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 912-936 of 1152
New York : Brewer, Warren & Putnam, 1931.
First edition of “the first novel about Africa written by an African American” (Aric Putnam). Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “To William M. Stein from George S. Schuyler January 10,1932.” In very good condition. Laid in is an original program from 1938 Charter Day at Howard University.
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New York : Simon and Schuster, 1927.
First edition of this classic work. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by Will Durant on the front free endpaper. Near fine in a very good dust jacket.
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London : Printed for J. Johnson, 1779.
First edition of “the only edition of Franklin’s writings (other than his scientific) printed during his lifetime” (Ford). Octavo, bound half diced calf over marbled boards with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine, red morocco spine label lettered in gilt. With the engraved frontispiece portrait of Franklin, three engraved plates (one folding), and folding tableContinue reading "Political, Miscellaneous, and Philosophical Pieces; Arranged under the Following Heads and Distinguished by Initial Letters in each Leaf: General Politics; American Politics before the Troubles; American Politics during the Troubles; Provincial or Colony Politics; Miscellaneous and Philosophical Pieces."
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New York : Basic Books, 1997.
First edition of this “powerful, landmark book” (Richard Rhodes). Octavo, original half cloth. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Rick Pracher.
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Philadelphia : J.B. Lippincott Company, 1938.
First edition of Fuller’s first book. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author to his sister on the front pastedown, “To Rog and K With dearest love Bucky.” Near fine in a very good dust jacket. An exceptional association.
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London : Macmillan, 1990.
First edition of Cooper’s collection of early recollections. Octavo, original maroon cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the title page in the year of publication to Sally Soames, “For Sally – Super-artist with the camera. With love from Harry William Cooper August 1990.” The recipient, British photojournalist Sally Soames, worked for The SundayContinue reading "From Early Life."
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London : Vermilion, 1998.
First edition of Diamond’s story of his battle with throat cancer. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “To dearest Sally with thanks and – well you know. With love John Diamond.” The recipient, British photojournalist Sally Soames, worked for The Sunday Times from 1968 until 2000 and wasContinue reading "C: Because Cowards Get Cancer Too…"
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New York : G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2002.
First edition of this work by the Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist. Octavo, original half cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on a bookplate affixed to the half-title page, “Aug 22, 2002 To Bill, you were expecting “War and Peace?” Yours, Art Buchwald.” The recipient, William Safire was an important American author, columnist, journalist, and presidentialContinue reading "We’ll Laugh Again."
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New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2004.
First edition of President Clinton’s autobiography. Large octavo, original blue boards, illustrated with 32 pages of photographs. Boldly signed on the title page by Bill and Hillary Clinton and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Bader Ginsburg was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1993 by President Clinton. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design byContinue reading "My Life."
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New York : St. Martin's Press, 1980.
First edition of this autobiographical work. Quarto, original half cloth, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by Fuller on the front free endpaper, “To: Harriet Nichols In warmest friendship Bucky Buckminster Fuller.” Fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket design by Kadi Tint. Documented and edited by Robert Snyder.
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New Rochelle, NY : Arlington House Publishers, 1966.
First edition of this work by the Harlem renaissance writer. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “To Richard Beam from George S. Schuyler 2/17/69.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket.
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Englewood Cliffs, NJ : Prentice-Hall, 1963.
First edition of this work by Fuller. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed “To Brooke, with great love, Bucky 3/30/80.” The recipient, Brooke Maxwell, along with one of Fuller’s other nieces Sarah Abbot, was one of Fuller’s key assistants on his Synergetics Project. Edited by Robert W. Marks. Near fine in a very good price-clippedContinue reading "Ideas and Integrities: A Spontaneous Autobiographical Disclosure."
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New York : Simon & Schuster, 1944.
First edition of the author’s classic work. Octavo, original cloth, original cloth, cartographic endpapers, illustrated. Association copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on half-title page, “For Martha and Maurice Speiser with cordial regards from Will Durant 12.7.44.” The recipient Maurice Speiser was Ernest Hemingway’s lawyer and literary agent. He was alsoContinue reading "Caesar and Christ."
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Chicago : Charles H. Kerr & Company, 1925.
First edition of the autobiography of the most famous female labor activist of the nineteenth century, Mother Jones. Octavo, original cloth. Edited by Mary Field Parton. Introduction by Clarence Darrow. In very good condition.
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New York : St. Martin's Griffin, 1993.
First St. Martin’s Griffin edition of Porter’s thrilling retelling of the story of George Jung, adapted into the 2001 film of the same name directed by Ted Demme and starring Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz. Octavo, original wrappers. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “For Edgar Best wishes Bruce Porter 3/30/01”Continue reading "Blow: How a Small-Town Boy Made $100 Million with the Medellin Cocaine Cartel and Lost it All."
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New Delhi : Vikas Publishing House, 1977.
First edition of Tenzing’s second autobiography, the sequel to his best-selling Tiger of the Snows. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by the author on the half-title page beneath an inscription in a secretarial hand, “To William Levine,” “Tenzing Norgay.” With the original typed transmittal letter on Norgay’s personal letterhead signed by him laid in which reads:Continue reading "After Everest: An Autobiography by Tenzing Norgay Sherpa."
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London : Published for The British Council and the National Book League by Longmans, Green & Co., 1951.
First edition of Dobree’s work on Kipling, the man and the writer. Octavo, original wrappers, frontispiece portrait of Kipling. In near fine condition.
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London : Macmillan & Co Ltd, 1955.
First edition of Carrington’s famed biography of Kipling. Octavo, original cloth. With an autograph note signed by Lafcadio Hearn adhered to the front pastedown which reads, “Kipling is priceless – his single story of Purima Bayal is worth a Kingdom; I & his suggestive moral of human life is such a miracle! I can’t tellContinue reading "Rudyard Kipling: His Life and Work."
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London : Simon & Schuster, 1988.
First edition of Kirk Douglas’ insightful autobiography. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated with photographs. Association copy, inscribed by him in the year of publication on the title page “To Sally – who never gets enough! – I hope I gave you what you want – affectionately, Kirk Douglas – 1988.” The recipient, British photojournalist Sally Soames,Continue reading "The Ragman’s Son: An Autobiography."
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New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1899.
Craig Wharton Wadsworth’s personal collection of books, letters and photographs from his time as a Sergeant in Roosevelt’s Rough Riders cavalry. The collection includes a first edition of Roosevelt’s best-selling work, The Rough Riders (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1899) signed by Roosevelt, “Theodore Roosevelt” and Wadsworth, “Craig W. Wadsworth Sergeant-Troop K”; Wadsworth’s 14-leaf photographContinue reading "Theodore Roosevelt and Craig W. Wadsworth Rough Riders Collection."
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New York : Doubleday & McClure Co., 1899.
First separate edition of Charles Eliot Norton’s concise sketch of Kipling’s early life, written for the new popular edition of his writings and prepared with his approval. Octavo, original boards, tissue-guarded engraved frontispiece portrait of Kipling. One of one hundred numbered copies, this is number 52. In near fine condition. Scarce.
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Chicago : Argus Books, 1942.
First edition of Lucile and William Carpenter’s work on Kipling’s life in Vermont, his travels around the world, and school days. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Near fine in a very good dust jacket.
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London : Hamish Hamilton, 1945.
First edition of Brown’s candid work on the genius of Rudyard Kipling. Octavo, original boards, illustrated with 5 portriats. Foreword by Frank Swinnerton. Near fine in the rare original dust jacket which is in good condition.
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London : William Heinemann, 1915.
First edition of this classic account of Antarctic exploration, an exceptional association copy inscribed by the author in both volumes in the year of publication to a fellow Australian, the Premier of New South Wales. Quarto, two volumes, original dark blue cloth with gilt titles to the spine, gilt vignette to the front panels, profuselyContinue reading "The Home of the Blizzard: Being the Story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914."
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Biography and Autobiography
Biography and Autobiography
Biography and Autobiography
Biography and Autobiography
Biography and Autobiography
Biography and Autobiography
Biography and Autobiography
