George Bernard Shaw, First Edition (Over 1,400 results)

Hardcover. First Edition. Laurence A198a. The Best Edition of Shaw's Works, copy #740 of 1025 copies complete in 33 volumes in the original dustwrappers collecting his writings from his first novel-- IMMATURITY--to his famous plays--PYGMALION, MAJOR BARBARA, etc.--through and beyond his winning of the Nobel Prize in 1925. EACH of the 33 volumes is INSCRIBED and SIGNED by the author to actress Lillah McCarthy. The first volume, as are most of the others, is INSCRIBED "This one is Lillah's/G. Bernard Shaw." Volume 10, MAN AND SUPERMAN, is INSCRIBED: "This volume is very specially/dedicated to the/Creatrix/of/Ann Whitefield, who will/always be my/Ann Whitefield/Lillah McCarthy/G. Bernard Shaw 12th Dec. 1931." McCarthy became the leading lady in 1905 at The Court Theatre, managed by Granville Barker, her future husband, and financed by Shaw. Her first role was as Nora in Shaw's JOHN BULL'S OTHER ISLAND. She then caused a sensation as Ann Whitefield in his masterpiece MAN AND SUPERMAN, earning Shaw's respect for her talents so much so that he tailored the part of Jennifer in THE DOCTOR'S DILEMMA especially for her. When McCarthy married Barker, who played the male lead opposite her in several of Shaw's plays, Shaw was upset as he felt they were not a good pair. Though the couple successfully produced a number of other Shaw plays in the following years, Shaw was proven correct when Barker left her for another woman. McCarthy later married Sir Frederick Keeble, and the final volume of this set is INSCRIBED by Shaw "to Lady Keeble (Lillah)." Near Fine in Very Good dustwrappers. Sensational set.

Soft cover. Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. Shaw, George Bernard. PYGMALION: A PLAY IN FIVE ACTS: By a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. London: Constable & Co., 1913. First Edition, an unpublished "rough" proof in original blue wrappers. Shaw often produced a tiny number of these proofs for use as prompt copies, in this case for the rehearsals of the first performances of PYGMALION in 1914 at Her Majesty's Theatre in London. This is the Edward A. Newton copy (Parke-Bernet, 1941), an exceedingly rare survival, here found in remarkably Fine original condition. The title comes from Greek mythology wherein the sculptor Pygmalion falls in love with his sculpture, a creator who falls in love with his creation, The plot of Shaw's play, in which an idealistic professor transforms an unsophisticated Cockney girl into a refined young lady, set in turn-of-the-century London, brings this concept to life. It was adapted into the 1938 film starring Leslie Howard and Wendy Hiller, and later into the famous musical play MY FAIR LADY with Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison. In 1964, it was re-imagined as the Oscar-dominating film starring Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison. Of the more than sixty plays that George Bernard Shaw wrote, PYGMALION is certainly his most widely admired work. This 1913 unpublished proof copy is arguably the most desirable edition of Shaw's most famous play. Few copies are known to exist, doubtless fewer in this sort of Fine, original condition (and with a most dignified provenance). The last time a copy of this book came up for public sale was nearly fifty years ago, at Swann Auction Galleries in New York, May 6, 1976, lot 304. In a custom slipcase bearing the bookplate of A. Edward Newton as well as that of Maxwell Steinhardt, another famous collector and erstwhile president of the Shaw Society of America.

First edition, first issue of Wells' prophetic novel predicting the arrival of atomic weaponry with the publisher listed as Macmillan and Co. Limited (as opposed to Ltd.), 8 pages of advertisements at rear, and no statement of printing to the copyright page. Octavo, original cloth stamped in blind with gilt titles to the spine and front panel, top edge gilt. Association copy, inscribed by H.G. Wells to George Bernard Shaw, "G.B.S. from H.G." Like Wells, George Bernard Shaw used writing fiction as a vehicle to disseminate his political, social and religious ideas. Wells and Shaw connected when Wells joined the gradualist Fabian society in 1903. Shaw had, since the mid 1880s, been a dedicated member and advocated its message of moderation in the face of a debate regarding the option to embrace anarchism. In the years following the 1906 election, Shaw felt that the Fabians needed fresh leadership and saw this in the form of Wells. Wells, however, held views at odds with the party's "Old Gang" led by Shaw, particularly with proposals for closer cooperation with the Independent Labour Party, and soon resigned from the Society. Following Wells' death in 1946, Shaw wrote his obituary for The New Statesman, stating, "To Fabian socialist doctrine he could add little; for he was born ten years too late to be in at its birth pangs. Finding himself only a fifth wheel in the Fabian coach he cleared out; but not before he had exposed very effectively the obsolescence and absurdity of our old parish and county divisions as boundaries of local government areas." Shaw spoke highly of Wells and his genius, asserting that Wells ".foresaw the European war, the tank, the plane and the atomic bomb; and he may be said to have created the ideal home and been the father of the prefabricated house." In near fine condition. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box made by the Harcourt Bindery. An exceptional association. Based on Wells' pre-WWII prediction of a more destructive and uncontrollable sort of weapon than the world had yet seen, The World Set Free first appeared in serialized form with the title A Prophetic Trilogy. A frequent theme of Wells's work, as in his 1901 nonfiction book Anticipations, was the history of humans' mastery of power and energy through technological advance, seen as a determinant of human progress. Wells's knowledge of atomic physics came from reading William Ramsay, Ernest Rutherford, and Frederick Soddy; the last discovered the disintegration of uranium. Soddy's book Wealth, Virtual Wealth and Debt praises The World Set Free. Wells's novel may even have influenced the development of nuclear weapons, as the physicist Leà Szilárd read the book in 1932, the same year the neutron was discovered. In 1933 Szilárd conceived the idea of neutron chain reaction, and filed for patents on it in 1934.

wraps. First Edition. Printed wraps. Laurence AA16d. This is one of five different states of the "ROUGH PROOF-UNPUBLISHED" of this play typically used as rehearsal or prompt copies. This particular state includes the coda written at Malvern, where the play premiered on 8 July 1932, for its star Cedric Hardwicke on the birth of his first son on 7 August 1932. According to Laurence, "No rehearsal copies of this proof state were printed. Only five copies are noted." It is not known if this is one of those five or an unrecorded copy. This copy contains numerous alterations and additions in both pencil and blue pencil to the dialogue as well as added prompts and drawn stage diagrams. There are also five clear instances of changes and/or additions made by Shaw himself in his hand including a piece of paper glued in at the margin of page 31. All of Shaw's changes are in the final printed copy of the play, though two are slightly different from what he has written. It is unclear as to whose copy this was, though if not Shaw's himself certainly that of the director or a performer. Though there is no evidence of ownership, this copy came from the collection of Harold Ackert. Spine quite frayed with the front cover detached about halfway down. Good copy of a scarce piece with manuscript corrections by Shaw.

Hardcover. First Edition. First Printing of one of Shaw's most popular plays, PYGMALION, a radical reworking of Ovid's classic tale with a feminist twist. Shaw wrote PYGMALION for the actress Mrs. Patrick Campbell who appeared to be the only actress willing to say the taboo word "bloody" spoken by her character Eliza Doolittle. In 1938 the play was made into an excellent movie, for which Shaw's screenplay won an Oscar, starring Leslie Howard as Professor Higgins. The play reached a much wider audience when it was transformed by Alan Jay Lerner into the musical MY FAIR LADY and later the film of the same title directed by George Cukor and starring Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn who replaced an irate Julie Andrews the star of the Broadway musical. The Irish playwright, who wrote more plays than Shakespeare, won the Nobel Prize in 1925 and lived to the age of 94, dying from complications resulting from a broken leg suffered after falling out of a tree. This is a fine association copy INSCRIBED on the half title page and SIGNED "To Charles Ricketts/from Bernard Shaw/14th July 1916." While signed books by Shaw are not rare, signed copies of this work are truly scarce, especially one with such a fine association. Charles Ricketts was a theatre designer who worked not only with Shaw but also with Oscar Wilde and others. He also illustrated books by Wilde, Shaw, and others and established the Vale Press with his partner, Charles Shannon. This copy belonged to William Randolph Hearst and was sold in his sale at Parke Bernet on 22 November 1939, lot 478. Tasteful bookplate of Henry Walker Bagley and Nancy Reynolds Bagley on the front pastedown. Housed in a cloth chemise and a green half-morocco slipcase with gilt lettering and decorations on the spine. Light wear to joints. Near Fine in a Fine chemise and slipcase.

First edition of the Nobel Prize-winning playwright's classic work. Octavo, original cloth. Inscribed by the author on the half-title page with a humorous inscription, â Never ask an author to autograph a copy of one of his books without first making sure that all the leaves have been cut open. See pp. xxvii, 200, 217, 221 and 237. I assure you they are quite worth reading. G. Bernard Shaw." In very good condition with some of the usual toning to the spine. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Uncommon signed and inscribed. George Bernard Shaw began writing Man and Superman in 1901 and determined to write a play that would encapsulate the new century's intellectual inheritance. Shaw drew not only on Byron's verse satire, but also on Shakespeare, the Victorian comedy fashionable in his early life, and from authors from Conan Doyle to Kipling. In this powerful drama of ideas, Shaw explores the role of the artist, the function of women in society, and his theory of Creative Evolution. As Stanley Weintraub says in his new introduction, this is "the first great twentieth-century English play" and remains a classic exposà of the eternal struggle between the sexes. Man and Superman was the first drama to be broadcast on the BBC's Third Programme on October 1st, 1946. To celebrate Radio 3's 50th anniversary, the play was directed by Sir Peter Hall,

Softcover. Condition: Near Fine. First edition. One quarto sheet, folded to make four pages. Removed from a larger volume with stab holes and a bit of nicking along the spine, else near fine. Issued unsigned, the Nobel laureate's first separate publication, issued as "Fabian Tracts, No.2" when he was 28 years old; Shaw was elected a member of The Fabian Society, the British socialist organization still in operation today, on September 5, 1884. While many early tracts from The Fabian Society may be found, this pamphlet is rare. ABPC locates only two copies at auction, both in 1976. Laurence A1.

Letter. First Edition. Laurence A246 for the printed book. This collection, all housed in a green cloth chemise within a half green morocco slipcase gilt-lettered on the spine and front cover, consists of seven items related to the book: a single page typed Manuscript Revised Contents Table dated 21 August 1943 with several corrections in Shaw's hand numbering about 30 words; three examples of proof pages for the title page with simple corrections by Shaw including the elimination of "Machiavelli Modernized" from the title (noted by Laurence as being eliminated by Shaw in the final page-proof); and three AUTOGRAPH LETTERS SIGNED by Shaw with his initials (two on postcards and one on both sides of a small sheet of paper), one letter in Pitman's Shorthand (with a typed transcript), all to John Wardrop regarding proofs and the index for the book as well as Shaw's wife's illness. Some excerpts: "I always sign G. Bernard Shaw, and my professional name is Bernard Shaw without the George, which I loathe." "I am putting the book together fast, and hope soon to send you the final revise in chapters and indexable. It has been a devil of a job, and has cost me a play or two or perhaps three." "At your age I undertook an index to the works of Thomas Lodge for an Elizabethan Society. Being inexperienced and conscientious I did not know when to stop." Though there is no evidence of ownership, these items came from the collection of Harold Ackert. Very Good to Near Fine in a custom slipcase.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. SIGNED/Inscribed by Shaw, affirming this "the first edition in book form." Very rare First Edition Association Copy of Shaw's novel, An Unsocial Socialist. London: Swan Sonnenschein, Lowrey & Co., 1887. Octavo, original scarlet cloth. Housed in custom cloth slipcase by Brentano, famed NYC Fifth Ave bookstore with Brentano's original description laid in.Shaw began his literary career by ghosting music criticism and writing unsuccessful novels, of which this is the fifth written and the first published. "During his first nine years in London Shaw calculated that he earned less than 10 pounds by his pen" (Drabble, 892). An Unsocial Socialist was serialized in To-Day ("Monthly Magazine of Scientific Socialism"), with no payment to Shaw, between March and December, 1884. First state, with "Cashel Byron's Profession etc etc" printed on title page. This copy inscribed by Shaw to his first bibliographer, Maurice Holmes. Inscription in full reads: "4 Whitehall Court, London, SWI 23rd November 1928. Dear Maurice Holmes, This is the first edition in book form. It had appeared as a serial in a magazine called Today. Faithfully, G. Bernard Shaw." 256 pp. 8vo., bound in publisher's red cloth, stamped in gilt on spine and covers, dark green endpapers, preserved in a darker red cloth slipcase. This printing was promptly canceled, and supposedly only samples for booksellers and travelers had been sent out with this title-page. Overall a bright, fresh copy, hinges tender but holding. Housed in a custom clamshell box by NYC's Brentano's. Rare signed Shaw with a powerful association. Book #Pv2133. $4800. We specialize in Rare Ayn Rand, history and science. Signed by Author(s).

Hardcover. First Edition. First Edition. Hardcover. Signed by Author. George Bernard Shaw. WIDOWERS' HOUSES. Inscribed. London: Henry & Co, 1893. 8vo., 126pp. + 2pp. ads. Gilt-stamped publisher's original cloth, now a faded plum. A significant presentation copy inscribed in black fountain pen on the half-title: "To Robert Loraine / from G. Bernard Shaw. / 9th Nov. 1907". 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. A significant association copy of this very scarce first edition with only 500 printed & as few as 150 sold, many fewer signed thus. Widowers' Houses was the first of George Bernard Shaw's plays to be staged. It is one of the three plays Shaw published as Plays Unpleasant in 1898. It was deemed "unpleasant" because its purpose is not to entertain its audience as the traditional Victorian theatre was expected to do but to raise awareness of social problems & to censure the exploitation of the poor by the unproductive upper class. Custom TBCL embossed cloth slipcase in fine condition.

Hardcover. Dust Jacket Included. First Edition. 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.

First edition of George Bernard Shaw's short story collection, including the satirical allegorical title story: The Adventures of The Black Girl in Her Search For God. Octavo, original illustrated boards, pictorial endpapers, designed and illustrated with engravings by John Farleigh. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, "To Eleanor and Theodore Roosevelt this Visiting Card after a memorable day at Government House, Manila from Charlotte F. Shaw and G. Bernard Shaw 9th February 1933." Mr. and Mrs. George Bernard Shaw stopped at Manila on a round-the-world cruise where they were invited to lunch with Theodore Roosevelt Jr., the eldest son of Theodore Roosevelt, and his wife Eleanor Butler Alexander-Roosevelt where they enjoyed lunch and Shaw assisted in editing one of Theodore's reports to the war department. Laid is is a small copy of a selection of pages from Eleanor Butler Alexander-Roosevelt's 1959 autobiography 'Day Before Yesterday' which describes the visit in detail and also mentions the occasion upon which they received the current inscribed volume in the mail after the Shaw's visit. In near fine condition. In the original glassine which is in very good condition. Rare and desirable with exceptional provenance. The Black Girl, as protagonist in the present volume, serves the same purpose as Christian in John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress; that is to say her own "inner", or "spiritual" life is represented as a series of physical events and encounters. After becoming dissatisfied with the inconsistencies of the answers the missionary who has converted her gives to her questions, the Black Girl wanders into the forest on a literal search for God. Having a powerful intellect capable of formulating searching theological questions, and exposing vapid answers, the Black Girl so becomes superior to the inferior insipid white missionary woman, challenging popular prejudice, both in sex and race.

Condition: Good. First Edition, First Issue. Crown 8vo, 7 3/8 x 5 inches (188 x 126 mm); [4] 256 pp.; original red cloth, stamped in gilt on spine and covers, a little rubbed and soiled, spine slightly faded, hinges weak; dark brown endpapers; foxing on first 2 and last 2 sheets. First edition, first issue with "Author of The Confessions of Byron Cashel's Profession etc. etc." to title and no appendix. Ink inscription of Mrs Walter Crane on half title. [Broad, p. 87; Magill p. 965]. This is Shaw's first published novel. It had been serialized in "To-Day, A Monthly Magazine of Scientific Socialism" between March and December of 1884. This printing was promptly canceled, and supposedly only samples for booksellers and travelers had been sent out with this title-page. Having attended a meeting by political economist Henry George in September 1882, Shaw became fascinated with Socialism, read Marx and became a member of the Fabian Society in September 1884, writing their first manifesto later that year. He believed in a more moderate, non-violent form of socialism and believed that socialist ideals could best be achieved by infiltration of people and ideas into existing political parties. In the early 1880s Shaw also began his literary career by writing music and art criticism and began writing novels, of which An Unsocial Socialist was the first published. But as his career as a playwright started taking off in the latter part of that decade, his political activities also decreased. Shaw later explained that he had intended An Unsocial Socialist as the first section of a monumental depiction of the downfall of capitalism. Gareth Griffith, in a study of Shaw's political thought, sees the novel as an interesting record of conditions, both in society at large and in the nascent socialist movement of the 1880s. [Griffith, Gareth. Socialism and Superior Brains: The Political Thought of George Bernard Shaw. London: Routledge, 1993]. The story centers on Sidney Trefusis, a millionaire socialist, who leaves his bride on their wedding day because he fears his passion for her will get in the way of his plans to overthrow the British government. Sidney vanished "underground"--Disguises himself as a common laborer called "Mengels"--and infiltrates Alton College, a girl's school where well-bred young women are "fitted and fatted to be put on the marriage market". His plan: take over the school and plant the seed of radical socialism into the fertile brains of the future consorts of cabinet ministers and kings. What he doesn't plan on is the presence of one Agatha Wylie, a sixth-form rabble-rouser, who falls hopelessly in love with both Sidney and his politics, and just happens to be his deserted wife's cousin. Love triangles, mistaken identities, Marx, Engels, pistols and the proletariat jostle for position. (via LibraryThing) An unusual ASSOCIATION COPY with ink inscription and address of "Mrs Walter Crane" [ie Mary Crane] on the half title. Walter Crane married Mary Andrews in 1871 and after a sojourn in Rome returned to London in 1873 living first in Wood End and then at Beaumont Lodge, Shepherd's Bush (the address she has written in this book). In 1914 Mary Crane was found dead on a railway track at Kingsnorth in Kent, apparently having committed suicide. Walter Crane was devastated and died just 3 months later. Walter Crane and Shaw were closely associated through the Arts and Crafts movement and the Fabian Society. On p.65 the author writes "Don't lose heart, ladies" said Smilash. "She may be drowned or murdered for all we know. Anyone may send a telegram in a false name. Perhaps it's a plant. Let's hope for your sakes that some little accident - on the railway for instance - may happen yet." Considering the nature of Mary Crane's probable suicide this foretelling is particularly ominous.

Hardcover. Condition: Near fine. Dust Jacket Condition: good. First Edition. 1st separate edition (unauthorized), and 1st separate issue in English, comprised of sheets from the periodical publication, specially bound up and distributed by Putnam. When advised by Shaw's agent that they had acquired only the serial rights, distribution in this format was halted. Formal book publication in English finally happened in 1916. Near fine original violet cloth, dustjacket chipped and with a split to spine strengthened, else good. An early pencil note on the endpaper promulgates the lie that this is one of 50 copies given to Shaw by the publisher, but this is not a common book and it is scarce in the original jacket. Cloth slipcase and chemise.

Hardcover. Dust Jacket Included. First Edition. First Edition. Hardcover. Signed by Author. Shaw, George Bernard. BACK TO METHUSELAH. A Metabiological Pentateuch. Inscribed. London: Constable and Company, Ltd., 1921. "You see things; you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say 'Why not?" First English Edition; preceded by the New York edition, which Shaw condemned for its numerous misprints. 8vo., 267 pp. Publisher's gilt- stamped light mossy green cloth. A significant presentation copy inscribed in black fountain pen on the half-title: "To Robert Loraine / from G. Bernard Shaw. / 16th June 1921". 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 see 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 the Man & Superman on Broadway, the production was massively successful & launched Shaw as a force to be reckoned with in the States. A very good or better example in like dustwrapper that has had one tear on the upper spine archivally repaired along with several small chips at the corners. A very nice copy. Custom TBCL embossed cloth slipcase in fine condition. Laurence, Bernard Shaw: A Bibliography, A161.

First edition of the Nobel Prize-winning playwright's classic work. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, "To Charles Roebuck Ramsden Goodhart from G. Bernard Shaw 21st May 1905." In very good condition. Housed in a custom half morocco and chemise box. Rare signed and inscribed. George Bernard Shaw began writing Man and Superman in 1901 and determined to write a play that would encapsulate the new century's intellectual inheritance. Shaw drew not only on Byron's verse satire, but also on Shakespeare, the Victorian comedy fashionable in his early life, and from authors from Conan Doyle to Kipling. In this powerful drama of ideas, Shaw explores the role of the artist, the function of women in society, and his theory of Creative Evolution. As Stanley Weintraub says in his new introduction, this is "the first great twentieth-century English play" and remains a classic exposà of the eternal struggle between the sexes. Man and Superman was the first drama to be broadcast on the BBC's Third Programme on October 1st, 1946. To celebrate Radio 3's 50th anniversary, the play was directed by Sir Peter Hall,

1 vols. 8vo. First edition. First edition. 1 vols. 8vo. Inscribed to John Drinkwater. Inscribed on the half-title: "to John Drinkwater/ G.B. Shaw / his Forerunner. 26th July 1934." Beneath the inscription Drinkwater was written in pencil, "Malvern Festival. JD." Fine association. Laurence A216 Original red cloth, lettered in gilt on spine. Near fine copy (front hinge cracking) in a fine (and rare) dust jacket. Morocco ex-libris of John Drinkwater on front pastedown (see below). In cloth slipcase with chemise.

Hardcover. First Edition. A scarce book with a preface by Bernard Shaw published for the Humanitarian League, an organization founded by Henry Salt and dedicated to human and animal rights. This is a most unusual and important copy of this book INSCRIBED by Shaw on the half-title page to animal rights promoter and author Phyllis Clodd, wife of prominent banker Edward Clodd, on 22 March 1917. In addition there is much material pasted in, mostly newspaper and magazine articles by Shaw on the subject covering the front and rear endpapers and pastedowns, with a few tipped in within the text. Also loosely tipped in opposite the title page is a photographic portrait postcard of Shaw with an AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED on the verso from Shaw to Clodd dated 20 March 1917: "You should read my third article, which goes into the whole subject. It is psychologically very curious. Did you ever read an essay of mine on Sport, or have you ever thought out that subject? My second article was technical, though it was partly meant to reassure people with relatives at the front. But in the third I dealt with your position; and I should really like to know what you feel about it. G.B.S." There are a few ink notes on the articles and the endpapers that are likely in Clodd's hand. The first paragraph from a review of the book in THE SOCIALIST REVIEW, May 1915: "It is a bold venture on the part of the Humanitarian League to issue this little volume at a time when the nation is still earnestly engaged in 'Killing for Business,' and there is evidence that the book has been held back by the war, since Bernard Shaw's preface is dated a year ago. But in England the Blood Sports continue, while the Blood Business goes on amain along two great lines drawn across Europe, and only the day before that on which these lines are penned the writer passed a field in which a posse of excited barbarians were watching the hounds draw the coverts in the hope of hunting a fox to death. Probably all these people had relatives at the front, engaged on what is perhaps the less degrading occupation of the two." Front hinge is cracking with the first two blanks detached; some glue stains and foxing to first and last pages, most of text clean. Gilt on the spine faded but still readable. Good.

Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. First separate issue, larger untrimmed variant, inscribed by the author. Originally printed in the April 1885-March 1886 issues of To-Day, this first edition was printed from the corrected and revised stereos of the original setting for the journal. This is the larger, variant issue, with the preliminary blank leaf bound at the beginning. Shaw explains the variant this way: "The size of the bigger copies is due to the fact that they reproduced not only the type but the format of To-day. But the booksellers objected that in this form it occupied too much room to be displayed on their stalls and counters. It was probably cut down as far as the margins would allow to meet this objection", (Laurence). Inscribed by Shaw, "This is the first Issue, which was so tall that the booksellers refused to exhibit it on their counters, as it took too much room. So it had to be cut down. G. Bernard Shaw 26/7/30." . ---- Housed in a green cloth covered chemise and quarter green morocco slip case with raised bands and gilt rules and lettering to the spine. The slip case is a little rubbed and faded to the spine but generally very good. Laurence A3. Inscribed by Author(s).

Cloth. Condition: Very Good Indeed. C Ricketts (illustrator). First edition. A fantastic first edition copy of George Bernard Shaw's play regarding Joan of Arc. Signed by the star of the play, Sybil Thorndike. Signed by many notable figures such as: Sybil Thorndike, the British actress who 'Saint Joan' was written especially for; Prime Minister James Ramsay Macdonald; Philip Snowdon, Chancellor of the Exchequer; Morgan Jones, Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education; Arthur Henderson, Home Secretary.These signatures are to a dedication plate tipped in to the front endpaper, 'To J D Morgan, in friendship, with the best of good wishes from. Cardiff: December 1924.' There are thirty-five names signed to the dedication plate, most likely with association to Macdonald's ministry and the Labour Party.The signature of Sybil Thorndike is below the date on the dedication plate, insinuating this was signed afterwards.A fantastic copy of this play. Limited print run of 750 copies on handmade paper. In the publisher's original quarter cloth binding. With light shelfwear to the extremities and minor bumping to the head and tail of spine. Very Good Indeed. book.

First edition of this collection of plays by the Nobel Prize-winning playwright. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page in the year of publication, "To H.S.S from G.B.S 22nd June 1921." Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco and chemise box. Rare in the original dust jacket and inscribed. These plays were written during 1918 to 1920 and published by Constable (London) and Brentano's (New York) in 1921. They were first performed in 1922 by the New York Theatre Guild at the old Garrick Theatre in New York City and, in Britain, at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre in 1923.

Hardcover. Dust Jacket Included. First Edition. First Edition. Hardcover. Signed by Author. Shaw, George Bernard. HEARTBREAK HOUSE. Great Catherine And Playlets Of The War. Inscribed. London: Constable and Company, 1919. "You'll never have a quiet world till you knock the patriotism out of the human race." First Edition. Small 8vo. 266 pp. + 2 pp. of adverts. A near fine copy in light moss green cloth, gilt titles to the spine in a bright, fresh example of the dustwrapper. Custom TBCL embossed cloth slipcase in fine condition. A significant presentation copy inscribed in black fountain pen on the half-title: "To Robert Loraine / from Bernard Shaw. / 10th October 1919". 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. Excellent example. Laurence A149b.

Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. First and Only Edition. The three letters are to the Clerk of the House of Lords, Cuthbert Headlam. Headlam's bookplates are on verso of covers of both copies. The letters refer to Shaw's intention to provide all the members of the committee with a copy of his statement in order to speed up the proceedings and perhaps, help to promote the sale of the Blue Book. He sent 13 copies to Headlam but Shaw's plan was thwarted by the committee which refused to allow him to read his statement into the record. This upset Shaw who wrote referring to "Lord Gorell's Little coup de theatre" hoping it did not prevent anyone reading his statement. The three mss. letters in Shaw's neat hand on his letterheaded notepaper were sent on July, 22nd, 29th, and August 12th, 1909. All three are signed.

Hardcover. First Edition. Laurence A237a: issue in pictorial boards. INSCRIBED and SIGNED by the author on the half-title page and dated by him 9 November 1939 to his secretary of thirty years Blanche Patch. Bookplate of noted Shaw collector Harold C. Ackert on the front pastedown. A superb Shaw association copy. Joints frayed and splitting but covers still tight. Chipping to the darkened spine heel and head with slight loss of lettering at top. Still Very Good, lacking the dustwrapper.

Hardcover. First Edition. Pictorial boards and twenty woodblock illustrations within by John Farleigh. Laurence A210a. This copy INSCRIBED and SIGNED to "Catherine Inge/from/Bernard Shaw" and dated "30/11/32" on the half-title page. Pasted to the facing blank page is an AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED "G. B. S." from Shaw to "My dear Mrs. Inge" discussing a concert as well as the publication of this book. In full: "It was extraordinarily recreative to hear those boys' voices after the screams of the female bourgeoisie of the west country at the Three Choirs Festival. And imagine its being the first time I ever heard a note of music at St. Pauls! THE BLACK GIRL is now equipped with a preface (at the end, as Sir Walter Scott recommended) and a lot of fascinating pictures. The one on page 56 is a speaking likeness of myself in my radiant youth. Keep it on the top shelf out of the Dean's reach. The book will not be published until the 5th." Tipped to the half-title page with a small piece of tape is a short note by the recipient stating that she had lent the book in 1946 for the [National Book League] exhibition for Shaw's 90th birthday. [Mary] Catherine Inge was the wife of William Ralph Inge, the dean of St. Paul's. Foxing to endpapers and to two pages of text. Very Good, lacking the scarce dustwrapper.

1 vols. 8vo. First edition. First edition. 1 vols. 8vo. Presentation Copy, Inscribed to the Printer One Week Before Publication. Inscribed on the half-title: "to William Maxwell / from Bernard Shaw / 8th Feb, 1934." Laurence gives the publication date as Feb 15, 1934, fully a week after this inscription. Laurence A216 Original red cloth, lettered in gilt on spine. Fine copy, with the bookplate of the printer, WILLIAM MAXWELL (see inscription, below). Fine in quarter green morocco clamshell box with black leather spine labels.

Hardcover. First Edition. First Edition. Hardcover. Signed by Author. Shaw, George Bernard. THE DOCTOR'S DILEMMA. Getting Married, & The Shewing-up of Blanco Posnet. Inscribed. London: Constable & Co., 1911. "Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh." Sm. 8vo., 407pp., pale green cloth, gilt, t.e.g. A very good or better example of the first edition, first printing. Three plays in one volume, including a list of other works by Shaw at the end of the book. This copy inscribed on the half-title in black fountain pen: "To Robert Loraine / from Bernard Shaw. / 23rd Feb. 1911". Laurence A108. 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. A significant association copy. Custom TBCL embossed cloth slipcase in fine condition.

Softcover. Condition: Very Good. First edition, larger variant with the blank leaf bound in at the beginning. Large octavo, measuring 6" x 9¾" (see Laurence for discussion of variant binding sizes). [4], 164pp. Pale blue-green printed wrappers. Fragile wrappers modestly worn with a short split at the crown, wrappers and endleaves lightly foxed, a very good or better copy. George Bernard Shaw's first novel, preceded only by two Fabian Society tracts. Housed in a custom cloth four-fold chemise and quarter-morocco clamshell box by Sangorski & Sutcliffe (light wear, near fine). Laurence A3a.

The Best Edition of Shaw's Works A Near Mint Set in the Original Printed Dust Jackets SHAW, [George] Bernard. The Works of Bernard Shaw. London: Constable & Co., [1930-1938]. First collected edition. One of 1,000 numbered copies (this copy being No. 501), out of a total edition of 1,025 copies. Thirty-three octavo volumes (9 1/8 x 6 inches; 232 x 153 mm.). Original jade green cloth lettered in gilt on spines. Top edge gilt. A fine set of the best edition of Shaw's works. In the original gray dust jackets with spines printed in red. The "Collected Edition" consisted of thirty volumes, published between 26 July 1930 and 24 February 1932. Three additional volumes were published, one on 7 June 1934 and two on 1 July 1938. Volume I is the first publication of Shaw's first novel, Immaturity, written in 1879 (see Laurence). George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950), Irish dramatist, critic, and social reformer. "Political and economic socialism, a new religion of creative evolution, antivivisection, vegetarianism, and spelling reform were a few of his causes.[Shaw] began to write for the stage in 1885. With most of his early plays either banned by the censor or refused production, Shaw sought a reading audience with his first published collection, Plays Pleasant and Unpleasant (1898).Shaw wrote his best plays prior to, during, and shortly after World War I. They include Man and Superman [1905], John Bull's Other Island (written [1904] at the request of William Butler Yeats for the Irish Literary Theatre), Major Barbara [1905], Fanny's First Play (1912), Androcles and the Lion (1912), Pygmalion [1913], Heartbreak House [written 1913, produced 1920], Back to Methuselah [1921], and Saint Joan [1923]. He received the Nobel Prize in literature in 1925.Shaw wrote many essays on socialism, politics, and economics and one longer work, The Intelligent Woman's Guide to Socialism and Capitalism (1928)" (Benét's Reader's Encyclopedia). Laurence A198a.

First edition, variant issue with the blank leaf bound at the rear. Original blue wrappers printed in red and black. With the author's long signed inscription to the title page dated 1921 giving interesting bibliographical information regarding the printing of the first impression and of the writing of this book. Contents a little crumpled, spine worn, residue of label removed from upper wrapper, some staining. Only a good copy. Housed in a black cloth clamshell box. The author's first novel, which incorporates Shaw's twin obsessions of boxing and social integration (Cashel Byron is a prize fighter who tries to woo an aristocrat). Lawrence A3.