Fine Bindings and Sets

Dickens, Charles

Great Expectations.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1861.

First edition, first impression of Dickens’ rarest novel. Octavo, three volumes bound in full royal blue crushed levant morocco by Bayntun 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 turn-ins and wide gilt inner dentelles stamp-signed by Bayntun,Continue reading "Great Expectations."

Harper’s Weekly, A Journal of Civilization. [Harper’s Weekly’s Complete Coverage of the American Civil War: January 1, 1861-December 30, 1865].

New York : Harper & Brothers, January 1, 1861-December 30, 1865.

Rare continuous run of 260 issues of Harper’s Weekly, covering the entirety of the American Civil War. Folio, five volumes, bound in full buckram with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, illustrated with hundreds of wood-engraved illustrations, many from noted American illustrators including portraits of Union and Confederate Army Generals and Officers, battlefield scenes, maps, cityContinue reading "Harper’s Weekly, A Journal of Civilization. [Harper’s Weekly’s Complete Coverage of the American Civil War: January 1, 1861-December 30, 1865]."

Powell, Anthony

Books Do Furnish a Room.

London : Heinemann, 1971.

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.

Johnson, Osa

I Married Adventure: The Life and Adventures of Martin and Osa Johnson.

Philadelphia : J.B. Lippincott Company, 1940.

Signed limited first edition of Johnson’s classic work, number 167 of 520 copies. Octavo, original half cloth, photographic endpapers illustrated with 83 aquatone illustrations. Boldly signed by the author, “Best African wishes Osa Johnson.” In near fine condition, contemporary name to the front free endpaper.

Austen, Jane

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

Edinburgh : John Grant, 1911-12.

The Winchester edition of the works of Jane Austen containing each of her major novels. Octavo, 12 volumes, bound in three quarters calf, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, top edge gilt. Contains Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park, Emma, Persuasion, LadyContinue reading "The Works of Jane Austen [Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, Mansfield Park, and Emma]."

Neale Hurston, Zora

Jonah’s Gourd Vine.

Philadelphia : J.B. Lippincott Company, 1934.

First edition of the author’s first book. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles to the spine, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, raised bands, inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In near fine condition, name to the title page. With an introduction by Fanny Hurst. Rare andContinue reading "Jonah’s Gourd Vine."

Hurston, Zora Neale

Tell My Horse: Voodoo and Life in Haiti and Jamaica.

Philadelphia : J.P. Lippincott Company, 1938.

First edition of Hurston’s personal experiences in Haiti and Jamaica. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles to the spine, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, raised bands, inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, 26 illustrations. In fine condition. An exceptional presentation.

Hurston, Zora Neale

Mules and Men.

Philadelphia : J.B. Lippincott Company, 1935.

First edition of Hurston’s classic work, “the most engaging, genuine, and skillfully written book in the field of folklore” (Alan Lomax). Octavo, original cloth, with 10 illustrations by Miguel Covarrubias. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles to the spine, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, raised bands, innerContinue reading "Mules and Men."

Hurston, Zora Neale

Moses, Man on the Mountain.

New York : J. B. Lippincott Company, 1939.

First edition of this classic retelling of Moses’ exodus. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles to the spine, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, raised bands, inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In fine condition. A very sharp example.

Edwards, Jonathan

The Great Christian Doctrine of Original Sin Defended.

Boston : S. Kneeland, 1758.

First edition of this important work by the famed theologian. Octavo, bound in contemporary calf. In very good condition, contemporary names to the front free endpaper. First editions are rare.

Poe, Edgar Allan

The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe.

New York and London : G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1902.

The Annabel edition of the complete works of Edgar Allan Poe. Octavo, ten volumes, bound in three quarters crushed levant morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers, illustrated with 60 photogravures, each with a lettered tissue guard. In very good condition. AContinue reading "The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe."

Stanhope, Eugenia

Letters Written by the Late Right Honourable Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield, to His Son, Philip Stanhope, Esq; Together with Several Other Pieces on Various Subjects.

London : Printed for J. Dodsley, 1774.

First edition of one of the great classics of English letters. Quarto, period quarter calf over marbled boards with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, engraved portrait frontispiece. Second state of volume one, page 55 (line 16 corrected to “qui auroit”). From the library of Sir Edwyn Francis Stanhope with his bookplate to the pastedownContinue reading "Letters Written by the Late Right Honourable Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield, to His Son, Philip Stanhope, Esq; Together with Several Other Pieces on Various Subjects."

Crane, Stephen. Irving Bacheller, Post Wheeler, John Langdon Heaton

The Lanthorn Book: Being a Small Collection of Tales and Verses Read at The Sign o’ the Lanthorn.

New York : 126 William Street, 1898.

Signed limited edition, this is number 47. Quarter, original half cloth. Signed by Stephen Crane at the conclusion of his contribution, The Wise Men. Also signed by the other contributors. While it was the intention of the club to have each contributor sign his piece, Crane did not sign all 125 examples, as he diedContinue reading "The Lanthorn Book: Being a Small Collection of Tales and Verses Read at The Sign o’ the Lanthorn."

Webster, Daniel

The Works of Daniel Webster.

Boston : Charles C. Little and James Brown, 1851.

The subscriber’s edition of the works of Daniel Webster, signed by Webster in the first volume. Octavo, 6 volumes, bound in original cloth, frontispiece, and one other plate. In near fine condition.

Dinesen, Isak [Karen Blixen]

Out of Africa.

New York : Random House, 1938.

First American edition of the author’s masterpiece, a lyrical meditation of the years she lived in Kenya. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles and ruling to the spine, raised bands, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In fine condition. An exceptionalContinue reading "Out of Africa."

Lewis, C.S

Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold.

London : Geoffrey Bles, 1956.

First edition of Lewis’ final novel retelling of Cupid and Psyche, based on its telling in a chapter of The Golden Ass of Apuleius. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles and ruling to the spine, raised bands, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, gilt signature to the frontContinue reading "Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold."

Wilde, Oscar

An Ideal Husband.

London : Leonard Smithers and Co, 1899.

First edition of Wilde’s classic comedic stage play. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles and ruling to the spine, raised bands, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In fine condition. An exceptional presentation.

Hall, Radclyffe

The Well of Loneliness.

New York : Covici-Friede Publishers, 1929.

Signed limited edition of this classic work, one of only 225 copies. Octavo, 2 volumes, original cloth, frontispiece to volume one. Signed by Radclyffe  Hall. In fine condition. An exceptional example.

Mill, James

Analysis of the Phenomena of the Human Mind.

London : Baldwin and Cradock, 1829.

First edition of this classic exploration of the processes of human thought by the father of John Stuart Mill, whose own “logical and ethical doctrines are evidently suggested” by this work. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf, armorial stamp to the front panel of the Earl of Shaftesbury, with a four page autographed letter signedContinue reading "Analysis of the Phenomena of the Human Mind."

Wilson, Woodrow

A History of the American People.

New York : Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1918.

The Documentary edition of this classic work. Octavo, 10 volumes, three quarters morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, raised bands, top edge gilt, marble endpapers, contains numerous plates and illustrations. In very good condition.

Boswell, James

The Life of Samuel Johnson. [Boswell’s Life of Johnson].

London : Office of the National Illustrated Library, n.d. [c. 1880].

Finely bound 19th century illustrated printing of the most celebrated biography in the English language, elucidated by copious notes. Octavo, four volumes bound into two in contemporary three quarters calf over marbled boards, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers,Continue reading "The Life of Samuel Johnson. [Boswell’s Life of Johnson]."

Dickens, Charles

Bleak House.

London : Bradbury Evans, 1853.

First edition of this Dickens’ classic. Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers, illustrated with engraved title page and 39 engraved plates by H.K. Browne. In very good condition.

Johnson, Samuel

The Works of Samuel Johnson.

London : Henry G. Bohn, 1850.

Finely bound edition of the works of Samuel Johnson, with an essay on his life and genius by Arthur Murphy. Octavo, two volumes bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled, engraved frontispiece portrait of Johnson toContinue reading "The Works of Samuel Johnson."

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/Bradbury & Evans, 1843-48.

Complete set of Charles Dickens’ Christmas Books. Octavo, 5 volumes, original cloth with gilt titles and tooling to the spine and front panels, all edges gilt. A Christmas Carol, in Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas is a second edition in brown cloth with red and blue title-page dated 1843, ‘Stave One’ and correctedContinue 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."