English Literature

Contact Donovan Rees

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. [ALDERLEY EDGE.]

    Alderley Edge and its Neighbourhood.

    Macclesfield, J. Swinnerton, [1843].

    First edition of this locally printed...

    £175

  2. ARMINESI, Rocco degli.

    Attila flagelum Dei, tradotto dalla vera...

    Venice, Omobon Bettanino, [mid-eighteenth...

    Very rare eighteenth-century edition...

    £600

  3. ASCHAM, Roger.

    A Report and Discourse … of the Affaires...

    London, Printed by John Daye … [1570?].

    First edition. Ascham’s account...

    £2000

  4. [AUGUSTINE, Saint, attributed author.]

    The Meditations of Saint Augustine, from...

    Dublin: Printed for the Author, by H. Fitzpatrick...

    First edition of this rare translation...

    £1250

  5. AUGUSTINUS, Aurelius.

    De civitate Dei.

    Venice, Nicolaus Jenson, 2 October 1475.

    A tall copy with some deckle edges of...

    £24000

  6. BALBUS, Johannes.

    Catholicon.

    [Strasbourg, The R-Printer (Adolf Rusch),...

    Third edition of the earliest printed...

    £65000

  7. BARDUZZI, Bernardino.

    A Letter in Praise of Verona [1489]. In...

    Verona, [Officina Bodoni,] 1974.

    First edition, No. 34 of 150 copies: an...

    £375

  8. BAUR, Fidelis. 

    Geschichte der Hohenzollernschen Staaten...

    Sigmaringen, Bucher & Liener, 1834-6.

    First edition.  Perched on the...

    £350

  9. BEARCROFT, Philip.

    An historical Account of Thomas Sutton...

    London: Printed by E. Owen, and sold by...

    First edition. Thomas Sutton (1532-1611)...

    £250

  10. BENTHAM, Jeremy.

    Plan of Parliamentary Reform, in the Form...

    London: Printed in the Year 1817. Re-printed...

    First edition thus of an inexpensive reprint...

    £225

  11. [BEWICK, Thomas?]

    Twenty-six rubbings from engraved woodblocks...

    [1790-1805?]

    Twenty-six apparently unrecorded wood-engravings...

    £750

  12. BLOUNT, Sir Thomas Pope.

    Essays on several Subjects …

    London, Printed for Richard Bently … 1692.

    Second edition of seven essays of ‘considerable...

    £500

  13. BOLTON, Robert.

    Letters and Tracts on the Choice of Company...

    London: Printed for J. Whiston and B....

    Second edition; a reissue of the sheets...

    £325

  14. BONET, Nicolas.

    Habes Nicholai Bonetti viri p[er]spicacissimi...

    Venice, Boneto Locatello for the heirs...

    First collected edition of the works...

    £4000

  15. [BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER.]

    La Liturgie. C’est a dire, le formulaire...

    A Londres, pour Jean Dunmore & Octavien...

    First edition of this translation, printed...

    £750

  16. BOSWELL, James.

    A Letter to the People of Scotland, on...

    London, Printed for Charles Dilly … 1785.

    First edition of Boswell’s second...

    £1500

  17. BRACCIOLINI, Francesco.

    Della croce racquistata, poema heroico libri XV.

    Paris, René Ruelle, 1605.

    First edition of Francesco Bracciolini’s...

    £1500

  18. BUONACCORSI, Biagio, and Niccolò VALORI. 

    Diario de’ successi piu importanti seguiti...

    Florence, Filippo & Jacopo Giunta, 1568. 

    First edition of an insider account...

    £1000

  19. [BUTLER, John].

    Some Account of the Character of the late...

    London: Printed for J. Almon … 1764.

    First edition. Henry Bilson Legge (1708-1764),...

    £200

  20. CADOGAN, William Bromley.

    The Felicity of God’s Children, considered...

    Reading: Printed and Sold by Smart and...

    First edition, a funeral sermon by the...

    £75