Gifts - For Her

Travers, P.L

Mary Poppins.

New York : Reynal & Hitchcock, 1934.

First American edition of this children’s classic. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles and ruling to the spine, raised bands, double gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, gilt inner dentelles stamp-signed by the Harcourt Bindery, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In fine condition, bookplate. An exceptional example.

Tennyson, Alfred, [Herman Melville]

The May Queen.

London : Sampson Low, Son, & Marston, 1868.

Presentation copy, later printing of Tennyson’s popular Victorian poem. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth elaborately decorated in gilt, all edges gilt, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed on the front free endpaper, “To Fanny Melville from her brother Herman April 1876 New York.” Presentation inscription likely in the hand of Melville’s wife. Herman Melville was born in NewContinue reading "The May Queen."

Dabit, Eugene

L’Hotel du Nord.

Paris : Robert Denoël, 1929.

First edition of the author’s immensely popular novel. Octavo, bound in full crushed levant morocco by Valmard with gilt titles to the spine, marbled endpapers and additional patterned silk endleaves, gilt inner dentelles stamp-signed by Valmard, with two illustrations signed by Dabit mounted to the front and rear pastedown. Presentation copy, inscribed by the authorContinue reading "L’Hotel du Nord."

Mill, John Stuart

The Subjection of Women.

London : Longmans, Green, Reader, and Dyer, 1869.

First edition of Mill’s classic work defending the rights of women, publisher’s presentation copy, with a blind stamp to title, “Presented by the Publishers.” Octavo, original cloth. In very good condition, names to the half-title page. Rare and desirable.

Flaubert, Gustave

Madame Bovary: Provincial Manners.

Paris : Michel Lévy frères, 1857.

True first edition, first printing with the mistake in the name of the dedicatee, “Sénart” written with T and not a D, “nor of your dedication” on the same page, which will become “and of your dedication”, and the double space between two words p. 7 (23rd line) of the author’s masterpiece. Octavo, two volumes,Continue reading "Madame Bovary: Provincial Manners."

Bojaxhiu, Mary Teresa. [Mother Teresa]

Mother Teresa Autograph Quotation Signed.

.

Autograph quotation signed by Mother Teresa, “God is love and he love [sic] you love others as he loves you God bless you M Teresa mc.” One page, on an off-white slip which measures 4.75 inches by 3.5 inches. Matted with a color photograph of Mother Teresa. In near fine condition. The entire piece measuresContinue reading "Mother Teresa Autograph Quotation Signed."

Johnson, Osa

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

Philadelphia : J.B. Lippincott Company, 1940.

First edition of Johnson’s classic work. Octavo, original striped cloth, photographic endpapers illustrated with 83 aquatone illustrations. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “To Esther Bates With my very best African wishes. Affectionately Osa Johnson.” Near fine in a good dust jacket with chips and wear.

Oz, Amos

A Tale of Love and Darkness.

New York : Harcourt, Inc, 2004.

First American edition of “one of the most enchanting and deeply satisfying books”(The New Republic). Octavo, original boards. Boldly signed by Amos Oz on a University of the Negev bookplate with a portrait of David Ben-Gurion. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Claudine G. Mansour. Translated from the Hebrew by Nicholas DeContinue reading "A Tale of Love and Darkness."

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."

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]."

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."

Tan, Amy [Larry McMurtry]

The Joy Luck Club.

New York : G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1989.

First edition, advance reading copy of Tan’s masterpiece. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “For Larry McMurtry with thanks for the pleasure of your company and your good book. Amy 5 Apr ’90.” The recipient, Larry McMurtry remains best known for his 1985 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Lonesome Dove which was adaptedContinue reading "The Joy Luck Club."

Didion, Joan. [Vanessa Redgrave]

The Year of Magical Thinking: A Play by Joan Didion Signed Theatrical Poster.

New York : Prof. D.R. McClennahan, 2006.

Original theatrical poster from Vanessa Redgrave’s performance of Didion’s 2005 best-selling memoir at the Booth Theatre on Broadway. Signed by Joan Didion and Vanessa Redgrave on the lower portion of the poster. In near fine condition.

Hurston, Zora Neale

Seraph on the Suwanee: A Novel.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1948.

First edition of this humorous novel set in Florida, a place Hurston knew well, having been born in Eatonville, an entirely black Florida town. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a very good dust jacket with a chip to the spine.

Grahame, Kenneth

The Wind in the Willows.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1908.

First American edition of Grahame’s beloved children’s novel which preceded the English edition by only four days, with Scribner’s seal on the copyright page. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth, tissue-guarded frontispiece by W. Grahame Robertson. In good condition.

Hazan, Marcella

Marcella Cucina.

New York : Harper Collins Publishers, 1997.

First edition of this collection of recipes by Hazan. Quarto, original glossy boards, pictorial endpapers, illustrated with photographs by Alison Harris. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “To Doris best wishes! Marcella Hazan.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Joel Avirom.

James, Henry

The Princess Casamassima: A Novel.

New York : Macmillan and Co, 1886.

First American edition of one of James’s “three formidable novels” published in the 1880s along with The Bostonians and The Tragic Muse. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth. In near fine condition, name opposite the half-title page. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell case.

Motley, John Lothrop

The Selected Works of John Lothrop Motley: The Rise of the Dutch Republic; Life and Death of John Barneveld; The United Netherlands.

London : John Murray, 1903-1904.

Finely bound set of the selected works of John Lothrop Motley. Octavo, 9 volumes bound in three quarters morocco with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, top edge gilt, tissue-guarded frontispece to each volume. In near fine condition.

Bronte, Charlotte; Emily Bronte; Anne Bronte

The Life and Works of Charlotte Bronte and Her Sisters.

London : John Murray, 1920-1926.

The Haworth edition of the works of the sisters Bronte. Octavo, 7 volumes bound in full crushed levant scarlet morocco by Riviere & Son, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, triple gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles stamp-signed by RiviereContinue reading "The Life and Works of Charlotte Bronte and Her Sisters."

Rowson [Susanna Haswell]

Charlotte Temple: A Tale of Truth.

Hartford : Published by Silas Andrus, 1827.

Early American printing of the first American bestseller, first published in 1794. 16mo, half calf over wooden boards, gilt-lettered spine, woodcut frontispiece. In good condition, assuming boards were once paper-covered, the paper has since entirely perished; shallow loss along top edge of both covers, lacking rear endpaper, 20th century rubberstamp to front pastedown. Rare.

Smith, Julia Evelina [Translator]

The Holy Bible: Containing The Old and New Testaments; Translated Literally From The Original Tongues.

Hartford, Conn. : American Publishing Company, 1876.

First edition of the first complete translation of the Bible into English done by a woman, Julia E. Smith (1792-1886), of Glastonbury Connecticut. One of 1,000 copies printed. Quarto, bound in full modern calf with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers. In near fine condition. An invaluable Bible for its period which remainsContinue reading "The Holy Bible: Containing The Old and New Testaments; Translated Literally From The Original Tongues."

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.