Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Graves, Robert. Claudius The God And His Wife Messalina. Arthur Barkert, London, 1934.
Price: US$56.37 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First edition of Graves' celebrated sequel to his classic historical novel I, Claudius. Copy is in very good condition. Minimal wear to the black cloth boards. Interior is clean and unmarked save for former owner's bookplate pasted on front free end paper. Fold-out genealogical both present and in excellent shape. Untrimmed bottom page edges. Slight rippling from paste-down image on frontispiece. Lacking dust jacket.
Seller: The Merrickville Book Emporium, Merrickville, ON, Canada
Price: US$77.00 + shipping
Description: First edition, 8vo, 494 pp. Folding genealogy at the end. Original black cloth, some marking, light wear to the top of the lower joint.
Seller: Bow Windows Bookshop (ABA, ILAB), Lewes, United Kingdom
Graves, Robert. I Claudius. Harrison Smith and Robert Haas, 1934.
Price: US$97.50 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: First Edition, likely first printing (1934) from Arthur Barker: London. No dust jacket. Covers show some light scuffing, rubbing and discoloration as well as some edge wear. Pages show some light browning from age.
Seller: Half Moon Books, Kingston, NY, U.S.A.
Graves, Robert. I, Claudius [ in an uncommon binding ]. Arthur Barker, London, 1934.
Price: US$115.49 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: An uncommon binding of the first edition that I've not found any reference to. The cloth covers are the same as other copies I've had but there is only a single line under the author's name as opposed to the usual 2. I have no idea if it is a library binding (seems unlikely), an advance review copy or something else. The dimensions of boards are 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and there are 494pp. Book is bumped to spine ends with wear to cloth but no tears. Corners also bumped with wear but not worn through. Boards have some minor rubbing and a few marks but nothing serious. Internally hinges intact but heavy offsetting to free end papers that also appears on the adjacent blanks, only slightly at rear. The folding frontis at rear has some light scattered spots but nothing serious. PP. 15-26 have a light crease to top corner. Very minor spotting to front edge of text block but it doesn't show on pages when open. Postage will be confirmed when you enquire or order and for light or very heavy books will vary from the ABE quote which is based on a 1kg parcel. N.B. Postage to the USA will often be quite a bit less than the quote on ABE.
Seller: The Book Business (P.B.F.A), London, United Kingdom
GRAVES, Robert. I, CLAUDIUS. London : Arthur Barker, 1934.
Price: US$141.16 + shipping
Description: First Edition, First Printing. Very good condition. The contents are in very good condition with no internal markings or inscriptions. Ex-Libris sticker of The Book Society. The boards are grubby, with wear to the corners and head and tail of the spine. The fold out family tree to the rear is in very good condition.
Seller: Surrey Hills Books, Cranleigh, United Kingdom
Robert Graves. I, Claudius. Arthur Barker, London, 1934.
Price: US$179.66 + shipping
Description: A superb first edition of Robert Graves's popular historical novel, 'I, Claudius'. The first edition, first impression of this work.Written in the form of the autobiography of the Roman Emperor Claudius, 'I, Claudius' tells the history of the early years of the Roman Empire, from Julius Caesar's assassination to the assassination of Caligula.Though the narrative is largely fictionalized, most of the events depicted are drawn from historical accounts of the same time period by the Roman historians Suetonius and Tacitus.With a folding tale to the rear. In the publisher's original cloth binding. A touch of shelf wear to back strip tail, otherwise externally fine. Internally, firmly bound. Pages clean and bright. Very Good Indeed
Seller: Rooke Books PBFA, Bath, United Kingdom
Graves, Robert. I, Claudius. Arthur Barker, London, 1934.
Price: US$186.07 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: 1934. First printing. 575pp. Fold out family tree to rear. Full title "I, Claudius - From the Autobiography of Tiberius Claudius - Emperor of the Romans - born B.C. 10 - murdered and deified A.D. 54." Gilt titles to spine. Light wear to edges of boards, spine ends. Top edge dusty. Bottom edge uncut. Minor scrape to fore edge. Some minor creasing and soiling to upper corner of a few pages. No inscriptions. Contents clean.
Seller: Edinburgh Books, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Graves, Robert. I, Claudius. Published by Arthur Barker, London, 1934, 1934.
Price: US$192.49 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: 1st edition. In clean black cloth with gilt titles still bright. Light foxing on end papers and edge; internally near fine.
Seller: Mike Conry, WORCESTER, United Kingdom
Robert Graves. I, Claudius. Arthur Baker (London), 1934.
Price: US$250.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Arthur Baker (London) 1934 First British Edition (stated), First Printing. Good in full black cloth. Light soiling and handling wear. Corners lightly bumped. Upper corners slightly rubbed. Interior pages clean and bright. Sadly no DJ. The scarce UK First Edition.
Seller: Chris Grobel, Arlington, TX, U.S.A.
Graves Robert. I, Claudius. Arthur Barker, London, 1934.
Price: US$423.48 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: A good copy in a poor dustwrapper. Some spine lean. The wrapper is price-clipped, has chips to head and tail of spine, internal sellotape repairs and an external repair at head of spine. Previous owner's ex libris plate on front free end-paper. Some edge and end-paper foxing. 494 pages with folding family tree at end. Photographs available on request.
Seller: Blacket Books, PBFA, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Robert Graves. I, Claudius; Claudius the God. Arthur Barker, London, 1934.
Price: US$500.47 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: The first editions of Robert Graves's popular historical novels, 'I, Claudius' and 'Claudius the God'. First editions, first impressions of these works.With 'Claudius the God' in the publisher's original dust wrapper, price unclipped.Written in the form of the autobiography of the Roman Emperor Claudius, 'I, Claudius' tells the history of the early years of the Roman Empire, from Julius Caesar's assassination to the assassination of Caligula.The sequel, 'Claudius the God', covers the period up until Claudius's death.With a folding table to the rear of each volume.With the bookplate of art collector Samuel Augustine Courtauld to the front pastedown of volume I, and with the inscription 'June 1934' to the front free endpaper. In the publisher's original cloth bindings, with unclipped dust wrapper to second work. Bumping to back strip heads and tails, with rubbing and light marks to volume I back strip. Rear wrap of dust wrapper detached from back strip. Back strip significantly age toned. Losses to back strip head and tail. Small hole to head of rear wrap. Rear hinge of second volume strained but firmly held. Bookplate to front pastedown of volume I, with inscription to front free endpaper. Internally, firmly bound. Pages clean and bright. Very Good
Seller: Rooke Books PBFA, Bath, United Kingdom
Robert Graves. Claudius the God and his wife Messalina. Arthur Barker, London UK, 1934.
Price: US$564.64 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: The sequel to Grave's most popular historical Novel, I Claudius, this is a first edition, first impression with it's unclipped first state jacket. The jacket has benefited from some repair work and is in good condition. The book is very good condition with clean boards and minor bumping to the bottom of the spine only. Foxing to endpapers and text block edge, otherwise clean throughout with no writing or inscriptions. 8vo 575 pp with two fold-out family trees.
Seller: Rare And Antique Books PBFA, Exeter, DEVON, United Kingdom
Robert Graves. I Claudius. Arthur Barker, London, 1934.
Price: US$600.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: I, Claudius was the winner of the Hawthornden and James Tait Black memorial prizes, and made into a critically acclaimed BBC television miniseries starring Derek Jacobi in 1976. Higginson A42; Higginson A43. 8vo. Original black gilt cloth lacks the rare dj else very good, with one armorial bookplate and one early owner neat signature on endsheet, else vg. With folding genealogical tables.John Hurt co starred along with Patrick Stewart The series played on PBS in America and was a great success. We are searching to find a facsimile to grace this pretty copy in the meantime. hence our low price thus
Seller: Hirschfeld Galleries, Saint Louis, MO, U.S.A.
Graves, Robert. I, Claudius. Arthur Barker, London, 1934.
Price: US$737.88 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First edition, 1934, with folding genealogical table at end. A Very Good copy of the first impression in original black cloth with gilt title to spine. Dust jacket cleaner and brighter than usually found but with a significant loss to head of spine, smaller losses top foot of spine and foot of fore-edge, not clipped, no owner's names. Textblock notably clean and bright. A Very Good unrestored and original copy. 8vo.
Seller: Finecopy, Westbury, WILTS, United Kingdom
Graves, Robert. I, Claudius. Arthur Barker, London, 1934.
Price: US$751.57 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: 8vo. Red half calf over red linen boards, marbled endpapers and gilt top edge. Two leather spine labels in green and navy with gilt stamped compartments. Board corners worn and scuff marks to the cloth, with expert restoration to the joints. Bound by Frost & Co. Bath, England.
Seller: Karol Krysik Books ABAC/ILAB, IOBA, PBFA, Toronto, ON, Canada
Price: US$834.12 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: First Editions. Two volumes. 494; 575 pp. Bound in a recent black morocco over black cloth, top edges gilt. Five raised bands with gilt lettering and decorative gilt devices to spine panels. Slight foxing to fore edge. Folding family charts at rear of each volume. Additional folding chart of the Family of the Herods in 'Claudius the God'. Internally clean and fresh. No ownership names. An attractive pair in Near Fine condition. 8vo.
Seller: Foster Books - Stephen Foster - ABA, ILAB, & PBFA, London, United Kingdom
Price: US$866.20 + shipping
Description: First editions. Octavo. Two volumes: pp 494; 575. Folding family tree at the rear of each volume. Recent bindings of three quarter green morocco with raised bands, gilt decorative devices to spines.Top edge of first volume a bit stained. Very good. The bindings are fine.
Seller: Peter Ellis, Bookseller, ABA, ILAB, London, United Kingdom
GRAVES, Robert (1895-1985). I, Claudius [and] Claudius The God. London: Arthur Barker, 1934, 1934.
Price: US$962.45 + shipping
Description: [Historical Fiction] LEATHER-BOUND FIRST EDITIONS, First Impressions. Two volumes. Octavo (22 x 14 x 9cm), pp.494 [2]; pp.[2] 575 [2]. With a folding family tree of the Julio-Claudian dynasty to rear of each volume. Recently re-bound in red half calf, with raised bands, gilt titles to spine, matching cloth over boards, and top edges gilt. Some light spotting to edges and first / final leaves, otherwise crisp, clean copies in attractive new leather bindings. Arguably the defining piece of Roman historical fiction from the twentieth century, Graves' classic fanciful autobiography of Rome's fourth Emperor builds a tangled web of family feuds and internecine murder from hints provided by Tacitus and Suetonius. The story was dramatised by the BBC in 1976, staring Derek Jacobi, and has since inspired the tone of the acclaimed series 'Rome' (2005-07). Graves was a gifted classicist at Charterhouse and later Oxford, but decided to pursue literature and poetry after he completed his degree. As well as contributing translations of Apuleius' 'The Golden Ass' and Suetonius' 'Twelve Caesars' to the Penguin Classics collection, he also published a controversial encyclopaedia of Greek Myths containing some of his own original theories, generally rejected by the academic community.
Seller: Adrian Harrington Ltd, PBFA, ABA, ILAB, Royal Tunbridge Wells, KENT, United Kingdom
GRAVES, Robert (1895-1985). I, Claudius [and] Claudius The God. London: Arthur Barker, 1934, 1934.
Price: US$962.45 + shipping
Description: [Historical Fiction] LEATHER-BOUND FIRST EDITIONS, First Impressions. Two volumes. Octavo (22 x 14 x 9cm), pp.494 [2]; pp.[2] 575 [2]. With a folding family tree of the Julio-Claudian dynasty to rear of each volume. Bound in dark blue half calf, with raised bands, gilt titles to spine, matching cloth over boards, and top edges gilt. Contents clean, free from the usual spotting, exteriors as new. Fine copies in attractive recent leather bindings. Arguably the defining piece of Roman historical fiction from the twentieth century, Graves' classic fanciful autobiography of Rome's fourth Emperor builds a tangled web of family feuds and internecine murder from hints provided by Tacitus and Suetonius. The story was dramatised by the BBC in 1976, staring Derek Jacobi, and has since inspired the tone of the acclaimed series 'Rome' (2005-07). Graves was a gifted classicist at Charterhouse and later Oxford, but decided to pursue literature and poetry after he completed his degree. As well as contributing translations of Apuleius' 'The Golden Ass' and Suetonius' 'Twelve Caesars' to the Penguin Classics collection, he also published a controversial encyclopaedia of Greek Myths containing some of his own original theories, generally rejected by the academic community.
Seller: Adrian Harrington Ltd, PBFA, ABA, ILAB, Royal Tunbridge Wells, KENT, United Kingdom
Price: US$1090.78 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: FIRST EDITIONS. Two volumes. 8vo. (8.6 x 5.8 inches). Each volume with a folding family tree at the end of the text. Overall a very good bright set. Finely bound in recent full black morocco. Spines with five raised bands, the compartments ruled, decorated and lettered in gilt. Single gilt ruled borders on boards. Top edges gilt. A fine pair.
Seller: Paul Foster. - ABA & PBFA Member., London, United Kingdom
Graves, Robert. I, Claudius. Arthur Barker, London, 1934.
Price: US$1250.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First British Edition, First Printing. In Very Good condition, in a Good dust jacket with price of 8/- net intact. Light edge wear, light reading crease to backstrip. Small, previous owner name to front paste down. Fold-out map intact at rear. The dust jacket shows chipping, tears and creases to the spine ends and corners, two tiny paint splatters to the spine panel, and an interior split to the front flap fold; toning and a few light stains to the rear panel. Presents well in Mylar.
Seller: Burnside Rare Books, ABAA, Portland, OR, U.S.A.
Price: US$1350.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: 8vo, rebound in 3/4 black morocco, marbled end-papers, all edges gilt, by Asprey. London: Arthur Barker, 1934. First Edition. Fine.
Seller: Argosy Book Store, ABAA, ILAB, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Robert Graves. I Claudius. Arthur Barker, London, 1934.
Price: US$1604.08 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Original black cloth boards with gilt lettering on the spine. Spotting on the end papers and page ends. Otherwise the contents are clean. Uncut lower edge. The dust jacket is not price clipped marked 8'-Net. Loss principally to the front flap edge and ends. Chipping on the spine ends. Browned spine colour and flaps lightly browned. Contains The Tree of the Imperial Family and Connexions at the rear of the book.
Seller: Rare And Antique Books PBFA, Exeter, DEVON, United Kingdom
Graves, Robert. I, Claudius.. Arthur Barker, London, 1934.
Price: US$2000.00 + shipping
Description: First edition of Graves' classic work. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by John Aldridge. A nice example. Drawing from such ancient sources as Tacitus and Suetonius, Graves created the secret "autobiography" of Claudius, narrated "in the imaginatively and idiosyncratically conceived persona of the emperor" (Drabble, 412). "In I, Claudius and its successor, Claudius the God, Robert Graves wrote two of the most resonant historical novels of the century⦠In impersonating Claudius, Graves displays a scholarly and imaginative understanding of the mores and ethos of the Roman world, and sensationalizes his material only as much as must be expected from a novelist with a living to earn⦠Graves' people are real Romans, and Claudius' autobiography is credible as the product of a Roman mind" (Parker, 175). I, Claudius was dramatized by the BBC in 1976 starring Derek Jacobi.
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
GRAVES, Robert.. I Claudius.. London Arthur Barker, 1934.
Price: US$2117.50 + shipping
Description: First edition, first impression; 8vo; publisher's black cloth, titles to spine gilt, bookplate to front paste down, a very good copy in a somewhat worn dust-jacket.
Seller: Shapero Rare Books, London, United Kingdom
Graves, Robert. I Claudius Claudius the God. Arthur Baker, London, 1934.
Price: US$2342.23 + shipping
Description: Two volumes in slipcase bound in black full leather with five raised bands by Asprey.
Seller: O'Connell's Bookshop Est. 1957, Adelaide, SA, Australia
Price: US$3932.50 + shipping
Description: First editions, first impressions; 8vo; publisher's black cloth, titles to spines gilt, dust-jackets, that of the first title with a number of short tears but entirely unfaded and it is distinctly scarce thus, Claudius the God is also a little frayed but bright albeit with some typical rubbing at the spine, in all a very good set. A really attractive set of the I Claudius books memorably filmed by the BBC and in this condition extremely hard to find.
Seller: Shapero Rare Books, London, United Kingdom
Price: US$4170.61 + shipping
Description: First edition, first printing of both volumes. Publisher's original black cloth with gilt titles to the spine, in the John Aldridge illustrated dustwrappers. Folding chart at the rear. I, Claudius is a fine example, the binding square and firm, the cloth and gilt fresh. The contents are clean throughout and without previous owner's inscriptions or stamps. Complete with the lightly rubbed original dustwrapper which although without loss or tears is somewhat uniformly toned to the spine and rear panel. Internally strengthened at the spine tips and fold corners. Not price-clipped (8/- net to the front flap). Claudius The God is a very near fine copy, the binding square and firm and the cloth and gilt fresh. The contents ever so slightly spotted to the top edge of the text block and with a "book society" bookplate to the front pastedown (almost entirely hidden by the dustwrapper) are otherwise clean throughout and without previous owner's inscriptions or stamps. Complete with the lightly rubbed and nicked dustwrapper which again is without loss but toned to the panel edges and spine and with some internal strengthening at the spine tips and fold corners. Not price-clipped (10/6 net to the front flap). An attractive uniform first edition set of Robert Graves' pioneering masterpieces of historical fiction. Awarded the 1934 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction and recently ranked fourteenth by the Modern Library on its list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century. The I, Claudius novels formed the basis of the 1976 multi-award winning BBC Television series starring Derek Jacobi, Siân Phillips, Brian Blessed, and John Hurt. Further details and images for any of the items listed are available on request. Lucius Books welcomes direct contact with our customers.
Seller: LUCIUS BOOKS (ABA, ILAB, PBFA), York, United Kingdom
Price: US$4200.00 + shipping
Description: First editions of Graves' celebrated Claudius novels. Octavo, 2 volumes, original cloth. Both volumes are near fine in very good to near fine dust jackets. Rare in the dust jackets and particularly so in such nice condition. Drawing from such ancient sources as Tacitus and Suetonius, Graves created the secret "autobiography" of Claudius, narrated "in the imaginatively and idiosyncratically conceived persona of the emperor" (Drabble, 412). "In I, Claudius and its successor, Claudius the God, Robert Graves wrote two of the most resonant historical novels of the century⦠In impersonating Claudius, Graves displays a scholarly and imaginative understanding of the mores and ethos of the Roman world, and sensationalizes his material only as much as must be expected from a novelist with a living to earn⦠Graves' people are real Romans, and Claudius' autobiography is credible as the product of a Roman mind" (Parker, 175).
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.