Fine Bindings and Sets

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.

Fowles, John

The Magus.

London : Jonathan Cape, 1966.

First edition of the author’s most well-known work. 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 edges gilt. Signed by JohnContinue reading "The Magus."

Powell, Anthony

Temporary Kings.

London : Heinemann, 1973.

First edition of this classic work in the author’s Dance to the Music of Time series. Octavo, original cloth. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by James Broom-Lynne. Housed in a custom half morocco and chemise box. An exceptional presentation.

Hall, Oakley

Warlock.

New York : The Viking Press, 1958.

First edition of this classic of American West literature. 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 edges gilt. Signed byContinue reading "Warlock."

Webster, Noah

An American Dictionary of the English Language.

New York : Published by S. Converse. Printed by Hezekiah Howe - New Haven, 1828.

First edition of pioneering lexicographer Noah Webster’s monumental American Dictionary, arguably the most popular American book ever published and one of only 2500 copies printed. Thick quarto, bound in three quarter polished calf over marbled boards with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, engraved portrait of Webster after Samuel F.B. Morse, unpaginated text in tripleContinue reading "An American Dictionary of the English Language."

Joyce, James

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.

London : The Egoist Ltd, 1917.

First English edition of Joyce’s classic stream-of-consciousness work, his first novel, one of about 1000 copies. Octavo, original cloth. In very good condition. Housed in a custom half morocco and chemise clamshell box.

Scott, Thomas

The Holy Bible Containing The Old and New Testaments, According to the Publick Version; with Explanatory Notes, Practical Observations, and Copious Marginal References.

London : Printed by C. Baldwin; And Published by L. B. Seeley; John Hatchard; and Robert Baldwin, 1812-1814.

New edition of influential English preacher and author Thomas Scott’s popular commentary on the Holy Bible, originally published serially in 174 parts printed weekly beginning in January 1788. Herbert 1366. Quarto, 6 volumes bound in full contemporary diced calf with gilt stamping and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, moroccoContinue reading "The Holy Bible Containing The Old and New Testaments, According to the Publick Version; with Explanatory Notes, Practical Observations, and Copious Marginal References."

Kipling, Rudyard

The Jungle Book and The Second Jungle Book.

London : Macmillan, 1894-95.

First editions of both volumes of The Jungle Book. Octavo, two volumes, original blue cloth decorated and lettered in gilt, all edges gilt, engraved frontispiece with tissue guard present. Illustrated by J. L. Kipling, W.H. Drake and P. Frenzeny. In near fine condition. Housed in a custom slipcase. A sharp example.

Milne, A. A. Decorations by Ernest Shepard

Now We Are Six.

London : Methuen & Co. Ltd, 1927.

First edition of the third book in Milne’s beloved Pooh series. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth with gilt decorations to the spine and front panel, pictorial endpapers, top edge gilt, illustrated with decorations by Ernest Shepard. Very good in a very good dust jacket. Gift inscription to the front free endpaper.

Franklin, Benjamin

Experiments and Observations on Electricity, Made at Philadelphia in America, by Benjamin Franklin, L.L.D. and F.R.S. To which are added, Letters and Papers on Philosophical Subjects. The Whole corrected, methodized, improved, and now first collected into one Volume, and Illustrated with Copper Plates.

London : Printed for David Henry; and sold by Francis Newbery, at the Corner of St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1769.

First complete edition of “the most important scientific book of eighteenth-century America” (PMM), inscribed by Benjamin Franklin to prominent Pennsylvania Quaker and merchant Thomas Livezey, Jr. Quarto, bound in full contemporary calf with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, gilt turn-ins. IllustratedContinue reading "Experiments and Observations on Electricity, Made at Philadelphia in America, by Benjamin Franklin, L.L.D. and F.R.S. To which are added, Letters and Papers on Philosophical Subjects. The Whole corrected, methodized, improved, and now first collected into one Volume, and Illustrated with Copper Plates."

Vanderbilt, William K

Across The Atlantic With Ara, Summer of 1924.

New York : Brentano's, Publishers, 1925.

First edition of Vanderbilt’s account of his 1924 three-month summer cruise aboard the diesel yacht Ara. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth, illustrated with plates and maps. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper in the year of publication, “To C. M. … from W. K. Vanderbilt June 26th 1925.” In very goodContinue reading "Across The Atlantic With Ara, Summer of 1924."