a little darkened, spine ends and corners a little bumped, some light rubbing and marking, preserved in custom chemise and morocco-backed slip-case, 8vo, Grant Richards , 1913. ⁂ A future war novel and the second of Shiel's "yellow peril" titles, with a lengthy inscription discussing its inspiration and reception.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
θ Shiel (M. P.) Prince Zaleski , New Adelphi Library edition, Jorge Luis Borges' copy with his ink ownership inscription "Jorge Luis Borges, 1937, Adrogué" to rear pastedown, original cloth, light browning to spine, slight fraying to spine tips and corners, preserved in drop-back box, 8vo, 1928.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
![θ Shiel (M. P.) Here Comes the Lady, first edition, The Richards Press, [1928]](https://portal-images.azureedge.net/auctions-2025/drewea1-10544/images/d1fb1924-9040-4cdd-a369-b299011daeb6.jpg?h=175)
θ Shiel (M. P.) Here Comes the Lady, first edition , 20pp. advertisements dated "Autumn 1928" at rear, light browning to endpapers, original cloth, light sunning to spine, dent to foot of upper cover, dust-jacket priced at 7/6, light toning to spine, spine ends and corners chipped, small internal chip to spine, a few small nicks and small chips to head and top of panels with light creasing, small internal chip to spine, surface scratch to upper panel, a very good example overall, 8vo, The Richards Press, [1928]. ⁂ Shiel's fourth collection of short-stories, rare in the elegant dust-jacket.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
θ Shiel (M. P.) The Invisible Voices, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author to front free endpaper, original orange cloth lettered in black, slight bumping to spine ends and corners, dust-jacket priced at 7s. 6d., chip to head of lower joint, small internal tear part-way up lower joint, minor chipping and slight rubbing and creasing to spine tips and corners, but a near-fine example overall, preserved in custom slip-case, 8vo, Richards, 1935. ⁂ A superb example of this short story collection by Shiel, including several with fantasy and science fiction settings.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
111
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
1,200 - 1,800 GBP
θ Shiel (M. P.) The Young Men are Coming!, first edition, the dedication copy, signed by Shiel and by the dedicatee John Gawsworth "ex. Juan R." on title, scattered spotting, heavier to edges, newspaper clipping laid onto endpaper, original cloth, dust-jacket pasted onto covers and spine with resultant cockling, creasing and tearing, spine faded, extremities rubbed, 8vo , 1937. ⁂ The dedication copy of this science fiction title . Gawsworth was a great admirer of Shiel's work and would be appointed his literary executor. Gawsworth's signature is a reference to what has become a long-running literary joke, started when Shiel's father claimed the island of Redonda and appointed himself king. The kingdom passed to Shiel and then to Gawsworth who gave himself the royal title "Juan I". Rulers of the micronation are still appointed today, most recently the Spanish author Javier Marias.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
θ Shiel (M. P.) The Young Men Are Coming!, first edition, bookseller's label to front pastedown, original cloth, very light toning to spine, slight bumping to spine tips and corners, dust-jacket, price-clipped, minor chipping to corner tips, light rubbing and creasing to spine tips, a near-fine copy, 8vo, 1937. ⁂ A superb example of this science fiction title, rare in the dust-jacket.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
1,000 - 1,500 GBP
θ Douglas ( Lord Alfred) Poems, first edition, Siegfried Sassoon's copy with his ink ownership inscription to front free endpaper and comment "Alfred Douglas. Will probably be remembered as a minor poet of considerable charm & accomplishment. Will certainly be manifest (to those who take the trouble to investigate his career) as a treacherous and dishonourable cad. SS." to frontispiece recto, text in French and English, light browning to text, portrait frontispiece, Esher bookplate to front pastedown, original cloth, spine browned, light rubbing to extremities, preserved in custom drop-back box, 8vo, Paris, 1896. ⁂ Sassoon's copy with his superb comments on Douglas's work and character.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
114
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
1,000 - 1,500 GBP
θ Douglas ( Lord Alfred) Perkin Warbeck and some other poems, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author to Fletcher Littledale dated "Venice March 1898" on half-title, title printed in red and black, browning to endpapers, bookplate of Littledale with book labels of Herbert Boyce Satcher and J.O. Edwards to front pastedown, original vellum-backed cloth, spine browned, light wear to corner tips, t.e.g., others uncut, preserved in custom morocco-backed drop-back box, 8vo, Chiswick Press, 1897. ⁂ Douglas' rare second book of poetry, we can trace no other copy at auction. The present copy was inscribed by Douglas in the period immediately after the months he spent living with Wilde in Naples.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
2,000 - 3,000 GBP
θ Douglas ( Lord Alfred) Sonnets, first edition, the dedication copy, with signed presentation inscription from the author to his wife Olive Custance "To my darling little girl and Princess I give this book which is dedicated to her & by her chiefly inspired. May, 1909 " to front free endpaper, book-labels of Bradley Martin and J. O. Edwards to front pastedown, original boards, neatly and sympathetically rebacked, retaining much of original backstrip, some bumping and wear to corners, rubbing, marking and light wear to covers, preserved in folding chemise and custom morocco-backed slip-case , along with seemingly unpublished photograph of a young Douglas and Custance (a little creased and faded, laid onto card with inscriptions to head and foot, 8vo , The Academy, 1909. ⁂ A remarkable copy of this collection, including some of the author's best poetic output, his "To Olive" sonnets sequence. Douglas' use of "Princess" as a nickname for Custance (and her using "Prince" for him) was well-established; their courtship began with their corresponding in 1901 using these terms, indeed, Douglas uses the term in sonnet III, leaving little doubt that the present volume was intended for the author's wife.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
116
θ Douglas ( Lord Alfred) The Complete Poems, signed presentation inscriptions from the author "Darling beloved Dame from Bosie. Xmas 1928. Given to Miss M. Mackay after my mother's death. Alfred Douglas. November 1935" to front free endpaper, extensive editorial markings in pencil throughout (some erased), newspaper clippings and proof sheet of the poem "Lust and Hypocrisy" to rear endpapers, scattered spotting, some light browning to endpapers, ownership inscription of Lady Sibyl, Marchioness of Queensbury to front pastedown, adhesion mark to front free endpaper, original boards, neatly and sympathetically rebacked, bumping and wear to corners, t.e.g., others uncut, later endpapers, 8vo, 1928. ⁂ A presentation copy from the author to his mother, subsequently re-gifted at her death. This copy seemingly used as the basis for subsequent editions with numerous editorial markings to that effect.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
3,000 - 5,000 GBP
Hugo Hoppener (1868-1948) O Ihr Wolkenschwärme Watercolour, heightened with white, signed and dated with pencil in the lower right corner, mounted by the artist onto violet coloured paper with inscription in the lower right quadrant, with additional white heightening, image 255 x 360 mm (10 x 14 1/8 in), under glass, minor crease in the upper left corner, framed , 1898 Provenance: Anonymous sale, Grisebach, Berlin, 27th November 2013, lot 202 ⁂ Hugo Reinhold Karl Johann Höppener (1868-1948), who went by the pseudonym Fidus, was a German illustrator, painter, and publisher. Associated with the symbolist movement, his later works were influenced by Art Nouveau and the Vienna Secession styles. By the early 20th century, his art had become highly popular in Germany, and its rediscovery later inspired the Psychedelia movement. His creations were deeply rooted in his fascination with mysticism and Germanic neopaganism
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
118
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
3,000 - 4,000 GBP
θ Kersten (Paul, binder ).- Ver Sacrum. Organ der Vereinigung Bildender Kuenstler Österreichs , 23/24 issues in 2 vol. (May/June 1898 a double issue), illustrations, some colour, magnificently bound in turquoise goatskin with onlays and tooled in gilt, by Paul Kersten , each volume with different design but both extending across spine and reflected on lower cover, title in gilt to upper covers, 1898 volume with swirling Art Nouveau sprays inlaid in tan and russet goatskin and small flowers to spine, 1899 volume with more elaborate design of elliptical panel formed by onlays of olive and russet goatskin containing leafy fronds and frame of wavy lines in gilt with olive onlays & leafy fronds to corners, both signed with monogram to upper cover and name to lower, marbled blue and tan doublures and endpapers, inner gilt dentelles of small dots to first volume and wavy suns to second, original printed pictorial or decorative wrappers bound in, a little rubbed and faded, particularly spines, very slight staining to upper cover of vol.1, small repairs to spines and corners, 4to (bindings c.295 x 290mm.), Vienna [& Leipzig] , 1898-99. ⁂ The first two years of this ground-breaking five-year periodical devoted to the Vienna Secession movement in superb Art Nouveau bindings. The magazine was founded by Gustav Klimt and Max Kurzweil and designed primarily by Koloman Moser, with the architects Josef Hoffmann and Joeph Maria Olbrich among the group's members and contributors. Poems by Rainer Maria Rilke appeared in 1898 and 1899 issues while the March 1898 issue was devoted to Klimt, Alphonse Mucha designed the cover for November, and the December issue was illustrated by Fernand Khnopff. Paul Kersten (1865-1943) was the pioneer of modern German bookbinding. Having trained at his grandfather's bindery in Glauchau he worked for H.Sperling in Leipzig and the Buntpapierfabrik A.G. in Aschaffenburg, for whom he designed decorated papers. He introduced Art Nouveau into German bookbinding and became a skilled teacher of the craft to many, including Otto Dorfner.
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
![θ Macfall (Haldane) The Wooings of Jezebel Pettyfer [4 copies], first editions, all inscribed to …](https://portal-images.azureedge.net/auctions-2025/drewea1-10544/images/c4b2530b-3393-4261-8c2e-b299011d77dc.jpg?h=175)
119
θ Macfall (Haldane) The Wooings of Jezebel Pettyfer, signed presentation inscription from the author "To my friend William Heinemann" , spine browned, rubbing, marking and soiling to covers, chipping to spine ends, 1898; [Another copy], A.L.s. from the author to literary agent Morris Colles loosely inserted, spotting, light browning to spine, spine ends and corners a little bumped , 1898; [Another copy], signed presentation inscription from the author to Vincent Starrett on front free endpaper, Starrett's bookplate to front pastedown and his ink ownership inscription to half-title, image replicating upper cover illustration tipped in as frontispiece, initialled note by Starrett to rear pastedown "First edition - work of exceptional rarity - the 'circular' frontispiece was inserted by the author who inscribed and sent me this copy.", spotting, spine browned, spine end and corners bumped, rubbed and marked, 1898; [Another copy], 2 A.L.s. from the author to Scott Cunningha m tipped in at front, bookplate of Scott Cunningham to front pastedown, slight toning to spine, spine ends and corners a little bumped and frayed, extremities a little rubbed , 1898, first editions, original pictorial cloth, housed together in yellow morocco hinged box, 8vo (4) ⁂ A remarkable collection. Vincent Starrett devoted a chapter of his book Buried Caesars to Macfall, saying of The Wooings of Jezebel "Few better novels have been written in the language."
Featured lot
Provisionally sold
Leading
Won
Outbid
Lost
Declined
Reserve not met
Leading
120
Quantity
1
Max bid
GBP
Estimate
2,000 - 3,000 GBP
θ Crowley (Aleister) Aceldama, a Place to Bury Strangers In. A Philosophical Poem by a Gentleman of the University of Cambridge, one of 88 copies on hand-made paper, from an edition limited to 100, book label of Nicholas C. Bishop-Culpeper to upper cover verso, spine neatly repaired with japan tissue, light browning and surface soiling to covers, preserved in folding chemise and custom morocco-backed slip-case, [Yorke 1], 8vo, Privately Printed , 1898. ⁂ Crowley's rare first published work, we can trace only 2 copies at auction in the last 70 years. The only review for the work appeared in an issue of Cantab and expressed a view that characterised opinion towards Crowley for much of his career: "Induced by we know not what course of reading, the book is not one that we can recommend to the young, for though its stanzas are sufficiently musical, there runs through them a vein of scepticism and licentiousness which required to be treated with caution."
Please review and confirm your bid
Current bid:
Opening bid:
Your max bid:
Max bid:
Quantity:
Bidding ends:
Your bid is off increment
Choose one of the quick bid options below:
Your bid is below the current minimum bid
To place a bid select the minimum amount below:
Bidding has ended on this item
We are always adding new lots, use search to find similar items.
You are the current highest bidder!
To be sure to win, come back before the lot closes or increase your maximum bid.
You have been outbid!
For a chance of winning, increase your maximum bid.
You have been outbid!
Another bidder has already bid this amount. For a chance of winning, increase your maximum bid.
You have won!
Congratulations!
You are the winning bidder on this lot.
You have lost!
Unfortunately you have missed out on this lot.
Unable to place your bid
Please refresh your page to see current lot status.
We're very sorry, but we were unable to process the Buy it now.
Please contact customer services for more help.
Your bid has been declined
Your bid has been declined by the auctioneer, please contact customer services for more information.
Your bid is pending approval with the auctioneer
Please check your email account for more details.
You cannot Buy it now until you are approved to bid.
Please contact the auctioneer
Confirming your bid is a legally binding obligation to purchase and pay for the lot should your bid be successful.
Please review and confirm your bid
Current bid:
Opening bid:
Your max bid:
Max bid:
Buy it now price:
As your Max bid is at least equal to the Buy it now price, you can immediately purchase the lot.
New bid:
Quantity:
Bidding ends:
Your bid is off increment
Choose one of the quick bid options below:
Your bid is below the current minimum bid
To place a bid select the minimum amount below:
Bidding has ended on this item
We are always adding new lots, use search to find similar items.
You are the current highest bidder!
To be sure to win, come back before the lot closes or increase your maximum bid.
You have been outbid!
For a chance of winning, increase your maximum bid.
You have been outbid!
Another bidder has already bid this amount. For a chance of winning, increase your maximum bid.
You have won!
Congratulations!
You are the winning bidder on this lot.
You have lost!
Unfortunately you have missed out on this lot.
Unable to place your bid
Please refresh your page to see current lot status.
We're very sorry, but we were unable to process the Buy it now.
Please contact customer services for more help.
Your bid has been declined
Your bid has been declined by the auctioneer, please contact customer services for more information.
Your bid is pending approval with the auctioneer
Please check your email account for more details.
You cannot Buy it now until you are approved to bid.
Please contact the auctioneer
Confirming your bid is a legally binding obligation to purchase and pay for the lot should your bid be successful.