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 600-624 of 1170
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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New York : Bantam Books, 1991.
First edition of the sequel to the author’s prize-winning memoir, Home Before Dark. Octavo, original half cloth, pictorial endpapers. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Miami Fla. March 1991 For Erica and Ken with love Susan.” The recipients, American writer Erica Jong and lawyer Kenneth David Burrows were married inContinue reading "Treetops: A Family Memoir."
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Boston : Houghton Mifflin Company, 1984.
First edition of Cheever’s candid portrait of her father, John Cheever. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “New York City October 1984 To Burrows with love from his old friend Susan.” The recipient, American litigator Kenneth David Burrows married American novelist Erica Jong in 1989. Jong remainsContinue reading "Home Before Dark: A Biographical Memoir of John Cheever by His Daughter."
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New York : Simon & Schuster, 1999.
First edition of Cheever’s frank and moving autobiography. Octavo, original half cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper in the year of publication, “New York City January 1999 For Erica and Ken What can I say? No words could begin to express mt gratitude, my fond memories, my affection andContinue reading "Note Found in a Bottle: My Life as a Drinker."
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Philadelphia : J.P. Lippincott Company, 1938.
First edition of Hurston’s personal experiences in Haiti and Jamaica. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles to the spine, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, raised bands, inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, 26 illustrations. In fine condition. An exceptional presentation.
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London : Printed for J. Dodsley, 1774.
First edition of one of the great classics of English letters. Quarto, period quarter calf over marbled boards with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, engraved portrait frontispiece. Second state of volume one, page 55 (line 16 corrected to “qui auroit”). From the library of Sir Edwyn Francis Stanhope with his bookplate to the pastedownContinue reading "Letters Written by the Late Right Honourable Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield, to His Son, Philip Stanhope, Esq; Together with Several Other Pieces on Various Subjects."
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Biography and Autobiography
Biography and Autobiography
Biography and Autobiography
Biography and Autobiography
Biography and Autobiography
