Bearing its clients’ holiday spirit in mind, Bloomsbury’s 7th August Bibliophile sale has a variety of subjects on offer from Modern First Editions, Literature and Children’s Books to Travel, Sports and Pastimes.

A handsome set of the 20 vol Autograph Edition number 37 of 153 signed copies of The Writings by Thomas Hardy (lot 28) is estimated £3000-4000 and an especially scarce signed, Holiday by Stanley Middleton (lot 47) with its dust-jacket is expected to reach £500-600. Lovers of poetry might by enticed by a first edition of William Worsdworth’s Poems of 1807 (lot 107) estimated £900-1200 or by a signed first edition of Meredith’s Poems (lot 129); this title was never reprinted and the author destroyed the balance of 300 unsold copies (estimate £600-800).

Another choice item is a signed first edition (one of 50) presentation copy of William Nicholson’s The Book of Blokes (lot 270) estimated £600-800. Those contemplating lazy summer and autumn days at the water’s edge, might be attracted by the musings of The Angler’s Sure Guide: or Angling Improved by Robert Howlett of 1706 (lot 384) estimated £200-300. A group of hot air ballooning books (lot 389) including a first edition of Wonderful Balloon Ascents by Marion Fulgenciol, is estimated at £150-180. The more down-to-earth will be excited by Big Game such as The Big Cats by Guy Coheleach (lot 390) with its many colour illustrations (estimate £200-300). Gentler spirits will have their hearts racing for an extremely rare book on cricket which is in remarkable state of preservation, The Eleventh Australian Tour 1902 (lot 392) with photographic illustrations is expected to fetch £400-600.