Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Price: US$500.00 + shipping
Description: First Edition. A very good copy; presentation copy, inscribed 'To Antonio Agnesti from Bernard Shaw, 17th May 1914.' Agnesti was William Rossetti's grandson. All books described as first editions are first printings unless otherwise noted.
Seller: Peter L. Stern & Co., Inc, Newton, MA, U.S.A.
Price: US$710.79 + shipping
Description: First edition, author's presentation copy inscribed on the day of publication: "to Alvin Langdon Coburn from George Bernard Shaw 17th May 1914" on the half-title. An excellent association: "In my early days in London", recalled Coburn in a speech delivered in 1962, "I was a lion hunter, and the first literary lion to capture was no less a person than Bernard Shaw. I made my first photographs of him on 1 August 1904. We met at the station at Welwyn where he was living at that time, and as it was a bank holiday and no conveyance was available, he helped me to carry my large camera to his house by placing his walking stick through the handle, each of us taking one end .". That meeting began an enduring friendship and a significant one for Coburn: a little over a year later, when first invited to exhibit at the Royal Photographic Society, Shaw wrote the preface to Coburn's catalogue, effectively kick-starting the young photographer's career. Unobtrusive water-staining to boards which extends to pastedowns and prelims else a very good copy with the spine gilt bright.
Seller: Peter Grogan, London, United Kingdom
Price: US$1200.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: Signed by Shaw on bookplate, with a TLS, duodecimo size, 358 pp., with two pieces of ephemera from the publisher. George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) was apparently in correspondence with the noted bookplate collector Charles Dexter Allen (1865-1926) - at least, the hints scattered within this book seems to indicate such. The story begins on the front pastedown, which has the signature of "G. Bernard Shaw" with the date below of 14th July 1913, on an Ex-Libris with the printed message: "This Book belongs to Charles Dexter Allen". Given that the date on the Ex-Libris is earlier than the publication date of the book, one can only assume that Mr. Allen sent out these bookplates to prominent personages to obtain their autograph, which he would keep and then, eventually, place within one of their books. The story continues on the front free endpaper, with two slips tipped-in. The first a short clipping (apparently from a magazine) which opens: "George Bernard Shaw, in declining an invitation to visit this country, says of the suggested visit: 'I cannot help asking myself whether it is not now too late.' ". The second is a slip of paper with Mr. Shaw's address of 10 Adelphi Terrace, W.C., printed at the bottom; printed at the top is "With Bernard Shaw's compliments". The recipient was clearly a fan, as there is a black-and-white photograph (apparently also clipped from a magazine) of Mr. Shaw tipped onto the flyleaf. Lastly, tipped onto the verso of the rear free endpaper is a TLS again with Mr. Shaw's address printed at the top, dated 17th February 1920, with a short note explaining that he is unable to authorize a "rival edition" of "The Dark Lady", signed "G. Bernard Shaw" and with a short hand-written note below: "PS You are probably aware that there are business reasons for not confusing the trade and the public as to who one's publishers are." ___DESCRIPTION: Bound in full green ribbed cloth, gilt lettering on the spine, top edge gilt, fore- and bottom edges rough-cut, the Ex-Libris signed by Shaw and dated 14th July 1913 on the front pastedown, the two slips mentioned above on the front free endpaper, the photograph mentioned above tipped onto the flyleaf, the TLS tipped onto the verso of the rear free endpaper (the glue just above the fold); duodecimo size (7 " by 5"), pagination: [i-iv] v-cxvi (being an introductory "Treatise", "Parents and Children"), cxvii-cxix (Contents), [cxx-blank], cxxi [sectional title], [cxxii-blank], [1] 2-234, [2 pp. publisher's ads]. In publisher's dust jacket of light blue heavy paper, navy blue lettering on both panels, spine (which shows the original price of 6/-), and front flap. Loosely laid in are two pieces of ephemera from the publisher: a listing of books ("Constable's 1/- Net Series"), being a single sheet of grey paper measuring 6 5/8" by 4 1/2", with red printing on both sides; and a tan heavy paper postcard for inquiries measuring 5" wide by 3" tall, black print on both sides. ___CONDITION: Volume near fine; the cloth binding clean and with only minor wear, a strong square text block with solid hinges, the interior is clean and bright, and free of prior owner written markings (there are the several pieces tipped or mounted in, enumerated above, either signed by Shaw or relating to him); mild bumping to the head and tail of the spine and prior bookseller notes in pencil on the front pastedown. Dust jacket is better than very good, clean and entire, with sunning to the spine and light edgewear, mostly to the head and tail of the spine (no loss of text) and a small triangular chip (approx. 3/8" on each side) at the bottom where the front panel meets the front flap. The two pieces of ephemera also near fine, both clean, the listing of books with very light wear and the postcard toned. ___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs; please inquire for details. ___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.
Seller: Swan's Fine Books, ABAA, ILAB, IOBA, Walnut Creek, CA, U.S.A.
Price: US$1750.00 + shipping
Description: First edition. 1 vols. 8vo. Inscribed to the Artist Muirhead Bone. Inscribed on the half title "from Bernard Shaw / to Muirhead Bone / 9th June 1920. / Muirhead Bone - to the Steep Memorial Village Club." Laurence A128 Original pale green cloth. Fine copy. In green cloth slipcase with chemise and black leather spine label
Seller: James Cummins Bookseller, ABAA, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$4500.00 + shipping
Description: First Edition. Hardcover. Signed by Author. Shaw, George Bernard. MISALLIANCE. The Dark Lady Of The Sonnets And Fanny's First Play. With a Treatise on Parents and Children. Inscribed. London: Constable and Company Ltd., 1914. "It is more dangerous to be a great prophet or poet than to promote twenty companies for swindling simple folk out of their savings". First Edition. Small 8vo. 234 pp. + 2 pp. of ads. A near fine or better copy in light moss green cloth, gilt titles to the spine, t.e.g., in a bright, near fine slightly spine darkened example of the rather uncommon dustwrapper. A significant presentation copy inscribed in black fountain pen on the half-title: "To Robert Loraine, who created Hotchkiss (among / other good turns), from Bernard Shaw. / 17th May 1914". Loraine [1876-1935] was a man of action: actor-manager, soldier, aviator, Fabian & of course, a close friend to Shaw - perhaps best known as an actor he's seen most commonly on holiday with the Shaws & Harley Granville-Barker or at Fabian events. Loraine & Shaw shared political affiliations & a passion for theatre: it was Loraine who premiered as the lead in Man & Superman on Broadway, the production was massively successful & launched Shaw as a force to be reckoned with in the United States. "The whole strength of England lies in the fact that the enormous majority of the English people are snobs". - Hotchkiss in GETTING MARRIED first performed in 1908 & published in THE DOCTOR'S DILEMMA, 1911. Excellent example. Custom TBCL embossed cloth slipcase in fine condition.
Seller: TBCL The Book Collector's Library, Montreal, QC, Canada