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ONLINE SHOWCASE
Explore a small selection of our antiquarian books, including scarce titles, first editions, and quality bindings. This is only a fraction of our in store collection, so come visit us in person to discover more.
We also update this page with more books (and sometimes comics!), so check back regularly to see what we have to offer!
We are a traditional bookshop and do not sell any of our books directly through the website, but if you are interested in any of these items, then please get in touch (via phone or sales@mainlybooks.co.uk) or visit us in our shop.
Mainly Comics!
Welcome to our comic collection, which we have imaginatively named Mainly Comics! We sell comics from the Silver to Modern age, from Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, Image, First, and many other publishers. Our collection also includes graphic novels, manga, and magazines. If you’re a fan of horror comics, then we have hundreds starting from the 1970s from Warren publishers, including Eerie, Creepy, Vampirella, and more. Horror pulps also make up our horror section, including a select
Nadia. Amours russes, by 'Némo'
Nadia. Amours russes was written anonymously and published under the pseudo name ‘Némo.’ Although written in French, the novel is set in Russia and follows Russian characters involved in an erotic and sadomasochistic relationship. The work belongs to the late nineteenth and early twentieth- century tradition of clandestine French literature, in which works dealing with sexually transgressive subjects were often published discreetly or anonymously. Its clandestine origins and
Dance of Death, by H. Holbein & W. Hollar
This volume presents Dance of Death, a series of design by German artist Hans Holbein the Younger, later engraved by Wenceslaus Hollar. This book contains 30 plates, together with a fold-out plate depicting the Dance Macabre, illustrating one of humanity’s most universal and enduring subjects: Death. Each image is accompanied by a short English description of the plate that presents Death's enduring presence in human life. From Pope to Ploughman, regardless of wealth, status
Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, Numbered edition
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is a dystopian novel that presents a world in which books are outlawed, with firefighters burning books as a method of censorship. Guy Montag, disillusioned with his society, decides to break with the prevailing order and dedicate himself to the preservation of literary works. First published in 1953, Bradbury’s book has endured as a work of cultural significance and continued relevance; as a cautionary work, it stands firmly opposed to literary
Don Quixote, by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
The Adventures of Don Quixote, by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, was originally published in 1605 and, 421 years on, continues to endure as a literary classic. The story centres on Alonso Quixano and his immersion in his own fictional imagination. Delusional and convinced that he is a knight, he reinvents himself as Don Quixote and embarks upon a series of unrelenting quests, whilst the narrative continually reminds us of their detachment from reality. Cervantes’ rejection of
The Family Physician: A Manual of Domestic Medicine, Volumes I & II
The Family Physician: A Manual of Domestic Medicine, to Which Is Added The Ladies Physician – Volumes I & II (SOLD TOGETHER) These two comprehensive 19th century volumes form a fascinating home medical guide, written by leading physicians associated with London hospitals. They were designed to help Victorian households understand health, symptoms, common illnesses and injuries, surgical procedures, and much more. Together, the volumes provide a unique insight into Victorian h
Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, by J. M. Barrie
An early edition of J. M. Barrie’s origin story of Peter Pan, Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens is a charming book that details the adventures of the little boy who would become one of the most beloved figures in children's literature. Whimsical and, at times, devastating, Barrie’s tale has endured generations and has become a lasting source of nostalgic magic and childhood wonder. Published by Hodder & Stoughton, this edition predates the incorporation as a limited publishing
Something About Cats, And Other Pieces, H.P. Lovecraft
Something About Cats, and Other Pieces is the final collection of miscellaneous writings by the great H.P. Lovecraft, the father of cosmic horror. The volume contains a dozen poems, the title essay, pieces from the little-known magazine The Conservative, notes relating to some of his popular stories, and several stories to which Lovecraft also contributed. The collection begins with a prefatory note by August Derleth, the collector of these pieces and a close friend and colla
The World of William Shakespeare, Anthony Burgess
The World of William Shakespeare, a beautifully crafted book by Anthony Burgess, offers a historical study of the culture and society that produced William Shakespeare. Anthony Burgess, best known for his infamous novel A Clockwork Orange and his literary criticism, published this factual account of Shakespeare in 1971. This limited edition is signed by the author, without dedication, and is numbered 235 of only 265 copies, making it a scarce and collectible book. This book i
Crime and Punishment, Dostoevsky
Dostoevsky: His works, firmly situated within the canon of Russian literature, remain uniquely profound 145 years after his death. Crime and Punishment, his most widely read novel, follows Raskolnikov, a tormented protagonist who grapples with the immensity of the human condition, exploring the abysmal weight of conscience, morality and isolation. It is a truly remarkable novel that continues to resonate with readers more than 160 years after its publication. The book is in e
Insects At Home, by Rev J.G. Wood
Written by Rev. J.G. Wood, who is remembered as one of the most successful popularisers of British natural history, Insects At Home offers a compressive and fascinating account of the insects that populate the UK. Published by Longmans, Green, And Co. in 1887, this book is a dream for entomologists or anyone who takes an interest in the miniature creatures that live alongside us! It is a beautiful book which remains in good condition. There is gold gilt titling on the cover a
The Life of Keats by W.M. Rossetti (Extra Illustrated)
John Keats was an English poet who died in 1821 at only 25 years old and remains an influential figure in the poetic Romantic movement. Life of John Keats is a non-fiction biography published by Walter Scott in 1887; a beautiful dark red leather-bound book with ornate golden embossing and golden edges. Written by William Michael Rossetti, brother to Christina Rossetti, the book has 49 plates of illustrations, many of which are hand coloured. Inside, you can find the binder of
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien - Deluxe Edition
Originally published in 1937, The Hobbit (or There and Back Again) by J.R.R. Tolkien has enjoyed a nearly hundred-year, flourishing legacy. In 1976, following the success of the Lord of the Rings, a deluxe edition of The Hobbit was released by its original publishers: George Allen and Unwin. We are selling a second impression of this deluxe edition from 1979, perfect for any Tolkien fan or collector. The book comes in a card box and, inside, is still wrapped in its original t
On the Connexion of the Physical Sciences by Mary Somerville
Did you know that the term ‘scientist’ was first attributed to Mary Somerville in relation to her diverse work in this book? Somerville (1790 – 1872) was a mathematician, scientist and polymath. Her second book, On the Connexion of the Physical Sciences, explores and explains mathematics, chemistry, physics, astronomy, geography and so much more. The edition that we are selling is the sixth edition, published by John Murray in 1842 – a time when it was rare for a woman to be
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
The first book in the beloved Narnia series by C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is not only a landmark in children’s literature, but in many people’s childhoods as well. The edition of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe that we are selling is a ninth impression, published in 1966 by Geoffrey Bles – the same publishers to release the first edition, first impression in 1950. As with the first impression, our reprinted edition of this book is also illustrated b
SOLD! A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle
EDIT: This book has been sold, but we have other Sherlock Holmes books available in our shop. Please don't hesitate to visit us in Eton, Windsor or get in touch via email if you have any questions. In 1887, in Mrs Beeton’s Christmas Annual, the world was introduced to Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson for the first time. A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was reprinted many times in subsequent years – including a 1901 edition, which we have for sale in our shop. Th
Flowers of the Field (with original scarce dust jacket)
Flowers of the Field is the perfect compendium of wild flowers and other flora, with hundreds of revised descriptions accompanied by detailed illustrations. This edition of Flowers of the Field is the fourteenth impression of Rev. C.A. Johns’ original work, fully revised and edited by Clarence Elliott, and published by George Routledge and Sons, Limited. Scattered throughout the pages are 245 woodcut drawings and 96 coloured, full-page illustrations by E.N Gwatin, enriching a
A Midsummer Night's Dream - Illustrated by Arthur Rackham
‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ is one of William Shakespeare’s comedy plays, but it’s also a romantic and magical story. The playbook that we are selling comes with detailed and intricate illustrations by Arthur Rackham, which pair wonderfully with the play’s dream-like narrative. Published in 1908 by William Heinemann, this book has forty colour plates by Rackham, with numerous black and white illustrations adorning the pages. You can’t go a few pages without seeing a drawing o
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, Illustrated by Edward McKnight Kauffer
Robinson Crusoe is often credited as being one of the first novels in the English language. The edition that we have on sale was published in 1929, over 200 years after the first edition, yet this book is still very special... This edition of Robinson Crusoe is illustrated by Edward McKnight Kauffer. Included are eight full-page and hand-coloured illustrations, painted using layers of stencils in a process called pochoir, resulting in richly coloured and textured piece of art
Shakespeare's Works in 4 Volumes - Nonesuch Press
If you are looking for a stylish, vintage set of all of Shakespeare’s plays and poetry – in a modest four-volumes – then look no further! This set of Shakespeare’s works, published by Nonesuch Press in 1953, is a great to display on a shelf or dip into whenever you're in the mood. The text and order of the works inside replicate the first folio publication of Shakespeare’s plays, and included in this edition are additional notes in the margins. As these books were published i
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