Woolf, VirginiaBiblio.com
1933ref. 18050London: 10 November 1933 The letter is to her nephew Quentin Bell 1910-1996 who would have been only twenty-three at the time. It concerns her daily activities in the company of fellow members of the Bloomsbury circle. It primarily speaks to her sister Vanessa's aeronautical adventures which Virginia found quite upsetting and a drunken dinner attended by many Bloomsburyites including Duncan Grant Molly MacCarthy and E.M. Forster "Morgan" to his friends Clive Bell Leonard Woolf and perhaps others. The letter also mentions Roger Fry Julian Bell Lady Ottoline Morell Francis Birell and others who were either members of the circle or close associates. It also mentions Woolf's father Leslie Stephen 1832-1904 author critic historian Alpine mountaineer noted agnostic and first editor of the Dictionary of National Biography. . 8 x 10 . Slight creasing at quarter folds. Likely paper-clip rust stain top left corner of first page. The letter begins the statement "Well this has been a very agitating week waiting for aeroplanes to settle. Nessa Vanessa Bell seems to have flow around Paris in the fog – and then she mounted into the sun and then she suddenly saw the Channel beneath her and Heaven on top and earth below – oh how I envy her but never never I hope will she fly again." Virginia Woolf 1882-1941 of course was very close to her sister Vanessa 1879-1961 who was a brilliant artist and designer who illustrated most of Virginia's dust jackets. That friendship extended to Vanessa's partners Clive Bell and Duncan Grant and also to her three children Julian Quentin and Angelica with whom she was always in contact. In speaking Vanessa's flight Virginia mentions her flying over the Alps and continues "But she says our ancestral mountains rather appeal to her – she begins to feel what father felt – noble solitary severe. I must come and see them." She finds them "more beautiful than any earth scape."
1925ref. 140949371New York: Harcourt Brace and Company 1925. First American Edition. Near Fine/Near Fine. First American edition first printing. ii 332 pp. Bound in publisher's cherry red cloth lettered in gilt on spine. Near Fine with ink ownership signature to front free endpaper and 1/4 inch open tear to back fly-leaf; pages a little roughly opened. In a Near Fine dust jacket designed by Vanessa Bell corners clipped but price still present on front flap with lightly sunned spine panel and a short tear to upper edge of rear panel. A bright and beautiful copy apparently unread. The best we've handled. Kirkpatrick & Clarke A8b. Virginia Woolf's first collection of literary essays published by Harcourt on May 14 1925 three weeks after its appearance in Great Britain. As the title suggests Woolf intended her book to be enjoyed by the ordinary person who reads for pleasure. The New York Times praised the author's creative approach to literary criticism: "Mrs. Woolf like a mirror reflects back the colors of the minds which betray themselves in the pages of the books which she takes under consideration. Harcourt, Brace and Company unknown books
1915ref. 140944870London: Duckworth & Co 1915. First Edition. Trial Binding. Very Good. First edition first printing. iv 458 8 ads 16 ads pp. The author's first book. Bound in what appears to be a publisher's trial binding: dark blue cloth triple ruled in blind on upper board with spine lettered in gilt and decorated with floral device in blind; lacking the dust jacket. J. Kirkpatrick notes a similar apparition appearing almost three-quarters of a century ago in A Bibliography of Virginia Woolf "a copy in red cloth lettered in gold on the spine and on the upper cover with the floral device and motto in blind on the lower cover was advertised in Raphael King Ltd's catalogue No. 52 1951 and is now in the Robert H. Taylor Collection Princeton University Library. It is probably a trial binding." In contrast the usual trade binding is green cloth with the spine lettered in gilt and paneled title block in black to upper board. Very Good. Slight lean to binding light edge wear to cloth. Spine ends bruised blemish to spine and gilt dulled. Foxing to textblock edge former owner name and date to front free endpaper endsheets browned and pages toned hinge at rear endsheet is lightly exposed at the ends. Woolf began writing her first novel in 1910 and completed several drafts before its publication in 1915. It was a difficult five years for Woolf in which she suffered from bouts of depression and a suicide attempt but the final work contained seeds of what would later become her trademark: an innovative narrative style a focus on feminine consciousness sexuality and death. Very Good. Slight lean to binding light edge wear to cloth. Spine ends bruised blemish to spine and gilt dulled. Foxing to textblock edge former owner name and date to front free endpaper endsheets browned and pages toned hinge at rear endsheet is lightly exposed at the ends. Woolf began writing her first novel in 1910 and completed several drafts before its publication in 1915. It was a difficult five years for Woolf in which she suffered from bouts of depression and a suicide attempt but the final work contained seeds of what would later become her trademark: an innovative narrative style a focus on feminine consciousness sexuality and death. Duckworth & Co unknown books
1933ref. 18050London: 10 November 1933 The letter is to her nephew Quentin Bell 1910-1996 who would have been only twenty-three at the time. It concerns her daily activities in the company of fellow members of the Bloomsbury circle. It primarily speaks to her sister Vanessa's aeronautical adventures which Virginia found quite upsetting and a drunken dinner attended by many Bloomsburyites including Duncan Grant Molly MacCarthy and E.M. Forster "Morgan" to his friends Clive Bell Leonard Woolf and perhaps others. The letter also mentions Roger Fry Julian Bell Lady Ottoline Morell Francis Birell and others who were either members of the circle or close associates. It also mentions Woolf's father Leslie Stephen 1832-1904 author critic historian Alpine mountaineer noted agnostic and first editor of the Dictionary of National Biography. . 8 x 10 . Slight creasing at quarter folds. Likely paper-clip rust stain top left corner of first page. The letter begins the statement "Well this has been a very agitating week waiting for aeroplanes to settle. Nessa Vanessa Bell seems to have flow around Paris in the fog – and then she mounted into the sun and then she suddenly saw the Channel beneath her and Heaven on top and earth below – oh how I envy her but never never I hope will she fly again." Virginia Woolf 1882-1941 of course was very close to her sister Vanessa 1879-1961 who was a brilliant artist and designer who illustrated most of Virginia's dust jackets. That friendship extended to Vanessa's partners Clive Bell and Duncan Grant and also to her three children Julian Quentin and Angelica with whom she was always in contact. In speaking Vanessa's flight Virginia mentions her flying over the Alps and continues "But she says our ancestral mountains rather appeal to her – she begins to feel what father felt – noble solitary severe. I must come and see them." She finds them "more beautiful than any earth scape." books
1921ref. 710L5DLondon: Hogarth Press 1921. First edition. Cloth. Near Fine. 7.5" by 5". Vanessa Bell . A wonderful copy of Virginia Woolf's breakout story collection 'Monday or Tuesday'. Being one of a small 1000 copy print run. Illustrated with four woodcuts by Vanessa Bell Woolf's elder sister. Bell designed a number of dust jackets for books published by the Hogarth Press in addition to illustrating many of Virginia's later works. Collated complete with the leaf of publisher's advertisements to the rear. This was the first Hogarth Press book to be included in the Annals of English Literature and was a very early publication by the Woolfs' press. It was the only short story collection to be published in Virginia Woolf's lifetime. Containing eight stories 'A Haunted House' 'A Society' 'Monday or Tuesday' 'An Unwritten Novel' 'The String Quartet' 'Blue and Green' 'Kew Gardens' and 'The Mark on the Wall'. An important Bloomsbury Group work. In a custom slipcase and with the book in a custom brodart wrap. A truly excellent copy of this usually fragile work. In the original quarter cloth binding with paper covered boards. Externally excellent with minor bumping to the head and tail of spine. A few light marks to the rear board. Internally firmly bound. Pages are very bright. Minor offsetting and a few scattered spots to the first and last few pages. Otherwise just the odd light spot. Near Fine Hogarth Press hardcover
1925ref. 355490713631London: Hogarth Press 1925. First Edition. Hard Cover. Dust Jacket. Leonard & Virginia Woolf at the The Hogarth Press 1925. First UK Edition. First Series: Original grey cloth-backed Vanessa Bell designed boards in green and brown titles to spine in black with the cream D/W also designed by Vanessa Bell A neat book-plate on the front paste-down otherwise a VG copy in a D/W that has benefitted from some skilful restoration by one of the Worlds leading archivists and now shows as a VG example. Scans invited Hogarth Press hardcover
1928ref. 18774London: The Hogarth Press 1928. A first edition first printing of 'Orlando' by Virginia Woolf published by The Hogarth Press in 1928. 8vo 299 1 pp. 8 plates - a very good book neat signature to front endpaper. Publisher's original orange cloth with some light browning and marking. In the very good wrapper with some creasing and tears and a little loss to the top edge. This the UK first edition is preceded by a signed limited American edition. "Orlando: A Biography" by Virginia Woolf published in 1928 is a seminal work of modernist literature that defies traditional genre classifications. The novel follows the life of its titular character Orlando a young nobleman in Elizabethan England who mysteriously transforms into a woman at the age of 30 living for centuries without ageing significantly. Through Orlando's journey across time Woolf explores themes of gender and identity fluidity the nature of literature and history and the constraints imposed by society. Orlando's interactions with various historical figures and experiences across different epochs reflect Woolf's commentary on the rigid gender roles and expectations of her time. The character's transformation from male to female allows Woolf to challenge and critique the gender norms and patriarchal structures of the early 20th century. Woolf's innovative narrative structure blends biography fiction and fantasy characterised by a playful satirical tone and rich poetic prose. The novel is also notable for its exploration of sexuality and the fluidity of love making it a pioneering text in LGBTQ literature. "Orlando" remains a vibrant and influential work celebrated for its bold experimentation and profound insights into human experience. The Hogarth Press hardcover
1934ref. 1631275 September 1934. To a librarian who lived near the Woolfs in Richmond and Lewes Woolf writes to the librarian Alfred Cecil Piper 1883-1973 declining an invitation to speak at the Rotary Club in Richmond: "unfortunately I am unable to make speeches and for some time past have therefore refused all invitations to do so". The letter includes one correction in Woolf's hand amending "way" to "away" in the second line. The letter was written while Woolf was living with Leonard in Sussex writing what would become The Years 1937. Though she had not lived in Richmond since 1924 she writes fondly to Piper of her time there: "May I take the opportunity of saying how much I used to enjoy the library at Richmond when some years ago we were living there" Piper worked as a librarian in Surrey and Sussex and was also a writer on bibliography and local history. His published works include an article on "The Booksellers and Printers of Richmond Surrey" 1932 in which the Woolfs and the Hogarth Press are mentioned. He also wrote local history books including A History of the Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene Richmond 1947 and Alfriston: The Story of a Sussex Downland Village 1970 about the picturesque village a short walk south-east of Monk's House and Charleston. The letter is published in The Uncollected Letters of Virginia Woolf 2025 edited by Stephen Barkway and Stuart N. Clarke on pages 699-701. Single sheet 202 x 165 mm typed one side only letterhead of Monk's House Rodmell. Folded once very faint stains to corners and strip of silk to verso presumably where once tipped into an album very good condition. unknown
1931ref. 196891London: Hogarth Press 1931. First Edition; First Printing. Hardcover. Very Good in a Good dust jacket. 1 inch open tear at bottom of rear flap fold. Thin closed tear nearly the length of spine running down rear spine edge. Chip on front flap fold. Hogarth Press hardcover
1931ref. 1510581931. Rare autograph letter signed by Virginia Woolf. Written in black ink on a single folding sheet with the original envelope. London: 52 Tavistock Square December 1931. "Dear Mr. Leake I am delighted that you are enjoying After the Deluge and entirely agree with you in your admiration of it. I have conveyed your thanks to the author who sends you his kind wishes. We both greatly envy you for spending Christmas at Zennon. Yours Sincerely Virginia Woolf." In very good condition. Matted and framed with the original transmittal envelope and a photograph of Woolf. The entire piece measures inches by inches. One of the most important modernist 20th century authors British novelist Virginia Woolf became a pioneer in the use of stream of consciousness as a narrative device. Woolf became one of the central subjects of the 1970s movement of feminist criticism and her works have since garnered much attention and widespread commentary for "inspiring feminism" an aspect of her writing that was unheralded earlier. Woolf's best known works include Mrs. Dalloway 1925 To the Lighthouse 1927 The Waves 1931. unknown
1922ref. 140943803Richmond: Printed and Published by Leonard & Virginia Woolf at The Hogarth Press 1922. First Edition. Near Fine. First edition first printing and one of only 1200 copies originally published by Virginia and her husband Leonard on their Hogarth Press. An unusually nice copy bound in publisher's goldenrod cloth with title label to spine lacking the scarce dust jacket. Near Fine with light stain to spine and a few small spots to the front cover two roughly opened leaves with loss only to blank margins very skillfully mended with archival tissue else virtually pristine. A difficult book to find in such nice condition. Printed and Published by Leonard & Virginia Woolf at The Hogarth Press unknown
1921ref. 77445Richmond:: Published by Leonard & Virginia Woolf at The Hogarth Press 1921. First edition; one of 1000 copies printed. publisher's cloth-backed boards designed by Vanessa Bell with printed paper label on spine. Tiny 1946 ink ownership signature on the front free endpaper which is slightly tanned; boards a bit rubbed and rear board lightly soiled. The very rare spine label is lightly tanned with a tiny diagonal chip at one end not affecting printing. 12mo. With woodcuts by Vanessa Bell. Woolmer 17. Kirkpatrick A5 Neither Woolmer nor Kirkpatrick mention the printed paper label on the spine. We have never seen it on another copy. Published by Leonard & Virginia Woolf at The Hogarth Press, hardcover
1925ref. 140946015London: The Hogarth Press 1925. First Edition. Very Good. First edition first printing. Bound in publisher's brick red cloth lettered in gilt; lacking the dust jacket. Very Good with fading to spine with chipping ends; uneven sunning to boards. Offsetting to endsheets and contents lightly tanned. Virginia Woolf's best-known works published by Virginia and her husband Leonard at their Hogarth Press. The Hogarth Press unknown
1922ref. 140943803Richmond: Printed and Published by Leonard & Virginia Woolf at The Hogarth Press 1922. First Edition. Near Fine. First edition first printing and one of only 1200 copies originally published by Virginia and her husband Leonard on their Hogarth Press. An unusually nice copy bound in publisher's goldenrod cloth with title label to spine lacking the scarce dust jacket. Near Fine with light stain to spine and a few small spots to the front cover two roughly opened leaves with loss only to blank margins very skillfully mended with archival tissue else virtually pristine. A difficult book to find in such nice condition. Printed and Published by Leonard & Virginia Woolf at The Hogarth Press unknown books
1925ref. 140946015London: The Hogarth Press 1925. First Edition. Very Good. First edition first printing. Bound in publisher's brick red cloth lettered in gilt; lacking the dust jacket. Very Good with fading to spine with chipping ends; uneven sunning to boards. Offsetting to endsheets and contents lightly tanned. Virginia Woolf's best-known works published by Virginia and her husband Leonard at their Hogarth Press. The Hogarth Press unknown books
1930ref. 72607San Francisco: Westgate Press 1930. Edition limited to 500 copies signed by Woolf this no. 314 and printed at the Grabhorn Press small 8vo p. 4 35 1; pp. fine copy in original quarter green morocco over patterned sage green paper-covered boards; spine sunned else near fine in publisher's green paper-covered slipcase. Kirkpatrick notes: "There is at least one variant of the binding in sage-green paper boards patterned in gold and darker green with an emerald-green leather spine and a green slip-in case. Mr. David McGee bibliographer of the Grabhorn Press states: "The majority of the edition was bound in blue - a ratio of 10 to 1 in favor of blue." Kirkpatrick A13a. Westgate Press unknown
1930ref. 72607San Francisco: Westgate Press 1930. Edition limited to 500 copies signed by Woolf this no. 314 and printed at the Grabhorn Press small 8vo p. 4 35 1; pp. fine copy in original quarter green morocco over patterned sage green paper-covered boards; spine sunned else near fine in publisher's green paper-covered slipcase. Kirkpatrick notes: "There is at least one variant of the binding in sage-green paper boards patterned in gold and darker green with an emerald-green leather spine and a green slip-in case. Mr. David McGee bibliographer of the Grabhorn Press states: "The majority of the edition was bound in blue - a ratio of 10 to 1 in favor of blue." Kirkpatrick A13a. Westgate Press unknown books
1929ref. WOOLFVIR002176Published by Leonard and Virginia Woolf at the Hogarth Press London. 1929. First edition. Small octavo. 172 pages. On the rear pastedown is the small ticket of a New York bookseller. Free endpapers lightly tanned. Spine very slightly faded and slightly bumped. Small bump to bottom corner of each cover. Very good indeed in the very scarce dustwrapper designed by Vanessa Bell which has some spotting a couple of small chips to top edge and a 1cm closed tear to head of spine. The dustwrapper is possibly supplied. Published by Leonard and Virginia Woolf at the Hogarth Press, London. unknown
ref. 126467New York/London: Fountain/Hogarth Press 1929. Hardcover. Very Good. 7x4x0. London and New York: The Hogarth Press / The Fountain Press 1929. First Edition. One of 492 copies this being No.341 SIGNED by the author. The first 100 copies of this title were issued in England by Hogarth the remaining copies this being an example by the Fountain Press in the US. Fine in no jacket as issued. Please email for photos. New York/London: Fountain/Hogarth Press hardcover
1929ref. 100This book is in good condition. There is some fading along the top edge of the outside boards as shown above. There are no bookplates or markings of any kind. The pages are clean and free of foxing. This is a Limited Edition #258/492 signed by Virginia Woolf published by The Hogarth Press / The Fountain Press in 1929. A rare find in any condition. The Hogarth Press / The Fountain Press hardcover
1929ref. 1409429New York NY / London UK: The Fountain Press / Hogarth Press 1929. Limited Edition #408/450. Hardcover. Octavo 159 1 pages. In Good condition. Bound in publisher's red cloth with gilt lettering along the spine. Boards have mild shelving wear water-staining along spine slightly extending onto upper edges of boards. Small water-staining along top edge of first two front free endpages. Paperclip stain to top edge of first two front free endpages. Bookplate to front pastedown detached glue staining present. A few torn top edges from when the book was cut. Signed flat by Virginia Woolf on the half-title page. Limited Edition #408/450. Shelved in Case 2. Adeline Virginia Stephen later Virginia Woolf after her marriage to Leonard Woolf was born January 25 1882 to an affluent family in South Kensington London. She began writing professionally in 1900 and published her first novel in 1915. Woolf's writings would become highly popularized in the 1970's during the rise of Second-Wave feminism. Both Woolf's life and writings became highly regarded under feminist criticism in particular "A Room of One's Own" an extended essay that explores social injustices faced by women. 1409429. Shelved Dupont Bookstore. The Fountain Press / Hogarth Press hardcover
1932ref. 309445Athens 1932. 2 pp. recto and verso of single sheet of blue stationery. Oblong 8vo. Very pale spotting but fine. Matted and framed with photographic portrait. 2 pp. recto and verso of single sheet of blue stationery. Oblong 8vo. In part: "The proofs of my article have reached me here I am returning them corrected. I have checked the verse quotations from memory. I think that they are correct but I have not the books with me & as we shall not be back till May 17th or so I fear I cannot wait to compare them with the text. The names of the authors in order of quotation W.H. Auden/ numbers 123 & 4; John Lehmann 5; Day Lewis 6; W. Empson 7. I do not want the names to be quoted but I see you say that they are only for your own use." The article in question is "Letter to a Young Poet" addressed to John Lehmann which was originally published in the Yale Review for June 1932. It was brought out in a separate edition by the Hogarth Press later the same year. unknown
1929ref. 1409429New York NY / London UK: The Fountain Press / Hogarth Press 1929. Limited Edition #408/450. Hardcover. Octavo 159 1 pages. In Good condition. Bound in publisher's red cloth with gilt lettering along the spine. Boards have mild shelving wear water-staining along spine slightly extending onto upper edges of boards. Small water-staining along top edge of first two front free endpages. Paperclip stain to top edge of first two front free endpages. Bookplate to front pastedown detached glue staining present. A few torn top edges from when the book was cut. Signed flat by Virginia Woolf on the half-title page. Limited Edition #408/450. Shelved in Case 2. Adeline Virginia Stephen later Virginia Woolf after her marriage to Leonard Woolf was born January 25 1882 to an affluent family in South Kensington London. She began writing professionally in 1900 and published her first novel in 1915. Woolf's writings would become highly popularized in the 1970's during the rise of Second-Wave feminism. Both Woolf's life and writings became highly regarded under feminist criticism in particular "A Room of One's Own" an extended essay that explores social injustices faced by women. 1409429. Shelved Dupont Bookstore. The Fountain Press / Hogarth Press hardcover books
1932ref. 309445Athens 1932. 2 pp. recto and verso of single sheet of blue stationery. Oblong 8vo. Very pale spotting but fine. Matted and framed with photographic portrait. 2 pp. recto and verso of single sheet of blue stationery. Oblong 8vo. In part: "The proofs of my article have reached me here I am returning them corrected. I have checked the verse quotations from memory. I think that they are correct but I have not the books with me & as we shall not be back till May 17th or so I fear I cannot wait to compare them with the text. The names of the authors in order of quotation W.H. Auden/ numbers 123 & 4; John Lehmann 5; Day Lewis 6; W. Empson 7. I do not want the names to be quoted but I see you say that they are only for your own use." The article in question is "Letter to a Young Poet" addressed to John Lehmann which was originally published in the Yale Review for June 1932. It was brought out in a separate edition by the Hogarth Press later the same year. unknown books
1960ref. 739L50None: None c1960. Unbound. Very Good Indeed. N/A. None. A fantastic selection of Bloomsbury Group letters. All addressed to one Miss Monica Young from Vanessa Bell Leonard Woolf Naomi Michison and Duncan Grant. A fantastic selection of letters from some of the most noted figures in art and literature during 20th century Britain. The recipient of these letters was the ceramicist Monica Young 1929-2004. Young was for a time based in Sussex but moved to Yorkshire in 1974. It is possibly Young was associated with the Bloomsbury Group in Sussex. and also knew them from the arts scene. It seems that from the letters she was also an avid painter. Comprising four letters total and an envelope addressed to Miss young dated 1962 with Leonard's signature on the front. The first letter dated only 'Apr 25' is from Vanessa Bell. It is on headed paper from Bell's country home Charleston Firle Sussex. The letter reads ' Dear Miss Young Thank you very much for your letter and the nice thing you say about my show at Agnew's. I am glad to say that your Dutch friend did so see it and write to Mr Grant. I hope that you and she are able to get some painting done but I know how difficult it is to combine it either with marriage or any other work. Dieppe is a wonderful place to paint I think and I am glad you managed to go there. My son is very much pleased at your liking his book - I too found it very amusing! Yours sincerely Vanessa Bell'. The letter is in reference to the show that Bell and Grant organised at the 'Coronation Exhibition of Contemporary British Artists at Agnew and Sons London in 1937'. The letter is written in blue ballpoint pen. The second letter is dated Sep 11 and is also sent from Charleston Firle in Sussex and is from Duncan Grant. 'Dear Miss Young thank you for your letter. I would like to meet you and your Dutch friend. But I think if you don't mind it might be for a part of your visit till October. I am going to Paris in a week till Oct 8 & until then am painting out of doors as long as this lovely weather lasts. Will you write later and tell me when it would suit you to come over Yours sincerely Duncan Grant'. The third letter is typed from Leonard Woolf dated 1963 and states 'Dear Monica it was very nice of you to write. I have never had any animal quite like Troy and naturally miss him a great deal. Yours Leonard'. There is a hand-written envelope from Woolf with Young's address 'Miss M young 11 Toronto Terrace Lewes Sussex'. The final letter is from Naomi Mitchison and is also a typed letter 'Dear Miss Young How nice of you to write - one always wonders who at all reads one's books. Lpis is now in Oxford 32 Park town with her two little girls. The marriage broke up and she has been very unhappy; the divorce not through yet and her husband behaving pretty badly. The real difficulty is that she doesn't at all like her job teaching at a polytechnic in Reading. I wish she could hear of something else. Val is in London with five children and an increasing interest in education finds herself having to run all sorts of committees. The grand-daughters are a lively lot and bully me but quite nicely! yours Naomi Mitchison.' Here she is referring to her daughter Lois Michison. All letters are very smart. Some minor creasing to the edges of the Grant and Bell letters. Small tape repair to the rear of the Vanessa Bell letter. A few light spots to the Grant and Bell letters owing to their age. Very Good Indeed None unknown
