Santa's Lap: Rare London Books & Prints

Lindsey
By Lindsey Last edited 135 months ago
Santa's Lap: Rare London Books & Prints

Every day until Christmas we will be pointing you in the direction of a London-inspired Christmas present that (with a bit of luck) you won’t already have on your list. Climb up onto our collective lap and we’ll see what we can move from our sack to your stockings…

Beryl Cook's London, 1988. First edition, first impression. Signed on the title page by Beryl Cook (£80).
Beryl Cook's London, 1988. First edition, first impression. Signed on the title page by Beryl Cook (£80).
A Maverick Eye. The Street Photography of John Deakin, 2002. By Robin Muir. First edition, first printing (£60)
A Maverick Eye. The Street Photography of John Deakin, 2002. By Robin Muir. First edition, first printing (£60)
London Today. A Selection of Photographs. By John Deakin, 1949. First edition, first impression (£120).
London Today. A Selection of Photographs. By John Deakin, 1949. First edition, first impression (£120).
Two Centuries of Soho Its institutions, firms, and amusements. By the Clergy of St. Anne’s, 1898. First edition, first impression. "An excellent copy" (£65).
Two Centuries of Soho Its institutions, firms, and amusements. By the Clergy of St. Anne’s, 1898. First edition, first impression. "An excellent copy" (£65).
A Night in London. Story of a London Night in Sixty-Four Photographs. By Bill Brandt, 1938. First edition, first impression. "A magnificent piece of work, and a classic of its type. There is some speculation that the scarcity of this publication is in part due to enemy action. Certainly its publisher was badly hit by the fire in Paternoster Row and copies of this delicate and influential work are uncommon" (£3750 - gulp).
A Night in London. Story of a London Night in Sixty-Four Photographs. By Bill Brandt, 1938. First edition, first impression. "A magnificent piece of work, and a classic of its type. There is some speculation that the scarcity of this publication is in part due to enemy action. Certainly its publisher was badly hit by the fire in Paternoster Row and copies of this delicate and influential work are uncommon" (£3750 - gulp).
Marylebone, St.George, Holborn, Clerkenwell, Shoreditch, Finsbury, Southwark - map from Bacon’s New Large-Scale Atlas of London and Suburbs. G W Bacon & Co. 1905 (£300)
Marylebone, St.George, Holborn, Clerkenwell, Shoreditch, Finsbury, Southwark - map from Bacon’s New Large-Scale Atlas of London and Suburbs. G W Bacon & Co. 1905 (£300)

There have been some fantastic books about London published this year. But if your Londony library is as well-stocked as Londonist's you might need to look for something rarer to get your literary kicks this Christmas. We had a word with Fulham Road based antiquarian bookseller, Peter Harrington, to see what (relatively affordable) treasures they had to offer. Click through the gallery for some examples, including one rarity with a *gulp* price tag.

They also have a stock of rare London prints and maps, although you're probably looking at several hundreds of pounds for that kind of gift. Drop by the shop or check the website to find out more - they're very friendly.

Previously on Santa’s Lap

Last Updated 14 December 2012