Literature
Showing 721–744 of 4080 results
-
Browse by Category
- Browse All
- Americana
- Art and Architecture
- Autograph Letters Signed
- Biography and Autobiography
- Children's Books
- Economics and Finance
- Featured Rare Books
- Fine Bindings and Sets
- First Edition
- First Edition>Signed
- Food and Wine
- Framed Autographs and Historical Documents
- Geography
- Gifts
- Gifts - For Her
- Gifts - For Him
- Gifts - Graduation and Celebrations
- Gifts - Holidays
- History, Law, and Politics
- Literature
- Music
- New Arrivals
- Philosophy
- Photography
- Poetry
- Presidents and World Leaders
- Religion
- Science and Natural History
- Science Fiction and Mystery
- Signed
- Signed & Autographed Books
- Sports and Leisure
- Travel and Exploration
- Uncategorized
-
FIRST EDITION OF SALE’S LANDMARK 1734 ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE KORAN
TRANSLATED BY GEORGE SALE,.
The Koran, Commonly Called the Alcoran of Mohammed, Translated into English Immediately from the Original Arabic; with Explanatory Notes, Taken from the Most Approved Commentators.
London: Printed by C. Ackers for J. Wilcox, 1734.
First edition of George Sale’s important translation of the Koran, the first to translate the original text directly from the Arabic into English. Quarto, bound in full contemporary calf, rebacked, morocco spine label within five raised bands, folding engraved map with inset view of Mecca, engraved folding plate with plan and view of Mecca, 3 engraved genealogical tables (2 folding). In very good condition. From the library of Francis Enys of Truro, Cornwall with his bookplate to the front pastedown. An exceptional example with noted provenance.
Price: $6,000.00 Item Number: 145520
-
"The availability of books is not the same as reading them, nor reading the same as understanding them": Laurence Sternes Masterpiece The Life and Opinions of Tristam Shandy; signed by Laurence Sterne in volumes V, VII, and IX
STERNE, Laurence.
The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman.
London: Printed for R. and J. Dodsley, 1760-1767.
First and mixed editions of all nine volumes of one of the greatest comic novels in the English language, signed by Laurence Sterne in volumes V, VII, and IX as called for. Small octavo, nine volumes bound into five in full contemporary calf with elaborate gilt tooling and morocco spine labels lettered in gilt to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, engraved frontispieces after Hogarth to volumes I and III, half-titles in volumes V, VII and IX (as called for). Signed by the…
Price: $6,000.00 Item Number: 144538
-
First edition of A: A Novel; Inscribed by Andy Warhol with a Drawing and initialed twice
WARHOL, Andy.
a: A novel by Andy Warhol.
New York: Grove Press, Inc, 1968.
First edition of Warhol's first novel, an experimental collection of four word-for-word transcriptions of tapes recorded by Warhol and Ondine between 1965 and 1967. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the artist in purple ink on the front endpapers, "To Tony Janak Andy Warhol 70," with a drawing of a lowercase 'a'. Additionally initialed by Warhol at the bottom of page 247 and signed again on the front panel of the dust jacket. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Exceptionally rare and desirable signed.
Price: $6,000.00 Item Number: 147206
-
“I'm tired of people who have not been at war who know all about it": First Edition of John Steinbeck's The Moon Is Down; Lengthily Signed by John Steinbeck
STEINBECK, John.
The Moon Is Down.
New York: The Viking Press, 1942.
First edition of the Nobel Prize-winning author’s classic work. Octavo, original blue cloth. Lengthily signed by the author in a contemporary signature, "Affectionate Regards and memories of the Sierra Nevada, John Steinbeck." Fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Signed first editions are rare.
Price: $6,000.00 Item Number: 147549
-
First Edition of Erskine Caldwell's God’s Little Acre; Inscribed by Him
CALDWELL, Erskine.
God’s Little Acre.
New York: The Viking Press, 1933.
First edition of what many consider Caldwell's finest novel. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “For Ingle Barr Here is a book you should read some day Erskine Caldwell." The recipient, Ingle Barr was a prominent book collector. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. An exceptional example, uncommon in this condition and signed.
Price: $6,000.00 Item Number: 134506
-
First Edition of John O'Hara's Classic Appointment in Samarra
O'HARA, John.
Appointment in Samarra.
New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1934.
First edition of the author's first book. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a near fine first issue dust jacket with a few small closed tears, contemporary bookplate to the front pastedown. Housed in a custom half morocco and chemise box. A very nice example.
Price: $6,000.00 Item Number: 5829
-
Scarce First editions in English of Mikhail Sholokhov's And Quiet Flows the Don and The Don Flows Home to the Sea
SHOLOKHOV, Mikhail. Translated by Stephen Gary.
And Quiet Flows the Don and The Don Flows Home To The Sea.
London: Putnam, 1934-1940.
First edition in English of the major epic of Soviet literature and one of the first works of Soviet literature to be translated into English. Octavo, two volumes, original publisher's cloth. And Quiet Flows the Don is very good in a good dust jacket. The Don Flows Home To The Sea is very good in a very good dust jacket.
Price: $6,000.00 Item Number: 143722
-
"Im not brave any more darling. Im all broken. Theyve broken me": First Edition of Ernest Hemingways Classic Novel A Farewell To Arms; In the Original First State Dust Jacket
HEMINGWAY, Ernest.
A Farewell To Arms.
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1929.
First edition of this early Hemingway classic, which established him among the American masters. Octavo, original black cloth. Fine in a near fine first state dust jacket with the misspelling "Katharine Barclay" in the blurb on the front flap. A very sharp example of this highspot of American literature.
Price: $6,000.00 Item Number: 144215
-
"There are moments which are made up of too much stuff for them to be lived at the time they occur": First Editions of Tinker, Tailor Soldier Spy; The Honourable Schoolboy and Smileys People; Each Signed by John Le Carre
LE CARRE, John.
The Karla Trilogy] Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy; The Honourable Schoolboy; Smiley’s People.
London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1974-1979.
First editions of each title in the author's acclaimed Karla Trilogy. Octavo, 3 volumes, bound in full morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, raised bands, inner dentelles, all edges gilt. Each volume is signed by John le Carre on a bookplate, with two signed "John le Carre aka David Cornwell." Each are in fine condition. Each volume is housed in a custom slipcase. An exceptional set, uncommon signed.
Price: $6,000.00 Item Number: 135339
-
"So he tasted the deep pain that is reserved only for the strong, just as he had tasted for a little while the deep happiness": First Edition of F. Scott's Fitzgerald's All the Sad Young Men; In the Original Dust Jacket
FITZGERALD, F. Scott.
All the Sad Young Men.
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1926.
First edition, first issue of Fitzgerald's third collection of short stories. Octavo, original green cloth. Fine in a near fine first issue dust jacket with the woman's lips unbattered (Bruccolo, A12). Housed in a custom half morocco and folding chemise slipcase.
Price: $6,000.00 Item Number: 96010
-
"Are not there little chapters in everybody's life, that seem to be nothing, and yet affect all the rest of the history?": First Edition of Thackeray's Vanity Fair, Finely Bound by Bayntun
THACKERAY, William Makepeace [Cosway].
Vanity Fair: A Novel Without a Hero. [Cosway].
London: Bradbury and Evans, 1848.
First edition, first issue of Thackeray's masterpiece. Octavo, bound in full red morocco by Bayntun Riviere in Cosway-style binding with a miniature portrait of Thackeray inset into the front panel, engraved frontispiece, engraved additional title, and 38 engraved plates, spine in gilt compartments, gilt inner dentelles, all edges gilt, ivory silk doublures. The first issue, with the headline on page one in rustic type; "Mr. Pitt" on page 453; and the suppressed woodcut of Mr. Steyne on page 336. Van Duzer 231. In fine condition. An exceptional example.
Price: $5,800.00 Item Number: 69017
-
Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring; inscribed by him
COPLAND, Aaron.
Appalachian Spring. (Ballet for Martha).
New York: Boosey and Hawkes, 1945.
First edition of the Booksey and Hawkes Pocket Orchestral Score of Copland's Appalachian Spring, one of the most enduring of the twentieth century. Large octavo, original wrappers as issue. Inscribed by the composer on the title page, "For Bruce Kubert Aaron Copland Heaton Hall July 1946." In very good condition with a tear to the front panel. Exceptionally rare and desirable signed and inscribed.
Price: $5,800.00 Item Number: 96244
-
“Don't you know that everybody's got a Fairyland of their own?”: Signed limited Edition of P.L. Travers' Mary Poppins and Legendary Actor Dick Van Dyke
TRAVERS, P.L. [Dick Van Dyke].
Mary Poppins.
New York: Harcourt, Brace & Company, 1997.
Signed limited edition of this children's classic, one of 100 numbered copies, this is number 37. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated by Mary Shepard. In fine condition. Additionally signed "God bless! Dick Van Dyke" on the front free endpaper, who starred in the 1964 film adaptation. A unique example.
Price: $5,800.00 Item Number: 142005
-
"IF YOU REALLY WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT": FIRST EDITION THE CATCHER IN THE RYE; FINELY BOUND BY THE HARCOURT BINDERY
SALINGER, J.D.
The Catcher In The Rye.
Boston: Little Brown and Company, 1951.
First edition of the author's classic first book. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in five compartments within raised bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt ruled inner dentelles stamp-signed by the Harcourt Bindery, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In fine condition. An exceptional presentation.
Price: $5,500.00 Item Number: 143026
-
First edition of James Baldwin's Going to Meet the Man; inscribed by him to Vincent Harding
BALDWIN, James.
Going to Meet the Man.
New Yrok: The Dial Press, 1965.
First edition of Baldwin's singular collection of short stories. Octavo, original half cloth. Signed by the author on the second free endpaper, "for Vince, with love. Jimmy 470 West End Ave N.Y.C." The recipient, Vincent Harding was an African-American reverend, historian, and scholar of various topics with a focus on American religion and society. A social activist, he was perhaps best known for his work with and writings about Martin Luther King Jr., whom Harding and Baldwin knew personally. Besides having authored numerous books such as There Is A River, Hope and History, and Martin Luther King: The Inconvenient Hero. Near fine…
Price: $5,500.00 Item Number: 142797
-
First Edition of Little Pig's Picnic; Signed by Walt Disney
DISNEY, Walt; Brown.
Little Pig’s Picnic and Other Stories.
Boston : D.C. Heath and Company, 1939.
First edition of this collection of stories. Octavo, original illustrated cloth, pictorial endpapers. Boldly signed by Walt Disney on the half-title page. Illustrated throughout by the Walt Disney Studio. Story by Margaret Wise Brown. In very good condition with some rubbing to the extremities. Rare and desirable signed by Walt Disney.
Price: $5,500.00 Item Number: 30060
-
"THE FACT THAT A GREAT MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE SOMETHING IS NO GUARANTEE OF ITS TRUTH”: Rare Original Sketch of the Dust Jacket of W. Somerset Maugham's The Razor's Edge; Signed by him
MAUGHAM, W. Somerset.
The Razor’s Edge Original Dust Jacket Design Signed.
Garden City, NY: Doubleday Doran & Company, 1944.
Rare W. Somerset Maugham’s original ink sketch showing his dust jacket design concept for his greatest novel, The Razor’s Edge, executed on a blank Western Union telegram form, which was followed by the publisher pretty much to the letter. A striking piece of literary history demonstrating that the author’s intentions for the book were honored from the text to the jacket itself, including his signature Moroccan symbol, used on nearly all his books, including reprints; and an interesting example of a major author’s notion of self-representation. In his autobiographical book, The Summing Up, Maugham wrote of the symbol: “[My father]…
Price: $5,500.00 Item Number: 128489
-
"Maybe its not wise to make too many friends in any business!": First Edition of Len Deighton's The Ipcress File; Lengthily Inscribed by Him
DEIGHTON, Len.
The Ipcress File.
London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1962.
First British edition of Deighton's first novel. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, lengthily by the author on the title page, "Maybe its not wise to make too many friends in any business! Best wishes to John Len Deighton London May 9th 2008." Fine in a very good dust jacket that shows light wear. Jacket design by Raymond Hawkey.
Price: $5,500.00 Item Number: 138473
-
Rare first edition of Thomas Heywood's The Life of Merlin
HEYWOOD, Thomas.
The Life of Merlin, Sirnamed Ambrosius. His Prophesies, and Predictions Interpreted; and their truth made good by our English Analls. Being a Chronological History of all the Kings, and memorable passages of this Kingdome, from Brute to the Reigne of our Royall Soveraigne King Charles.
London: Printed by J. Okes for Jasper Emery, 1641.
First edition of "one of Heywood's most interesting pot-boilers" (Pforzheimer). Octavo, bound in three quarter polished calf over marbled boards, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, all edges gilt, wood-engraved frontispiece portrait of Merlin "generally attributed to [Wenzel] Hollar" (Wither to Prior 448), woodcut initials, headpieces and tailpieces. In very good condition, lacking as usual To the Reader leaf, frontispiece trimmed, small repair to the title page. Uncommon.
Price: $5,500.00 Item Number: 139455
-
Rare eighteenth century collection of the Tragedies and Comedies of the great English Playwrights including William Shakespeare and John Dryden
SHAKESPEARE, William; John Dryden; William Congreve; et al.
Tragedies and Comedies of the Great English Playwrights.
London: Various Publishers, c.1730-1760.
Finely bound sammelband collection of comedies and tragedies by early English playwrights including William Shakespeare, John Dryden, and William Congreve. Octavo, 43 volumes bound into 7 in half contemporary calf over marbled boards with burgundy morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, numerous engraved frontispieces, headpieces, tailpieces and illustrations. In very good condition. A very unique collection.
Price: $5,500.00 Item Number: 137210
-
Rare First Edition, First Issue of Charles Dickens' A Tale Of Two Cities
DICKENS, Charles.
A Tale of Two Cities.
London: Chapman and Hall, 1859.
First edition, first issue of one of Dickens' most enduring works. Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, sixteen plates after H.K. Browne including frontispiece and title vignette. In very good condition, name to the front free endpaper.
Price: $5,500.00 Item Number: 143955
-
"ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL AND INNOVATIVE LITERARY STYLISTS OF THE PAST HUNDRED YEARS": FIRST EDITION OF KNUT HAMSUN'S VAGABONDS; INSCIRBED BY HIM
HAMSUN, Knut.
Vagabonds.
London: Cassell and Company, Limited, 1931.
First English edition of the first novel in the Nobel Prize-winning author’s “August” trilogy—Hamsun’s magnum opus. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, "Mr. B. A. Abel with thanks! Knut Hamsun Norholm 15 Mars. 1931." Near fine in the rare original dust jacket which is in very good condition. Scarce and desirable signed and inscribed.
Price: $5,500.00 Item Number: 131407
-
"SHE KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT THE PLAZA": FIRST EDITIONS OF THE FIRST FOUR BOOKS IN KAY THOMPSON'S BELOVED ELOISE SERIES
THOMPSON, Kay. Illustrated by Hilary Knight.
Eloise; Eloise in Paris; Eloise at Christmastime; Eloise in Moscow.
New York: Simon and Schuster, 1955-1959.
First editions of the four classic books in Kay Thompson's beloved Eloise series. Quarto, four volumes, original boards, pictorial endpapers, illustrated by Hilary Knight. Each volume is near fine in a very good to near fine dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box made by Asprey. An exceptional set.
Price: $5,500.00 Item Number: 138622