Selected Books
A short selection of books from our catalogue that are interesting, rare, unusual or which we just happen to like for some reason!
Click on the pictures to see their full descriptions.
The Story of the Little Red Engine
Diana Ross. 1945.
An early (probably first) edition of the first book in the Little Red Engine series.
The Smeds and the Smoos
Julia Donaldson. 2019.
Signed by both the author, Julia Donaldson and the illustrator, Axel Scheffler.
Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
Edward Fitzgerald. 1983.
A quarto sized 1980s edition, with full page reproductions of the well-known Edmund Dulac illustrations.
The Master of Maryknoll
Malcolm Saville. 1971.
The first book in Malcolm Saville's "Buckinghams" series of stories; 1971 revised edition.
The Chronicles of Spiderwick
Holly Black and Tony Diterlizzi. 2007.
A large-format scrapbook style tour of the world of Spiderwick.
The Art of Gormenghast: The Making of a Television Fantasy
Estelle Daniel. 2000.
An account of the production of the BBC dramatisation of Peake's "Gormenghast".
The Enchanted World: Gods and Goddesses
1987.
"The Enchanted World" is a series of books based on myths, legends and folk tales drawn from around the world and copiously illustrated throughout.
Catweazle Annual 1972
1971.
Stories and features based on the TV series.
Indiana Jones All-Colour Christmas Special
1984.
Comic strip stories featuring characters from the movie franchise.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit - Movie Storybook
1988.
A storybook with a sinmple text for younger readers, illustrated with stills from the movie.
The Annotated Peter Pan - The Centennial Edition
J. M. Barrie. 2011.
The Peter Pan story, accompanied by copious notes and background information.
A Smart Suit and White Gloves - Career Books for Girls
Kay Whalley. 2025.
A study and discussion of the 20th century genre of "career books" for girls.
Thunderbirds: The Comic Collection
2013.
A 288 page compendium of the Thunderbirds comic strips from the 1960s and 1970s.
The Story of Miss Moppet
Beatrix Potter. 1906.
The 1906 first edition, in the original 'concertina' format. Worn and rather delicate, with one or two repairs, but still intact.
Misty Annual 1979
1978.
The first "Misty" annual to be released. A good copy of this hard to find annual.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
L. Frank Baum. 1965.
Dent Dutton "Children's Illustrated Classics" edition, with illustrations by B. S. Biro.
The Doctor Who Annual No.1
1965.
A very good condition copy of the hard to find first Doctor Who annual, published in 1965.
The Book of Sagas
Alice S. Hoffman. 1920.
An attractive edition bound in bevilled brown boards, decorated in gilt on the spine and front cover, and illustrated with both colour and black and white plates, and numerous line drawn illustrations in the text by Gordon Browne, R.I..
Alice in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll. 1932.
The 1932 "Centenary Edition". Quarto sized, with attractive gilt decoration on the front cover and spine. This copy, very unusually, still has its original dustwrapper complete with front panel picture onlay. Internal colour plates by Gwynedd Hudson.
The Shadow in the Plate
Philip Pullman. 1986.
A good ex-library first edition of the hard-to-find sequel to "The Ruby in the Smoke" in a near-pristine dustwrapper, and signed by the author on the title page.
The Beano Book 1960
1959.
A good copy of the 1960 Beano annual. Missing its spine, but otherwise in nice condition.
William's Happy Days
Richmal Crompton. 1940.
One of the less common early editions of Richmal Crompton's "William" series.
The Golden Age
Kenneth Grahame. 1928.
A nice, early edition of this memoir by the author of "The Wind in the Willows", with illustrations by E. H. Shepard.
Monkey
Wu Ch'eng-en. 1953.
A good condition copy with dustwrapper, of one of the less common editions of this classic story.
Maddy Again
Pamela Brown. 1972.
A worn, but serviceable copy of an early edition of this title.
Simple pictures are best
Nancy Willard. 1978.
Bold pictures illustrate a funny story about photography.