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 576-600 of 1152
New York : The Blue Heron Press, 1953.
Fiftieth anniversary edition of this landmark work. Octavo, original black cloth over patterned boards, illustrated with musical notations. Boldly signed by the author on the half-title page, “W.E.B. Du Bois March 18, 1957.” In fine condition.
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New York : Random House, 1950.
First edition of this classic novel; one of the big sleepers in 20th century American fiction and the “richest of [Warren’s] novels” (New York Herald Tribune). Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Frank Sutherland regards Robert Penn Warren.” Near fine in a very good price-clipped dustContinue reading "World Enough and Time."
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Garden City, New York : Doubleday, Doran and Company, Inc, 1943.
First edition of Rickenbacker’s account of 24 days adrift in a life raft. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “With my every best wish to Gertrude Moellering Capt. Edward V. Rickenbacker.” Very good in a good dust jacket.
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Dublin and St. Albans : Iconic Images and Red Engine Media Ltd, 2016.
First edition of Terry O’Neill’s stunning photographic tribute to one of the most influential musicians of the twentieth century, David Bowie. Folio, original cloth with onlay bas-relief portrait of Bowie to the front panel, images by Terry O’Neill. Presentation copy, inscribed by the photographer on the front free endpaper, “I hope you enjoy this tribute toContinue reading "David Bowie: A Photographic Memoir. Through the Lens of Terry O’Neill. [Bowie by O’Neill]."
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London : George G. Harrap & Company, 1933-38.
First editions of each volume of Churchill’s important biography of his notable ancestor, John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough. Octavo, 4 volumes, bound in full morocco by The Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, signature to the front panel of each volume, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, raised bands,Continue reading "Marlborough: His Life and Times."
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New York : Macdonald and Co, 1977.
First edition of “the best of all the astronaut books” (Los Angeles Times). Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Signed by Walter Cunningham on the front free endpaper. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket, owner name to the front free endpaper. Jacket design by Robert Silverman. Written with the assistance of Mickey Herskowitz.
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New York : Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1943.
First edition of this classic American biography authorized by Orville Wright and long considered the definitive Wright biography. Octavo, original blue cloth, illustrated with 16 pages of photographs. Presentation copy, inscribed by Orville Wright in the year of publication on the half-title page, “To Edward with affectionate regards. Orville Wright May 4, 1943.” Near fineContinue reading "The Wright Brothers."
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New Dehli : National Book Stall, n/d.
First printing of this edition of this collection of speeches by Nehru in America. Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece. Boldly signed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Jawaharlal Nehru Dec 1956.” Very good in a very good dust jacket. Uncommon signed, with none appearing at auction in the last 65 years.
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Garden City, NY : Doubleday & Company, 1966.
First edition of this finely illustrated work by David Ben-Gurion. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Ben Shahn. Translated from the Hebrew by Modechai Nurock and Misha Louvish.
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London : MacGibbon & Kee, 1960.
First English edition of Nobel laureate Wiesel’s masterpiece, which precedes the first American edition. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Elie Wiesel on the front free endpaper. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box made by the Harcourt Bindery. Jacket design by Cowan. Foreword by Francois Mauriac. TranslatedContinue reading "Night."
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New York : Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1958.
First edition, early printing of Dr. Martin Luther King’s first book. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt inner dentelles stamp-signed by the Harcourt Bindery, marbled endpapers, all edgesContinue reading "Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story."
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Garden City, NY : Doubleday & Company, 1975.
First edition of this classic memoir by the author of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and A Streetcar Named Desire. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Elissa Tennessee Williams.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Alex Gotfryd. Marballa mural byContinue reading "Memoirs."
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New York : Harper & Row, Publishers, 1969.
First edition of this early biography of J. Robert Oppenheimer. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, “For Joan and Arthur Gardner With the warmest and fondest wishes of their friend Phil S. November, 1969.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket.
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Boston : Little, Brown and Company, 1997.
First edition of the author’s classic work. Octavo, original illustrated boards. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “To Patrick I still care David Sedaris on the title page. Additionally signed four times by jacket illustrator Chip Kidd, once on the front panel, on the title page, on the book front panelContinue reading "Naked."
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New York : Vantage Press, 1981.
First edition of this work by the founder of The Kennedy Society of Denmark. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Association copy, lengthily inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Toreby Denmark February 2, 1982. Dear Mrs. Rose Kennedy, President John F. Kennedy cared so much for peace. Therefore I hope, you will find thisContinue reading "Kennedy’s Philosophy of Life: Revolution of Love and Visions of Peace."
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New York : Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc, 1970.
First edition of this remarkable biography of Robert F. Kennedy, based on interviews by Jean Stein and edited by George Plimpton. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by George Plimpton on the front free endpaper to Robert Kennedy’s youngest brother, Ted Kennedy, “To Senator Kennedy with great admiration and best wishes, George.” The recipient, TedContinue reading "American Journey: The Times of Robert Kennedy."
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New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1984.
First edition of Liv Ullmann’s quietly and beautifully written autobiography. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper in the year of publication, “Dear Erica Here is mine. Happy New Year with love to you and your. Hug – Liv. December – 84.” The recipient, Erica Jong remains bestContinue reading "Choices."
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Boston : Houghton Mifflin Company, 1993.
First edition of this work by the Nobel Prize-winning scientist. Octavo, original half cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author opposite the title page, “To Wayne and Loise Wille We really miss you all. Enjoy! Leon Lederman.” An excellent association, as one of the recipients, Loise Wille, was a two time Pulitzer Prize winning ChicagoContinue reading "The God Particle: If the Universe Is the Answer, What Is the Question?"
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New York : Little, Brown and Company, 2009.
First edition of this “incredible tale” (The Free Lance-Star). Octavo, original boards. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For Marle Cohen appreciation and best regards Thomas Buergenthal.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Keith Hayes. Foreword by Elie Wiesel.
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London : Chatto & Windus, 1993.
First edition of Jong’s appreciation of the life and legacy of Henry Miller. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the title page in the year of publication to her fourth husband, “For Ken The only husband I still liked after 4 years! (What a confession!) I love you, too – EricaContinue reading "The Devil at Large: Erica Jong on Henry Miller."
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Boston : John P. Jewett & Company. Cleveland: Jewett, Proctor & Worthington, 1852.
First edition, first issue of Stowe’s classic American novel, widely considered the book that precipitated the American Civil War. Octavo, two volumes in the original publisher’s cloth stamped in blind with gilt titles and vignettes to the front panels, illustrated with title vignettes and six wood-engravings. BAL’s binding B (no priority). Portrait of Stowe tippedContinue reading "Uncle Tom’s Cabin; Or, Life Among the Lowly."
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New York : Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1958.
First edition of Dr. Martin Luther King’s first book. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Boldly signed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Best Wishes Martin Luther King, Jr.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Housed in a custom slipcase. Rare and desirable signed.
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Hartford : Hartford Publishing Company, 1868.
First edition of this work by the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Octavo, bound in contemporary calf, raised bands, morocco spine labels, illustrated with 18 engraved plates. In very good condition, rebacked. Second state with the title page corrected to “Douglass.”
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New York : The Viking Press, 1927.
First edition of the second series of the writings of Gandhi. Octavo, original cloth with gilt titles to the spine and front panel. Gandhi founded and published the weekly periodical in English, Young India, from 1919 to 1931 to spread the philosophy and principles of the Satyagraha Movement and urge readers to participate in it.Continue reading "Young India Second Series 1924-1926."
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Biography and Autobiography
![David Bowie: A Photographic Memoir. Through the Lens of Terry O’Neill. [Bowie by O’Neill].](https://raptis.bvbeta.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/RRB-143109.jpg)
Biography and Autobiography
Biography and Autobiography
Biography and Autobiography
