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Biography and Autobiography

Rare Biography & Autobiography Books for Sale Online

If you are looking for rare or first edition biography or autobiography books look no further than Raptis Rare Books. Browse through our entire collection of rare biographies and autobiographies below, view details about individual books and contact us to ask a question or find out more information.

Showing items 180-200 of 1089

Thomas, Lowell [Count Felix von Luckner]

Count Luckner, The Sea Devil.

Garden City, NY : Garden City Publishing Company, Inc, 1927.

First edition of this captivating biography of German nobleman and naval officer Count Felix von Luckner. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth, top stain yellow, cartographic endpapers, frontispiece of Count Felix von Luckner, illustrated with black and white photographs and drawings. Association copy, inscribed by Luckner on the verso of the frontispiece, “May good winds fill theContinue reading "Count Luckner, The Sea Devil."

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$1,600.00
Item Number: RRB-148746

Seabrook, William B

Jungle Ways.

New York : Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1931.

Signed limited first edition of occultist and cannibal William Buehler Seabrook’s account of his travels along the Ivory Coast and through West Africa where he witnessed witchcraft, cannibalism and human sacrifice. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated, tissue-guarded frontispiece. One of 315 extra-illustrated numbered copies signed by the author on the limitation page of which 274Continue reading "Jungle Ways."

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$975.00
Item Number: RRB-124947

Mandela, Nelson

Long Walk To Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela.

South Africa : MacDonald Purnell, 1994.

First South African edition of this classic autobiography, which has went on to sell over six million copies worldwide. Octavo, original black cloth, cartographic endpapers, illustrated with photographs. Boldly signed on the half-title page by the author, “NMandela 19.1.96.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket.

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$4,200.00
Item Number: RRB-150179

Bush Koch, Doro [George H.W. Bush]

My Father My President: A Personal Account of the Life of George H.W. Bush.

New York : Warner Books, 2006.

First edition of this work by the daughter of the 41st President of the United States. Octavo, original boards, pictorial endpapers, illustrated. Association copy, inscribed by George H.W. Bush on the dedication page, “To Mark Wallace, Thanks for all you do for kids. Merry Christmas! George Bush, Dec. 20, 2007.” The recipient, Mark Wallace andContinue reading "My Father My President: A Personal Account of the Life of George H.W. Bush."

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$750.00
Item Number: RRB-149341

Churchill, Winston S

A History of the English-Speaking Peoples.

London : Cassell and Company Ltd, 1956-1958.

First British editions of each volume in this classic set. Octavo, four volumes, original publisher’s cloth with spines lettered in gilt, illustrated. Boldly signed by the author in the year of publication on the half-title page of Vol. IV, “Inscribed by Winston S. Churchill June 1958.” Each volume is near fine in a near fineContinue reading "A History of the English-Speaking Peoples."

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$15,000.00
Item Number: RRB-149804

Westman, Paul [Neil Armstrong]

Neil Armstrong: Space Pioneer.

Minneapolis : Lerner Publications Company, 1980.

First edition of this concise biographical account that introduces young readers to the life and achievements of the first man to walk on the Moon. Octavo, original pictorial boards, illustrated with black and white photographs. Presentation copy, inscribed by Neil Armstrong on the front free endpaper, “Best wishes to Ron – Neil Armstrong.” In nearContinue reading "Neil Armstrong: Space Pioneer."

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$2,800.00
Item Number: RRB-148744

Churchill, Winston S

Painting As A Pastime.

London : Oldham Press Limited/Ernest Benn Limited, 1949.

First edition of this collection of Churchill’s brilliant essays on hobbies and painting. Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece, illustrated with eighteen reproductions of Churchill’s paintings in full color. Presentation copy, inscribed by Churchill on the front free endpaper, “To Anita from Winston S. Churchill 1949 Queen Mary.” Near fine in the original dust jacket which isContinue reading "Painting As A Pastime."

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$12,800.00
Item Number: RRB-150148

Sloan Jr., Alfred P

My Years With General Motors.

New York : Doubleday & Company, 1964.

First edition of Sloan’s influential work, which has since become a classic. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Association copy, warmly inscribed in the year of publication by the author on the half-title page, “For my good friend Ernest C. Arbuckle with my very best regards. Alfred P. Sloan New York Jan 17, 1964.” The recipient, ErnestContinue reading "My Years With General Motors."

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$2,500.00
Item Number: RRB-148722

Rabin, Yitzhak

The Rabin Memoirs.

Boston : Little, Brown & Company and G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1979 & 1997.

First edition in English of the memoirs of Yitzhak Rabin. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “To Norme And Murty Lee With friendship Y. Rabin 8.25.80.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket, name to the front free endpaper. Jacket design by John Renfer. PhotographContinue reading "The Rabin Memoirs."

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$1,050.00
Item Number: RRB-150007

Landau, Deb Miller

A Devil Went Down to Georgia: Race, Power, Privilege, and the Murder of Lita McClinton.

New York : Pegasus Books, 2024.

First edition of one of “the best nonfiction true crime books of all time” (Oprah Daily). Octavo, original publisher’s half-cloth, illustrated with photographs. Lengthily signed by the author with the last line of this work on the title page, “‘One day, he will die – and no one will send flowers.’ Deb Miller Landau.” FineContinue reading "A Devil Went Down to Georgia: Race, Power, Privilege, and the Murder of Lita McClinton."

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$475.00
Item Number: RRB-148695

Armstrong, Louis [Barney Bigard]

Satchmo: My Life in New Orleans.

New York : Prentice-Hall, Inc, 1954.

First edition of the autobiography of one of the most influential figures in the history of jazz, Louis “Pops” Armstrong. Octavo, original half cloth, top stain red, pictorial endpapers, illustrated with black and white photographs. Boldly signed by the musician and his bandmate, jazz clarinetist Barney Bigard, on the half-title page. Barney Bigard (1906–1980) wasContinue reading "Satchmo: My Life in New Orleans."

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$2,500.00
Item Number: RRB-148635

Freeman, Douglas Southall

George Washington: A Biography.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1948-54.

First edition of the author’s monumental Pulitzer Prize-winning work, widely considered the definitive biography of Washington. Octavo, six volumes, original black cloth, spines lettered in gilt, cartographic endpapers, illustrated. Presentation copy, with Vol. I inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “Autographed for Mr. and Mrs. Samuel C. Ramage with every good wish DouglasContinue reading "George Washington: A Biography."

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$1,250.00
Item Number: RRB-149571

Herndon, Angelo

Let Me Live.

New York : Random House, 1937.

First edition of this autobiography of Angelo Herndon. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth, top stain black, frontispiece of Angelo Herndon, illustrated with three black and white photographs. Fine in a very good dust jacket with light rubbing and chipping.

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$475.00
Item Number: RRB-148658

Churchill, Winston S

The World Crisis 1916-1918.

London : Thornton Butterworth Limited, 1927.

First edition, second printing of the first two volumes of Churchill’s The World Crisis. Octavo, two volumes, bound in full modern morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, top edges gilt, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers,Continue reading "The World Crisis 1916-1918."

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$1,250.00
Item Number: RRB-148597

Stengel, Casey

Casey at the Bat: The Story of My Life in Baseball.

New York : Random House, 1962.

First edition of the autobiography of the legendary baseball manager written in his inimitable style. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated endpapers. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the dedication page, “To Sil Good Luck From A N.Y. Mets Manager Casey Stengel.” Near fine in near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Paul Bacon. PhotographContinue reading "Casey at the Bat: The Story of My Life in Baseball."

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$750.00
Item Number: RRB-150073

Begin, Menachem

White Nights: The Story of a Prisoner in Russia.

London : Macdonald, 1957.

First edition of this classic work. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, lengthily inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the title page, “To Esther Meyer this book is dedicated with thanks for her good work in the service of our cause and with my best wishes- M Begin Nov 1957.” Near fineContinue reading "White Nights: The Story of a Prisoner in Russia."

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$850.00
Item Number: RRB-150078

Eliot, George

The Works of George Eliot: Scenes of Clerical Life, Adam Bede, The Mill on the Floss, Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe, Romola, Felix Holt the Radical, The Spanish Gypsy, The Legend of Jubal and Other Poems, Daniel Deronda, Middlemarch: A Study of Provincial Life, Theophrastus Such, Essays and Leaves From a Notebook.

Edinburgh and London : Various Publishers, 1858-1885.

Uniformly bound set of twelve first editions of works by George Eliot. Octavo, thirty volumes bound in three quarter crushed levant morocco over marbled boards by Club Bindery with gilt titles to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. The set is comprised of twelve first editions including herContinue reading "The Works of George Eliot: Scenes of Clerical Life, Adam Bede, The Mill on the Floss, Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe, Romola, Felix Holt the Radical, The Spanish Gypsy, The Legend of Jubal and Other Poems, Daniel Deronda, Middlemarch: A Study of Provincial Life, Theophrastus Such, Essays and Leaves From a Notebook."

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$6,000.00
Item Number: RRB-148530
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