English Literature

Contact Donovan Rees or Zach Larsen

British literature and history from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century, with an emphasis on poetry, fiction, and drama.

We usually have a selection of literary works from the STC and Wing period (i.e. before 1701), and a broad range of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century fiction and poetry, particularly the Romantics. We also have a selection of historical manuscripts, prints and broadsides, and works in translation.

Among important works which have passed through our hands are the editor's presentation copy of Milton's Lycidas, Swift's Modest Proposal, the autograph draft of Byron's She walks in beauty, the autograph manuscript of Jane Austen's only play Sir Charles Grandison, Dickens’s copy of Vanity Fair, Trollope's classical library, and, over the years, some fifty Shakespeare First Folios.

  1. SMOLLETT, Tobias.

    The Expedition of Humphry Clinker … The...

    London, Printed for W. Johnston … and...

    Second edition of Smollett’s acknowledged...

    £275

  2. SOPHOCLES.

    ‘Αι του Σοφοκλεους τραγωδιαι...

    Eton, Joseph Pote; and sold by C. Bathurst...

    An attractive Eton-printed edition of Thomas...

    £400

  3. SOPHOCLES; Adrien TURNÈBE, editor.

    Τραγωδιαι. Αιαξ μαστιγοφορος....

    Paris, Adrien Turnèbe, 1553 [(colophon:)...

    A wide-margined copy of Sophocles in Greek...

    £1850

  4. SOPHOCLES; Ezra POUND, translator.

    Women of Trachis. A Version by Ezra Pound.

    London, Neville Spearman, [1956]. 

    First edition of Pound’s version of Sophocles’...

    £1000

  5. SOUTHEY, Robert.

    The Lay of the Laureate. Carmen Nuptiale …

    London: Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees,...

    First trade edition of Southey’s laureate...

    £200

  6. SPENSER, Edmund.

    The Works of Edmund Spenser.

    Oxford, The Shakespeare Head Press, 1930...

    Limited edition, numbered 123 of 375 copies,...

    £875

  7. SPRAT, Thomas.

    Observations on Monsieur de Sorbier’s...

    London, Printed for John Martyn, and James...

    First edition. When Samuel de Sorbière...

    £850

  8. STEVENSON, Robert Louis.

    Poems …

    London, [Florence Press for] Chatto &...

    £100

  9. STILLINGFLEET, Edward.

    Sermons preached on several Occasions to...

    London, Printed by Robert White, for Henry...

    First edition thus, comprising twelve sermons...

    £200

  10. [STRASBOURG.]

    Souscription patriotique de la part du...

    [S.l., s.n., 1789?.]

    Rare first edition of this entertaining...

    £165

  11. STRYPE, John.

    The Life of the learned Sir John Cheke,...

    London, John Wyat, 1705.

    First edition of Strype’s biography of...

    £450

  12. SUETONIUS Tranquillus, Gaius, and HERODIAN OF ANTIOCH.

    Vita di duodeci imperatori… nuovamente...

    Venice, Venturino di Rossinelli [for Curzio...

    Annotated copy of a scarce edition of this...

    £1250

  13. SUETONIUS TRANQUILLUS, Caius.

    [De XII Caesarum vitis. De Illustribus...

    Paris, Typographia Regia, 1644.

    An attractive, illustrated pocket Suetonius....

    £350

  14. SULIVAN, Richard Joseph.

    Philosophical Rhapsodies. Fragments of...

    London, printed for T. Becket … Bookseller...

    First edition of this eccentric travel-inspired...

    £750

  15. SULLIVAN, J.P., editor.

    Ezra Pound, a critical Anthology.

    [London, Penguin, 1970.]

    First edition.

    £30

  16. [SURTEES, Robert Smith,] and John LEECH (illustrator).

    Handley Cross series.

    London, Bradbury, Agnew, & Co., 1899-1900.

    Limited ‘Master of Foxhounds’ edition,...

    £1200

  17. [SWEDENBORG, Emanuel.] 

    De nova Hierosolyma et ejus Doctrina Coelesti:...

    London, [John Lewis,] 1758. 

    First edition of Swedenborg’s ‘New...

    £975

  18. [SWIFT, Jonathan].

    Miscellanies in Prose and Verse.

    London: Printed for John Morphew ... 1711.

    First edition, ordinary paper issue, the...

    £1250

  19. SWIFT, Jonathan.

    The Works of J. S, D. D, D. S. P. D. in...

    Dublin: Printed by and for George Faulkner,...

    First 12mo. edition of the first collected...

    £1250

  20. [SWIFT, Jonathan.]

    On Poetry: a Rapsody.

    Printed at Dublin, and Re-printed at London:...

    First edition. On Poetry, one of...

    £750