Observer’s Book of Lichens; Observer’s Book of Furniture; Observer’s Book of Modern Art; Observer’s Book of Old English Churches; Observer’s Book of Postage Stamps (Observer’s Pocket series Collection, Five Volumes)

A collection of five first editions, first printings from the Observer’s Pocket Book series, all published during the 1960s.  (1) Lichens: 126pp, with 64 plates in colour and black and white.  Pale orange cloth-covered boards with green lettering front and spine.  24mo.  Cloth is a little rubbed to faded at extreme edges, gently pushed in a spine ends.  Upper text block edge dust dulled.  Previous owner’s stamp on both front endpapers else internally neat. clean, bright and tight.  In its original dust wrapper, a little shelf worn and rubbed and bumped at edges, slightly sunned over spine.  (2) Furniture: 224pp, with 15 line illustrations and timber-panelled effect endpapers.  Orange cloth-covered boards with black lettering front and spine.  24mo.  Cloth gently pushed at spine ends.  Upper text block edge dust spotted.  Internally neat, clean, bright and tight.  In its original dust wrapper, a little shelf worn and rubbed in places, slightly scuffed on extreme corners and spine tips, slightly sunned over spine.  (3)  Modern Art: xii, 148pp, 16 colour plates and 52 monochrome illustrations. Charts on endpapers.  24mo.  Pale yellow cloth-covered boards with red lettering front and spine.  Cloth a little tired, gently pushed at spine ends.  Upper text block edge dust spotted.  Gift inscription inked opposite the title page else internally neat, clean, bright and tight.  In its original dust wrapper, a little rubbed and bumped at edges, with a couple of tiny nicks at spine ends, shelf worn.  (4)  Old English Churches: x, 214pp, with 44 plates from photographs and text drawings.  Red cloth-covered boards with black lettering front and spine.  Illustrated endpapers.  24mo.  Cloth very gently rubbed at edges, rounded at corners and spine ends.  Upper text block edge dust spotted.  Previous owner’s stamp on title page, and a hint of toning to endpapers, else internally neat, clean, bright and tight.  (5) Postage Stamps.  240pp, with 16 plates in full colour and 5012 black and white illustrations.  Green cloth-covered boards with purple lettering front and spine.  Colour printed endpapers.  24mo.  Cloth gently rounded at corners and spine tips.  Upper text block edge dust dulled.  Internally neat, clean, bright and tight.  In its original worn and faded dust wrapper, rubbed around edges and joints, lightly sunned over spine with visible shelf wear on verso (this jacket graded ‘good’ condition only).