Gifts - Holidays

Dickens, Charles

Hard Times. For These Times.

London : Bradbury & Evans, 1854.

First edition in book form of Dickens’ attack on the living conditions of England’s mid-19th century industrial cities. Octavo, bound in full calf by Sangorski & Sutcliffe with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, top edge marbled, marbled endpapers. In near fine condition. Original cloth covers boundContinue reading "Hard Times. For These Times."

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."

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."

Fleming, Ian

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

London : Jonathan Cape, 1963.

Signed limited first edition, the only Bond title issued in a limited edition, number 96 of 285 examples of the eleventh Bond novel. Octavo, original half vellum, top edge gilt, with color frontispiece portrait of Fleming by Amherst Villiers. In fine condition with the original acetate in near fine condition. Housed in a custom chemiseContinue reading "On Her Majesty’s Secret Service."

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."

Browning, Robert

Dramatis Personae.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1864.

First edition of Browning’s popular poetry collection. Octavo, contemporary tree calf bound in full morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within gilt raised bands, gilt ruling to boards, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the second free endpaper, “Robert Browning wishes all happinessContinue reading "Dramatis Personae."

Gretzky, Walter; Jim Taylor [Wayne Gretzky]

Gretzky: From the Back Yard Rink to the Stanley Cup.

Toronto, Ontario : McClelland and Stewart Limited, 1984.

First edition of this biography of the greatest hockey player of all-time told through the eyes of his father, Walter Gretzky, to respected columnist, Jim Taylor. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated with black and white photographs. Boldly signed by the great one “Wayne Gretzky 99” on the front free endpaper, along with his father Walter GretzkyContinue reading "Gretzky: From the Back Yard Rink to the Stanley Cup."

Salinger, J.D

The Catcher in the Rye.

Boston : Little, Brown and Company, 1951.

Review copy of the first edition of Salinger’s debut novel, a cherished portrait of adolescence and one of the most widely banned books ever published. Octavo, original black cloth with gilt-lettered spine. Review copy, with the release slip laid in, near fine in a very good first issue dust jacket with the rear panel photographContinue reading "The Catcher in the Rye."

[Hondius, Jodocus]

Terra Sancta quae in Sacris Terra Promissionis olim Palestina [Holy Land Map].

Amsterdam : Blaeu, Willem, 1629.

Copper engraved, hand-colored map of one of the most decorative maps of the Holy Land of the 17th century. One page with hand-colored borders, the map depicts the tribes of Israel and the route the Israelites took from Egypt through Sinai into Canaan. In the sea there are three sea monsters, one of which hasContinue reading "Terra Sancta quae in Sacris Terra Promissionis olim Palestina [Holy Land Map]."

Alcott, Louisa May

Little Women or Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy. [with] Little Women or Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy Part Second. [with] Little Men: Life at Plumfield with Jo’s Boys.

Boston : Roberts Brothers, 1868-1871.

First editions of Louisa May Alcott’s “outstanding achievement of 19th-century American literature” together with its sequels. Octavo, three volumes, original publisher’s emerald green gilt decorated cloth, each volume illustrated with tissue-guarded frontispiece and three plates; those in the first part of Little Women were created by the author’s sister, May. First issue of Little Women with allContinue reading "Little Women or Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy. [with] Little Women or Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy Part Second. [with] Little Men: Life at Plumfield with Jo’s Boys."

Allison, Graham [Madeleine K. Albright]

Nuclear Terrorism: The Ultimate Preventable Catastrophe.

New York : Times Books, 2004.

First edition of this informative work on nuclear terrorism and how to prevent it. Octavo, original publisher’s half cloth, bookplate to the front pastedown from “The Private Collection of Secretary Madeleine K. Albright.” Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Madeleine, With great admiration and hope G.” The recipient, MadeleineContinue reading "Nuclear Terrorism: The Ultimate Preventable Catastrophe."

Tibbets, Paul; Theodore Van Kirk

Paul Tibbets and Theodore “Dutch” Van Kirk Signed Photographic Print.

1945.

Distinctive photograph of the Hiroshima mushroom cloud signed by two crew members of the Enola Gay. Black and white photographic print of the Hiroshima mushroom cloud captured just after the release of the “Little Boy” atomic bomb. Boldly signed in silver felt tip by, “Paul W. Tibbets Pilot B29 Enola Gay 6 Aug. 1945,” andContinue reading "Paul Tibbets and Theodore “Dutch” Van Kirk Signed Photographic Print."

Eckert, Allan W

The Frontiersmen: A Narrative.

Ashland, Kentucky : Jesse Stuart Foundation, 2001.

First edition of the re-issue of Eckert’s classic work. Octavo, original cloth, Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “To Ed- With warmest good wishes! Allan Eckert.” With photograph of the author laid in. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Art by John Alan Maxwell. Jacket design by Brett Nance. RareContinue reading "The Frontiersmen: A Narrative."

Remington, Frederic

John Ermine of the Yellowstone.

New York : The Macmillan Company, 1902.

First edition of this thought-provoking work of a young Native American man who is torn between his traditional way of life and the rapidly changing world around him. Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece, top edge gilt, black and white illustrations by Frederic Remington. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To myContinue reading "John Ermine of the Yellowstone."

Takeyh, Ray [Madeleine K. Albright]

Guardians of the Revolution: Iran and the World in the Age of the Ayatollahs.

New York : Oxford University Press, 2009.

First edition of this accessible and authoritative history of Iran’s relations with the world since the revolution in 1979. Octavo, original publisher’s half cloth, bookplate to the front pastedown from “The Private Collection of Secretary Madeleine K. Albright.” Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Secretary Albright, Much appreciation forContinue reading "Guardians of the Revolution: Iran and the World in the Age of the Ayatollahs."

Kurtzer, Daniel C.; Scott B. Lasensky; William B. Quandt; Steven L. Spiegel; Shibley Z. Telhami [Madeleine Albright]

The Peace Puzzle: America’s Quest For Arab-Israeli Peace, 1989-2011.

Ithaca and London : Cornell University Press, 2013.

First edition of this informative account of the United States’ role in attempting to achieve Arab-Israeli peace. Octavo, original publisher’s black boards, illustrated with a map of The Syrian-Israeli Frontier, bookplate to the front pastedown from ‘The Private Collection of Secretary Madeleine K. Albright’. The recipient, Madeleine K. Albright, was the first woman to serveContinue reading "The Peace Puzzle: America’s Quest For Arab-Israeli Peace, 1989-2011."

The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testament. Newly translated out of the originall tongues and with the former translations diligently compared and revised by his Majesties speciall Command.

London 1672.

Rare 1672 edition of the King James version of the Holy Bible with Geneva Bible notes. Folio, bound in early purple straight-grain morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within double raised gilt bands, gilt ruling and scrolling to the panels, gilt-ruled turn-ins and inner dentelles, all edges gilt, textContinue reading "The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testament. Newly translated out of the originall tongues and with the former translations diligently compared and revised by his Majesties speciall Command."

Fargo, William

William Fargo Signed Stock Certificate for American Express Company.

New York : American Express Company, 1873.

Rare American Express Company stock certificate signed by American businessman William Fargo. Imperial octavo, one page with the “Safety & Dispatch” vignette of the dog (mascot of American Express) at the center, number 10855. The certificate is dated February 3, 1873 and issues five shares at $100 each of Capital Stock to S. Kahn &Continue reading "William Fargo Signed Stock Certificate for American Express Company."