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. [SCOTT, Walter, Sir.]

    Ivanhoe; A Romance. By “The Author of...

    Edinburgh, [James Ballantyne & Co.] for...

    Stated second edition but in fact a third...

    £375

  2. [SMOLLETT, Tobias].

    The Adventures of Roderick Random … in...

    London: Printed for J. Osborn … 1748.

    Second edition, with ‘major imaginative...

    £500

  3. SMOLLETT, Tobias.

    The Expedition of Humphry Clinker … The...

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

    Second edition of Smollett’s acknowledged...

    £275

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

    Handley Cross series.

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

    Limited ‘Master of Foxhounds’ edition,...

    £1200

  5. 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

  6. THACKERAY, William Makepeace. 

    The Virginians, a tale of the last century. 

    London, Bradbury & Evans, November 1857...

    First edition in the original monthly parts...

    £600

  7. THOMAS, Dylan, and Sir Peter Blake, illustrator.

    Under Milk Wood: A Play for Voices.

    London: Apple Litho (Bristol) Ltd. for...

    De Luxe edition, number 61 of 100 copies...

    £975

  8. VERTAMONT, Abbé de, attributed.

    L’Ombre du feu Cardinal: or, Cardinal...

    Milles … and the Booksellers of London...

    First edition, ostensibly translated from...

    £350

  9. WALKER, George.

    The three Spaniards, a Romance …

    London: Printed by Sampson Low; for G....

    First edition, very rare; the very brief...

    £4000

  10. WALKER, George.

    Don Raphael, a Romance …

    London, Printed for G. Walker; and T. Hurst;...

    First edition. ‘In order to satisfy the...

    £3250

  11. [WARD, Edward, and VOLTAIRE.] 

    The Humourous and Diverting Story of Two...

    6, Punderson’s-Place, Bethnal-Green-Road’,...

    Seemingly unrecorded edition of this humorous...

    £450

  12. WATSON, Sheila.

    ‘The Great War, Wyndham Lewis and the...

    The recordings included are three sections...

    £50