Gifts - Graduation and Celebrations

Rowling, J.K.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Translated from the Original Runes by Hermione Granger. With Commentary by Professor Albus Dumbledore.

London: The Children's High Level Group, 2008.

First edition, limited issue of this wizarding classic. Boldly signed by J.K. Rowling on the half-title page. Octavo, original brown morocco-patterned boards with silver metal cornerpieces and central ornament accented with faux blue gems, silver metal clasp, marbled endpapers, green silk bookmark, illustrated. Housed in the embroidered velvet bag within the publisher’s calf case withContinue reading "The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Translated from the Original Runes by Hermione Granger. With Commentary by Professor Albus Dumbledore."

Auden, W.H.

Epistle To A Godson & Other Poems.

London: Faber and Faber, 1972.

First edition of this classic collection of poems. Octavo, original half cloth. Inscribed by W.H. Auden on the front free endpaper with the first three stanzas of “Doggerel by a Senior Citizen” which reads in full: “Our earth in 1969 / Is not the planet I call mine, / The words, I mean, that givesContinue reading "Epistle To A Godson & Other Poems."

Schelling, Thomas C.

The Strategy of Conflict.

Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1960.

First edition of this work that pioneered the study of bargaining and strategic behavior. Octavo, original yellow cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “For William Tom Schelling. June ’10.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Uncommon in this condition and signed.

Hawking, Stephen; Introduction by Carl Sagan.

A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes.

London: Bantam Press, 1988.

First edition of Hawking’s groundbreaking work. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated by Ron Miller. Introduction by Carl Sagan. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket photograph by David Gamble. An exceptional example.

Schein, Edgar H.

Organizational Psychology.

Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, Inc, 1965.

First edition of Schein’s work on organizational dynamics and psychology. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by the author on the title page, “With best wishes E.H. Schein.” Also laid in is a signed note from Schein. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket.

Boswell, James. Edited by Frank Brady and Frederick A. Pottle.

The Private Papers of James Boswell: Boswell’s London Journal 1762-1763; Boswell in Holland 1763-1764; Boswell on the Grand Tour: Germany and Switzerland 1764; Boswell on the Grand Tour: Italy, Corsica, and France 1765-1766; Boswell In Search of a Wife 1766-1769; Boswell For The Defence 1769-1774.

London: William Heinemann Ltd, 1951-1960.

The De Luxe Yale edition of the private papers of James Boswell. Tall octavo, 6 volumes, original publisher’s half vellum with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, gilt coat of arms to each front panel, top edge gilt, ribbons bound in, frontispiece to each volume, illustrated, folding maps. In fine condition. A very attractive set.

Ginsburg, Ruth Bader.

My Own Words. [with] Typed Letter Signed by Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

New York: Simon and Schuster, 2016.

First edition of this work which gives “unprecedented insight into the inner workings of the Supreme Court and garner unparalleled appreciation for one of its finest minds” (Booklist). Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Written with Mary Hartnett and Wendy W. Williams. Accompanied with a typed letter signed to BruceContinue reading "My Own Words. [with] Typed Letter Signed by Ruth Bader Ginsburg."

Jefferson, Thomas and James Madison.

Thomas Jefferson and James Madison Signed Ship’s Passport.

September 10, 1802.

Rare four-language ship’s passport signed by Thomas Jefferson as President and James Madison as Secretary of State. One page, partially printed and accomplished in manuscript, dated September 10, 1802. The passport contains four columns, one in English and three translations in French, Spanish, and Dutch, and gives leave and permission to “John H. Milliken, masterContinue reading "Thomas Jefferson and James Madison Signed Ship’s Passport."

More, Sir Thomas. Translated by Ralph Robinson. Foreword by William Morris. Edited by F.S. Ellis.

Utopia.

Hammersmith, in the County of Middlesex: Printed by William Morris at the Kelmscott Press, 1893.

The Kelmscott Press limited edition of  Sir Thomas More’s “quintessential humanist dialogue” (ODNB), first published in Louvain in 1516. Quarto, original publisher’s limp vellum with gilt titles to the spine, original silk ties, text printed in red and black in Chaucer and Troy types, 2 full-page woodcut borders and initials designed by William Morris. OneContinue reading "Utopia."

Jones, James.

From Here to Eternity.

New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1951.

First edition of the author’s first book, one of the great novels of World War II. 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 panel, gilt inner dentelles stamp-signed by the HarcourtContinue reading "From Here to Eternity."

Baldwin, James.

Go Tell It On The Mountain.

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1953.

First edition of Baldwin’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 panel, gilt inner dentelles stamp-signed by the Harcourt Bindery, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Boldly signed by JamesContinue reading "Go Tell It On The Mountain."

Robinson, Jackie; Carl T. Rowan.

Wait Till Next Year.

New York: Random House, 1960.

First edition of this biography of the first African-American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era. Octavo, original half cloth, top stain red. Boldly signed by Carl T. Rowan on the title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Illustrated with eight pages of black-and-white photographs. Jacket design by Anita Walker.

Dickens, Charles.

The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.

London: Chapman and Hall, 1837.

First edition in book form of Dickens’ first novel and one of his greatest works. Octavo, bound in full polished calf bound by Bayntun with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, marbled endpapers,Continue reading "The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club."

Wolfe, Tom [Madeleine Albright].

I Am Charlotte Simmons.

New York: Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, 2004.

First edition of this “hilarious, exclamation-point filled novel” (John Freeman). Octavo, original half cloth, bookplate to the front pastedown from “The Private Collection of Secretary Madeleine K. Albright.” The collector, Madeleine K. Albright, was the first woman to serve as the U.S. Secretary of State. She acted under President Bill Clinton from 1997 to 2001, leadingContinue reading "I Am Charlotte Simmons."

Joyce, James.

Ulysses.

New York: Random House, 1946.

Early printing of Joyce’s masterpiece. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by E. McKnight Kauffer.

Parker, Dorothy.

Enough Rope: Poems.

New York: Boni & Liveright, 1926.

Rare first edition of Parker’s poignant collection of poetry exploring the complexities of human nature. Octavo, original publisher’s half cloth over marbled paper covered boards. In very good condition, name to the front free endpaper.

Armstrong, Neil.

Neil Armstrong Apollo 11 Signed Footprint Photograph.

Rare photograph of the American Flag on the lunar surface, with the footprints of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin clearly visible on the moon’s surface, boldly signed by Neil Armstrong in blue ink. The image measures 11 inches by 8.5 inches. In fine condition. Rare and desirable signed by Armstrong. Encapsulated and authenticated by PSA/DNA.Continue reading "Neil Armstrong Apollo 11 Signed Footprint Photograph."

Bagby, George W. [Moses Adams] .

For Virginians Only: What I Did With My Fifty Millions.

Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co, 1874.

Rare first edition of this satirical novel from popular Virginia physician, essayist, and author George W. Bagby. Sextodecimo, original wrappers. In very good condition. Toning to the wrappers with rubbing to the extremities, small losses to the bottom right corner of the front wrapper, losses to the spine. Ownership signature and annotation to the frontContinue reading "For Virginians Only: What I Did With My Fifty Millions."

Rowling, J.K.

Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire.

London: Bloomsbury, 2000.

First edition of Rowling’s fourth book in the Harry Potter series. Octavo, original illustrated boards. Boldly signed by J.K. Rowling on the dedication page. The recipient was a young girl who got the book signed at Waterstones in Newcastle on 10th July 2000, two days after the launch date, when the author was doing aContinue reading "Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire."

Dickens, Charles.

The Personal History of David Copperfield.

London: Bradbury and Evans, 1850.

First edition of “the most perfect of all the Dickens novels” (Virginia Woolf). Octavo, bound in full polished calf by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt turnins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, tissue-guarded frontispiece, engraved vignette titles. Illustrated with 38Continue reading "The Personal History of David Copperfield."

Borman, Frank.

Frank Borman Signed Apollo 8 Mission Report.

Houston, TX: National Aeronautics and Space Administration / Manned Spacecraft Center, 1969.

Apollo 8 Mission Report describing the observations and objectives, trajectory, biomedical evaluations, and anomalies of the mission flight. Quarto, original wrappers, unbound. Signed on the front panel with a quote by Apollo astronaut Frank Borman from their famous Christmas broadcast from space, “From Apollo 8, good night, Merry Christmas and God bless all on Earth.Continue reading "Frank Borman Signed Apollo 8 Mission Report."

Dickens, Charles.

Oliver Twist.

London: Bradbury & Evans, Whitefriars, 1846.

First single volume edition of “the most perfect of all the Dickens novels” (Virginia Woolf). Octavo, bound in full polished calf by Sangorski and Sutcliffe with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. With black and white illustrationsContinue reading "Oliver Twist."

Anderson, Maxwell.

Key Largo: A Play in a Prologue and Two Acts.

Washington, D.C: Anderson House, 1939.

First edition of this classic fast-paced play in blank verse, basis for the 1948 film directed by John Huston and starring Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson and Lauren Bacall. Octavo, original cloth, pictorial endpapers. Presentation copy, inscribed by Maxwell Anderson in the year of publication on the half-title page and additionally signed on the titleContinue reading "Key Largo: A Play in a Prologue and Two Acts."

Browning, Robert.

Balaustion’s Adventure: Including a Transcript From Euripides.

London: Smith, Elder & Co, 1871.

First edition of this poetic retelling of Euripides’ ‘Alkestis’ by Victorian poet Robert Browning. Octodecimo, original cloth with gilt titles to the spine and decorative borders stamped in black to the front and rear panels. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “Mrs. Procter — with RB’s affectionate regards.” The recipient wasContinue reading "Balaustion’s Adventure: Including a Transcript From Euripides."