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. WALKER, George.

    Don Raphael, a Romance …

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

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

    £3250

  2. WALKER, John.

    Hints for Improvement in the Art of Reading ...

    London, Printed for the Author, and sold...

    First edition. The future lexicographer...

    £650

  3. WALKER, John.

    An economical History of the Hebrides and...

    Edinburgh: Printed at the University Press;...

    First edition. The eminent naturalist John...

    £450

  4. WALLER, Edmund. 

    Poems, &c. written by Mr. Ed. Waller...

    London, Printed by I. N. for Hu. Mosley...

    Second (but first licensed) edition of...

    £850

  5. [WALSH, William.]

    A Funeral Elegy upon the Death of the Queen....

    London, Printed for Jacob Tonson … 1695.

    First edition of Walsh’s elegy on the...

    £350

  6. WALTON, Izaak.

    The Life of Dr. Sanderson, late Bishop...

    London, Printed for Richard Marriott. 1678.

    First edition, the last of Walton’s five...

    £400

  7. WAPPEROM, Jacobus Joannes. 

    Gezangen door J.J. Wapperom. 

    The Hague, 1805. 

    Very rare collection of songs by the Dutch...

    £675

  8. [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

  9. [WASHINGTON, George.] PAINE, Thomas.

    An Eulogy on the Life of General George...

    Newburyport, Edmund M. Blunt, 1800.

    First edition of this eulogy on Washington,...

    £250

  10. WATSON, Sheila.

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

    The recordings included are three sections...

    £50

  11. [WAX MODELS.] Gaetano PECCI.

    Broadside advertising an itinerant show...

    [Venice], Casali stampatore, [c. 1815].

    A seemingly unrecorded broadside advertising...

    £500

  12. [WESTMINSTER ELECTION.]

    A True and impartial Collection of Pieces,...

    London: Printed for W. Owen … 1749.

    First edition of a compilation of open...

    £750

  13. WHITEHEAD, William.

    Plays and Poems … in two Volumes …

    London, Printed for J. Dodsley … 1774.

    First and only edition of the collected...

    £350

  14. WHITMAN, Walt, and Antonio FRASCONI (illustrator).

    A Whitman Portrait.

    [New York, Spiral Press, 1960.]

    First edition, comprising extracts from...

    £250

  15. WIELAND, Christoph Martin; William SOTHEBY, translator.

    Oberon, a Poem ...

    London, Cadell and Davies, Edwards, Faulder,...

    First octavo edition of Sotheby’s (1757–1833)...

    £500

  16. WISE, Francis.

    A Letter to Dr Mead concerning some Antiquities...

    Oxford, Printed for Thomas Wood … 1738

    First editions. A Letter to Dr Mead...

    £350

  17. [WISHART, George.]

    I. G. de rebus auspiciis serenssimi,...

    [Amsterdam or The Hague,] 1647.

    First edition, rare, a fine-paper copy...

    £1750

  18. WITHER, George.

    Speculum Speculativum: or, a Considering-Glasse;...

    London, Written June XIII. MDCLX. and...

    The third of three editions in the same...

    £525

  19. WOLLSTONECRAFT, Mary.

    An Historical and moral View of the Origin...

    London, J. Johnson, 1794.

    First edition of Wollstonecraft’s eloquent...

    £7250

  20. ‘WOODLAND SKETCHES.

    With poetical Selections …

    Frome. 1836’.

    A delightful illustrated manuscript commonplace...

    £1250