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 1170
Edinburgh : Edinburgh University Press, 1971.
First edition of this compilation of speeches delivered by the annual President of the Edinburgh Sir Walter Scott Club. Octavo, original boards. Fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket.
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London : Macmillan, 1941.
First edition, second printing of Rebecca West’s masterpiece. Octavo, 2 volumes, original green cloth, cartographic endpapers. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “With all wishes to Kathleen Flint from Rebecca West- 1943.” Both volumes are in very good condition, recipient’s name to the front free endpaper. Scarce and desirable signed byContinue reading "Black Lamb and Grey Falcon: The Record of a Journey Through Yugoslavia in 1937."
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New York : D. Appleton and Company, 1875.
First edition of this memoir from one of the most well regarded generals, “oft-consulted and much-quoted reminiscences … Sherman wrote as he fought; dynamically and bluntly” (Nevins II, 89). Octavo, bound in publishers three quarters morocco over marbled boards, gilt titles to the spine, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by General Sherman three times: on theContinue reading "Memoirs of William T. Sherman."
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New York : Harper & Row, Publishers, 1983.
First edition of Barzun’s intimate biography of “Father of American psychology”, William James. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, “For Bill, with admiration on many counts. Jacques 22 IV 83.” The recipient, William Safire was an important American author, columnist, journalist, andContinue reading "A Stroll With William James."
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London : Secker & Warburg, 1997.
First edition of this fictionalized autobiography by the Nobel Prize-winning author. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by J.M. Coetzee on the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Cover photograph by Roderick Field. Author photograph by Morris Zwi.
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London : The Free Age Press, n.d..
The Free Age Press edition of Tolstoy’s critique of social conditions in Russia. Octavo, original wrappers. In near fine condition. Rare.
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Cambridge : University Press, 1864.
First edition of this scarce volume dedicated to the commander of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Robert Gould Shaw, with contributions by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Harriet Beecher Stowe, William Lloyd Garrison, Edwin M. Stanton, and James Russell Lowell and with extracts from Colonel Shaw’s letters. Octavo, original publisher’s half leather over red boards with giltContinue reading "Memorial."
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Pasadena : The Otterden Press, 1988.
Signed limited edition of Grosvenor’s catalogue of the portraits of T. E. Lawrence. Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece, illustrated. One of 1000 numbered copies signed by the author, this is number 255. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Cover portrait by William Rothenstein. Cover photograph by Vladmir Popovic.
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Rare collection of ephemera related to American naturalist John Muir. The collection includes a variety of periodicals articles, exhibition guides, and proof sheets including: John Muir 1838-1914: Keepsake for the Roxburghe-Zamorano Biennial Joint Meeting of 1996; The Presence of Mr. Muir. Keepsake for the John Muir Observance at Yosemite National Park, April 21-30, 1972, signedContinue reading "John Muir Ephemera Collection."
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Boston : Houghton Mifflin Company, 1913.
First edition of this brief biography in The Riverside Literature Series collection. Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece. In good condition. Ex-library. Scarce.
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Hartford, Conn. : American Publishing Company, 1882.
First edition of Newcomb’s account of the Jeannette Arctic Exploration. Octavo, original illustrated cloth, tissue-guarded frontispiece, illustrated with maps, portraits, and numerous engravings. Introduction by Rev. W. L. Gage. In good condition.
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Boston and New York : Houghton Mifflin Company, 1913.
First edition, first issue of Muir’s autobiography of his youth with the biting criticism of his neighbor’s treatment of his son on p. 217: “…none was bold enough or kind enough to break the blacksmith’s jaw” (Kimes 315) . Octavo, original illustrated green cloth with gilt titles and tooling to the spine and front panel,Continue reading "The Story of My Boyhood and Youth."
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New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1980.
First edition of this work by the Academy Award-winning actor. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Mr and Mrs Charles Blackwell With Love and affection Sidney Poitier.” The recipient, Charles Blackwell wrote the screenplay for the film A Piece of the Action, starring Poitier andContinue reading "This Life."
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London : Hodder & Stoughton, 1969.
First British edition of the golfer’s autobiography, which includes six full chapters on instruction. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Boldly signed by Jack Nicklaus on the frontispiece and by co-author Herbert Warren Wind on the dedication page, “To Bobby Burt Who knows his golf and understands why the champions win. Herb Wind.” Fine in a nearContinue reading "The Greatest Game of All: My Life in Golf."
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New York : W.W. Norton & Company, 1975.
First edition of this biography of the famous labor activist. Octavo, original cloth, photographic endpapers, illustrated with 33 pages of photographs. Presentation copy, lengthily inscribed by Chavez on the half-title page, “To Marian Schroeder personal best wishes on this Christmas season Peace Cesar Chavez 12/15/78 LA PAZ.” Fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket.Continue reading "Cesar Chavez. Autobiography of La Causa."
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Paris : Rene Kieffer, 1925.
Deluxe limited edition of Kipling’s collected letters written during his 1889 travels in Japan. Octavo, original wrappers, decorated by H. Tirman. One of 50 copies printed on Japan paper. Translated into French by Louis Fabulet and Arthur Austin-Jackson. Very good in the rare original richly decorated dust jacket. Rare.
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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 title page by the author, “NMandela 28.2.96.” Fine in a fine dust jacket.
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Englewood Cliffs, NJ : Prentice-Hall, 1963.
First edition of this work by Fuller. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “To Ed Westhoff in friendship Buckminster Fuller.” Edited by Robert W. Marks. Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket.
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2012.
Octavo, original illustrated boards, illustrated throughout. Boldly signed by Mikhail Kalashnikov on the title page. In near fine condition. Books signed by Kalashnikov are uncommon.
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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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Biography and Autobiography
Biography and Autobiography
Biography and Autobiography
Biography and Autobiography
Biography and Autobiography
Biography and Autobiography
