Each week, we at Rooke Books add hundreds of titles to our libraries; below, our team has grouped what we thought were some of the most interesting and fascinating new arrivals, for you to browse easily and not miss out on any title. This week in particular, keep an eye out for exciting works of games and puzzles: we doubt they will be here for long!


1888 Mark Twain's Library of Humour by Mark Twain

The first edition of this illustrated short story anthology, an entertaining work containing stories by Mark Twain and various other prominent authors, such as Harriet Beecher Stowe.

£90.00


1927 Bypaths in Downland by Barclay Wills

A brilliant and scarce first edition of this interesting topographical work on the rambles on the South Downs, illustrated and in the uncommon dust wrapper.

£90.00


1962 The Last Problem by E. T. Bell

The first edition of this scarce work on the mathematical problem known as the Fermat's Last Theorem, in its unclipped dust wrappers. For more mathematical works, browse here.

£125.00


1939 Codes and Ciphers by Alexander D'Agappeyeff

An uncommon first edition of d'Agapeyeff's fascinating code and cipher collection, including his unbroken cipher.

£150.00


1906 Flats Urban Houses and Cottage Homes by Frank T. Verity

The first edition of this beautifully illustrated study on turn of the century architecture, illustrated in colour.

£150.00


1936 Easy Methods for the Construction of Magic Squares by J. C. Burnett

A scarce first edition of this book on magic squares and easy methods for their construction. This week we have received many books of games and puzzles; click here to check them out! 

£175.00


1929 The Game of Wei-Chi by Daniel Pecorino

A very scarce, unique book on the Chinese abstract game of Wei-Chi, illustrated with plates to facilitate its understanding.

£320.00 


1927 Artificial Silk by Thomas Woodhouse

An excellent illustrated book detailing the remarkable progress made in manufacture and uses of the fabric during the twentieth century.

£125.00


1915 Kultur Cartoons by H. G. Wells

A very scarce limited edition copy, signed by the artist and the publisher, of this book reproducing Will Dyson' Kultur Cartoons exhibition of 1915. With twenty plates. More art volumes to be browsed here.

£225.00


1957 Remembrance of Things Past by Marcel Proust

A beautiful illustrated edition of Proust's 'In Search of Lost Time', the monumental novel sequence of the twentieth century. Complete in twelve uniform volumes. If you'd like to see more works by foreign authors, you can easily do so here.

£1,950.00


1933 Decorative Art by C. G. Holme

A special birthday edition, printed on large paper, of this decorative art annual magazine for the year 1933 in occasion of the Studio's fortieth anniversary. We have various works of design in our libraries, and you can easily browse them here.

£175.00 


1868 Double Acrostics By Amateurs by I. S. A

A selection of double acrostics compiled by a group of friends, a very scarce first edition of this work. A collection of double acrostic enigmas, puzzles, and poems.

£110.00


1858 History of Ancient Pottery by Samuel Birch

A nicely leather bound first edition copy of Samuel Birch's history of ancient pottery across the world, illustrated in colour.

£210.00


1904 King Koko by Professor Hoffmann

The uncommon first edition of this brilliant entertaining conjuring book written in the form of a fairy tale, with various illustrations.

£240.00


1880 A Tramp Abroad by Mark Twain

The third edition of Mark Twain's popular European travel work, an entertaining travel account.

£400.00


1919 The Decoration of Houses by Edith Wharton

Edith Wharton's illustrated interior design manual, describing the aged aspects of Victorian architecture.

£350.00


1897-1899 The Novels of Honoré de Balzac

Two exciting limited edition sets, complete with eleven volumes each, comprising the first translation to English of 'La Comédie Humaine' by French author Honoré de Balzac, illustrated.

£1,175.00 


1866 Original Double Acrostics: Amusing and Instructive by Anne Bowman

A very scarce first edition collection of acrostics by Anne Bowman, a popular trend of Victorian society. Anne Bowman's selection of original puzzling and educational double acrostics.

£450.00


1689 Les Vrayes Centuries et Propheties by Nostradamus

An early edition of Nostradamus' popular prophetic work, one of the most important works of the sixteenth century, here in the original French.

£1,600.00


1923 Thomas Rowlandson His Drawings and Water-Colours by A. P. Oppe

The first edition of this illustrated biography on the work and satirical art of Thomas Rowlandson, illustrated with colour plates.

£115.00


[1928] The Man from Up There by Maurice Lincoln

The first edition of this entertaining science fiction novel by Maurice Lincoln, in the extremely uncommon dust wrapper.

£70.00


1926 The Works of Aretino by Pietro Aretino

A lovely scarce set complete in two volumes comprising the works by Italian author Pietro Aretino. A limited edition.

£135.00 


1911 The Art of Revolver Shooting by Walter Winans

A new, revised edition of this guide on how to shoot revolvers and pistols by Walter Winans. An uncommon book with various illustrations throughout. A smart copy. More sports and pastimes works to be found here.

£250.00 


1998 China, 5000 Years by Sherman Lee

A lovely first edition of this richly illustrated volume published on the occasion of the Guggenheim Museum exhibition on the history and development of Chinese art.

£70.00 


1924-7 The Dictionary of English Furniture by Percy Macquoid

The first edition of this colourfully illustrated dictionary of the designs of furniture throughout English history, illustrated in colour.

£425.00


1941 Seuil l'Antarctique Croisiere du "Bougainville" by D. René Jeannel

The first edition of this uncommon illustrated volume, following the "Bougainville" cruise to the French Periantarctic Islands, illustrated. We have various books on Antarctic exploration; browse them here!

£175.00 


1900 Thomas Girtin His Life and Works by Laurence Binyon

Laurence Binyon's very scarce first edition essay biography on the Romantic artist Thomas Girtin, illustrated with reproductions of Girtin's works.

£395.00


1927 Au Pied des Volcans Polaires Notes d'un Voyage aux Faeroe by Raymond Chevallier

A fascinating volume on a cruise of the "Pourquoi Pas" to the Faroe Islands, Jan Mayen, and Iceland by Raymond Chevallier. Illustrated. In a cloth covered slipcase.

£40.00


1979 The Board Game Books by R. C. Bell

A colourful first edition history of board games, an entertaining work illustrated in colour throughout.

£90.00 


1966 Petit Traite des Epluchures by Philippe Dereux

A signed limited edition memoir on the art and life of Philippe Dereux, in the original French.

£295.00


1930 Six Cartoons by Alfred Lowe by Liam O'Flaherty

An excellent first edition, limited to seven hundred and fifty copies, of this volume comprising six beautiful cartoons by Alfred Lowe; in the original and unclipped dust wrapper.

£250.00


1922 Mazes and Labyrinths by W. H. Matthews

An illustrated first edition history of the use and growth of mazes and labyrinths, a fascinating work by W. H. Matthews. The first edition of this work. Check out our gardening section here.

£70.00