Gifts - For Her

Winsor, Kathleen.

Forever Amber.

New York: The Macmillan Company, 1944.

First edition of Kathleen Winsor’s sensational debut, the scandalous Restoration romance that was banned in Massachusetts and became one of the best-selling novels of the 1940s. Octavo, original green cloth, map endpapers of London under Charles II. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket illustration by Jean des Vignes. Author photograph by TheContinue reading "Forever Amber."

Rowling, J.K. [Thomas Taylor].

Harry Potter Card Signed by J.K. Rowling and Thomas Taylor.

Rare card depicting Harry Potter in front of the Hogwarts Express signed by both J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, and Thomas Taylor, the artist behind the original cover of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. At just 23 years old, Thomas Taylor had recently graduated from art school and was working atContinue reading "Harry Potter Card Signed by J.K. Rowling and Thomas Taylor."

Truman, Bess W. [Robert Redmond].

Bess W. Truman Signed Photograph.

Washington, D.C.: [c. 1945-1953].

Original black and white photograph of Bess W. Truman, First Lady of the United States, signed by her and inscribed to Robert Redmond, head gardener of the White House. The portrait shows Mrs. Truman wearing a pearl necklace, and is inscribed in the lower margin, “With all good wishes to Robert Redmond, from Bess W.Continue reading "Bess W. Truman Signed Photograph."

Fielding, Henry.

Amelia.

London: Printed for A. Millar, 1752.

First edition of Henry Fielding’s fourth and final novel. Octavo, four volumes, bound in full morocco by Worsfold, gilt titles and elaborate tooling to the spines in seven compartments within raised gilt bands, black and green morocco lettering-pieces, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, top edges gilt, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles,Continue reading "Amelia."

Howells, William Dean.

Miss Bellard’s Inspiration.

New York and London: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1905.

First edition of William Dean Howells’s gently comic late novel of courtship and marriage. Octavo, original green cloth, the front board and spine handsomely decorated in an Art Nouveau design of light green foliage and white and yellow daisies, lettered in gilt. In very good condition, bookplate on the front pastedown.

Roosevelt, Eleanor; Regina Tor.

Growing Toward Peace.

New York: Random House, 1960.

First edition of Eleanor Roosevelt’s celebration of the United Nations, written with Regina Tor two years before her death by the woman who had chaired the UN Commission on Human Rights and guided the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to its adoption in 1948. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by both Eleanor Roosevelt and ReginaContinue reading "Growing Toward Peace."

Robuchon, Joël; Catherine Michel.

Ma Cuisine Pour Vous: Les Recettes Originales de Joël Robuchon.

Paris: Robert Laffont, 1986.

First edition of Robuchon’s classic cookbook, published three years before Gault Millau named him Chef of the Century. Octavo, original pictorial boards, pictorial endpapers, illustrated with full-page color photographs by Corrinne Ryman and Pierre Cabannes. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author in French on the half-title page which translates to, “To Monsieur Saito, with myContinue reading "Ma Cuisine Pour Vous: Les Recettes Originales de Joël Robuchon."

Wharton, Edith.

The House of Mirth.

New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1905.

First edition of the novel that brought Wharton international success. First issue with the Scribner’s seal to the copyright page. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in five compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt inner dentellesContinue reading "The House of Mirth."

Lee, Harper.

To Kill A Mockingbird.

Philadelphia & New York: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1960.

First edition of one of the most important American novels of the twentieth century, which had an initial print run of only 5,000 copies and earned Harper Lee the 1961 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Octavo, original half-cloth with the spine lettered in brown. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper inContinue reading "To Kill A Mockingbird."

Davison, Jane; Lesley Davison. [Julia Child].

To Make a House a Home: Four Generations of American Women and the Houses They Lived In.

New York: Random House, 1994.

First edition of Jane and Lesley Davison’s history of four generations of American women and the houses they made into homes. Quarto, original half cloth. Association copy, inscribed by Lesley Davison on the title page, “Julia, A book about homes for someone who is giving us one. With love, Lesley. May, 1994.” The recipient, JuliaContinue reading "To Make a House a Home: Four Generations of American Women and the Houses They Lived In."

L'Engle, Madeleine.

Certain Women.

New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 1992.

First edition of this ambitious novel, by the Newbery Award-winning author of A Wrinkle in Time. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “for Loretta Certainly Madeleine L’Engle.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Dave Gatti.

Arendt, Hannah.

The Human Condition.

Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1958.

First edition of Arendt’s penetrating examination of the human condition. Octavo, original half cloth. Signed and dated by the author on the front free endpaper, “Hannah Arendt April 1965.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. An exceptional example, rare and desirable signed.

Rossner, Judith. [Richard Gere].

Looking For Mr. Goodbar.

New York: Simon and Schuster, 1975.

First edition of this harrowing true story, the groundbreaking New York Times bestseller, is a story of love, power, sex, and death during the sexual revolution of the 1970s, basis for the 1977 film starring Diane Keaton, Richard Gere and Tuesday Weld. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by the author on the half-title page, “Wish you wellContinue reading "Looking For Mr. Goodbar."

Rowling, J.K. [Thomas Taylor].

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

London: Bloomsbury, 2001.

The celebration edition of the first book in the Harry Potter series, a cornerstone of young adult literature and one of the best-selling books of all time. Octavo, original illustrated wrappers. Boldly signed by J.K. Rowling on the title page. Additionally signed by cover artist Thomas Taylor on the title page with a large originalContinue reading "Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone."

L'Engle, Madeleine.

Certain Women.

New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 1992.

First edition of this ambitious novel, by the Newbery Award-winning author of A Wrinkle in Time. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by the author. Near fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Dave Gatti.

Hansberry, Lorraine.

A Raisin In the Sun.

New York: Random House, 1959.

First edition of this groundbreaking play, the first play written by an African American woman to be produced on Broadway. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Boldly signed and dated by Lorraine Hansberry on the front free endpaper. Early in April 1963, Hansberry was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was in and out of University HospitalContinue reading "A Raisin In the Sun."

Thackeray, William Makepeace.

Vanity Fair: A Novel Without a Hero.

London: Bradbury and Evans, 1848.

First edition, first issue of Thackeray’s masterpiece. Octavo, handsomely bound in three-quarters morocco over green cloth boards with gilt titles and floral tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, all edges marbled, illustrated by the author. In very good condition.

Rossner, Judith.

Looking For Mr. Goodbar.

New York: Simon and Schuster, 1975.

Early printing of this harrowing true story, the groundbreaking New York Times bestseller, is a story of love, power, sex, and death during the sexual revolution of the 1970s, basis for the 1977 film starring Diane Keaton, Richard Gere and Tuesday Weld. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Judith Rossner on the title page. NearContinue reading "Looking For Mr. Goodbar."

Gruelle, Johnny.

Raggedy Ann’s Lucky Pennies.

New York: P.F. Volland Company, 1932.

First edition of the fifteenth book in Johnny Gruelle’s beloved Raggedy Ann series. Octavo, original pictorial paper-covered boards with black cloth backstrip, illustrated by the author in color. In very good condition, inscription to the verso of the front free endpaper.

Ernaux, Annie [Annie Dillard].

A Frozen Woman.

New York: Four Walls Eight Windows, 1995.

First edition in English of this early autobiographical work by the Nobel Prize-winning French writer Annie Ernaux, a fierce account of a spirited girl slowly frozen into the roles of wife and mother. Octavo, original boards. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the title page to fellow writer Annie Dillard, “For Annie, our historyContinue reading "A Frozen Woman."

Gruelle, Johnny.

Raggedy Ann’s Magical Wishes.

Chicago: M.A. Donohue & Company, 1928.

Early printing of the eighth book in Johnny Gruelle’s beloved Raggedy Ann series. Octavo, original pictorial paper-covered boards with black cloth backstrip, illustrated by the author in color. Lengthily signed by the author on the front pastedown, “With a wish that all your wishes may be ‘Magical Wishes’ Johnny Gruelle, March 1937.” In very goodContinue reading "Raggedy Ann’s Magical Wishes."

Gruelle, Johnny.

Marcella Stories.

New York: P.F. Volland Company, 1929.

First edition of this beloved installment in the author’s Raggedy Ann series. Quarto, publisher’s original pictorial paper-covered boards, illustrated in color throughout. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed and twice signed by Gruelle on the half-title page, “With love and the best of happiness wishes to little Sally Ann, Johnny Gruelle. And dear little Sally Ann, ‘UncleContinue reading "Marcella Stories."

Gruelle, Johnny.

Raggedy Ann and Andy and the Camel with the Wrinkled Knees.

New York: P.F. Volland Company, 1924.

Later printing of this beloved Raggedy Ann tale. Octavo, publisher’s original pictorial paper-covered boards, pictorial endpapers, illustrated in color throughout. Contemporary gift inscription to the half-title page. In good condition.

Earhart, Amelia.

20 Hrs. 40 Min. Our Flight in the Friendship: The American Girl, First Across the Atlantic by Air, Tells Her Story.

New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1928.

First edition of Earhart’s thrilling account of of her experience as a passenger aboard the Friendship, which made her the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean by air in 1928. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth, top stain yellow, pictorial endpapers, frontispiece, illustrated with 61 illustrations. Presentation copy, inscribed by Amelia Earhart on the recto ofContinue reading "20 Hrs. 40 Min. Our Flight in the Friendship: The American Girl, First Across the Atlantic by Air, Tells Her Story."