Somerset House Books

    Member of ANZAAB - Australia

    Aboriginal Australia Children's Books Literature: Modern Firsts Local History Militaria Transport

Somerset House Books operates from retail premises in Willoughby, Sydney. Our shop, Love Vintage Books, caters for all subject and genre interests. We concentrate on transport, military history, art, architecture and photography as well as all aspects of Australiana. Our section devoted to children's collectable books, including classics, favourite novels, annuals and novelty books, is well regarded. We aim at making our shop a restful oasis for all readers and collectors by keeping it as interesting, enjoyable and welcoming as possible.

Contact Information
Phone: +61 2 9967 0017
Website: https://lovevintagebooks.com.au/
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563 Willoughby Rd Willoughby, 2068 Australia Get Directions

Store Hours

Mondays Closed

Tuesdays 10am – 4pm (“ish”)

Wednesdays 10am – 4pm (“ish”)

Thursdays 10am – 4pm (“ish”)

Fridays 10am – 4pm (“ish”)

Saturdays 10am – 4pm (“ish”)

Sundays Closed

Otherwise by chance or appointment

Highlights
To Kill A Mocking Bird
$2300
1960 (First UK Edition). Heinemann, London, England A famous story written as a first novel by Harper Lee through the eyes of children and made all the more famous by the brilliant 1962 film with Gregory Peck. Both the US and English additions are notoriously scarce, particularly now with the recent death of Ms.Lee. All three edges are slightly browned though the text is in an excellent shape with the only fault being a prior owner signature on the front free endpaper, with no foxing at all either.
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A Midsummer Nights Dream
$3200
(First Edition Thus No. 513 of limited edition of 1000) Heinemann, London, England, 1908 A scarce volume being a highly sought-after example of Rackham's skilful artwork (with signature) in vellum that has cleaning potential as well. Hardcover in soiled full white vegetable with gilt lettering and design and two small repaired cracks to the front spine gutter that is otherwise sound and tight, TEG and other edges rough cut but with no original slip-case and missing original ribbon ties and no dust wrapper as issued of course.
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Doctor Zhivago
$550
1958 (First Edition English Translation). Collins and Harvill Press, London, England Hardcover in publisher's red cloth with gold title on a firm rounded spine with virtually no shelf-wear on the book itself plus a purple and yellow non price-clipped dust wrapper showing the expected scuffing and chipping on all corners and edges, but now protected by removable clear archival covering.
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The Wind In The Willows - 1908 (1st UK Ed)
$5160
This example is the more recognised (and now increasingly rare) UK first edition, which is sought-after worldwide. Hardcover in publisher's olive green cloth with gilt decoration and title on both spine and front board, with general wear on all edges and heavily bruised and worn corners and a tiny 1cm tear at the top of the spine or front board with spine edges battered but intact and also with a minor linear scuff across the front board and a pale stain to edge on the rear board as well. Top edge gilt with rough-cut bottom and fore-edges.
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A Town Like Alice
$1600
1950 (First Edition, first impression). Heinemann, London, England There is some obvious toning at both front and rear of this volume. The front flap includes the words Book Society Choice, apparently indicating the simultaneous publication by Heinemann and the Book Society in June 1950, now protected with removable clear archival covering too. Overall, it is in very good original condition and is becoming increasingly scarce. Often said to be a later issue dust wrapper, but generally accepted as a simultaneous publication as above.
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The Ginger Man
$720
1956(First Hardcover and First UK edition and First printing). Neville Spearman, London, England Hardcover in publisher's baby blue cloth in excellent, slightly shelf-worn condition, though with flecking and foxing on all edges, plus the first printed edition original pictorial dust wrapper with a black and orange illustration of a lounging male with orange title lettering.
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The Peacock Pride and Prejudice 1895
$4850
1895 George Allen, London, England Arguably the most famous but certainly the most attractive edition ever of Austen's beautiful novel. Enhanced by Thomson's 160 exquisite line drawn illustrations, all the various early reprints are as beautiful as the first production with the classic gilt peacock occupying the front board.
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The Wolf Hall or Thomas Cromwell Trilogy
$5500
Mantel, Hilary 2009, 2012, 2020. Fourth Estate/Harper Collins, London, United Kingdom Acquired at auction from Forum Auctions London, the trilogy is all signed First Editions and comprise Wolf Hall (2009), Bring Up the Bodies (2012), and The Mirror & The Light (2020). The books should be read in order of publication and are best referred to as great historical fiction - impeccably researched and highly imaginative. Mantel uses a well known era of Tudor History and made it refreshing by focusing on a historical figure integral to that time, i.e., Thomas Cromwell.
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The Catcher in the Rye
$1835
Salinger, J.D 1951 (First English Edition). Hamish Hamilton, London, England Hardcover in mid blue cloth with silver title on a firm spine. upper edges with early browning but otherwise in excellent shape plus the attractive blue/green unclipped English dust wrapper designed by Fritz Wegner) has moderate chipping to top and bottom edges and all corners plus a 2cm tear to top edge now verso repaired with heritage tape, plus is protected by removable clear archival covering.
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Death of a Salesman
$2600
Miller, Arthur 1949. The Viking Press, New York Excellent Condition - Note: The boards are covered in original orange cloth with a profile of an old house in black on the front board and the title in black on a still firm, sound spine that is showing minor shelf wear at both top and bottom, with a little fading of edges and corners as well.
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