Fine Bindings and Sets

Malthus, Thomas R. [T.R.}

Principles of Political Economy Considered With a View to Their Practical Application.

London : John Murray, 1820.

Rare first edition of Malthus’ classic work. Octavo, bound in full diced morocco, raised bands, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, front and rear panels, marbled endpapers. In near fine condition. An exceptional presentation.

Dickens, Charles

A Tale of Two Cities.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1859.

First edition, first issue of one of Dickens’ most enduring works. Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, sixteen plates after H.K. Browne including frontispiece and title vignette. In very good condition, name to the front free endpaper.

Gunther, John

Death Be Not Proud.

New York : Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1949.

First edition of this deeply moving book, a father’s memoir of a brave, intelligent, and spirited boy. 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 HarcourtContinue reading "Death Be Not Proud."

Condon, Richard

The Manchurian Candidate.

New York : McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc, 1959.

First edition of this brilliant, controversial novel, basis for the 1962 film adaptation, which has been called “the most chilling piece of cold war paranoia ever committed to film” (New York Times). Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands,Continue reading "The Manchurian Candidate."

Hugo, Victor

La Légende des Siècles. [The Legend of the Ages: First Series].

Bruxelles : 1859, Edition Hetzel.

First Brussels edition and true first edition of the first series of Hugo’s epic work. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth. Provenance: from the library of H. Bradley Martin (his sale, Sotheby’s New York, October 16-17, 1989, lot no. 901; bookplate). “The H. Bradley Martin sale of 1989-1990 was a terribly significant sale of a stupendously variedContinue reading "La Légende des Siècles. [The Legend of the Ages: First Series]."

Elizabeth [Tonna], Charlotte

The Works of Charlotte Elizabeth. With an Introduction by H. B. Stowe.

New York : Published by M. W. Dodd, 1849.

Seventh edition of the complete works of English Victorian writer and suffragette Charlotte Elizabeth Tonna. Royal octavo, two volumes, original publisher’s full deluxe morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in five compartments within raised gilt bands, elaborate gilt decorations to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, all edgesContinue reading "The Works of Charlotte Elizabeth. With an Introduction by H. B. Stowe."

Buck, Pearl S

The Good Earth.

New York : The John Day Company, 1931.

First edition of the author’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and masterpiece. First issue with “flees” for “fleas” on page 100, line 17. 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 dentellesContinue reading "The Good Earth."

Smith, Adam

An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.

London : Printed for J. Maynard, Panton Market, Haymarket; and F. Zinske, 448, Strand, 1811.

Early 19th century printing of Adam Smith’s ground-breaking analysis of capitalist economics. Octavo, 3 volumes bound in three quarter diced calf over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine. In very god condition. Bookplate to each pastedown, printed bookplate of “A.C. Eustace” pasted over previous owner’s name to each title page and additional ownershipContinue reading "An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations."

Buck, Pearl S

The Good Earth.

New York : The John Day Company, 1931.

First edition of the author’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and masterpiece. First issue with “flees” for “fleas” on page 100, line 17. 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 dentellesContinue reading "The Good Earth."

Select Poetry: Chiefly on Subjects Connected with Religion. [Fore-Edge Painting].

London : R. B. Seeley, 1830.

Finely bound poetry collection decorated with a concealed fore-edge painting. 18mo, bound in full morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, gilt fleuron cornerpieces to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, all edges gilt, decorated with a concealed fore-edge painting of St. Saviour’s church in London. In very goodContinue reading "Select Poetry: Chiefly on Subjects Connected with Religion. [Fore-Edge Painting]."

Kazantzakis, Nikos

Zorba The Greek.

New York : Simon & Schuster, 1953.

First edition of Kazantzakis’ masterpiece, basis for the beloved Academy award-winning film. 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 "Zorba The Greek."

Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de

El Ingenioso hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha. Segunda Parte del Ingenioso Cavallero Don Quixote de la Mancha.

Madrid : Por Juan de La Cuesta, vendese en casa de Francisco de Robles, librero del Rey, 1608-1615.

Exceedingly rare and spectacular 17th century editions of both volumes of Cervantes’ prized work, the remarkable Beilby Thompson-Maggs-Ortiz Linares copy with a shared provenance spanning over 320 years, this is among the oldest known sets of both parts paired and uniformly bound in the 18th century, comprising one of the most desirable pairings of theContinue reading "El Ingenioso hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha. Segunda Parte del Ingenioso Cavallero Don Quixote de la Mancha."

[Watson, Elkanah] [George Washington]

Tour in Holland in MDCCLXXXIV. By an American.

Printed at Worcester, Massachusetts : Isaiah Thomas, 1790.

First edition, presentation copy of a scarce volume from George Washington’s library at Mount Vernon. Octavo, bound in full contemporary sheep with pine gilt in six compartments within raised bands, burgundy morocco spine label lettered in gilt, type-ornament title-page vignette, head and tailpieces. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author to George Washington on the frontContinue reading "Tour in Holland in MDCCLXXXIV. By an American."

Williams, Tennessee

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof.

New York : New Directions, 1955.

First edition, first issue of one of Williams’s best-known works and his personal favorite. 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,Continue reading "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof."

Dickens, Charles; John Forster

The Works of Charles Dickens and The Life of Charles Dickens.

London : Chapman and Hall and Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1873-1876.

Finely bound set of the works of Charles Dickens, uniformly bound with John Forster’s definitive biography of Dickens. Octavo, 30 volumes bound in full crushed levant morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, illustrated with numerous etchedContinue reading "The Works of Charles Dickens and The Life of Charles Dickens."

Schiller, Friedrich

The Works of Friedrich Schiller.

Weimar and New York : The Northern Press, Printed for Subscribers only, n.d.

The Weimar edition of the collected works of Friedrich Schiller. Octavo, 10 volumes bound in full morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in five compartments within raised bands, elaborate gilt tooling to the front and rear panels, gilt inner dentelles, watered silk endleaves and doublures with central gilt mongrams “EHR”, top edgeContinue reading "The Works of Friedrich Schiller."

Galsworthy, John

The Complete Works of John Galsworthy.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1906-1932.

Uniformly bound set of the complete works of John Galsworthy. Various sizes (quarto, octavo, 12mo), 36 volumes uniformly bound in full calf by Sangorski & Sutcliffe with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, double gilt ruling, cornerpieces, and blind-stamped basketweave pattern toContinue reading "The Complete Works of John Galsworthy."

Dickens, Charles

The Personal History of David Copperfield.

London : Bradbury and Evans, 1850.

First edition of “the most perfect of all the Dickens novels” (Virginia Woolf). Octavo, original cloth, illustrated with 38 etchings by Hablot Knight Browne. In very good condition, bookplate. Uncommon in the original cloth.

Herzl, Theodor

Philosophische Erzählungen. [Philosophical Narratives].

Berlin : Verlag con Gebruder Paetel, 1900.

First edition of this collection of seventeen narratives written by Herzl during his years as a correspondent for the Viennese Neue Freie Presse. Octavo, bound in three quarters calf over embossed boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, patterned endpapers, all edges red. In very good condition. First editions are rare.

Steinbeck, John

Of Mice and Men: A Play in Three Acts.

New York : Covici Friede Publishers, 1937.

First edition of Steinbeck’s dramatization of his poignant novel. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a very good first issue dust jacket with the publisher’s price of $2.00. Housed in a custom half morocco and chemise clamshell box. A very sharp example.