David Mason Books – Downsizing Project
The below letter was sent to public institutions because for the foreseeable future we can only downsize by sales of entire areas of our stock (unless you want to follow your long-time dream, retire, and buy a whole bookstore).
In the interim we can and will offer our private clients the opportunity to buy some things which don't need to be sold as a lot. Such is our holdings of sets – usually entire works of an author or a complete subject area. We have prepared a list of these sets and send it herewith to our entire clientele. All the sets offered are half the listed price (Canadian funds) with shipping extra. It should be noted that the shipping costs, especially on leather bound sets, could be considerable.
David Mason Books is preparing for a major change in its operation over the next two years. Our lease is up in two years and given David Mason's age we have decided to get much smaller and more specialized. David Mason will be semi-retired, operating as a consultant, while Debra Dearlove and her staff will run David Mason Books on a much smaller scale.
We will concentrate on books in the areas of our ongoing interests, which will include: 19th century English and American Literature; Canadian Literature; Canadiana; Travel; Modern Firsts; Science and Medicine; and good general antiquarian books.
In order to achieve the new, smaller version of ourselves, we will be offering at sale prices entire sections of our now very large stock, a stock that has been carefully selected and culled and curated over more than fifty years. It should be understood that the economic realities of downtown major cities mean that antiquarian booksellers no longer have the luxury of stocking ordinary used books. “Culled” means that every book we have, we believe to be important in its context.
In some cases our sections would augment existing library holdings in the subject areas covered but all our books would be a good addition to any library's general holdings. Over the coming months, we will be sending out notices as the sections are ready. These offers will include a basic broad description, the number of books in an area and a price. In some cases we will be able to provide a sample list of the type of material included. We will be offering entire sections and areas at substantially reduced prices – generally 50% to 70% of our established retail prices. As we want to eliminate entire areas we can allow no selecting within these areas, which include classics, children's books, illustrated, sports & pastimes, fine arts, military, modern literature, general Canadiana and general travel (which will include some19th century material).
A previous downsize has already eliminated areas such as art, religion, sociology and psychology, and travel books published after 1930.
We invite inquiries from any interested parties at which time we can supply whatever additional information may be needed to assess what we offer.
SETS AVAILABLE 50% OFF
All sets are complete as issued unless otherwise stated
Condition ranges from very good to fine unless otherwise stated
Photos and/or additional details available on request
All prices are in Canadian funds, shipping extra
All the sets offered below will be HALF the listed price
1) ADDISON, Joseph. Works. London: T. Cadell & W. Davies, 1811 . In 6 volumes. 8vo., full tan calf w/ leather labels.
$850.00
2) AINSWORTH, William Harrison. (Works). London: George Routledge & Sons, n.d. (ca. 189-?). In 16 volumes. 8vo., cont half red morocco, red cloth, raised bands, elaborate gilt compartments.
$2,000.00
3) SOLD
4) ARBER, Prof. Edward (edited by). An English Garner. The Penhurst Edition of London: Archibald Constable & Co., 1909. In 12 volumes. 1 of 750 sets. 8vo., half blue publisher's leather, blue cloth.
$750.00
5) SOLD
6) BALZAC. Oeuvres de… Bruxelles: Meline, Can et Compagnie, 1837-45. In 8 volumes. Large 8vo., cont. half leather, raised bands, gilt compartments, double columns. A pirated reprint, often reproducing the text of the first edition.
$1,750.00
7) SOLD
8) (Bible) Holy Bible. Containing the Old and New Testaments and the Apocrypha. Boston: R. H. Hinkley Co., n.d. (ca. 1904). In 14 volumes. 1 of 1000 sets. 8vo., half blue publisher's leather, blue cloth. Bookplate in each volume.
$2,250.00
9) BOSWELL, James. The Life of Samuel Johnson, Including A Journal of his Tour to the Hebribes… London: John Murray, 1844. In ten volumes. 8vo., ¾ morocco, marble boards, raised bands, gilt floral details with green leather inlays, t.e.g. Front cover of vol 1 reattached with archival tape, else fine.
$1,500.00
10) BOSWELL, James. The Life of Samuel Johnson by… Edited by Clement Shorter. New York: Printed for Gabriel Wells by Doubleday, Page & Co., 1922. In 10 volumes. “Temple Bar Edition”. 1 of 750 copies. Tall 8vo., brown paper boards, cream paper spines, paper spine labels, t.e.g. Original dustwrappers are present on nine of the ten volumes, dustwrapper lacking volume 1.
$850.00
11) BREWER, Rev. E. Cobham. Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama… New York: Selmar Hess, 1896. In 8 volumes. 4to., original green cloth decorated black and gilt. Some damp to edges of top portion of the bound o/w very good.
$400.00
12) SOLD
13) SOLD
14) BROWNING, Robert. The Poetic and Dramatic Works of… Boston & New York: Houghton, Mifflin, & Co., 1890. In 6 volumes. 8vo., green cloth. Bookplate in each volume.
$250.00
15) SOLD
16) BULWER-LYTTON, Edward. Complete Works of … New York: Kelmscott Society, n.d. (ca 192-?). In 13 volumes. 8vo., publisher's half leather, green cloth.
$750.00
17) BURNS, Robert. The Works of… Edinburgh: William Paterson, 1877. In 6 volumes. Tall 8vo., green cloth with gilt crest upper cover and spine.
$300.00
18) BURNS, Robert. The Complete Works of… Philadelphia: Gebbie & Co., 1886. “Edition De Luxe”. In 6 volumes. Large 8vo., green cloth. Bookplate in each volume.
$350.00
19) BURTON, Richard F. The Book of the Thousand Nights and A Night. Np (NP): Burton Club, n.d. (ca. 196-?). In 16 volumes (10 plus 6 supplemental vols). Large 8vo., bound in black cloth with gold (10 vols) and black cloth with silver (6 vols) embossed covers and spines.
$900.00
20) SOLD
21) CARLYLE, Thomas. (Works). Chicago, New York & San Francisco: Belford, Clarke & Co., n.d. (ca. 188-?). 34 volumes bound in 11 volumes. 8vo., tan ½ calf, marble boards, raised bands, leather labels.
$1,000.00
22) CHAMBERS, Robert (edited by). Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen. London: Blackie & Son, 1854. In 9 volumes. Tall 8vo., orig. blind-stamped gilt dec. green cloth.
$350.00
23) SOLD
24) COLLINS, Wilkie. The Works of.., New York: Peter Fenelon Collier, n.d. (ca. 1900). In 30 volumes. 8vo., orig. green cloth.
$3,750.00
25) CONRAD, Joseph. The Medallion Edition of the Works of… London: Gresham Publ. Co., 1925. In 22 volumes (first issued in 20 vols, two more added later). 8vo., orig. dark blue blind-stamped cloth, with gilt portrait of Conrad on upper cover.
$1,500.00
26) DEFOE, Daniel. (Works of). New York: National Library Co., (c. 1903). In 8 volumes. “Edition De Luxe”. 1 of 1000 sets. 8vo., half black publisher's leather, gilt borders on covers, gilt titles decoration on spine.
$250.00
27) DE MUSSET, Alfred. The Writings of… New York: (James L. Perkins), (c. 1908). In 10 volumes. 1 of 1000 sets. 8vo., ½ maroon morocco, raised bands. Bound by Sandorski & Sutcliffe.
$1,500.00
28) DICKENS, Charles. The Works of… London: Chapman & Hall, n.d. (ca. 187-?). In 16 volumes. "Household Edition". Tall 8vo., original green cloth. Double columns.
$1,250.00
29) DICKENS, Charles. The Works of… New York: Harper & Brothers, (1872-1877). In 16 volumes. "Household Edition" (all but 4 of these are first printings). Tall 8vo., original green cloth decorated black and gilt, various pagination double columns.
$1,500.00
30) SOLD
31) SOLD
32) DICKENS, Charles. (Works). New York: John Wurtele Lovell, n.d. (ca. 190-?). In 15 volumes. 8vo., full contemporary calf, raised bands, elaborate gilt compartments, leather spine labels, gilt borders, inner dentelles gilt, a.e.g.
$1,500.00
33) SOLD
34) SOLD
35) DISRAELI, Benjamin. The Novels and Tales of… London: Peter Davies, 1926. In 12 volumes. “Bradenham Edition”. 8vo., ½ red morocco, cloth, raised bands.
$3,000.00
36) SOLD
37) ELIOT, George. The Novels of… Edinburgh & London: William Blackwood & Son, n.d. (190-?). 8 volumes bound in 7. “A New Edition” [WITH] Cross, J.W. George Eliot's Life as Related in Her Letters and Journals. Edinburgh & London: William Blackwood & Sons, n.d. (189-?). 8vo., half green morocco, cloth boards, raised bands, gilt details, t.e.g.
$2,000.00
38) ELIOT, George. The Works of… New York: Nottingham Society, n.d. (ca. 191-?). In 8 volumes. “Edition De Luxe”. 1 of 1000 sets. 8vo., brown publisher's half leather, marble boards, t.e.g.
$450.00
39) SOLD
40) Encyclopedia Britannica. New York: Encyclopedia Britannica Co., 1910. Eleventh edition. In 29 volumes. Square 8vo., pebbled leatherette. Rubbed condition.
$650.00
41) FIELDING, Henry. The Novels of… New York & London: Harper & Bros., (c. 1902). “Sharpham Edition”. In 7 volumes. 8vo., red publisher's half leather w/ cloth.
$600.00
42) FIELDING, Henry. The Works of… To which is prefixed an Original Account of the Life and Writings of the Author. Edinburgh: Printed for Mundell, Doig & Stevenson…, 1898. In 12 volumes. 1 of 750 sets. 8vo., full cont. calf, gilt compartments, leather labels, gilt borders on covers, inner dentelles gilt, t.e.g. Zaehnsdorf binding.
$4,500.00
43) FIELDING, Henry. The Works of… London: Navarre Society, n.d. (ca. 192-?). In 12 volumes. Small 8vo., dark blue cloth, gilt titles on spine.
$175.00
44) FLAUBERT, Gustave. (Flaubert's Works). Chicago: Simon P. Magee, (c. 1904). In 10 volumes. 8vo., orig. wine cloth.
$350.00
45) FREUD, Sigmund. Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of… London: Hogarth Press, 1966. First thus. In 24 volumes. MISSING two volumes no. 21 and 24 (22 in total). 8vo., blue cloth.
$1,250.00
46) GALSWORTHY, John. Compact Edition. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1930. In 6 volumes. 8vo., pebbled cloth with gilt titles.
$150.00
47) GIBBON, Edward. History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire with Notes by the Rev. Milman. Boston: Phillips, Sampson, & Co., 1850. In 6 volumes. 8vo., dark green cloth. Wear and chipping to spine ends of vols 1 & 6.
$250.00
48) GIBBON, Edward. History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. London: Methuen & Co., 1905. “Methuen's Standard Library”. In 7 volumes. 8vo., cont. blue calf, full gilt crest on the upper cover and top of spine, raised bands. School prize bookplate vol 1.
$400.00
49) SOLD
50) (GOETHE, Johann Wolfgang von). Goethe's Sammtliche Werke. Paris: 1840. In 5 volumes. With the bookplate of American teacher, statesman and clergyman Edward Everett. Small 4to., cont. green half morocco, marble boards, raised bands, gilt lettering. Some light rubbing o/w a very good set.
$1,250.00
51) GOLDSMITH, Oliver. The Works of… New York & London: Harper & Brothers, 1900. “Library Edition”. In 12 volumes. 8vo., orig. red cloth w/ gilt decoration upper cover, gilt spine.
$350.00
52) SOLD
53) SOLD
54) HAKLUYT, Richard. Principal Navigations Voyages Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation. London: J.M. Dent and Sons, 1927-28. In 10 volumes. First edition thus. 8vo., cloth. Spines uniformly faded o/w a near fine set.
$750.00
55) HOOD, Thomas. The Works of… London: E. Moxon Son & Co., 1869. In 10 volumes. Small 8vo., original green cloth.
$350.00
56) IRVING, Washington. The Works of… New York & London: G.P. Putnam's Sons, n.d. (ca. 190-?). “Stuyvesant Edition”. In 10 volumes. 8vo., half red morocco, red cloth, raised bands, gilt compartments.
$1,500.00
57) IRVING, Washington. (Works). Chicago & New York: Belford, Clarke & Co., n.d. (ca. 189-?). In 10 volumes. 8vo., half calf, marble boards, raised bands, gilt compartments, leather labels. Some wear to extremities, bookplate in each volume, cheap paper browned, ex-lib. Good only.
$250.00
58) JAMESON, Mrs. (Works). Boston: Ticknor & Fields, 1866. First American edition. In 10 volumes. Small 8vo., green cloth w/ gilt title & dec. on upper cover. Bookplate in each volume.
$500.00
59) SOLD
60) JOHNSON, Samuel. The Works of… London: For J. Nichols & Son…, 1810. In 14 volumes. 8vo., tan leather spine, leather labels, marble boards. Unattractive 20 th century leather spines and labels. Bookplate in each volume.
$750.00
61) JOHNSON, Samuel. The Works of… London: Printed for William Pickering, 1825. In 11 volumes. “Oxford English Classics”. 8vo., cont. full calf, raised bands, gilt compartments, leather spine labels.
$2,000.00
62) SOLD
63) LANDOR, Walter Savage. The Works and Life of… London: Chapman & Hall, 1874. In 8 volumes. 8vo., green cloth w/ leather labels.
$500.00
64) MARRYAT, Captain. (Marryat's Novels). London: George Routledge & Sons, n.d. (ca. 188-?). In 14 volumes. 8vo., blue cloth w/ black embossed pictorial.
$500.00
65) McCARTHY, Justin. A History of Our Own times. Boston: Estes & Co., 1897. In 4 volumes. Large 8vo., cloth w/ paper labels.
$50.00
66) MÉRIMÉE, Prosper. The Writings of… New York: Croscup & Holby Co., 1905. In 8 volumes. “Large Paper Edition”. 1 of 520 sets. Tall 8vo., half blue morocco, raised bands, elaborate gilt compartments.
$2,500.00
67) MITFORD, William. History of Greece. Boston: Timothy Bedlington & Charles Ewer, 1823. In 8 volumes. 8vo., full calf.
$1,000.00
68) MOLIERE. Oeuvres Completes de Moliere avec un Notice par M.L. B. Picard de l'Academie Francoise. Paris: baudouin Freres, 1825. In 6 volumes. 8vo, contemporary dark blue paper boards, leather spine labels. Corners worn but still a very good set.
$500.00
69) SOLD
70) MONTEIL, Amans-Alexis. Historie des Francois des Divers Etats ou Histoire de France aux Cinq Derniers Siecles. Paris: Victor Lecou, 1848. In 5 volumes. Tall 8vo., contemporary red morocco spine, marble boards, raised bands, gilt compartments.
$850.00
71) MOORE, Thomas. The Poetical Works of… London: Longman, Brown, Green & Longmans, 1853. In 10 volumes. Small 8vo., blindstamped green cloth.
$350.00
72) NAPOLEON. Journal de la vie privee et des conversations de … Londres: Chez Henri Colburn, 1828. In 8 volumes. Tall 8vo., cloth spine w/ paper labels, orig. boards.
$1,250.00
73) SOLD
74) (Palmerston). RITCHIE, J. Ewing. Life and Times of Viscount Palmerston. London: London Printers & Publ. Co., n.d. (ca. 188-?). In 6 volumes. Sm. 4to., orig. green cloth w/ gilt decoration.
$150.00
75) PARKMAN, Francis. Pioneers of France in the New World. Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1901. Frontenac Edition. In 16 volumes. 8vo., blue cloth w/paper labels.
$400.00
76) PATER, Walter. (Works). London: Macmillan & Co., 1910. In 10 volumes. “Library Edition”. 8vo., half blue calf, raised bands, gilt borders on covers, t.e.g. Bookplate in each volume.
$2,250.00
77) PEPYS, Samuel. Diary of … Boston: Francis A. Niccolls & Co., (c. 1892). In 18 volumes. 1 of a 1000 copies. 8vo., green cloth w/ paper labels.
$450.00
78) PEPYS, Samuel. Diary and Correspondence of… New York: Davos Press, n.d. In 4 volumes. 1 of a 1000 copies. 8vo., red publishers half leather w/ marble boards.
$125.00
79) PEPYS, Samuel. Diary and Correspondence of… Edited with Additions by Henry B. Wheatley. London: George Bell & Sons, 1893 (Diary), 1926 (Correspondence). In 12 volumes (10 volumes diary, 2 volumes correspondence). 8vo., half navy morocco, raised bands, with title and outline borders on the spine, t.e.g. Outer hinge vol. 2 cracked.
$2,750.00
80) PLUTARCH. Plutarch's Lives. The Translation Called Dryden's Corrected from the Greek and Revised by A. H. Clough. New York: Caxton Society, n.d. In 5 volumes. “Edition De Luxe”. 1 of 1000 sets. 8vo., green publisher's faux leather binding. Bookplates in each volume. Spine ends vol. 1 chipped.
$250.00
81) POE, Egar Allan. The Complete Works of … New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, (1902). In 10 volumes. “The Book-Lover's Arnheim Edition”. 1 of 500 sets signed by the publisher. 8vo., vellum spine, paper boards, gilt pict. (raven) on upper board, gilt spine.
$6,500.00
82) POE, Edgar Allan. The Works of… New York & Pittsburgh: Colonial Co., 1903. “Definitive Edition”. In 10 volumes. 1 of 1000 sets. 8vo., blue cloth w/ paper labels.
$1,250.00
83) READE, Charles. (Works). Boston: De Wolfe, Fiske & Co., n.d. (ca. 192-?). In 11 volumes. With Robert Laird Borden's bookplate in each volume. 8vo., navy cont. blue cloth w/ leather labels (rebound?).
$400.00
84) SOLD
85) ROBINSON, Henry Crabb. Diary, Reminiscences, and Correspondence. Selected edited by Thomas Sadler. London: Macmillan & Co., 1869. 3 volumes extended to 6 volumes by extra-illustrations. 8vo., full contemporary tan calf, raised bands, elaborate gilt compartments, leather spine labels, gilt borders, inner dentelles gilt, t.e.g.
$1,500.00
86) ROLLIN, M. (Charles). The Ancient History of The Egyptians, Carthaginians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Medes and Persians, Grecians, and Macedonians; by… London: Printed for W. Baynes and Son..., n.d. (1823). In 8 volumes. Fifteenth edition, revised and corrected and Illustrated with 19 new plates. 8vo., cont. black calf, marble boards, raised bands.
$1,250.00
87) ROLLIN, M. (Charles). The Ancient History of The Egyptians, Carthaginians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Medes and Persians, Grecians, and Macedonians; by… London: William Tegg & Co., 1859. In 6 volumes. Eighteenth edition, revised and corrected and Illustrated with maps. 8vo., cont. ½ tan calf, marble boards, leather labels, raised bands.
$850.00
88) SOLD
89) SOLD
90) SOLD
91) SOLD
92) SCHILLER, (Friedrich). Fammtliche Werke. Stuttgart und Tubingen: J.S. Gotta'sschen, Buchhandlung, 1835. In 12 volumes. 8vo., cont. leather spine, marble boards.
$750.00
93) SCOTT, Sir Walter. Waverley Novels. Edinburgh: Adam & Charles Black, 1852-1853. In 25 volumes. Tall 8vo., full navy calf w/ pictorial blind-stamping on both boards, raised bands, elaborate gilt compartments, crimson and tan labels, t.e.g.
$3,500.00
94) SHAW, Bernard. Complete Plays with Prefaces. New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1963. In 6 volumes. 8vo., cloth.
$175.00
95) SHAW, Bernard. The Works of… London: Constable & Co., 1930. In 33 volumes. 1 of 1025 sets. 8vo., green cloth. Spines darkened, lacks dustwrappers.
$1,250.00
96) SHORTT, Adam & Arthur G. Doughty (Editors). Canada and Its Provinces. Toronto: T. & A. Constable, 1913. “Author's Edition”. 1 of 875 copies. In 23 volumes. 4to., bound in full dark wine morocco, raised bands, full gilt crest on the upper cover.
$2,000.00
97) SMOLLETT, Tobias. Miscellaneous Works of… Edinburgh: Silvester Doig & Sterling, 1840. In 6 volumes. Fourth edition. 8vo, half calf, marble boards.
$450.00
98) STERNE, Laurence. The Complete Works and Life of… New York & London: Clonmel Society, 1899. In 6 volumes. “Edition DeLuxe”. 1 of 1000 sets. 8vo., dark green publisher's binding. Spines faded to tan.
$250.00
99) Stories by American Authors. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1891. 10 volumes bound in 5 volumes. Small 8vo., maroon cloth.
$100.00
100) SOLD
101) SWINBURNE, Algernon Charles. The Poems of… New York & London: Harper & Brothers Publ., 1904. In 6 volumes. 8vo., blue cloth lettered in gilt with gilt spine design, t.e.g.
$450.00
102) THACKERAY, William Makepeace. The Works of… Toronto: George N. Morang & Co., 1899. In 13 volumes. “Biogaphical Edition”. 8vo., cont. half leather with gilt, marble boards. Good only. Cover reinforced with archival tape vol 1, cover reattached with archival tape on vol 3.
$1,250.00
103) THACKERAY, William Makepeace. The Works of… London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1904. In 13 volumes. “Biogaphical Edition”. 8vo., half tan calf, cloth, raised bands, leather labels.
$1,500.00
104) THACKERAY, William Makepeace. (Works). London, New York & Toronto: Henry Froude, n.d. (ca. 192-?). In 17 volumes. 8vo., ½ red morocco, cloth, raised bands.
$1,250.00
105) THORNTON, Edward. The History of The British Empire In India. London: Wm. H. Allen and Co., 1841-1843. In 6 volumes. First edition. Tall 8vo., cont. green half morocco, marble boards, gilt. Volume 6 is lacking the titlepage and table of contents, there are signatures covering the verso of the front free e/paper and the recto of the facing blank of volume one.
$600.00
106) SOLD
107) TURGENIEFF, Ivan. The Works of … New York: Lamb Publishing Co., (c. 1903). In 7 volumes. 8vo., black pebbled flexible publisher's leather.
$350.00
108) SOLD
109) VERNE, Jules. Works of… New York & London: Vincent Parke & Co., 1911. In 15 volumes. “Edition de l'Academie”. 1 of 300 sets. Large 8vo., light grey imitation leather, with gilt borders on upper cover, gilt title decorations on spine. Some chipping to the top of spine of some volumes, repair to vol 1 top of spine.
$1,000.00
110) SOLD
111) WALPOLE, Horace. The Letters of… Edited by Peter Cunningham. Edinburgh: John Grant, 1906. In 9 volumes. Tall 8vo., half dark morocco, cloth, raised bands, gilt compartments.
$2,000.00
112) WARNER, Charles Dudley. The Complete Writings of… Hartford: American Publ. Co., 1904. In 15 volumes. “Autograph Edition”. 1 of 612 sets with page of manuscript bound in volume 1. 8vo., green half morocco, raised bands, gilt compartments. Spines faded to tan.
$3,000.00
113) WILSON, John MacKay. Tales of the Borders and Scotland. New York: Henry J. Johnson, n.d. (ca. 188-?). In 5 volumes. Tall 8vo., orig. brown gilt dec. cloth.
$400.00
114) WRIGHT, Thomas (edited by). The Royal Dictionary Cyclopaedia for Universal Reference… London & New York: London Printing & Publ. Co., n.d. (ca. 188-?). In 15 volumes. Large 8vo., dark plum blind-stamped cloth with elaborate gilt spines.
$400.00