NONESUCH PRESS: FONTENELLE, Bernard De.. A Plurality of Worlds. John Glanvill's Translation with a Prologue by David Garnett.. [London:] The Nonesuch Press, 1929, 1929.

Price: US$321.91 + shipping

Description: First Nonesuch edition, limited issue, number 1,289 of 1,600 copies with coloured-stencilled illustrations. This copy is inscribed on the front flyleaf by Francis Meynell, the co-founder of the Nonesuch press, to his niece: "Alice with love from Francis". Alice (1911-2008) was the daughter of the artist and writer Everard Meynell (1882-1926) and shared the same full name as her grandmother (1847-1922), a prominent suffragist and poet. Fontenelle's Conversations on the Plurality of Worlds wwas originally published in 1686 and was one of the first major works of the Age of Enlightenment to discuss cosmic pluralism. Dreyfus 65. Octavo. Original limp vellum sewn on three leather cords, spine lettered in gilt, astrological signs in gilt on front cover, top edge gilt on the rough, other edges uncut. With original gold and green patterned slip case. Coloured-stencilled illustrations by T. L. Poulton. Centre cord lacking, light toning and rubbing to spine, cover with signs of handling; slipcase slightly sunned, extremities rubbed and worn at corners: a very good copy in like slipcase.

Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom