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"the first thing the reader needs to know about Paradise Lost is what Milton meant it to be": Rare first edition of A Preface to Paradise Lost; signed by C.S. Lewis
LEWIS, C.S.
A Preface to Paradise Lost.
London: Oxford University Press, 1942.
First edition of this classic work, which discusses Milton's Paradise Lost. Octavo, original green cloth. Boldly signed by C.S. Lewis on the front free endpaper. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. From the library of noted collector William A. Strutz with his small bookplate to the pastedown. House in a custom half morocco and folding chemise slipcase. A stunning example, rare and desirable signed and in the original dust jacket.
Price: $18,500.00 Item Number: 149050
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Rare First Edition, First Printing of Mark Twain's The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, and Other Sketches
TWAIN, Mark [Samuel L. Clemens].
The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, and Other Sketches.
New York: C.H. Webb, 1867.
First edition, first printing of the author's rare first book. Octavo, original cloth, first issue lacking the leaf of ads facing the title page but with unbroken type on pages 21, 66 and 198. In very good condition with light wear to the extremities. A sharp example.
Price: $18,500.00 Item Number: 125145
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First edition, first issue of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets; warmly inscribed by J.K. Rowling
ROWLING, J.K.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
London: Bloomsbury, 1998.
First edition, first issue of the second novel in Rowling's Harry Potter series. Octavo, original illustrated boards. Association copy, inscribed by J.K. Rowling on the dedication page, "Susie and Emily (a female Fred & George) with best wishes J.K. Rowling." The recipients, redhead twins Susie and Emily, were family friends of Bryony Evens, whom they accompanied to the Cheltenham Literary Festival where Rowling inscribed the present volume. The inscription refers to Harry Potter character Ron Weasley's elder twin brothers and fellow redheads, Fred and George. Bryony Evens was one of the first people to read the beginning chapters of the…
Price: $18,500.00 Item Number: 115867
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"When you come to observe faithfully the changes of each humblest plant, you find that each has sooner or later its peculiar autumnal tint, or tints": The Manuscript Edition of The Writings of Henry David Thoreau; In the Original Binding
THOREAU, Henry David.
The Manuscript Edition of The Writings of Henry David Thoreau.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin and Company, 1906.
The manuscript edition of the writings of Henry David Thoreau. With the original manuscript sheet by Thoreau from his journal tipped-in to volume 1. The two page manuscript fragment comprises 58 lines from "Autumnal Tints," in altered form, published in the Atlantic Monthly, October 1862, and collected in Excursions the following year. The fragment concludes with the line containing the title phrase: "When you come to observe faithfully the changes of each humblest plant, you find that each has sooner or later its peculiar autumnal tint, or tints [...]." Octavo, 20 volumes. Bound in the publisher's three-quarter green morocco over…
Price: $18,500.00 Item Number: 97590
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First Edition of William Faukner's Soldiers' Pay; In the Original Dust jacket
FAULKNER, William.
Soldiers’ Pay.
New York: Boni & Liveright, 1926.
First edition of Faulkner's first book in the rare first state dust jacket with An American Tragedy as the first of five titles listed on the rear jacket panel. Octavo, original cloth. Bookplate, near fine in a very good dust jacket with some toning to the spine and some chipping to the extremities. Housed in a custom clamshell box. Rare and desirable.
Price: $18,500.00 Item Number: 81010
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James Joyce's masterpiece Ulysses; Signed by Him
JOYCE, James.
Ulysses.
Paris: Shakespeare and Company, 1924.
Fourth printing of Joyce's masterpiece, signed by him. Quarto, original wrappers. Signed by the author in the month of publication on the front free endpaper, "James Joyce Paris 7 January 1924." In very good condition, the joints lightly repaired. Housed in a custom clamshell box. Uncommon signed.
Price: $18,500.00 Item Number: 139635
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THE FIRST JEWISH TRANSLATION OF THE PENTATEUCH INTO ENGLISH
LEESER, Isaac.
The Law of God.
Philadelphia: C. Sherman, 5605, 1845-46.
First edition of the “first English translation of the Pentateuch in America,” the 1845 Hebrew-English Bible by one of the most prominent and influential figures in American Jewish history. Octavo, 5 volumes. Translated by Isaac Leeser. Bound in full contemporary calf, gilt titles and tooling to the spine. In near fine condition. A nice example, rare in contemporary binding.
Price: $18,500.00 Item Number: 78547
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“Wrap me in the weathers of the earth, I will be hard and hard. My face will turn rain like the stones": First Edition of Suttree; Inscribed by Cormac McCarthy to Screenwriter Orin Borsten
MCCARTHY, Cormac.
Suttree.
New York: Random House, 1979.
First edition of the author's fourth novel and what many consider to be his finest. Octavo, original half cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, "For Orin All The Best Cormac." The recipient, Orin Borsten was a screenwriter and publicist, who began his career as a child actor in Atlanta and appeared on Broadway in the American Way. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Jack Ribik. Housed in a custom clamshell box made by the Harcourt Bindery. An exceptional example, uncommon signed and inscribed.
Price: $18,500.00 Item Number: 125288
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Rare Original Goldfinger Dust Jacket Design Printing Proof; signed by Dust Jacket Designer Richard Chopping and from his personal collection
CHOPPING, Richard. [Ian Fleming].
Goldfinger. [Original Richard Chopping Signed Printing Proof].
Rare original progressive color printing proof for the iconic dust jacket design of Ian Fleming's Goldfinger, designed by Richard Chopping. Chopping's copy, retained for his personal collection and signed by him in the lower right corner. One page on archival printer's paper, this is the black ink progressive plate proof (one of four plates combined to create the final full color image). The seventh novel in Fleming's bond series, Goldfinger was the second book with a dust jacket designed by Richard Chopping, the first being From Russia, With Love. Chopping would design all subsequent James Bond dust jackets (with the…
Price: $18,000.00 Item Number: 124391
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“The starting point of all achievement is DESIRE. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desire brings weak results, just as a small fire makes a small amount of heat": Signed First Edition of Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich; In the rare original dust jacket
HILL, Napoleon.
Think and Grow Rich.
Meriden, Conn.: The Ralston Society, 1937.
Rare first edition of this classic bestseller, which has sold over 100 million copies. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Napoleon Hill on an official bookplate on the front free endpaper. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Rare and desirable in the original dust jacket and signed.
Price: $18,000.00 Item Number: 133570
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"A Major Source for Shakespeare": Second and preferred edition of Holinshed's Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland
HOLINSHED, Raphael.
The First and Second Volumes of Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland With: The Third volume of Chronicles, beginning at Duke William the Norman [Holinshed Chronicles].
London: John Harrison, George Bishop, Rafe Newberie, Henrie Denham, and Thomas Woodcocke, 1587.
Preferred second edition of the greatest Elizabethan repository of English history which served as an important source for Shakespeare's plays. Folios, 3 volumes bound into 2, bound in full calf, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, raised bands, red morocco spine labels, gilt ruled, woodcut initials and title pages. Separate title pages and pagination for The Description and Historie of England, The Description and Historie of Ireland, and The Description and Historie of Scotland comprising volume 1. When this expanded second edition of the Chronicles appeared in January 1587, the Privy Council, responding to Queen Elizabeth’s displeasure at certain passages, ordered the Archbishop…
Price: $18,000.00 Item Number: 95438
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Rare Association Copy of Arthur Rackham's Illustrated edition of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens; signed and inscribed by J.M. Barrie, George Frampton, Princess Beatrice, Princess Marie Louise, Nadejda Mountbatten, and Arthur Rackham with an original drawing
BARRIE, J.M. Illustrated by Arthur Rackham.
Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens.
London: Hodder & Stoughton Limited, n.d.
New edition of Rackham’s highly-sought-after masterpiece, which established his reputation as one of England’s premier illustrators. Quarto, original publisher's green cloth elaborately decorated in gilt, illustrated by Arthur Rackham with 50 mounted color plates complete with captioned tissue guards including frontispiece. Association copy, signed by author J.M. Barrie on the verso of the front free endpaper, signed by Arthur Rackham on the recto of the frontispiece with an original drawing as well as Nadejda "Nada" Mountbatten, Marchioness of Milford Haven, signed by the sculptor of the Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens, George Frampton on front pastedown, and signed by Princess…
Price: $18,000.00 Item Number: 142267
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“The deeper the Self-realization of a man, the more he influences the whole universe by his subtle spiritual vibrations, and the less he himself is affected by the phenomenal flux": First Edition of Autobiography of A Yogi; Inscribed by Yogananda Paramhansa
YOGANANDA, Paramhansa.
Autobiography of a Yogi.
New York: The Philosophical Library, 1946.
First edition of one of the most important spiritual books of the twentieth century, Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece. Signed by the author in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, "With blessings Paramhansa Yogananda Dec 10, 46. LA." Preface by Walter Evans-Wentz. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box made by the Harcourt Bindery. Exceptionally rare signed and in the original dust jacket.
Price: $18,000.00 Item Number: 144018
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“They want us dead,' said Bond calmly. 'So we have to stay alive": Ian Fleming’s Moonraker; Signed by Him
FLEMING, Ian.
Moonraker.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1963.
Early printing of the third novel in the James Bond series and what many critics to be his finest. Octavo, original black cloth. Boldly signed by Ian Fleming on the front free endpaper. From the personal collection of a close female friend of Fleming's who visited him in Jamaica frequently. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with the spine panel bright and with light wear to the spine extremities. Jacket design by Kenneth Lewis.
Price: $18,000.00 Item Number: 122972
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“Undoubtedly, philosophers are in the right when they tell us that nothing is great or little otherwise than by comparison": Rare First Edition of Jonathan Swifts's Classic Work Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World
SWIFT, Jonathan.
Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. In Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, first Surgeon, and then Captain of Several Ships. [Gulliver’s Travels].
London: Benjamin Motte, 1726.
First editions of Jonathan Swift’s masterpiece, Gulliver’s Travels. Octavo, two volumes, bound in three quarters contemporary calf over marbled boards, engraved frontispiece of Lemuel Gulliver, woodcut initials, five engraved maps, gilt titles to the spine. In near fine condition. Housed in a custom cloth slipcase. Bookplate to the pastedown and period ownership signature to each volume. Both volumes are the Teerink B edition. A very nice example of this classic in English literature.
Price: $18,000.00 Item Number: 95317
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"the first novel in the English language": Rare complete set of all three books in Defoe's classic Robinson Crusoe series
DEFOE, Daniel.
The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; Serious Reflections During the Life And Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe.
London: Printed for W. Taylor, 1719-1720.
Rare complete set of early editions of all three books in Defoe's classic Robinson Crusoe series. The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe is a stated second edition. Small octavo, three volumes bound in full period paneled calf with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, ornamental blind stamping to the front and rear panels, illustrated with an engraved frontispiece portrait of Robinson Crusoe in Vol. I, folding engraved world map in Vol. II, folding engraved frontispiece of Crusoe's island in Vol. III, decorated headpieces, tailpieces, and initials throughout. In very good…
Price: $17,500.00 Item Number: 145589
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"To the few who love me and whom I love – to those who seek rather than to those who think – to the dreamers and those who put faith in dreams as in the only realities – I offer this book of truths" : Rare first edition of Edgar Allan Poe's Magnum Opus, Eureka, One of only 500 copies
POE, Edgar Allan.
Eureka: A Prose Poem.
New York: George P. Putnam, 1848.
First edition, first issue of Poe's classic work. Duodecimo, original publishers blind stamped black cloth with gilt lettering to the spine. First issue, without the review for Eureka on page 2 of the 16 page catalogue at the end of the book, but reads simply: “Poe. — Eureka, A Prose Poem: Or the Physical and Metaphysical Universe. By Edgar A. Poe, Esq.” In very good condition, with some light rubbing to the extremities, contemporary inscription to the front free endpaper. Housed in a custom clamshell box. An exceptional example of this rare and important text.
Price: $17,500.00 Item Number: 37022
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James Joyce's First Privately Printed Edition copy of Marguerite Finaly's Reliquiae; with his ownership inscription
FINALY, Marguerite. [James Joyce].
Reliquiae.
Paris: Privately Printed, 1925.
James Joyce's first edition copy of the collected works of Marguerite Finaly, compiled by her husband, Horace Finaly, in her memory and privately printed for distribution to friends; with Joyce's ownership inscription. Octavo, bound in full crushed morocco by G. Cretté with gilt titles to the spine, silk-watered doublures and endleaves, tissue-guarded frontispiece portrait of Marguerite Finaly. One of 150 copies privately printed. Signed and dated by Joyce on the title page, "James Joyce Paris 27.xi.1926." Horace Finaly became a close friend of Marcel Proust in Paris and contributed to the magazine La Banquette. He rose to prominence as head…
Price: $17,500.00 Item Number: 131904
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First Edition of Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged; Signed by Her
RAND, Ayn.
Atlas Shrugged.
New York: Random House, 1957.
First edition of one of the most influential novels of the twentieth century. Large octavo, original green cloth, frontispiece stamped in gilt, spine stamped in black and gilt. Boldly signed by Ayn Rand on the front free endpaper. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by George Salter. An exceptional example.
Price: $17,500.00 Item Number: 139659
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Martin-Manney copy of Herman Melville's Omoo; in the rare original wrappers
MELVILLE, Herman .
Omoo.
New York: Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1847.
First edition of this classic Melville work Omoo, the Martin-Manney copy in the rare original wrappers. Octavo, two volumes, original wrappers. Volume 1 with half-title, title-page printed in black and red, and frontispiece map of the Marquesas and Tahiti. Volume 2 with advertisements at rear paginated [xv]-xxiii, [1]-16 (light staining to prelims, lower corner clipped from endpaper in volume 2). Original printed wrappers (wrappers darkened and rubbed; part 1 backstrip restored with part of title in facsimile; part 2 with abrasion to rear cover deleting some of the text). Provenance: "Appleton" (ownership inscription to inside front cover of part II)…
Price: $17,500.00 Item Number: 142411
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“He's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same”: Exceptionally rare First American edition of Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights; in the original publisher's cloth
BY THE AUTHOR OF "JANE EYRE." [BRONTE, Emily].
Wuthering Heights. A Novel.
New York: Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1848.
First American edition (published less than five months after the virtually unobtainable London first edition) of Emily Brontë's singular masterpiece. Octavo, original publisher's purple cloth stamped in blind with gilt titles and tooling to the spine. In good condition with splitting and wear to the cloth. Period ownership inscription to the pastedown. Exceptionally rare in the original publisher's cloth.
Price: $17,500.00 Item Number: 146424
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"one of the most important works in all of English literature": First edition of Johnathan Swift's masterpiece Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World
SWIFT, Jonathan.
Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. In Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, first Surgeon, and then Captain of Several Ships. [Gulliver’s Travels].
London: Printed for Benj. Motte, at the Middle Temple-Gate in Fleet-Street, 1726.
First edition of one of the most important works in all of English literature, Teerink's "AA" edition of Jonathan Swift's masterpiece. Octavo, four parts in two volumes bound in full contemporary calf, rebacked with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, botanical gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt scrolling to the front and rear panels, engraved frontispiece portrait of Captain Lemuel Gulliver (Teerink's 2nd state), illustrated with five engraved maps and one engraved table. In very good condition. A desirable example of this landmark work in English literature.
Price: $17,500.00 Item Number: 146104
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First Edition of C.S. Lewis' Out of the Silent Planet; In the Scarce Original Dust Jacket
LEWIS, C.S.
Out of the Silent Planet.
London: The Bodley Head, 1938.
First edition of the author's classic first book in his acclaimed Space Trilogy. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket with some professional restoration. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box made by the Harcourt Bindery. Exceptionally are and desirable in the original dust jacket.
Price: $17,500.00 Item Number: 130744
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Rare autograph letter signed by Herman Melville to his publishers Harper & Brothers
MELVILLE, Herman.
Herman Melville Autograph Letter Signed.
Rare autograph letter signed and entirely in the hand of Herman Melville to his publisher, Harper & Brothers. One page, the letter reads in full, "Harper & Brothers New York. Pittsfield Oct. 8th Gentlemen: Herewith is an article, which, if it suit, will you, according to what you have said to me, send me the money for, without further trouble to yourselves or me. Very truly yours H. Melville." The letter likely dates from 1885 when Melville's financial circumstances were becoming dire. The article he references, The Apple-Tree Table, first appeared in serial form in 1850 and was later published…
Price: $17,500.00 Item Number: 139021
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COMPLETE SET OF DICKENS' CHRISTMAS BOOKS, INCLUDING FIRST EDITIONS OF THE CHIMES, THE CRICKET ON THE HEARTH, THE BATTLE OF LIFE, AND THE HAUNTED MAN AND THE GHOST'S BARGAIN; elaborately bound in full morocco by Sangorski and Sutcliffe
DICKENS, Charles.
The Christmas Books: A Christmas Carol; The Chimes; The Battle of Life; Cricket on the Hearth; The Haunted Man and The Ghost’s Bargain.
London: Chapman and Hall, 1843-48.
Complete set of Charles Dickens’ Christmas Books containing first editions of each volume in the series with the exception of A Christmas Carol. Octavo, five volumes elaborately bound in full crushed red morocco by Sangorski and Sutcliffe with gilt titles and tooling 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, all edges gilt, illustrated. The set includes a second edition of A Christmas Carol and first editions of The Chimes, The Battle of Life, Cricket on the Hearth, The Haunted Man and The Ghost’s…
Price: $17,500.00 Item Number: 135440
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“The more I know of the world, the more I am convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love. I require so much!": Rare second edition of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility
BY A LADY. [AUSTEN, Jane].
Sense and Sensibility: A Novel.
London: Printed for the Author and Published by T. Egerton, 1813.
Second edition of the first novel published during Austen's lifetime. Small octavo, three volumes bound in full crushed morocco by Riviere & Son, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, triple gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Title and half-title pages supplied in facsimile. Bookplate to the pastedown of Vol. I. In near fine condition. A very attractive example of this desirable rarity.
Price: $17,500.00 Item Number: 135337
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“One day, you will be old enough to start reading fairytales again": COMPLETE FIRST EDITION SET OF C.S. LEWIS' THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA; FINELY BOUND BY THE HARCOURT BINDERY
LEWIS, C.S.
The Chronicles of Narnia Set: The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Horse and His Boy, The Magician’s Nephew, The Last Battle.
London: Geoffrey Bles, 1950-1956.
First editions of each book in the author's classic Chronicles of Narnia series, which has sold over 100 million copies in 47 languages. Octavo, 7 volumes, illustrated by Pauline Baynes, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, gilt signature to each front panel, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. The set comprises of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Horse and His Boy, The Magician's Nephew, and The Last Battle. Each are…
Price: $17,500.00 Item Number: 140690
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“I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that's why": First Edition of Of Mice and Men; Inscribed by John Steinbeck
STEINBECK, John.
Of Mice and Men.
New York: Covici-Friede, 1937.
First edition, first issue with the word "pendula" present on page 9 and the dot between the 8's on p. 88 of Steinbeck's "marvelous picture of the tragedy of loneliness" (Eleanor Roosevelt). Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, "For Sara Hull Krahn John Steinbeck." Fine in a near fine dust jacket with a touch of wear. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box made by the Harcourt Bindery. An exceptional example, most rare and desirable signed and inscribed.
Price: $17,500.00 Item Number: 147302
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"What threatens us today is fear": The original typed manuscript of Faulkner's important public address to his daughter Jill's graduating class at University High School in Oxford Mississippi; with autograph corrections and deletions in his hand
FAULKNER, William.
Address to the Graduating Class of 1951 of University High School, Oxford, Mississippi.
The original typed manuscript of Faulkner's important public address to his daughter Jill's graduating class at University High School in Oxford Mississippi with autograph corrections and deletions in his hand. Three pages, carbon typescript, the text contains 8 strikethroughs and 6 autograph corrections in Faulkner's hand in ink. In this important public address, Faulkner clarifies for a young audience the terms for survival and optimism in the Cold War era, ideas which he first expressed publicly five months earlier in his Nobel Prize acceptance speech. In the spring of 1951, Faulkner was in Paris, New York, and Lexington, Kentucky, where…
Price: $17,500.00 Item Number: 135874
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Complete Set of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Deluxe Editions; Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Signed by Her
ROWLING, J.K.
Harry Potter Series Complete Deluxe Set. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix, The Half-Blood Prince, and The Deathly Hallows.
London: Bloomsbury, 1997-2007.
First editions of the deluxe edition of each book in Rowling's Harry Potter series. Octavo, 7 volumes, original decorative cloth as issued with gilt titles and pictorial onlay to the front panel, all edges gilt, ribbon bound in. Boldly signed by J.K. Rowling on the half-title page in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. In fine condition. No dust jackets were issued for these volumes. Scarce and desirable.
Price: $17,500.00 Item Number: 147882
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“UNDOUBTEDLY, PHILOSOPHERS ARE IN THE RIGHT WHEN THEY TELL US THAT NOTHING IS GREAT OR LITTLE OTHERWISE THAN BY COMPARISON": First edition of Johnathan Swift's masterpiece Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World
SWIFT, Jonathan.
Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. In Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, first Surgeon, and then Captain of Several Ships. [Gulliver’s Travels].
London: Printed for Benj. Motte, at the Middle Temple-Gate in Fleet-Street, 1726.
First edition of Swift's masterpiece with Teerink-Scouten 290 (AA), with title page variant in volume II without the edition statement, but with "Vol. II", author portrait with Latin verses beneath printed on paper with vertical chain lines. Octavo, 2 volumes, bound in full calf, illustrated with five engraved maps and one engraved table. In near fine condition. Rare and desirable.
Price: $17,500.00 Item Number: 133845
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"the most celebrated biography in the English language": Rare First Edition of Boswell's The Life of Johnson
BOSWELL, James.
The Life of Johnson.
London: Printed by Henry Baldwin, for Charles Dilly, in The Poultry, 1791.
First edition, first issue of both volumes of the most celebrated biography in the English language, which was published on May 16, 1791 in a print run of only 1,750 copies. Quarto, bound in contemporary half calf over marbled boards. Frontispiece portrait of Samuel Johnson, engraved by J. Heath after the Sir Joshua Reynolds (1756) painting. Volume one is the first state with the word “give” reading on page 135, line 10. First state of volume two, with two engraved illustrations, “The Round Robin” at p. 92, and the “facsimiles” of Dr. Johnson's handwriting on p. 588. In near fine condition with light toning,…
Price: $17,500.00 Item Number: 80005
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The Artists' Edition of the Works of Alexander Dumas, one of only 100 numbered copies; Finely Bound
DUMAS, Alexandre. [Alexander].
The Works of Alexandre Dumas.
Boston: Dana Estes & Company Publishers, 1894-1904.
The Artists' Edition of the complete works of Alexander Dumas. Octavo, 46 volumes bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles and botanical decorations to the spine in four compartments within raised gilt bands, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers, photogravure frontispieces in 2 states to each volume, one hand-colored and the other on Japan vellum, each with lettered tissue guard, title-pages printed in red and black on Japan vellum, illustrated with numerous photogravures. One of 100 numbered copies of the Artists' edition, this is number 9. In near fine condition. An exceptional set.
Price: $17,500.00 Item Number: 144834
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"However closely we live together, at whatever time of day or night we sound the deepest thoughts in one another, we know nothing": Rare First Edition of the John Le Carre’s First Book
LE CARRE, John.
Call For The Dead.
London: Victor Gollancz, 1961.
First edition of the author's first book, which introduced the world to the recurring protagonist, George Smiley. Octavo, original red cloth. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box made by the Harcourt Bindery. An exceptional example, uncommon in this condition.
Price: $17,500.00 Item Number: 139418
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First Edition of West Side Story; Signed by Laurents, Bernstein and Sondheim
LAURENTS, Arthur; Music by Leonard Bernstein; Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim; Choreographed by Jerome Robbins.
West Side Story: A Musical.
New York: Random House, 1958.
First edition of this classic musical. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein on the half-title page and inscribed by Stephen Sondheim on the front free endpaper. Review copy, with the slip laid in, fine in a very good dust jacket. Rare and desirable signed by these three contributors.
Price: $17,500.00 Item Number: 148050
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"ONE OF THE GREAT CHARACTERS OF MODERN FICTION": FIRST EDITION OF KAZANTZAKIS’ ZORBA THE GREEK; SIGNED BY HIM
KAZANTZAKIS, Nikos [Kazantzaki].
Zorba The Greek.
London: John Lehman, 1952.
First edition in English, preceding the American edition by one year of the author's most popular novel. basis for the Oscar-winning film starring Anthony Quinn. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by Nikos Kazantzakis. From the library of Odysseas Elytis, the recipient of the Nobel Prize in literature in 1979. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Translated by Carl Wildman. Introduction by Ian Scott-Kilvert. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Trade editions signed by Kazantzakis are exceptionally rare.
Price: $17,500.00 Item Number: 138764
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"the most celebrated biography in the English language": Rare First Edition, First Issue of Boswell's The Life of Johnson
BOSWELL, James.
The Life of Johnson.
London: Printed by Henry Baldwin, for Charles Dilly, in The Poultry, 1791.
First edition, first issue of both volumes of the most celebrated biography in the English language, which was published on May 16, 1791 in a print run of only 1,750 copies. Quarto, bound in full morocco by Birdsall, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, raised bands, inner dentelles, all edges gilt. Frontispiece portrait of Samuel Johnson, engraved by J. Heath after the Sir Joshua Reynolds (1756) painting. Housed in a custom clamshell box. In fine condition. An excellent example of this landmark work.
Price: $16,500.00 Item Number: 120374
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First editions of Parts I and II of Stephen King's The Plant; both volumes warmly inscribed by him to his publicist
KING, Stephen.
The Plant. The Opening Segment of an Ongoing Work and Part Two.
Bangor, Maine: Philtrum Press, 1982-1983.
First editions of the first two parts of King's rare unfinished epistolary novel. Octavo, original saddle-sewn olive green wrappers with folding flaps stamped and lettered in black, each part is one of 200 numbered copies printed at the Stinehour Press and designed by Michael Alpert: Part One, No. 147; Part Two, No. 138. Presentation copies, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper of Part I, "For Barbara - All best, and have a very Happy New Year! Stephen King 1/11/83" and on the half-title page of Part II, "For Barbara - with best wishes, Steve King 1/2/83." With…
Price: $16,000.00 Item Number: 136499
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SIGNED LIMITED EDITION OF THE COMPLETE SHERLOCK HOLMES; ONE OF ONLY 147 EXAMPLES
DOYLE, Arthur Conan.
Complete Sherlock Holmes.
New York: Doubleday & Company, 1953.
Signed limited edition of Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic stories starring literature’s most famous detective, number 144 of only 147 examples. Octavo, two volumes, original half morocco, buckram sides, gilt titles to the spine, top edge blue, blue endpapers, original card slipcase with printed label. Signed by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle as issued. Introduction by John Dickson Carr. Preface by Christopher Morley. In near fine condition. Rare.
Price: $16,000.00 Item Number: 142986
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Rare De Witt Clinton High School Class of 1941 Yearbook; signed by James Baldwin as a graduating senoir
[BALDWIN, James].
James Baldwin Signed De Witt Clinton High School Class of 1941 Yearbook.
Bronx, New York: Published by the Senior Class of De Witt Clinton High School, June 1941.
Rare De Witt Clinton High School Class of 1941 Yearbook signed by James Baldwin as a graduating senior. Quarto, original cloth, pictorial endpapers, illustrated with photographs. Signed by James Baldwin to the right of his senior photograph of page 36, "James Baldwin." His accolades read: JAMES A. BALDWIN "Baldy" Magpie Editorial Boards; Student Court. Novelist-Playwright. 'Fame is the spur and - ouch!' Additionally signed by dozens of other graduating seniors. With copies of the Commencement Exercises, List of Awards and Prizes and June 1941 'Class-Nite' program laid in. In very good condition. Exceptionally rare, one of the earliest Baldwin autographs…
Price: $16,000.00 Item Number: 130241