Browse rare first edition classics in American, English, world literature, poetry, and plays. View our entire collection of rare literature below, search our inventory with advanced search, or use our sorting tools to find exactly what you’re looking for. Please call with any questions you may have on a specific item or order online today.
Showing items 2496-2520 of 4655
Bristol : J. W. Arrowsmith, 1889.
First edition, second state of Jerome’s humorous account of a two-week boating holiday on the Thames. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated by A. Frederics. Second state with ’11 Quay Street’ (first state is without the 11) to the title page. In good condition. Period ownership inscription.
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Hartford : Printed by John Babcock, 1801.
Early American printing of the first American bestseller, first published in 1794. 16mo, bound in one quarter contemporary leather over paper-covered boards. In good condition. Period ownership inscription, “Mary More Her Book Bought in the year 1802 Price 2/0 If this Book you Chance to Borrow and it should get lost it would fill myContinue reading "The History of Charlotte Temple. Founded on Fact."
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New York : Harper & Row, Publishers, 1963.
First edition of the first children’s book which started Silverstein’s incomparable career. Small quarto, original cloth, illustrated. Boldly signed on the half-title page by the author who has added a drawing. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. We have never seen another signed example.
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New York : Random House, 1938.
First edition of this novel which tells the story of the Sartoris family, who first appeared in the novel Sartoris. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated by Edward Shenton. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. An exceptional example.
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London : Gaberbocchus Press Limited, 1953.
First edition of this playful work by the Nobel Prize-winning author. Octavo, original cloth, with drawings by Franciszka Themerson. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Rhoda Kellogg from Bertrand Russell.” The recipient, Rhoda Kellogg was a notable scholar of early childhood and maintained an extensive collection of children’s artwork. SheContinue reading "The Good Citizen’s Alphabet."
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New York : The Ecco Press, 1985.
First edition of the Nobel Prize-winning author’s classic work, her most anthologized. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author, “For Meryl with good wishes Louise Glück.” Fine in a fine dust jacket.
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New York : Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1950.
First edition of Kerouac’s first book. Octavo, original red cloth. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by Leo Manso.
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New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1911.
First edition, first issue with “wearily” in perfect type on penultimate line of page 135 and with four pages of publisher’s advertisements at rear, of Wharton’s greatest tragic story, a “grim tale of a bud of romance ice-bound and turned into a frozen horror in the frigid setting of a New England winter landscape” (The NewContinue reading "Ethan Frome."
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Dublin : Printed for the Editor by M. Graisberry, 1789.
First edition of this rare collection of early English literature. Octavo, bound in full calf, elaborate gilt tooling to the spine, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers, ribbon bound in, illustrated with engraved vignettes, lists of subscribers. In near fine condition. An attractive binding.
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London : Bickers and Son, 1880.
Finely bound example of one of the most popular and widely read novels among Victorians. Octavo, bound in full pebbled morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine and panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, decorated with a fore-edge painting of Squire Thornhill visiting the Primrose family, illustrated. InContinue reading "The Vicar of Wakefield: A Tale. [Fore-edge Painting]."
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London : George Routledge & Sons, 1867.
Finely bound example of the poetical works of Robert Burns decorated with a concealed fore-edge painting. Octavo, bound in full crushed levant morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt,Continue reading "Poems and Songs of Robert Burns. [Fore-edge Painting]"
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New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1988.
First edition of the author’s first novel. Octavo, original half cloth. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with a touch of shelfwear. Jacket design by Walter Harper.
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New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1922.
First edition, first state of the author’s second novel. Octavo, original green cloth, titles to the spine in gilt. Very good in a very good dust jacket with some professional restoration. Jacket illustrated by W.E. Hill. Housed in a custom clamshell box.
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Franklin Center, PA : The Franklin Library, 1995.
Signed limited first edition. Octavo, original leather, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, front and rear panels, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Boldly signed by Winston Groom. In fine condition.
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London : Jonathan Cape, 1986.
First edition of this classic autobiographical account of Dahl’s exploits as a World War II pilot. Octavo, original cloth, pictorial endpapers. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the half-title page, “Michael Love Roald Dahl 15/12/86.” Fine in a fine price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket illustration by Julie Tennent. Author’s photographContinue reading "Going Solo."
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Boston : Little, Brown and Company, 1959.
First edition of Lynn’s work examining the literary artistry of the legendary American writer. Octavo, original cloth. Very good in a good dust jacket. Jacket design by Allan Seide.
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Rochester : Boa Editions, 2003.
First edition of this collection of poems by the award-winning author. Octavo, original wrappers. Signed by the author on the half-title page, “with my Love Fadhil Al-Azzawi and again below in Arabic. In near fine condition. Translated and with an introduction by Khaled Mattawa.
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London : Jonathan Cape, 1988.
First British edition of Dahl’s popular story of a young girl, her genius, and her indifferent parents. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Boldly signed by Roald Dahl and illustrator Quentin Blake on the half-title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Illustrated by Quentin Blake. Rare and desirable signed by both Dahl and Blake.
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London : Hutchinson, 1977.
First edition of the author’s masterpiece. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a fine dust jacket.
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New York : Harper & Brothers, 1942.
First edition, early printing of this classic work which details Huxley’s experience with and views on the controversial Bates method, which according to him improved his eyesight. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by Aldous Huxley on the front free endpaper. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket.
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c. 1855.
Rare autograph letter signed and entirely in the hand of great American novelist Herman Melville. One page, the letter reads in full, “Pittsfield Aug 26 Osmond Tiffany Esq. My dear Sir, With pleasure I comply with your request, but hardly think that any letter will further your object; still, if the accompanying one can beContinue reading "Herman Melville Autograph Letter Signed."
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New York : The New American Library, 1968.
First edition of the author’s first novel, preceding his Pulitzer Prize-winning work The Killer Angels. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the second free endpaper in the year of publication, “To Judy + Bill – best wishes – Mike Shaara March 22, 1968.” Near fine in a very good dust jacket.
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London : John Murray, 1837.
Finely bound edition of Wordsworth’s work on Athens and Attica. Octavo, bound in full calf, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins, all edges marbled, marbled endpapers. In good condition. Armorial bookplateContinue reading "Athens and Attica: Journal of a Residence There."
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London : Smith, Elder. & Co, 1897.
Finely bound example of Browning’s collected poetical works. Octavo, two volumes bound into one in full polished calf, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers, tissue-guarded frontispiece portrait ofContinue reading "The Poetical Works of Robert Browning."
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Fine Bindings and Sets
![The Vicar of Wakefield: A Tale. [Fore-edge Painting].](https://raptis.bvbeta.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/RRB-138744.jpg)
![Poems and Songs of Robert Burns. [Fore-edge Painting]](https://raptis.bvbeta.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/RRB-138654.jpg)
