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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 100-120 of 1089

Davis, Angela Y

Angela Davis: An Autobiography.

New York : Random House, 1974.

First edition of this classic autobiography by “activist. An author. A scholar. An abolitionist. A legend” (Ibram X. Kendi). Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the title page, “To Brandy, In Struggle, Angela Y. Davis 11/18/74.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket designContinue reading "Angela Davis: An Autobiography."

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$1,400.00
Item Number: RRB-150492
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Joy, Charles R. & Arnold, Melvin [Albert Schweitzer]

The Africa of Albert Schweitzer.

New York and Boston Harper & Brothers/ The Beacon Press.

First edition of this work by the legendary Nobel laureate. Octavo, original cloth, cartographic endpapers, illustrated. Boldly signed by Albert Schweitzer and his wife Helene on the title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco slipcase. An exceptional example, uncommon signed by both Albert and Helene Schweitzer.

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$1,250.00
Item Number: RRB-147643
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Isaacson, Walter; Evan Thomas

The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made.

New York : Simon and Schuster, 1986.

First edition of this biography on how six influential American statesmen shaped U.S. foreign policy and the global order during the Cold War. Octavo, original publisher’s half-cloth, illustrated with black and white photographs. Boldly signed by Walter Isaacson on the title page. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket, inscriptions to the front andContinue reading "The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made."

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$650.00
Item Number: RRB-149197
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Churchill, Winston S

My Early Life; Thoughts and Adventures; Great Contemporaries; Step by Step.

London : Odhams Press Limited, 1936-1939.

First Odhams press edition of four of Churchill’s best-known works. Octavo, 4 volumes, original cloth with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, illustrated. Presentation set, inscribed by Churchill to his financial adviser on the front free endpaper of My Early Life, “To T.E.R. Harris from Winston S. Churchill Christmas 1947” and initialed by ChurchillContinue reading "My Early Life; Thoughts and Adventures; Great Contemporaries; Step by Step."

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$17,500.00
Item Number: RRB-131601
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Greenlaw, Olga S

The Lady and the Tigers.

New York : E. P. Dutton, 1943.

First edition, early printing of this memoir from the official war diarist for the “Flying Tigers”. Octavo, original publisher’s orange cloth, cartographic endpapers, frontispiece of the author, illustrated with black and white photographs. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by the author on the verso of the front free endpaper, “To Mrs. Philippe Coombes, who has contributedContinue reading "The Lady and the Tigers."

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$975.00
Item Number: RRB-149143
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Goldsmith, Warren [steve McQueen; Julie Andrews; Dick Van Dyke; Lucille Ball; Natalie Wood; Warren Beatty; Joan Crawford; et al.]

Film Fame.

Beverly Hills, California : Fame Publishing, 1966.

First edition of this collection of one hundred actors and actresses that transformed cinema into a defining form of twentieth-century mass entertainment. Imperial octavo, custom bound half-cloth with green boards, illustrated with black and white photographs throughout. Boldly signed or inscribed “To Tony” in felt tip on the actors and actresses respective entry pages, includingContinue reading "Film Fame."

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$3,500.00
Item Number: RRB-149124
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Chennault, Claire Lee; Robert Hotz [Editor]

Way of a Fighter: The Memoirs of Claire Lee Chennault.

Tucson, Arizona : James Thorvardson & Sons, 1991.

Limited edition of this autobiographical account of Chennault’s military career. Octavo, original green cloth, cartographic endpapers, illustrated with black and white photographs. Boldly signed on the colophon page in black felt tip by sixteen members of the Flying Tigers, including: Tex Hill, Ken Jernstedt, Charles Mott, Paul J. Greene, Dick Rossi, Joe Rosbert, Bob Layher,Continue reading "Way of a Fighter: The Memoirs of Claire Lee Chennault."

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$2,250.00
Item Number: RRB-149141
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Glaser, Milton

Milton Glaser: Graphic Design.

Woodstock, NY : The Overlook Press, 1973.

First edition of this seminal collection that showcases Glaser’s influential works and design philosophy. Square quarto, original publisher’s cloth, pictorial endpapers, profusely illustrated throughout, with publisher’s colophon label placed over original colophon text. Boldly signed and dated in the year of publication by the author on the second free endpaper, “Milton Glaser 1973.” Near fineContinue reading "Milton Glaser: Graphic Design."

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$475.00
Item Number: RRB-149144
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Obama, Barack

Dreams From My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance.

New York : Times Books/ Random House, 1995.

First edition of this memoir by the 44th President of the United States. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Boldly signed by Barack Obama on the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Robin Schiff. Jacket art by Steven Dana. Author photograph by Warren Browne. Accompanied by a business card from “PresidentContinue reading "Dreams From My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance."

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$4,000.00
Item Number: RRB-149164
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Blumberg, Stanley A.; Gwinn Owens; Edward Teller

Energy and Conflict: The Life and Times of Edward Teller.

New York : G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1976.

First edition of this biography on legendary theoretical physicist Edward Teller. Octavo, original publisher’s orange cloth, illustrated with black and white photographs. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Ruby M. Ness with thanks Edward Teller.” Fine in a very good dust jacket with wear to the extremities, signature toContinue reading "Energy and Conflict: The Life and Times of Edward Teller."

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$950.00
Item Number: RRB-149165
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Knopf, Alfred A

The Borzoi 1925: Being a Sort of Record of Ten Years of Publishing.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1925.

First trade edition of this commemorative volume that showcases the publishing house’s first decade. Octavo, publisher’s original half-cloth over marbled boards, top stain black, Borzoi Books logo with Russian Wolfhound endpapers, title page vignette, illustrated with portraits of Alfred A. Knopf, Blanche W. Knopf, and of the contributing authors. In very good condition.

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$40.00
Item Number: RRB-149170
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Doren, Carl Van; Willa Cather; H.L. Mencken; Thomas Mann; Henry Seidel Canby; H.M. Lydenberg; B.W. Huebsch; Adolf Kroch; F.G. Melcher [Alfred A. Knopf]

Alfred A. Knopf: Quarter Century 1915-1940.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1940.

First edition of this collection of tributes from authors and others in the book industry of the Book Table Luncheon Group to celebrate Knopf’s 25th anniversary as a publisher. Octavo, original green cloth with paper titles, with frontispiece of Knopf. In near fine condition. The Book Table Luncheon Group was a social and professional gatheringContinue reading "Alfred A. Knopf: Quarter Century 1915-1940."

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$225.00
Item Number: RRB-149167
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Nygaard, Norman E. [Walter Knott]

Walter Knott Twentieth Century Pioneer: The Story of the Man Behind Knott’s Berry Farm Internationally-Known Tourist Attraction.

Grand Rapids, Michigan : Zondervan Publishing House, 1965.

First edition of this thrilling documentary on how Walter Knott transformed his family’s berry farm into Knott’s Berry Farm. Octavo, original publisher’s brown cloth, frontispiece of Knott’s Berry Farm, illustrated with black and white photographs. Presentation copy, inscribed by Knott on the title page, “To my friend Mr. A. E. Herrboldt, Walter Knott.” Fine inContinue reading "Walter Knott Twentieth Century Pioneer: The Story of the Man Behind Knott’s Berry Farm Internationally-Known Tourist Attraction."

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$750.00
Item Number: RRB-149139
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Carlyle, Jane Welsh; Thomas Carlyle; David G. Ritchie [Editor]

Early Letters of Jane Welsh Carlyle Together with a Few of Later Years and Some of Thomas Carlyle.

London : Swan Sonnenschein & Co, 1889.

First edition of this collection of letters reflecting Victorian life. Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers, and tissue-guarded frontispiece. In very good condition. Clipped newspaper article regarding Edinburgh University acquiring the collection of forty originalContinue reading "Early Letters of Jane Welsh Carlyle Together with a Few of Later Years and Some of Thomas Carlyle."

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$375.00
Item Number: RRB-149134
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Knopf, Alfred A. [Blanche W. Knopf]

The Borzoi 1925: Being a Sort of Record of Ten Years of Publishing.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1925.

First edition of this commemorative volume that showcases the publishing house’s first decade. Octavo, publisher’s original cream half-cloth over marbled boards, Borzoi Books logo with Russian Wolfhound endpapers, title page vignette, illustrated with portraits of Alfred A. Knopf, Blanche W. Knopf, and of the contributing authors. Presentation copy, inscribed by Alfred A. Knopf, Blanche W.Continue reading "The Borzoi 1925: Being a Sort of Record of Ten Years of Publishing."

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$275.00
Item Number: RRB-149169
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Davis, Angela Y; John Abt; Franklin Alexander; Kendra Alexander; Bettina Aptheker; James Baldwin; Margaret Burnham; Robert Chrisman; John Clutchette; Fleeta Drumgo; Ericka Huggins; Robert Kaufman; George Jackson; Fania Davis Jordan; Ruchell Magee; Howard Moore Jr; Huey P. Newton; Eve Pell; Bobby Seale; The Soledad Brothers; Foreward by Julian Bond

If They Come in the Morning: Voices of Resistance.

New York : The Third Press, 1971.

First edition of this bold collection of essays written by victims of political imprisonment. Octavo, original black cloth. Boldly signed by Angela Davis on the title page. Fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by Barbara Kohn Isaac. Author photograph by Stephen Shames.

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$1,800.00
Item Number: RRB-150499
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Churchill, Winston S

Marlborough: His Life and Times.

London : George G. Harrap & Company, 1933-36.

Rare original publisher’s advance proofs of the first edition of the first three volumes of Churchill’s important biography of his notable ancestor, John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough. Octavo, 3 volumes, original wrappers, illustrated with, maps, plans, plates and document facsimiles. In very good condition with Vol. II in a good dust jacket, possibly aContinue reading "Marlborough: His Life and Times."

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$2,400.00
Item Number: RRB-145482
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Dickens, Charles

Memoirs of Joseph Grimaldi. Edited by “Boz.”

London : Richard Bentley, 1838.

First edition in the rare original cloth of Dickens’ popular retelling of the memoirs of celebrated English clown Joseph Grimaldi. Octavo, two volumes, original pink cloth with floral design stamped in blind, gilt titles and detailing of a clown to the spine, frontispiece portrait of Grimaldi, with 11 illustrations by George Cruikshank. Mixed state withContinue reading "Memoirs of Joseph Grimaldi. Edited by “Boz.”"

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$1,250.00
Item Number: RRB-149060
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