Fine Bindings and Sets

Powell, Anthony

Hearing Secret Harmonies.

London : Heinemann, 1975.

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

Lewis, C.S

The Chronicles of Narnia Set: The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Horse and His Boy, The Magician’s Nephew, The Last Battle.

London : Geoffrey Bles, 1950-1956.

First editions of each book in the author’s classic Chronicles of Narnia series, which has sold over 100 million copies in 47 languages. Octavo, 7 volumes, illustrated by Pauline Baynes, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, gilt signatureContinue reading "The Chronicles of Narnia Set: The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Horse and His Boy, The Magician’s Nephew, The Last Battle."

Biblia, Das ist: Die ganze Heilige Schrift Des Alten und Neuen Testaments. Bie Foide von Herrnn Doctor Martin Luther. [18th Century German Martin Luther Bible].

Nuremberg : Endter, 1788.

Eighteenth century printing of the Martin Luther Bible; the first Bible in the German language originally translated by Martin Luther in 1534, considered the foundation of the modern German language. Folio, bound in full pig elaborately stamped in blind with brass cornerpieces, illustrated with numerous engravings in-text, including many 1/3 page and a number ofContinue reading "Biblia, Das ist: Die ganze Heilige Schrift Des Alten und Neuen Testaments. Bie Foide von Herrnn Doctor Martin Luther. [18th Century German Martin Luther Bible]."

Lewis, C.S

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

London : Geoffrey Bles, 1950.

First edition of the first work in Lewis’ acclaimed Narnia series. 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 front panel, inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In fine condition. Illustrated byContinue reading "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe."

Wilder, Thornton

The Bridge of San Luis Rey.

New York : Albert & Charles Boni, 1927.

First edition of the author’s masterpiece and winner of the Pulitzer Prize. 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.

Stowe, Harriet Beecher

The Writings of Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Cambridge : The Riverside Press, 1896.

The Large Paper Author’s Autograph edition of the writings of Harriet Beecher Stowe. Octavo, 16 volumes bound in three quarter crushed levant pigskin with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. Signed by Harriet Beecher Stowe on the limitation page ‘Specially For ThisContinue reading "The Writings of Harriet Beecher Stowe."

Dickinson, Emily. Edited by T.W. Higginson and Mabel Loomis Todd

Poems by Emily Dickinson: Second Series.

Boston : Roberts Brothers, 1891.

First edition of Emily Dickinson’s second book of poetry. BAL 4656. Octavo, original publisher’s gray and green cloth decoratively stamped in gilt, all edges gilt, facsimile manuscript leaves at front, tissue guarded title page. In very good condition. A nice example.

Gray, Thomas

The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray. [Fore-edge Painting].

London : Bell and Daldy, 1857.

Finely bound collection of the collected poetical works of Thomas Gray decorated with a concealed fore-edge painting of Eton College. Octavo, bound in full straight grain morocco with gilt titles to the spine, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, decorated with a concealed fore-edge painting of Eton College. In very good condition. Armorial bookplate.

Wharton, Edith

The Custom of the Country.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1913.

First edition of one of Wharton’s finest novels, which tells the story of Undine Spragg, a Midwestern girl who attempts to ascend in New York City society. Octavo, original cloth. In near fine condition, name to the front free endpaper. Housed in a custom half morocco chemise and clamshell box. An exceptional presentation.

White, Henry Kirke

Remains of Henry Kirke White, with a Memoir of the Author. [Fore-edge Painting].

Glasgow : Printed for Richard Griffin & Co, 1844.

Finely bound collection of the letters and poems of Henry Kirke White. 12mo, finely bound in full morocco elaborately decorated in gilt, marbled endpapers, tissue-guarded frontispiece portrait of White, all edges gilt, decorated with a concealed fore-edge painting. In very good condition. Ownership inscription. A unique example.

King, Jr., Martin Luther

Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story.

New York : Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1958.

First edition, early printing of Dr. Martin Luther King’s first book. Octavo, bound in full 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 inner dentelles stamp-signed by the Harcourt Bindery, marbled endpapers, all edgesContinue reading "Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story."

Baum, L. Frank

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus.

Indianapolis : The Bowen-Merrill Company, 1902.

First edition of this Christmas classic with the first state headings “Book First, Book Second and Book Third.” Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery wit  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 byContinue reading "The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus."

Twain, Mark [Samuel L. Clemens]

Life On The Mississippi.

Boston : James R. Osgood and Company, 1883.

First American edition, first state of this provocative portrait of the great Mississippi River with tailpiece of Twain in flames on p. 441 and “The St. Louis Hotel” caption on p. 443. Octavo, original publisher’s deluxe full sheep with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled, illustrated. In very good condition,Continue reading "Life On The Mississippi."

Shakespeare, William

The Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare. With A Glossary.

Chiswick : Printed by C. Whittingham, 1825.

Finely bound example of the collected dramatic works of William Shakespeare. 12mo, bound in full pebbled dark green morocco with gilt titles and elaborate gilt tooling to the spine, gilt tooling to the front and rear panels withing triple gilt ruling to the spine and front panels, gilt turn-ins and wide gilt inner dentelles, allContinue reading "The Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare. With A Glossary."

Heaney, Seamus

Beowulf: A New Verse Translation.

London : Faber and Faber, 1999.

First edition of this work by the Nobel Prize-winning author. Octavo, original boards. Boldly signed by Seamus Heaney on the title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket painting by Barrie Cooke. Author photograph by Caroline Forbes. A very sharp example.

Byron, George Gordon Noel. [Lord Byron]

Don Juan.

London : Thomas Davison [i.e., John Murray], 1819-1821 (Cantos I-V, Volumes I-II)/John Hunt, 1823-24 (Cantos VI-XVI, Volumes III-VI).

Scarce complete first edition set of Byron’s great work which was widely criticized as immoral upon publication and is now considered one of the greatest poems of the Romantics; from the library of American writer Erica Jong. Volume one was produced in quarto format and the subsequent 5 volumes in octavo (Davison abandoned the quartoContinue reading "Don Juan."

Mifflin, Thomas; Thomas McKean; William Findley; Joseph Hiester; et al

Collection of 28 Autographs of the First Governors of Pennsylvania.

c. 1798-1908.

Rare collection of printed and manuscript documents, signed by the first 28 (of 29) Governors of Pennsylvania, being a near continuous representation of the office from its establishment in 1790 with the first Governorship of Thomas Mifflin, up until the 1930s with the 29th Governorship of Gifford Pinchot. Quarto, each document is tipped in to a paperContinue reading "Collection of 28 Autographs of the First Governors of Pennsylvania."

Solzhenitsyn, Alexander. [Solzhentizyn]

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich.

London : Victor Gollancz, 1963.

First British edition of the Nobel Prize-winner’s first published work. Octavo, bound in full morocco, gilt titles to the spine, titles to the front panel, all edges gilt. Housed in a custom clamshell box. Translated by Ralph Parker. An exceptional presentation.

Updike, John. Illustrated by Barbara Fox [Erica Jong]

Marry Me: A Romance.

Franklin Center, Pennsylvania : The Franklin Library, 1976.

First edition of “the gentlest book Updike has written” (Kirkus Reviews), privately printed exclusively for Members of the First Edition Society. Octavo, original publisher’s full leather elaborately stamped in gilt, moire silk endpapers, all edges gilt, silk ribbon bound in. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the limitation page, “For Erica + Ken warmContinue reading "Marry Me: A Romance."

Fowles, John

The Magus.

Boston : Houghton Mifflin Company, 1965.

First American edition, preceding the British edition by one year of the author’s most well-known work. Octavo, original half cloth. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket, bookplate of famed collector Rolland Comstock. Jacket painting by Tom Adams. Housed in a custom half morocco case.

[Society of the Cincinnati]

Proceedings of the General Society of the Cincinnati [with] Institution of the Society of the Cincinnati, Formed by the Officers of the American Army of the Revolution, 1783.

New York : Printed for the Society by Douglas Taylor, 1886/ Philadelphia: Review Printing House, 1887.

First editions of two official publications of the Society of the Cincinnati, a valuable resource on the Revolutionary institution. Quarto, two volumes uniformly bound in three quarter contemporary morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, top edges gilt, marbled endpapers. The two-volume collectionContinue reading "Proceedings of the General Society of the Cincinnati [with] Institution of the Society of the Cincinnati, Formed by the Officers of the American Army of the Revolution, 1783."

Dos Passos, John

Most Likely to Succeed.

New York : Prentice-Hall, Inc, 1954.

Signed limited first edition of the author’s semi-autobiographical novel. Octavo, bound in three quarter morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, top edge gilt. This special presentation edition limited to one thousand numbered copies signed by the author, this is number 138. Association copy, additionally inscribedContinue reading "Most Likely to Succeed."

Stevenson, Robert Louis

The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson. [with] The Letters of Robert Stevenson. [Including Treasure Island,

London : Various Publishers, 1902.

Uniformly bound collection of the works and letters of Robert Louis Stevenson. Octavo, 36 volumes bound in three quarter morocco by H. Sotheran and Co.with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, illustrated. In very good condition.

Carroll, Lewis. [Charles Lutwidge Dodgson]

Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland.

London : MacMillan and Co, 1879.

Early edition with sixty-second thousand stated on the title page of this classic work, boldly inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “Edith Mary Alice Berkeley from the Author, May 15/80.” Octavo, original cloth, gilt titles to the spine, all edges gilt, publisher’s cloth s, all edges gilt, housed in a modern scarlet morocco slipcaseContinue reading "Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland."