Gifts - For Him

Conrad, Joseph

Last Essays.

New York : Doubleday, Page & Company, 1926.

First edition of this posthumous collection of twenty essays. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth, frontispiece facsimile of “The Last Words That Conrad Wrote.” Near fine in the original dust jacket with the portrait of Conrad and large ad for Kipling’s works to the verso.

Schwed, Fred; Illustrated by Peter Arno

Where Are the Customers’ Yachts: or A Good Hard Look at Wall Street.

New York : Simon and Schuster, 1940.

First edition of “one of the funniest books ever written about Wall Street” (The Washington Post). Octavo, original cloth, illustrated by Peter Arno. Presentation copy, lengthily inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Really dear Virginia – Hope you don’t understand a profound tome like this – I would not wish to furrowContinue reading "Where Are the Customers’ Yachts: or A Good Hard Look at Wall Street."

McLean, Don

Don McLean: American Pie.

New York : United Artists, 1971.

Don McLean’s personal test pressing of American Pie before mass production, gifted in 1971 to his former sister-in-law. A 12-inch vinyl test pressing with paper labels on both sides and the album itself etched with the word “Peace” and codes “UAS-5535A” and “UAS – 5535B”. Signed by Don McLean on both paper labels, and datedContinue reading "Don McLean: American Pie."

[Webb, Alexander S.]

General Orders of the War Department, Adjutant General’s Office, Washington, January 2, 1863 to July 27, 1863. No. 1-235. [The Emancipation Proclamation].

Washington : Adjutant General's Office [Government Printing Office], January - July 1863.

First printings of over 200 orders of the War Department issued during the Civil War to Union Army commanders in the field, including an early appearance in print of Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation (General order No. 1 of January 2, 1863). This copy prepared for General Alexander S. Webb, Brigadier General, winner of the CongressionalContinue reading "General Orders of the War Department, Adjutant General’s Office, Washington, January 2, 1863 to July 27, 1863. No. 1-235. [The Emancipation Proclamation]."

Armstrong, Neil

Neil Armstrong Signed Cincinnati Gas & Electric Company Stock Certificate.

Cincinnati, Ohio May 7, 1974.

Printed Cincinnati Gas & Electric Company stock certificate boldly signed in full by American astronaut Neil Armstrong. One page, printed on recto and verso, the certificate is entitled “Form 4, Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership of Securities” and dated May 7, 1974. It includes Armstrong‘s relevant personal information, including his Social Security number andContinue reading "Neil Armstrong Signed Cincinnati Gas & Electric Company Stock Certificate."

Fleming, Ian

You Only Live Twice.

London : Jonathan Cape, 1964.

First edition of the final James Bond novel published during Fleming’s lifetime and the eleventh in the series. Octavo, original cloth, patterned endpapers. Boldly signed by Roald Dahl on the front free endpaper. Roald Dahl was a British writer whose darkly comic imagination reshaped twentieth-century children’s literature through classics such as Charlie and the ChocolateContinue reading "You Only Live Twice."

Dylan, Bob

Bob Dylan: Chronicles.

New York : Simon & Schuster, 2004.

First edition of Dylan’s revealing autobiography. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by Bob Dylan on the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Coco Shinomiya. PSA/DNA LOA and sticker to the title page. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box by the Harcourt Bindery.

Vonnegut, Kurt

Slaughterhouse-Five, or The Children’s Crusade, A Duty-Dance With Death.

New York : Delacorte Press, 1969.

First edition, second printing of Vonnegut’s masterpiece. Octavo, original blue cloth. Association copy, lengthily inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the half-title page, “For David and Loni – Nice, nice, very nice, so many different people in the same device. Kurt Vonnegut. Barnstable, Mass. August 14, 1969.” David Hayman was theContinue reading "Slaughterhouse-Five, or The Children’s Crusade, A Duty-Dance With Death."

Benchley, Robert

Benchley -Or Else!

New York : Harper & Brothers, 1947.

First edition of Benchley’s collection of humorous essays. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated with unique drawings by Gluyas Williams. Very good in a good dust jacket. Author photograph by Ben Pinchot.

Fleming, Ian. [Sean Connery]

From Russia, With Love.

London : Jonathan Cape, 1957.

First edition, first state of the fifth James Bond novel and what Fleming considered one of his best books and listed in Life magazine as one of US President John F. Kennedy’s top ten favorite books. Octavo, original cloth with gilt titles to the spine, gilt rose and gun emblem to the front panel. BoldlyContinue reading "From Russia, With Love."

Hirsch, James S. [Willie Mays]

Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend.

New York : Scribner, 2010.

First edition of this definitive biography authorized by Willie Mays and written by Wall Street Journal and New York Times journalist James Hirsch. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated with black and white photographs. Boldly signed by Willie Mays on the front free endpaper. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Jason J. Heuer.Continue reading "Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend."

Fleming, Ian

Octopussy and the Living Daylights.

London : Jonathan Cape, 1965.

First edition of the fourteenth novel in Ian Fleming’s James Bond series. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by legendary director of the film John Glen on the title page. During the 1960s and 1970s, Glen served as a film editor and second unit director, working on such films as Superman (1978) and The Wild Geese (1978); he also contributed to three JamesContinue reading "Octopussy and the Living Daylights."

Faulkner, William

Knight’s Gambit.

New York : Random House, 1949.

First edition of this short story collection by the Nobel Prize-winning author. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by E. McKnight Kauffer. A very nice example.

Wright, J[ohn]. [Alexander Hamilton]

The American Negotiator, or the Various Currencies of the British Colonies in America; As well the Islands, and the Continent. The Currencies of Nova Scotia, Canada, New England, New York, East Jersey, Pensylvania, West Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, &c.

London : Printed for the Proprietors, by J. Smith, Wellclose-Square, 1765.

Third edition of Wright’s important 18th-century reference work which standardized colonial currencies and transformed transatlantic trade, from the library of Alexander Hamilton with his ownership signature and bookplate. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf with gilt ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, rebacked, double gilt ruling to the front andContinue reading "The American Negotiator, or the Various Currencies of the British Colonies in America; As well the Islands, and the Continent. The Currencies of Nova Scotia, Canada, New England, New York, East Jersey, Pensylvania, West Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, &c."

Newton, Sir Isaac

The Chronology of Ancient Kingdoms Amended.

London : Printed for J. Tonson in the Strand, and J. Osborn and T. Longman in Pater-noster Row, 1728.

First edition of Newton’s ambitious attempt to reconstruct and rationalize the timelines of ancient history. Quarto, bound in full contemporary Cambridge calf, ruled and tooled in blind with speckled panels, gilt turn-ins, ordinary paper issue, illustrated with 3 folding engravings. From the library of Harvard University professor Owen Gingerich. Owen Gingerich (1930–2023) was an AmericanContinue reading "The Chronology of Ancient Kingdoms Amended."

The Holy Bible, Conteining the Old Testament and the New. Newly Translated out ot the Originall Tongues: and with the former Translation diligently compared and revised By his Majesties Special commandement. Appointed to be read in Churches.

Imprinted at London : Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majestie, 1613 [-1612].

Exceptionally rare 1613 printing of Robert Barker’s Geneva Bible. Quarto, bound in full contemporary calf with elaborate gilt decorations to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, gilt ruling and panelling to the front and rear panels with flueron cornerpieces, gilt turn-ins, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, ribbon bound in. Two title pages withinContinue reading "The Holy Bible, Conteining the Old Testament and the New. Newly Translated out ot the Originall Tongues: and with the former Translation diligently compared and revised By his Majesties Special commandement. Appointed to be read in Churches."

The Holy Bible, Conteining the Old Testament and the New. Newly Translated out ot the Originall Tongues: and with the former Translation diligently compared and revised By his Majesties Special commandement. Appointed to be read in Churches.

Imprinted at London : Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majestie, 1613 [-1612].

Exceptionally rare 1613 printing of Robert Barker’s Geneva Bible. Quarto, bound in full contemporary calf with elaborate gilt decorations to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, gilt ruling and panelling to the front and rear panels with flueron cornerpieces, gilt turn-ins, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, ribbon bound in. Two title pages withinContinue reading "The Holy Bible, Conteining the Old Testament and the New. Newly Translated out ot the Originall Tongues: and with the former Translation diligently compared and revised By his Majesties Special commandement. Appointed to be read in Churches."

Johnson, Simon and James Kwak

13 Bankers: The Wall Street Takeover and the Next Financial Meltdown.

New York : Pantheon Books, 2010.

First edition of this authoritative history of America’s financial oligarchy by one of the most prominent and frequently cited economists in the nation. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by Simon Johnson on the title page, “To John and Pam Best Wishes Simon Johnson.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by BrianContinue reading "13 Bankers: The Wall Street Takeover and the Next Financial Meltdown."

Howe, Mark Antony De Wolfe. [William Tecumseh Sherman]

Home Letters of General Sherman.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1909.

First edition of the Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer’s work on Civil War Union Army General William Tecumseh Sherman; from W. T. Sherman’s library. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth with gilt titles to the spine and front panel, top edge gilt, tissue-guarded engraved frontispiece. Philemon Tecumseh Sherman’s bookplate adhered to the front pastedown. In very good condition. ThisContinue reading "Home Letters of General Sherman."

Borman, Frank

Frank Borman ‘Earthrise’ Photograph Signed.

.

Oversized satin finish color photograph of the iconic ‘Earthrise‘ image taken by Bill Anders during the Apollo 8 mission, signed by mission commander Frank Borman in silver felt tip, “Good night, Merry Christmas and God Bless all on Earth Frank Borman Gemini VII.“ In fine condition. The photograph measures 20 inches by 16 inches. A desirable image.

Oskison, John M. [William Tecumseh Sherman]

Tecumseh and His Times: The Story of a Great Indian.

New York : G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1938.

First edition of this biography of Shawnee chief and warrior Tecumseh; from the library of Philemon Tecumseh Sherman. Octavo, original tan cloth, cartographic endpapers, frontispiece portrait of Tecumseh. P.T. Sherman’s bookplate to the half title page. In very good condition with some rubbing to the front and rear panels. General William Tecumseh Sherman’s son P.Continue reading "Tecumseh and His Times: The Story of a Great Indian."

Dumas, Alexandre [Alexander]

Le Comte de Monte-Cristo [The Count of Monte-Cristo].

Paris : Bureaux du Journal Le Siecle, 1846.

One of the earliest known editions of The Count of Monte Cristo. Quarto, bound in contemporary half leather over marbled boards, illustrated with the frontispiece portrait and 29 plates on thicker paper by Gavarni, Johannot and others, each with a tissue guard. This copy includes plates, rarely found in this scarce edition. In very goodContinue reading "Le Comte de Monte-Cristo [The Count of Monte-Cristo]."

[William Tecumseh Sherman]

Journal of the Twentieth Annual Session of the National Encampment Grand Army of the Republic, San Francisco, California.

Washington : Gibson Bros., Printers and Bookbinders, 1886.

First edition of this record of post-war social meetings by members of the army; from the library of General William Tecumseh Sherman. Octavo, original green cloth stamped in blind with gilt titles and military insignia, tissue-guarded frontispiece portrait of Commander in Chief S. S. Burdett. General Sherman and his son’s bookplates to the front pastedown.Continue reading "Journal of the Twentieth Annual Session of the National Encampment Grand Army of the Republic, San Francisco, California."

Translated by Rabbi Isidore Epstein

The Babylonian Talmud.

London : The Soncino Press, 1935-1952.

First complete English translation and first Soncino edition of the Babylonian Talmud, a revered and significant work of Jewish scholarship. Octavo, 52 volumes in the original publisher’s deluxe full pebbled morocco with gilt titles and raised bands to the spine, gilt Soncino Press insignia to each front panel, gilt-ruled turn-ins and inner dentelles, top edgeContinue reading "The Babylonian Talmud."