Edward thomas &
the pear tree press
Short list 35
Item 27
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BLACKWELL’S RARE BOOKS SHORT LIST 35: EDWARD THOMAS & THE PEAR TREE PRESS
1.
(Pear Tree Press.) THE ELF. A little book. Ingrave: Published at Peartree Cottage, Winter 1899, ONE OF 300
COPIES, a little browning to title-page, pp. [ii], 9 [rectos only], 4to, original string-tied wrappers with
Guthrie illustration to front and Guthrie-designed printer’s device to rear, a little fading to backstrip, good
£270
The original sequence of Guthrie’s quarterly ‘The Elf’ were the first of his publications and pre-date
the founding of his Pear Tree Press; he later referred to it as ‘a poor sort of magazine printed for me
by a jobbing printer’ - each issue originally included inserted illustrations by Guthrie, printed by
him from zinc blocks, but these have not survived in this copy.
2.
(Pear Tree Press.) THE ELF. A little book [Spring Number.] Shorne: Published by James Guthrie at the White
Cottage, April 1900, ONE OF 300 COPIES, a few faint foxspots at border of title-page, pp. [ii], 9 [rectos only],
4to, original string-tied wrappers with Guthrie illustration to front and Guthrie-designed printer’s device to
rear, some light dustsoiling and creasing at corners with a light indentation to rear cover, good
£270
The original sequence of Guthrie’s quarterly ‘The Elf’ were the first of his publications and pre-date
the founding of his Pear Tree Press - although an early version of his Press device can be found at
the rear of this volume; he later referred to it as ‘a poor sort of magazine printed for me by a jobbing
printer’ - although its third and fourth issues exhibit an increasing confidence in the design. Each
issue originally included inserted illustrations by Guthrie, printed by him from zinc blocks, but
these have not survived in this copy.
3.
(Pear Tree Press.) THE ELF. A little book [Summer Number.] Shorne: Published by James Guthrie at the
White Cottage, August 1900, ONE OF 300 COPIES, pp. [ii], 9 [rectos only], 4to, original string-tied wrappers
with Guthrie illustration to front and Guthrie-designed printer’s device to rear, a little fading to borders,
good
£270
The original sequence of Guthrie’s quarterly ‘The Elf’ were the first of his publications and pre-date
the founding of his Pear Tree Press - although an early version of his Press device can be found at
the rear of this volume; he later referred to it as ‘a poor sort of magazine printed for me by a jobbing
printer’ - although its third and fourth issues exhibit an increasing confidence in the design. Each
issue originally included inserted illustrations by Guthrie, printed by him from zinc blocks, but
these have not survived in this copy.
Inscribed by Guthrie for his son
4.
(Pear Tree Press.) GUTHRIE (James) The Elf. [A Sequence of the
Seasons]. Autumn Number. Printed at the Old Bourne Press, 1903,
ONE OF 250 NUMBERED COPIES, this unnumbered, title-page with
elaborate woodcut border printed in terracotta, frontispiece and 6
further full-page Guthrie wood-engravings with one printed in
terracotta and one with tissue guard, 3 pages with decorative
borders in terracotta, pp. 24 [rectos only], [1], small 4to, original
quarter beige cloth, blue boards with floral design printed in
terracotta, printed label to upper board, a small amount of wear to
corners and some light dustsoiling, edges untrimmed, endpapers
with repeated wood-engraved illustration, good (Ransom, p. 376, 2)
£450
Inscribed on the initial blank, ‘To “Totch-Mo” from his father,
Nov. 10.03’ - this being Stuart Guthrie, who would later become
actively involved with the Press.
5.
(Pear Tree Press.) GUTHRIE (James) The Elf. A Sequence of the Seasons. Winter Number and last of the
second set. Printed at the Old Bourne Press, 1904, ONE OF 250 NUMBERED COPIES, this unnumbered, titlepage with elaborate woodcut border printed in blue, 11 further wood-engraved illustrations by Guthrie all
printed in blue with 7 full-page, pp. 24 [rectos only], [1], small 4to, original quarter beige cloth, blue
boards with wood-engraved Guthrie design printed in blue to upper board, a little wear to corners and light
dustsoiling to borders, edges untrimmed, endpapers with repeated wood-engraved illustration, good £450
Inscribed by James Guthrie on the initial blank, ‘To Stuart from his loving father, May 4th ‘04’.
Stuart Guthrie would later become an integral part of the Press.
2
BLACKWELL’S RARE BOOKS SHORT LIST 35: EDWARD THOMAS & THE PEAR TREE PRESS
With an unpublished poem
6.
Guthrie (James) ALs to Reginald Hallward. November 23rd 1904, written in black ink on Pear Tree Press
headed paper, pp. [2], foolscap 8vo, a hint of toning to edges, very good condition
£250 + VAT in the EU
Guthrie’s letter to his friend and collaborator, the artist Reginald Hallward,
begins ‘My dear Hallward/ Here is a poem for you’. The poem that follows
takes up the rest of the first page of his missive, being 5 quatrains beginning
‘Oh do not send The Clarion,/ I do not like its note’ and ending ‘There’s so
little time in living/ For theories of life!’, signed JG at the foot; it takes the
form of a light-hearted attack on Robert Blatchford’s Clarion newspaper,
and in subject and tone is rather different to the majority of Guthrie’s
published verse - it includes a few cancelled and corrected words and lines.
In his ensuing message to Hallward, Guthrie excuses himself - ‘I’m busy and
must get on. The ‘Poem’ took up all the time [...] I think it would figure
prettily in The Clarion, headed “Lines from a friend to whom I sent The
Clarion”’ - and then describes his present activities: ‘Press here being full of
work till Xmas & after. My man doing well & working overtime out of the
interest he has in the work. I like him immensely; he’s quite a superior sort.
Best love to all. Ever Yours, James Guthrie’. The letter provides a good
insight into the familiar relationship of the two men, as well as referring to
Guthrie’s work with the Pear Tree Press.
7.
(Old Bourne Press.) MILTON (John) Hymn on the Morning of Christ’s Nativity. [Harting,] [1904,] 165/200
COPIES, printed in blue and green, tissue guards, pp. [37], small oblong 4to, original quarter blue cloth with
patterned boards, backstrip a shade darkened, a little dustsoiling and toning to board edges, untrimmed
and largely unopened, patterned endpapers, very good
£70
An attractive little book designed and made by James Guthrie, of the Pear Tree Press, in
conjunction with W. Herbert Broome.
8.
(Pear Tree Press.) HOUSMAN (Laurence) & W. Somerset Maugham (Editors) The Venture. An Annual of
Art and Literature. John Baillie, 1903, FIRST EDITION, very occasional instances of foxspots to page-borders
and some light handling marks, pp. [vi], 249, 4to, original quarter cloth with Laurence Housman
illustration to upper board, backstrip lettered in black and softened at tips, lightly rubbed overall with some
wear to corners, a small waterstain to leading edge of lower board and a few light marks, illustrated
endpapers, hinges strained, good (Engen p. 95; Stott D4; Sullivan 208; Purdy p. 144; Carter, Sparrow &
White 33)
£180
Printed by James Guthrie at the Pear Tree Press, with his press-device on the recto of first page leaf
following text. Two volumes of the annual appeared, this one followed by one in 1905.
This volume contains Maugham’s first published play, ‘Marriages Are Made in Heaven’, along with
contributions from G.K. Chesterton (first publication of ‘The Philosophy of Islands’), Alice Meynell,
Thomas Hardy (first publication of ‘The Market-Girl’), Violet Hunt, A.E. Housman (first publication
of ‘The Oracles’, here as ‘The Oracle’), John Masefield, Havelock Ellis, et al.
Alongside its literary contributors is an equally impressive roll-call of illustrators: the woodcuts
featured include the work of Charles Hazelwood Shannon (a frontispiece printed in grey and faun),
T. Sturge Moore, Lucien Pissarro, and Charles Ricketts.
9.
(Pear Tree Press.) GUTHRIE (James) An Account of the Aims and Intentions of His Press, With a List of
Books. Harting, 1905, FIRST EDITION, printed in black and grey, Press device to title-page and further
decorations by Guthrie including illustrations from listed books, occasional light foxing, pp. [ii], 33, crown
8vo, original wrappers, a little dusty and slightly creased where overhanging textblock, light foxing to free
endpapers, good
£150
10.
(Pear Tree Press.) BOTTOMLEY (Gordon) Midsummer Eve. With drawings by James Guthrie. Harting, 1905,
ONE OF 120 COPIES printed on Batchelor's handmade paper, frontispiece and head-piece by James Guthrie
and printed in grey, text printed in grey, gold and red, pp. [iv], 36, 8vo, original quarter canvas, upper board
stamped in red with vignette by Guthrie, a small amount of soiling and light bumping to corners, edges
untrimmed, very faint partial browning to free endpapers, very good (Ransom, p.377, 8)
£350
Guthrie's ‘first adventure in colour as applied to text’, recommended by Colin Franklin as among
the ‘marvellous examples of Guthrie’s etchings printed at his hand press’ (‘The Private Library’,
Spring 1976, pp. 32 & 7).
3
BLACKWELL’S RARE BOOKS SHORT LIST 35: EDWARD THOMAS & THE PEAR TREE PRESS
11.
(Pear Tree Press.) HODGKIN (L.V.) Holy Poverty. The Message of St. Francis for To-day. Harting, 1905, FIRST
EDITION, title-page printed in green with decoration by James Guthrie, pp. 15, crown 8vo, unbound as
issued in original wrappers, faint browning to free endpapers, untrimmed and uncut, very good
£150
With an Introduction by Edward Thomas
12.
Guthrie (James) A Second Book of Drawings. Edinburgh: T.N. Foulis, 1908, FIRST
EDITION, tipped-in frontispiece and title-page by Guthrie, further tipped-in
illustrations on grey paper throughout, ff. [30], small 4to, original grey boards,
printed label with Guthrie design to front, light edge rubbing with some very
minor soiling, very good
£500
Collecting work from diverse projects, this scarce book showcases Guthrie’s
range in the conception and execution of his work and has as its introduction a
4 pp. Edward Thomas essay that exhibits the poise and consideration
characteristic of his prose. The essay was collected in Thomas’s ‘The South
Country’ from the following year, but this is its first appearance.
13.
(Pear Tree Press.) OSMASTON (F.P.B.) The Paradise of Tintoretto. An Essay. Flansham, 1910, FIRST EDITION,
title-page design by James Guthrie, frontispiece and 29 further plates showing work by Tintoretto,
interleaved with captioned tissue-guards, a little foxing to half-title and ultimate leaf, pp. xi, 88, 4to,
original quarter beige cloth with blue sides, stamped in gilt to upper board, backstrip lettered in gilt, edges
untrimmed with a few foxspots, a little spotting to free endpapers, good
£85
14.
(Pear Tree Press.) GUTHRIE (James) Divine Discontent. [Fellowship Books, Edited by Mary Stratton.] B.T.
Batsford, [1913,] FIRST EDITION, one or two faint foxspots, title-page vignette and head-piece [by Guthrie?],
pp. [ii], 61, foolscap 8vo, original blue cloth with lettering and decorations in gilt to upper board and
backstrip, publisher’s device in gilt to lower board, t.e.g., others with a few foxspots, a few faint tiny
foxspots to endpapers, dustjacket with darkened backstrip panel and a few light handling marks, very good
£240
Inscribed by Guthrie on the flyleaf: ‘To Jane, from the author, Feb. ‘35’. The receipient was the
author Janie Legge, whose work was printed by Guthrie at his Pear Tree Press.
The first publication of any of Edward Thomas’s verse
15.
(Pear Tree Press.) ROOT AND BRANCH. Number 4 of the Series [Volume
One.] Flansham, [1915,] FIRST EDITION, wood-engraved title-page and
three further illustrations in the same medium by the printer James
Guthrie, additional full-page illustrations by George Clausen, Reginald
Hallward, and Frederick Carter pp. [ii], 53-66, crown 8vo, original
sewn wrappers with Guthrie illustration to front, a little fraying and a
tiny amount of waterstaining to corners, a few foxspots to free
endpapers, good
£175
The ‘Two Poems by Edward Eastaway’ on pp. 59-60 - ‘House and
Man’ and ‘Interval’ - are the first appearance in print of Edward
Thomas’s poetry, making this a very significant publication.
Other contributors include Guthrie himself, Vivian Locke Ellis, F.M
Hallward, and Arthur K. Sabin. Illustrations by George Clausen,
Reginald Hallward, and Frederick Carter, supplement Guthrie’s
own.
With an Edward Eastaway poem
16.
(Pear Tree Press.) ROOT AND BRANCH. Number Two, Volume Two. Printed at the Morland Press,
December 1917, FIRST EDITION, frontispiece and further illustrations and decorations by James Guthrie,
browning to half-title, pp. [ii], 21-42, 8vo, original stapled wrappers with Guthrie design to front, yapp
edges very slightly nicked and creased, very good
£60
Includes the first appearance of ‘The Lofty Sky’ by Edward Eastaway (i.e., Edward Thomas), as well
as pieces by John Freeman, Vivian Locke Ellis, Alan Dyce, F.M. Hallward and Guthrie himself.
4
BLACKWELL’S RARE BOOKS SHORT LIST 35: EDWARD THOMAS & THE PEAR TREE PRESS
17.
(Pear Tree Press.) ROOT AND BRANCH. A Quarterly of the Arts, Edited by James Guthrie. Volume Two [Nos
1-4.] Morland Press, n.d. [circa 1918,] FIRST EDITION, decorations and illustrations by Guthrie throughout
with many full-page, full-page illustrations by H.J. Stock, Frank Brangwyn and Bernard Sleigh also,
predominantly wood-engraved, one or two small spots with a small hole in the margin of p.61 and
indentation to surrounding leaves, pp. [ii], 83, 8vo, original quarter brown cloth with grey sides, light
overall rubbing and soiling, edges roughtrimmed and lightly toned, partial browning to free endpapers,
good
£275
Signed by Stuart Guthrie of the Pear Tree Press at the head of the front pastedown.
As well as James Guthrie’s own work, the volume features poetry by Vivan Locke Ellis, Eleanor
Farjeon, John Freeman, Alan Dyce, F.M. Hallward, and Robin Flower. The most notable
contributor, as with the first volume, is Edward Eastaway (i.e., Edward Thomas), three of whose
poems are included here; ‘The Lofty Sky’, ‘The Unknown Bird’, and ‘Home’.
18.
Monro (Harold) The Rebellious Vine. Decorations by James Guthrie [Rhyme Sheet, Second Series.] The
Poetry Bookshop, [1921,] FIRST EDITION, Guthrie’s illustrations printed in blue and green, pp. [1], 359 x 165
mm, single sheet with a little foxing to outermost borders, good (Woolmer B2:15)
£40
19.
Guthrie (James) The Wild Garden. Verses for Children. Selwyn & Blount, 1922, FIRST EDITION, frontispiece
by Guthrie, a few foxspots, pp. 59, [2, ads], 16mo, original blue boards with printed label to front that is a
little foxed with a central red pen-mark, backstrip faded and a little chipped at head, rubbing along joints
and to edges, bookplate of Janie Legge to pastedown and browning to free endpapers, good
£200
Inscribed by the author on the flyleaf: ‘To Jimmie, from Jim, June 1927’ - this being the husband of
Janie Legge, whose work was printed at Guthrie’s Pear Tree Press and whose bookplate is facing.
Guthrie would reprint this collection at the Pear Tree Press a couple of years later.
Inscribed by James Guthrie to Eleanor Farjeon
20.
(Pear Tree Press.) IBBETT (William Joseph) Ibbett’s Jessie. Flansham, 1923, 14/100
COPIES, decorated title-page plate-printed in blue and black, pp. [iv], 9, 4to, original
brown wrappers with thread fastening textblock, title plate-printed in blue to front,
light overall creasing and soiling, good
£250
Inscribed by the printer on the flyleaf: ‘To Eleanor, from Jimmy’. The recipient,
the author Eleanor Farjeon, was a close friend of Edward Thomas - at whose
prompting she made Guthrie’s acquaintance. Farjeon subsequently contributed
poetry to Guthrie’s ‘Root and Branch’.
21.
(Pear Tree Press.) AN ELEGY ON THE DEATH AND BURIAL OF COCK ROBIN. Flansham, 1923, ONE OF 100
NUMBERED COPIES (this unnumbered), frontispiece wood engraving of ‘Fancy Portrait of the Autthor’, titlepage decoration and 15 wood engravings by Stuart Guthrie printed in green to verso, pp. 31, small 4to,
original wrappers with title-page decoration printed in green to front and press device to rear, wrappers
with light overall dustsoiling and some creasing to corners, front hinge starting, very good
£150
Printed and illustrated by Stuart Guthrie; an attractive little book.
22.
(Pear Tree Press.) TOMALIN (Miles) Fool’s Luck. Ten Poems. Frontispiece and Designs by John Guthrie.
Flansham, 1929, FIRST EDITION, frontispiece, title-page decoration and head-piece by John Guthrie, pp. [iv],
9, 8vo, oriignal grey boards, printed label to upper board with a Guthrie design, a faint mark at head of
upper board, free endpapers browned with bookplate to front pastedown, original tissue dustjacket a little
creased to corners and browned to edges, very good
£250
The attractive bookplate belongs to Janie Legge, whose work would be printed by the Guthries at
the Pear Tree Press.
23.
(Pear Tree Press.) MILTON (John) On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity. Flansham, 1930, 48/100 COPIES,
printed in black and gold with frontispiece and further wood-engraved decorations by S.M. Thompson,
patches of colour bleeding from gold ink throughout as well as a couple of other small stains, pp. [21],
12mo, original silver boards decorated in black with woodcut illustration, paper label printed in gold and
black to front, backstrip lettered in gold and slightly rubbed, decorated endpapers, pastedowns a little
foxed along head, original tissue wrapper, good
£200
5
BLACKWELL’S RARE BOOKS SHORT LIST 35: EDWARD THOMAS & THE PEAR TREE PRESS
Reginald Hallward’s copy
24.
(Pear Tree Press.) ANNOUNCEMENT of ‘The Book Craftsman’, A Magazine for Printers and Collectors of Fine
Editions, Edited by James Guthrie, And of Various Books Hand Printed by Him from Plates and Types at the
Pear Tree Press. Flansham, 1934, PROSPECTUS, a few small foxspots mostly at head, pp. [4], imperial 8vo,
single folded sheet printed on all sides, some light dustsoiling, good
£70
This the copy of Guthrie’s friend and collaborator, the artist Reginald Hallward - without mark of
ownership but with some pencil notes by him, as well as a small dab of paint, on the rear. The notes
are unrelated to the item and refer exclusively to paint colours.
Guthrie had got his start in printing under Hallward, and the two remained close. Outside of his
own work, Hallward is notable as the reputed model for Basil Hallward in Wilde’s ‘Picture of
Dorian Gray’.
25.
(Pear Tree Press.) THOMAS (Edward, et al.) In Memoriam: Edward Thomas. Being Number Two of the
Green Pastures Series. Morland Press, 1919, FIRST EDITION, title-page design, full-page illustration and
further decorations by James Guthrie, pp. 20, [2], crown 8vo, original sewn wrappers with ET monogram
design by Guthrie to front, a little toning and creasing, very good
£130
Includes ‘Up in the Winds’ by Edward Thomas and memorial poems by Vivian Locke Ellis, W.H.
Davies, and Julian Thomas, as well as a recollection in prose by J.W. Haines.
The inside front cover states that this slim volume is a sort of stop-gap for a larger volume that has
been ‘delayed due to war conditions’ and is now expected ‘in the autumn season’ - the larger
volume referred to, ‘These Things the Poet Said’, was in fact not published until 1935 and includes
some of the poems included here. As the earliest of Guthrie’s three tributes to his friend, the
collection benefits in its purpose from being closest to the event - with a printed dediction to ‘Helen
and the children’ marking its poignant nature.
Roger Senhouse’s copy
26.
(Pear Tree Press.) GUTHRIE (James) To the Memory of Edward Thomas.
Flansham, 1937, FIRST EDITION, 19/250 COPIES, frontispiece portrait of
Thomas by Robin Guthrie printed in ochre and black, 10 further
illustrations with some full-page and printed in a variety of colours, pp. 32,
4to, original red cloth with Guthrie design stamped in gilt to upper board, a
little bumping to top corners and top edge, edges untrimmed, ownership
inscription and bookplate of Roger Senhouse to front endpapers, original
prospectus laid in, dustjacket with some light overall dustsoiling and
chipping to corners and backstrip ends, very good
£500
The third and last of Guthrie’s tribute volumes to his friend Edward
Thomas, and a very nicely designed and executed book; this the copy of
publisher and Bloomsbury Group associate Roger Senhouse.
27.
(Pear Tree Press.) THOMAS (Edward) The Friend of the Blackbird.
Flansham, 1938, 12/100 COPIES, printed in black and gold ink using intaglio
plates, the text written out by Helen Hinkley, 3 decorations by James
Guthrie, pp. [iv], 15, royal 8vo, original boards with printed label to front,
edges untrimmed, contemporary bookplate to front pastedown with faint
browning to inner margins of endpapers, dustjacket with half-title plate
blind-stamped to front, a little toned to backstrip panel and borders with
some fraying and chipping around head, tape repair to top corner of front
panel, very good
£800
Signed by the printer, James Guthrie, at the foot of the colophon page. A
short story first published in 1911, here reprinted from the author’s
corrected copy by permission of his widow. A very attractive and striking
work where the impressions are heavy but the touch is light, in the scarce
dustjacket. The bookplate is that of Geoffrey Woolley, the Letters Editor
of The Times and a member of the Edward Thomas Fellowship.
With the Press’s beautifully printed ‘Programme of Books Finished, In
the Making and To Be Made’, printed in black, blue and gold on all sides of a single quarter-folded
sheet, a little browned to left-hand side of front with some chipping at bottom corner.
6
BLACKWELL’S RARE BOOKS SHORT LIST 35: EDWARD THOMAS & THE PEAR TREE PRESS
Inscribed by Thomas’s bibliographer to his friend James Guthrie
28.
Thomas (Edward) Horae Solitariae. Duckworth, 1902, FIRST EDITION, a small amount of erased pencil
underlining (presumably by Eckert), pp. viii, 187, [4, ads], foolscap 8vo, original green fine ribbed cloth,
stamped in gilt to upper board with single fillet border blind-stamped to same, publisher’s device blindstamped to lower board, backstrip lettered in gilt with very slight lean to spine, light rubbing to extremities
including a small amount to joints, corners slightly bumped, t.e.g., flyleaves browned with small bookseller
sticker at foot of pastedown, good (Eckert p. 187-8)
£200
Inscribed on the front pastedown by Robert P. Eckert, Thomas’s biographer and bibliographer, for
James Guthrie of the Pear Tree Press - who had been one of Thomas’s closest friends and his
publisher. The inscription is dated 10/26/38, this the year following the publication of Eckert’s
work on Thomas, wherein Guthrie is acknowledged as having ‘spared neither time nor energy in
my behalf’ (p. xviii). Beneath Eckert’s inscription, there is a further inscription by Guthrie to his son
Stuart. The author’s second book, a collection of fifteen essays.
29.
Thomas (Edward) Richard Jefferies. His Life and Work. Hutchinson, 1909, FIRST EDITION, 13 plates,
frontispiece tissue-guard present, folding-map at end, occasional very faint foxing to borders, pp. xi, 340,
8vo, original dark blue cloth with single gilt rule border to upper board, backstrip lettered in gilt with a
little softening and rubbing at tips, light rubbing to extremities and one or two faint marks with a scuff at
head of leading edge of lower board, t.e.g., small brown mark to tail edge, free endpapers lightly browned
with some auction listings for Jefferies first editions laid in, good (Eckert p.199)
£130
Eckert, in his footnote to this entry, regards the book as rare. The illustrations include a drawing by
James Guthrie.
Presentation copy to James Guthrie
30.
Thomas (Edward) Rose Acre Papers. Including Essays from “Horae Solitariae”.
Duckworth, 1910, FIRST EDITION, occasional very faint foxing to borders, pp..
viii, 187, [4, ads], foolscap 8vo, original ribbed green cloth, stamped in gilt to
upper board with single fillet border blind-stamped to same, publisher’s device
blind-stamped to lower board, backstrip lettered in gilt with tips a little rubbed
and softened, corners a little rubbed with light bump to bottom corners, upper
board slightly bowed, t.e.g., light browning to free endpapers, good (Eckert pp.
205-6)
£1,500
The first issue, with ‘Duckworth & Co.’ as the imprint on the backstrip, this
a presentation copy inscribed to the flyleaf by the author to his friend, the
printer James Guthrie: ‘James Guthrie from Edward Thomas, 1910’. At the
foot of the same, Guthrie has in turn inscribed this copy ‘To Nora with love’
- this the second wife of his son Stuart.
31.
Thomas (Edward) The Happy-go-Lucky Morgans. Duckworth, 1913, FIRST EDITION, first issue with
frontispiece and date to title-page, publisher’s date stamp to title-page, slightly off-set to facing tissue guard,
pp. viii, 300, [20, ads], crown 8vo, original ribbed green cloth, upper board blocked in gilt and blind,
backstrip in gilt, slightly bumped at head, a touch of brown paint to tail edge of boards and textblock, top
edge a trifle dustsoiled and faint browning to free endpapers, very good (Eckert pp. 229-30)
£200
A bright copy of the author’s first and only novel.
32.
Thomas (Edward) The Icknield Way. With Illustrations by A.L. Collins. Constable, 1913, FIRST EDITION,
first issue, 8 colour plates (including tissue-guarded frontispiece), text illustrations, folding map at rear,
some light foxing to prelims, contemporary gift inscription to half-title, pp. xv, 320, 8vo, original ribbed
green cloth, backstrip and front cover blocked and lettered in gilt, slight lean to spine with backstrip a
shade darkened and showing one or two faint white spots, t.e.g. (first issue), various contemporary clippings
regarding author laid in at front with letter from H.E. Cashmore to T.W.L. Hay presenting the book, good
(Eckert p. 226)
£70
33.
Thomas (Edward) In Pursuit of Spring. Nelson, 1914, FIRST EDITION, 6 plates, each mounted and with
captioned tissue-guard present, closed tear to leading edge of one leaf, pp. 301, 8vo, original fine-ribbed
blue cloth, the backstrip and upper board blocked in gilt and bordered in pale blue, backstrip tips a little
softened with a nick at head, rubbing to extremities, top corner of lower board with gentlest of bumps and
a tiny hole to cloth to leading edge of same, t.e.g., others untrimmed, good (Eckert p.232)
£70
7
BLACKWELL’S RARE BOOKS SHORT LIST 35: EDWARD THOMAS & THE PEAR TREE PRESS
On the eve of a great decision
34.
Thomas (Edward) Letters from Edward Thomas to Gordon Bottomley. Edited and introduced by R. George
Thomas, Oxford: University Press, 1968, FIRST EDITION, 8 plates, pp. [vi], 302, 8vo, original brown cloth,
backstrip lettered in gilt against a red ground, a little crystallized adhesive residue along joints, brown
endpapers, dustjacket price-clipped with a little rubbing, very good
£20
35.
Thomas (Edward) Words into Wood. Eighteen Poems, Eighteen Wood-Engravings. St Lawrence: Edward
Thomas Fellowship, 2010, 48/50 COPIES (from an edition of 250 copies), title-page printed in black and
copper, pp. [xiv], [39], crown 4to, original quarter brown leather with green cloth, backstrip lettered in gilt,
tail edge roughtrimmed, matching slipcase, new
£150
Printed by the Evergreen Press in Gloucestershire. The artists featured are Simon Brett, Robin
Guthrie, Linda Holmes, Cordelia Jones, Paul L. Kershaw, Sarah Van Niekirk, Howard Phipps, Sue
Scullard, Yvonne Skargon, Ian Stephens, and Geri Waddington.
Edward Thomas’s copy
36.
(Thomas.) CRANMER -BYNG (L.) The Never-Ending Wrong. And Other Renderings of the Chinese from the
Prose Translations of Professor Herbert A. Giles, Author of ‘The History of Chinese Literature’ etc. Grant
Richards, 1902, FIRST EDITION, one or two handling marks to prelims, pp. 133, foolscap 8vo, original beveledged red cloth, backstrip lettered in gilt and a little faded with foot a little softened, extremities rubbed,
free endpapers browned, good
£700
Edward Thomas’s copy, with his signature at the head of the flyleaf; the book reviewed by him for
The Daily Chronicle in February 1903.
The publishing and pricing information written at the head of the front pastedown suggest that it
was published in January of that year rather than the printed date of 1902.
Inscribed by Edward Thomas to ‘J.C.’
37.
(Thomas.) DAVIES (William H.) Nature Poems, and others. A.C. Fifield, 1908, FIRST EDITION, occasional
light foxing, pp. 62, [2, ads], foolscap 8vo, original grey boards printed in black to upper board and
backstrip, some splitting along backstrip which has a dark stain carrying around to upper joint, board
edges a little rubbed, textblock edges untrimmed, bookplate of Joan Stevens to front pastedown with light
handling marks to flyleaf, good (Holloway A4)
£800
Inscribed by Edward Thomas on the flyleaf, in the month of
publication: ‘J.C from E.T., 21.x.08’ - the likely recipient here being
Joseph Conrad: below the inscription, a lightly erased pencil note
by the noted Edward Thomas authority Joan Stevens - whose copy
this was - records that ‘Edward Thomas met Conrad in 1902’.
The axis of the two authors’ original acquaintance had been
Edward Garnett, and it was not until the last years of Thomas’s time
in England - before his fateful journey across to France - that they
became close. Thomas had given a positive review to Conrad’s ‘Set
of Six’ in the same month as this inscription, and a couple of years
later would (again via Garnett) come to Conrad soliciting a
statement from him in support of their petition to the government
regarding Davies - of whom Conrad wrote in reply, that ‘his
poetical gift is of the rarest’ (Letter to Garnett, 17th February 1911).
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BLACKWELL’S RARE BOOKS SHORT LIST 35: EDWARD THOMAS & THE PEAR TREE PRESS
38.
(Thomas.) H.T. [i.e., Helen Thomas] As it Was. Heinemann, 1926, FIRST EDITION, second state with
cancel pages 53-7, errata slip, pp. [viii], 116, crown 8vo, original orange cloth with publisher’s device
blind-stamped at foot of lower board, backstrip lettered in gilt, gentle bumping to corners and light rubbing
to extremities, a few light marks to cloth, gift inscription to flyleaf and newspaper clipping regarding author
laid in at front, good (Eckert p. 286-7)
£50
An account by Edward Thomas’s wife of their early life together. The cancel pages replace material
suppressed before publication, which was subsequently reinstated in the first American edition of
the following year and the 1931 English edition (the latter the first to identify the author).
Robin Guthrie’s copy
39.
(Thomas.) ECKERT (Robert P.) Edward Thomas. A Biography and a Bibliography. J.M. Dent, 1937, FIRST
EDITION, frontispiece photograph and 9 further plates, a few foxspots to prelims and index, pp. xxi, 328,
8vo, original green cloth, backstrip lettered in gilt against a brown ground with a tiny amount of wear to
tips of lower joint, a little spotting around head of cloth and at foot of upper board, some surface grazing
and corners a touch bumped, top edge green, a few foxspots to endpapers and two ownership inscriptions
to flyleaf, dustjacket frayed with light soiling and some loss at backstrip ends, good
£135
This the copy of Robin Guthrie, the artist-son of
Thomas’s friend James Guthrie of the Pear Tree Press,
with his ownership inscription on the flyleaf dated 1942.
Robin Guthrie’s portrait of Thomas was used as the
frontispiece for the Pear Tree Press tribute volume ‘To
the Memory of Edward Thomas’ in the same year that
this work was published and - as Eckert mentions on p.
xiv - is in the National Portrait Gallery.
Thomas, as Eckert records on pp. 105-6, enjoyed the
company of the Guthrie children on his visits to their
father. There is a small amount of pencil marking by
Guthrie, highlighting a few passages and in one instance
providing a wistful note beside a passage on the poetic inspiration provided for him by a young girl
he had encountered: Guthrie writes ‘Joan Th made him feel this. Never[underlined] me’.
40.
(Cherub Press.) THOMAS (Edward) Bright Clouds. Solihull, 1984, printed on Japanese hand-made paper,
pp. [1], foolscap 8vo, original printed card with single leaf tipped in, fine
£60
The limitation not stated, but likely to have been small in keeping with the Press’s general output.
The paper used for the text-leaf varies.
41.
(Cherub Press.) THOMAS (Edward) Bright Clouds. Solihull, 1984, printed on Japanese hand-made paper, a
couple of tiny faint foxspots to text, pp. [1], foolscap 8vo, original printed card with single leaf tipped in,
near fine
£45
The limitation not stated, but likely to have been small in keeping with the Press’s general output.
The paper used for the text-leaf varies.
42.
(Demeter Press.) ON EDWARD THOMAS. Yoxford, 1995, 61/110 COPIES printed at the Tragara Press,
frontispiece photograph of Thomas, title-page printed in black and red, pp. 29, 8vo, original quarter black
cloth with Cockerell marbled boards, backstrip with printed label, prospectus laid in, fine
£70
Collected tributes to Thomas from Norman G. Brett James, Duncan Williams, E.S.P. Haynes,
Norman Douglas, Edward Garnett, and Clifford Bax. Loosely inserted is a note from Joan Stevens
of the Press - a noted Edward Thomas authority - to the original owner of this copy.
43.
(Fleece Press.) THOMAS (Helen) A Memory of W.H. Hudson. Introduced by Myfanwy Thomas. Wakefield,
1984, ONE OF 40 COPIES (of an edition of 190 copies) but see note below, printed on Velin Arches
mouldmade paper and signed by Myfanwy Thomas, full-page wood-engraving by Michael Renton, errataslip correcting the limitation statement loosely inserted, pp. [16], sm.4to, original quarter cream linen,
printed label, brown decorated boards, untrimmed, near fine
£185
The colophon states that 300 copies on Arches paper were printed, but the printer's loosely
inserted printed errata-slip makes clear that the issue was ‘by miscalculation, printed in an edition
of 150 copies only'.
9
BLACKWELL’S RARE BOOKS SHORT LIST 35: EDWARD THOMAS & THE PEAR TREE PRESS
44.
(Whittington Press.) HANSCOMB (Brian) Sun, Sea and Earth. Eight Copper-engravings... with Texts by John
Clare, Richard Jefferies, Edward Thomas & the Artist. Andoversford. 1989, 35/100 COPIES (of an edition of
125 copies) printed on handmade paper, 8 beautiful and very evocative copperplate-engravings by
Hanscomb, pp. 24 (french folded), roy.8vo., original stiff pale blue wrappers bound in the Japanese style,
front cover label, untrimmed, board slipcase with printed label, fine (Butcher 100)
£250
45.
(Whittington Press.) EMENY (Richard) James Guthrie, the Pear Tree Press and Edward Thomas. [Offprint
from Matrix 13.] Risbury, 1993, FIRST EDITION, pp. 195-204, imperial 8vo, original wrappers with the
lightest of creasing and soiling, very good
£75
A scarce offprint, offering useful documentation of this significant friendship.
10