Fine Bindings and Sets

Vonnegut, Kurt

Cat’s Cradle.

New York : Holt, Rinehart Winston, 1963.

First edition of Vonnegut’s classic satire of the clash between science and religion in the nuclear age. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in five compartments within raised bands, boldly signed by Kurt Vonnegut in a page bound in, gilt ruling to the frontContinue reading "Cat’s Cradle."

Windsor, Duke of [Edward VIII]

A King’s Story: The Memoirs of the Duke of Windsor.

New York : G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1951.

Signed limited edition of the Duke of Windsor’s classic autobiography. Royal octavo, bound in the full publisher’s morocco with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, three gilt coats of arms as Prince of Wales, King of England, andContinue reading "A King’s Story: The Memoirs of the Duke of Windsor."

[Hamilton, Alexander; James Madison; John Jay]

The Federalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favour of the New Constitution, As Agreed Upon by the Federal Convention, September 17, 1787.

New York : Printed and Sold by J. and A. McLean, 1788.

First edition of The Federalist, one of the rarest and most significant books in American political history. Octavo, two volumes bound in full calf with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, elaborate gilt tooling to the spine, front and rear panels. In near fine condition with light foxing and minor marginal staining to end ofContinue reading "The Federalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favour of the New Constitution, As Agreed Upon by the Federal Convention, September 17, 1787."

Dumas, Alexandre [Alexander]

Les Trois Mousquetaires.

Paris : Calmann-Lévy, 1921.

Finely bound example of Dumas’ classic work in the original French. Octavo, two volumes bound in three quarter crimson crushed levant morocco with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. In near fine condition.

Chaucer, Geoffrey

The Poetical Works of Geoffrey Chaucer.

London : George Bell and Sons, 1886.

Finely bound Aldine edition of this collection of brilliant poetical works. Octavo, six volumes, bound in three quarter brown calf over marbled boards with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt and elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within five raised gilt bands, top edges gilt, marbled endpapers, decorated with botanical headpieces, tailpieces,Continue reading "The Poetical Works of Geoffrey Chaucer."

Austen, Jane

Pride and Prejudice: A Novel.

London : Printed for T. Egerton, 1813.

First editions of all three volumes of Jane Austen’s masterpiece, her bestselling book during her lifetime which remains a landmark of English literature. 12mo, three volumes bound in full mottled calf with gilt titles and elaborate gilt tooling to the spine, double gilt ruling and botanical gilt scrolling to the front and rear panels, giltContinue reading "Pride and Prejudice: A Novel."

Wharton, Grace

The Literature of Society.

London : Tinsley Brothers, 1862.

First edition of this collection of observations on the literature of European historical figures. Octavo, two volumes bound in full crushed levant morocco by Bayntun Bindery with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, quadruple gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and wide tripleContinue reading "The Literature of Society."

Churchill, Winston S

Lord Randolph Churchill.

New York and London : Macmillan & Co. Limited, 1906.

First editions of Winston S. Churchill‘s impassioned two-volume biography written in defence of his maligned father’s posthumous reputation; a bulwark of any Churchill collection. Octavo, 2 volumes bound in three quarters morocco by Sangorski & Sutcliffe with gilt titles and five raised bands to the spine, top edge gilt, engraved frontispiece portrait of Sir RandolphContinue reading "Lord Randolph Churchill."

Austen, Jane

The Works of Jane Austen [Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, Mansfield Park, and Emma].

London : George G. Harrap & Co, 1925.

The works of Jane Austen containing each of her major novels, wonderfully illustrated with color plates. Octavo, 10 volumes bound in half morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, top edge gilt, illustrated with color plates. Contains Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park, Emma, Persuasion, Lady Susan, and The Watstons.Continue reading "The Works of Jane Austen [Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, Mansfield Park, and Emma]."

[Bible]

[The King James “She” Bible]. The Holy Bible: Conteyning the Old Testament, and the New: Newly translated out of the Originall Tongues: and with the former Translations diligently compared and reuised by his Maiesties speciall Comandement. Appointed to be Read in Churches.

London : Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings Most Excellent Majestie, 1613.

Rare 1613 folio edition of the great King James “She” Bible”, “the true 1613 folio edition of King James’ Bible; easily distinguishable from the other large folio editions by its smaller type… The preliminary leaves are set up as in the other large folio editions, but the text is printed in smaller type with 72 instead of 59 lines to the full column” (Herbert; DarlowContinue reading "[The King James “She” Bible]. The Holy Bible: Conteyning the Old Testament, and the New: Newly translated out of the Originall Tongues: and with the former Translations diligently compared and reuised by his Maiesties speciall Comandement. Appointed to be Read in Churches."

Foxe, John

Acts and Monuments of matters of most speciall and memorable happenyng in the Church, with an Universall history of the same…Newly revised and recognized. [Foxe’s Book of Martyrs].

London : John Daye, 1583.

Fourth edition of Foxe’s Book of Martyrs (as it was later known), and the last to be published in his lifetime. The first English edition was published in 1563. Folio, 2 volumes bound into one in full near contemporary full brown calf over beveled boards elaborately stamped and paneled in blind, rebacked, seven raised bandsContinue reading "Acts and Monuments of matters of most speciall and memorable happenyng in the Church, with an Universall history of the same…Newly revised and recognized. [Foxe’s Book of Martyrs]."

Gibbon, Edward

The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.

London : Printed for W. Strahan; and T. Cadell, In The Strand, 1776-1788.

First edition, first state of Gibbon’s “masterpiece of historical penetration and literary style” (PMM). Quarto, six volumes, bound in modern half calf over marbled boards by Bayntun-Riviere with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, gilt ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, all edges speckled red, engraved frontispiece portrait of Gibbon byContinue reading "The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire."

Nordhoff, Charles and James Norman Hall

The Bounty Trilogy: Mutiny on the Bounty, Men Against the Sea, Pitcairn’s Island.

Boston : Little, Brown and Company, 1932-34.

First editions of all three volumes of The Bounty Trilogy, based on the historical event of 1789 and adapted into the award-winning 1962 film starring Marlon Brando. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth, cartographic endpapers. Presentation copies, each volume inscribed by James Norman Hall. Mutiny on the Bounty is inscribed by James Norman Hall on the half-titleContinue reading "The Bounty Trilogy: Mutiny on the Bounty, Men Against the Sea, Pitcairn’s Island."

Ethiopian Coptic Ge’ez Bible.

Ethiopia C. 18th Century.

Rare illustrated Ethiopian Coptic Ge’ez Bible. Duodecimo, bound in full leather with elaborate tooling stamped in blind to the front and rear panels, parchment manuscript in black and red ink, with six full-page hand-painted miniatures depicting the Annunciation, the Madonna and child, Saint George slaying the dragon, Michael striking down Lucifer, Saint Tekle Haymanot ofContinue reading "Ethiopian Coptic Ge’ez Bible."

Churchill, Winston S

Marlborough: His Life and Times.

London : George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd, 1933-38.

First edition of Churchill’s magisterial biography of his notable ancestor John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough. Octavo, 4 volumes, original cloth, top edge gilt, illustrated with hundreds of maps and plans (many folding), plates and document facsimiles. Association copy, inscribed by Winston Churchill on the front free endpaper of volume IV, “To Maurice Ashley fromContinue reading "Marlborough: His Life and Times."

Halberstam, David

The Best and the Brightest.

Norwalk, CT : The Easton Press, 2005.

Signed limited edition of the author’s magnum opus. Octavo, bound in full leather, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, front and rear panels, all edges gilt. Signed David Halberstam. In fine condition.

Darwin, Bernard

Golf Between Two Wars.

London : Chatto & Windus, 1944.

First edition of this golf classic. Octavo, bound in full crushed levant 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-ruled inner dentelles stamp-signed by the Harcourt Bindery, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In fine condition.

Burton, Richard F

The Book of The Thousand Nights and a Night: A Plain and Literal Translation of the Arabian Nights Entertainments Made and Annotated by Richard Burton.

New York : The Heritage Press, 1962.

The Heritage edition of Burton’s monumental masterpiece. Octavo, six volumes bound into three, original publisher’s half cloth over illustrated paper-covered boards, decorated with illustrations by Valenti Angelo. Each volume is near fine and housed in the publisher’s original slipcase. Ownership stamp to the front free endpaper of each volume.

Burton, Richard

The Thousand and One Nights: The Arabian Nights Entertainments. With an Introduction Illustrative of the Religion, Manners, and Customs of the Mohammedans.

London : J. C. Nimmo and Bain, 1883.

The Nimmo edition of Burton’s monumental masterpiece. Octavo, four volumes bound in three quarter maroon crushed levant morocco over marbled boards by Bayntun with gilt titles and five raised bands to the spine, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers, illustrated with nineteen original etchings by Lalauze. One of 150 numbered copies printed on laid paper withContinue reading "The Thousand and One Nights: The Arabian Nights Entertainments. With an Introduction Illustrative of the Religion, Manners, and Customs of the Mohammedans."

Dickens, Charles

Oliver Twist.

London : Richard Bentley, 1838.

First edition, second printing with “By Boz” to each title page and the “Church” plate. Octavo, three volumes, bound in full brown calf, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, triple ruled gilt to the front and rear panels, marbled endpapers, inner dentelles, top edge gilt. Original cloth bound in at rear of each volume.Continue reading "Oliver Twist."

Wright, Richard

Native Son.

New York : Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1940.

First edition, first issue with “A – P” on the copyright page. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, 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 "Native Son."

Churchill, Randolph S

Winston S. Churchill [The Official Biography]. Volume I: Youth: 1874-1900 [with] Volume I Companion: Part 1 1874-1896 [and] Volume I Companion: Part 2 1896-1900.

London : Heinemann, 1966-1967.

First edition of the first installment in Randolph S. Churchill’s official biography of his father, Winston S. Churchill; complete with first editions of both parts of its companion volume. Octavo, 3 volumes, original publisher’s cloth, top edges red, illustrated with photographs, frontispiece portrait of Winston S. Churchill as second lieutenant, 4th Hussars, 1895. Each volumeContinue reading "Winston S. Churchill [The Official Biography]. Volume I: Youth: 1874-1900 [with] Volume I Companion: Part 1 1874-1896 [and] Volume I Companion: Part 2 1896-1900."

Boisnard, Magali

Le Roman de La Kahena: d’Après Les Anciens Textes Arabes.

Paris : Édition d'Art, 1925.

Later edition of this work by the French poet and novelist. Octavo, bound in full crushed levant morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, ornamentation by Paul Zenker, original wrappers bound in. In very good condition.

Dickens, Charles

The Christmas Books: A Christmas Carol; The Chimes; The Cricket on the Hearth; The Battle of Life; The Haunted Man and The Ghost’s Bargain.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1886.

Finely bound example of Dickens’ Christmas books, reprinted from the stereotype plates of the original. Octodecimo, five volumes bound in three quarter morocco over marbled boards by Riviere & Son with gilt titles to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, tissue-guarded frontispiece to each volume, additional illustrated titleContinue reading "The Christmas Books: A Christmas Carol; The Chimes; The Cricket on the Hearth; The Battle of Life; The Haunted Man and The Ghost’s Bargain."