Serendipitous Ink

25/03/2024

Australian author and war correspondent Alan Moorehead wrote two comprehensive and well-illustrated volumes about nineteenth century African exploration and the search for the source of the Nile. The books feature Sir Richard Burton & John Hanning Speke struggling with the African climate, the natives of Zanzibar, Buganda and Lake Victoria in the effort to find the source. Blue 1st Edition 45. White 42.5.

17/03/2024

From the 1940s to the 1960s Classics Illustrated published a series of comic-style versions of famous works by authors such as Jules Verne, H.G. Wells & Charles Dickens. There's still a significant collector following for these books. Most of the books photographed are Australian Editions with 2 shilling price. Some of the Classics Illustrated books I have available.

16/10/2023

Some Mary Grant Bruce mid-century novels. Decorative dust jackets.

23/05/2022

Mills & Boon published books for most of the twentieth century, focusing on romance novels since the 1930s. The paperback versions of M & B Romances only commenced in the 1960s. While the cheaper paperback copies prevailed in popularity M & B still published the same titles in hardcover for some time. I have a few M & B hardcovers from the 1960-1980 transition, now scarce. 30-100.

20/05/2022

The Waverley Novels: 47 Volumes of 48
Scott, Sir Walter

Published London, mid 19th century.

Half-Leather. Condition: Good. 47 volumes of 48. All Late Regency/ Early Victorian editions in contemporary bindings; half leather in two variants. 23 volumes in red half-leather with marbled boards;gilt titles and decorations; blind embossed decorations; and marbled page ends. 24 volumes in natural half-calf; gilt titles on red & green; gilt borders and decorations; marbled boards and page ends. All volumes with monochrome frontispieces. Very nice set with general light wear. Four volumes have a page or small group of pages loose; one volume with portion at head of spine broken; one volume has split at rear board; and sadly one volume is absent. Beautiful set of small books, exhibiting all the arts of The Victorian Bookbinder, which en masse present with real bookcase eclat. Vol. 1 & 2 1857; Vol 3-24, 26-48 1829-1833. Vol. 25 'The Pirate II' is missing. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: Over 3 kilos. Category: Fiction, Classic.; Pictures of this item not already displayed here available upon request. Inventory No: 004722. This book is extra heavy, and may involve extra shipping charges to some countries. $1850 including postage within Australia.

19/05/2022

Elsie J Oxenham published nearly 40 books in The Abbey Girls series commencing in 1920. These are 1950s editions with decorative dust jackets. 20-40.

16/05/2022

Although friendless for many years & sneered at by some book collectors, the less durable construction of book club editions has made these now 'scarce in well preserved condition' books increasingly valuable and collectable. Many noted works of fiction were produced in book club editions following the second war and with the accompanying weak economic conditions and dearth of manufacturing materials they were often produced with lower quality materials. Frequently these editions featured unique construction, type, & illustration. The increasing impact of cinema and television exposed the books and authors of dramatized or televised works to a larger audience increasing the collectability of books enacted on film. I've some Australian and UK 'Book Club Editions' available, prices various.

13/05/2022

I've got some books available on eBay.

Condition: Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. Book is in good lightly marked condition. Dust jacket is in good condition with light wear. Dust jacket condition preserved within new clear plastic non-adhesive removable protective covering.

13/05/2022

Book Club editions of great books proliferated after the Second War. Often produced with lower quality materials they were cheaper to manufacture but also were prone to deterioration. These editions, some with bespoke and original artwork, are becoming scarce and collectable. The Australian Editions of some of these books feature original artwork by noted illustrators and artists of the period. Prices various.

18/03/2022

Historical romance novelist Georgette Heyer crafted over 40 novels between 1920 and 1970. Earlier editions featured decorative dust jackets and covers, very desirable among Heyer collectors.

17/03/2022

After returning from service in the middle east and europe during the Great War Ion Idriess continued writing the articles and short pieces for the Bulletin that he'd been writing pre-war. From 1927 he published many books of biography and memoir now important studies on life in the mid twentieth century. His distinctive style exhibited the prevailing cultural views and vernacular of the period. Pictured books available, prices various.