[RYMER, JAMES MALCOLM],

The Dark Woman; or, Plot and Passion [drop-title to part 1].

[London: John Dicks, 1861-62]. (PENNY DREADFUL) 104 weekly numbers, this copy bound without the title pages. 2 vols., 8vo. Illustrated with wood engravings (one for each weekly number) by G. Bonner and G.M. Gorway, after drawings by F. Gilbert, G.F. Sargent, and G. Standfast. 416; 413 pp. Text in two columns. Contemporary brown cloth, spines lettered in gilt. Covers sunned and slightly soiled but sound, text quite clean and crisp for this genre. Bookplates of David Laing Philips. Ono 88; James and Smith 545; Summers, p. 290; OCLC 38718283 (3 locations).
¶ The title pages as issued by Dicks read: THE DARK WOMAN; OR, THE DAYS OF THE PRINCE REGENT. BY THE AUTHOR OF 'EDITH THE CAPTIVE' (i.e. J.M. Rymer)

-- James Cummins Bookseller

Book number: 242131

[RYMER, JAMES MALCOLM].

The Dark Woman; or, the Days of the Prince Regent.

London, John Dicks 1861-62. Two volumes largish octavo half gilt calf; 104 wood engravings after Gilbert, Sargent and Standfast.
¶ Rare - any and all of Rymer's novels are rare - and an outstanding copy, made more so by being in a handsome contemporary binding of dark green half calf, spines satisfyingly rich with gilt and contrasting labels (the labels consign authorship to Errym, Rymer's most common pseudonym) - almost unknown on penny (or halfpenny) dreadfuls. On the endpapers is the inscription of John Gordon Edward Sibbald, 7th December 1866 and the bindings speak of a well-heeled reverence for what was a trashy thriller but the book itself is unthumbed. Perhaps Sibbald had another reading copy? - it seems inconceivable that it was an unwanted gift. According to Summers, The Dark Woman was issued in 104 weekly parts at a halfpenny each; in monthly parts at threepence (which seems dear) and as two volumes supplied with titles and contents on completion - as here; all are made up of the weekly parts. One of Rymer's later novels, well after his successes of the forties like The Black Monk or Varney the Vampyre, but Rymer never ran short of thrilling deeds - darstardly, dare-devil or gruesome; any page or two will exhaust the meek reader.

-- Richard Neylon, Bookseller

Book number: 8023

Keywords: literature fiction thrillers penny dreadful horror c19th England

[RYMER, JAMES MALCOLM],

Edith the Captive; or, the Robbers of Epping Forest.

London: John Dicks, 1861, 1862. New edition, from 104 penny parts. 2 vols., 8vo. 104 wood-engraved illustrations by F. Gilbert and G.F. Sargent; [iv], iii, [i], 416; [iv], iii, [i], 416 pp., in double columns. Publisher's red blindstamped cloth, spines richly gilt with title, floral motif, and price of 6/6, spine faded, bookplate; very good. Ono 110; James & Smith 549 (calling this a new edition); Summers, p. 303 (identifying this as the second re-issue).
¶ A new edition or re-issue of the first of 1860, also published by Dicks in 104 parts. The Ono collection only has this edition

-- James Cummins Bookseller

Book number: 242008

[RYMER, JAMES MALCOLM],

Love and Mystery; or, Married and Single. A Romance. By the Author of "The String of Pearls" &c., &c [drop title].

[London: E. Lloyd, 1849]. (PENNY DREADFUL) First edition, bound from the original 52 weekly numbers, without the title. 8vo. illustrated with 52 wood engravings (one for each weekly part). 411 pp. Modern cloth. A few marginal tears and some soiling, but a good, sound copy of a very scarce penny dreadful. Ono 210; Medcraft 160; Summers, p. 392; James and Smith 492 (attributed to T. Prest). OCLC locates only microform.
¶ The author of THE STRING OF PEARLS is now widely believed to be Rymer, not Prest

-- James Cummins Bookseller

Book number: 242122

[RYMER, JAMES MALCOLM],

Mazeppa; or, The Wild Horse of the Ukraine. A Romance.

London: E. Lloyd, 1850. (PENNY DREADFUL) First edition, bound from the original 110 weekly parts. 8vo. Large folding engraved plate, backed in linen and tipped to the front free endpaper ("Mazeppa Bound to the Wild Horse") 110 wood engravings in the text. [2], 878 pp. 20th-century half red calf and cloth, black leather spine label. Extremities a little rubbed, one marginal chip from leaf at pp. 401-2, barely touching a few letters, but overall a very good, sound copy. Contemporary ownership signature of J.H. Asquith on the title page. Medcraft 170; Summers, p. 128 (attributed to Thomas Prest); and p. 406; not in Ono.
¶ Although Summers attributes this to Prest, it has been pointed out that THE WIDOW MORTIMER is advertised in 1849 as "by the Author of Mazeppa", and by the author of THE STRING OF PEARLS - now believed to be by Rymer. The striking folding plate, engraved by G. & C. Wall, was given away free to purchasers of Part 1. Rare thus

-- James Cummins Bookseller

Book number: 242079

[RYMER, JAMES MALCOLM?],

Paul's Perils. By the Author of "The Knightriders," "Rankley Grange," "The Marquis of Dalewood," etc., etc.

London: E. & H. Bennett, 1890. (PENNY DREADFUL) First edition, bound from the original penny parts. 8vo. Illustrated with one wood engraving for each of the 51 penny parts. [2], 615, [3] pp., double-columned. Bound in modern gray buckram with the front and rear covers to each part (front covers duplicating the wood engraving; rear cover with publisher's ads), and with the additional colored covers to pt 1/2. Beautifully preserved example of a late penny dreadful. Ono 268; James and Smith 568 ("Another version of the Paul Clifford, highwayman, romance"); OCLC: 52936441 (3 locations).

-- James Cummins Bookseller

Book number: 242143