Literature

[Grant, Ulysses S.]

Hymns of the Ages: Second Series. Being Selections From Wither, Crashaw, Southwell, Harington, and Other Sources.

Boston : Ticknor and Fields, 1865.

First edition of the second series of Hymns of the Ages, from the library of Ulysses S. Grant. Octavo, bound in full pebbled morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers, tissue-guarded frontispiece. From the library of UlyssesContinue reading "Hymns of the Ages: Second Series. Being Selections From Wither, Crashaw, Southwell, Harington, and Other Sources."

Poe, Edgar Allan

The Raven and Other Poems. [Bound With] Tales.

New York : Wiley and Putnam, 1845.

Rare first editions of Poe’s two great collections of stories and poems, bound together in the original publisher’s cloth. Octavo, original publisher’s dark green cloth elaborately stamped in blind with gilt titles to the spine, publisher’s advertisements at rear of each volume which are most often lacking with both volumes bound together. Wiley and PutnamContinue reading "The Raven and Other Poems. [Bound With] Tales."

Proulx, Annie; Larry McMurtry; Diana Ossana

Brokeback Mountain: Story to Screenplay.

New York : Scribner, 2005.

First Scribner trade edition of this collection of essays on the process of adapting the critically acclaimed story for film, signed by all three contributors. Octavo, original boards. Signed by Larry McMurtry, Annie Proulx, and warmly inscribed by Diana Ossana. Story by Annie Proulx. Screenplay by Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana. Fine in a fineContinue reading "Brokeback Mountain: Story to Screenplay."

Joyce, James

Ulysses.

Paris : Shakespeare and Company, 1924.

Fourth printing of Joyce’s masterpiece, signed by him. Quarto, original wrappers. Signed by the author in the month of publication on the front free endpaper, “James Joyce Paris 7 January 1924.” In very good condition, the joints lightly repaired. Housed in a custom clamshell box. Uncommon signed.

Faulkner, William

The Sound and the Fury.

New York : Jonathan Cape and Harrison Smith, 1929.

First edition, first printing of Faulkner’s masterpiece. Octavo, original half cloth over black and white patterned paper boards. Very good in a very good second state dust jacket with Humanity Uprooted priced at $3.50 instead of $3.00 on the rear panel. Housed in a custom clamshell box.

Hugo, Victor

Notre-Dame de Paris.

Paris : Charles Gosselin, 1831.

First edition, first printing of Hugo’s masterpiece, one of only 1,100 examples. Octavo, 2 volumes, bound in half calf. The publisher Charles Gosselin published the novel on 16 March 1831 in an edition of 1,100 copies as was his usual practice. It was such a sensation that an additional three printings had to be publishedContinue reading "Notre-Dame de Paris."

Joyce, James

Finnegans Wake.

New York : The Viking Press, 1939.

First American edition of Joyce’s masterpiece. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles and ruling to the spine, raised bands, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, gilt signature to the front panel, inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In fine condition. An exceptional presentation.

Welcome to Christmas.

1875.

Rare 19th century album on Christmas. Octavo, bound in full black morocco, elaborate ruling in blind and in gilt, silk moire endpapers, eight cardstock leaves, six in cream and two in grey, all hand lettered and or painted in traditional Victorian Christmas imagery. The title leaf with quill and pen, surmounted with elaborate titling inContinue reading "Welcome to Christmas."

Tolstoi, Count Lyof N. [Leo Tolstoy]

Ivan Ilyitch and Other Stories.

New York : Thomas Y. Crowell & Co, 1887.

First edition in English of this classic work. Octavo, original cloth lettered in gilt, patterned endpapers. Translated from the Russian by Nathan Haskell Dole with a preface by him. In near fine condition with light rubbing to the extremities. A very sharp example.

[Fleming, Ian]

Complete James Bond Clamshell Box Collection.

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Fine collection of custom half morocco clamshell boxes hand made by The Harcourt Bindery to house each of the 14 first editions in Ian Fleming’s James Bond series. Octavo, 14 volumes. In fine condition. An exceptional presentation.

Saramago, Jose

Ensaio Sobre a Cegueira [Blindness].

Lisboa : Caminho, 1995.

First Portuguese edition and true first of the Nobel Prize-winning author’s masterpiece. Octavo, original wrappers. Presentation copy, inscribed by Jose Saramago on the title page. In near fine condition.

Miller, Arthur

The Crucible.

New York : The Viking Press, 1953.

First edition, early printing of this central work in the canon of American drama. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “To Gerald Kramer, Arthur Miller.” Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket photograph by Gjon Mili. Uncommon signed.

Huxley, Aldous

The Art of Seeing.

New York : Harper & Brothers, 1942.

First edition 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 cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, “For Gordon Ross, Sincerely, Aldous Huxley 1942.” Near fine in aContinue reading "The Art of Seeing."

Rowling, J.K.; Illustrated by Mary Grandpre

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

New York : Scholastic Press, 1998.

First American edition, first printing of the first book in the Harry Potter series. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated by Mary Grandpre. Boldly signed by J.K. Rowling on the second title page. Additionally signed twice by illustrator Mary Grandpre, on the title page and on the rear dust jacket flap. Fine in a fine dustContinue reading "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone."

Morris, William. Introduction by Joseph Jacobs

Old French Romances Done into English.

New York : Charles Scribners' Sons, 1896.

First American edition of Morris’s fine translation of the great French Romances. Octavo, original cloth. In very good condition.

le Carre, John

Call For The Dead.

London : Victor Gollancz, 1961.

First edition of the author’s first book, which introduced the world to the recurring protagonist, George Smiley. Octavo, original red cloth. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box made by the Harcourt Bindery. An exceptional example, uncommon in this condition.

Wilde, Oscar

The Works of Oscar Wilde.

London : Methuen & Co, Ltd./Paris: Charles Carrington, 1908-1922.

Complete set of the works of Oscar Wilde, including For Love of a King issued in 1922 and often missing from this set. Octavo, 15 volumes in the publisher’s original gilt-decorated full buckram, top edge gilt with others uncut. One of 1000 copies issued on handmade paper. The Picture of Dorian Gray bears the imprintContinue reading "The Works of Oscar Wilde."

Seuss, Dr. [Theodor Geisel]

Oh Say, Can You Say? “Oh my brothers! Oh my sisters! These are Terrible Tongue Twisters!”

New York : Random House, 1979.

First edition of this book of tongue twisters by Dr. Seuss. Octavo, original laminated boards, pictorial endpapers, illustrated throughout. In very good condition, without dust jacket as issued.

Melville, Herman

Herman Melville Autograph Letter Signed.

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Rare autograph letter signed and entirely in the hand of Herman Melville to his publisher, Harper & Brothers. One page, the letter reads in full, “Harper & Brothers New York. Pittsfield Oct. 8th Gentlemen: Herewith is an article, which, if it suit, will you, according to what you have said to me, send me theContinue reading "Herman Melville Autograph Letter Signed."

White, Patrick

The Twyborn Affair.

London : Jonathan Cape, 1979.

First edition of this classic work. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Patrick White on the title page. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket drawing by Luciana Arrighi. Jacket design by Mon Mohan.

Forster, John

The Works and Life of Walter Savage Landor.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1876.

Finely bound set of Forster’s famed biography of the English poet. Octavo, 8 volumes bound in full crushed levant morocco by Riviere & Son with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, top edge gilt, tissue-guarded engraved frontispiece of Landor to volume one. InContinue reading "The Works and Life of Walter Savage Landor."

Huxley, Aldous

Time Must Have A Stop.

New York : Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1944.

First edition of Huxley’s complex and powerful novel, preceding the first English edition. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Ownership inscription.

William, Oscar [Editor]; Dylan Thomas; Wallace Stevens; W.H. Auden; Marianne Moore; Robinson Jeffers; Randall Jarrell; Delmore Schwartz; Conrad Aiken; Muriel Rukeyser; Stephen Spender; Robert Penn Warren

New Poems 1942: An Anthology of British and American Verse.

Mount Vernon, N.Y : Peter Pauper Press, 1942.

First edition, signed limited issue of the second in a series of wartime poetry anthologies selected by Oscar Williams, this being the first to be issued as a signed limited edition. Octavo, original three quarter buckram over marbled boards, top edge gilt. One of 26 lettered copies available for sale and signed by 31 ofContinue reading "New Poems 1942: An Anthology of British and American Verse."

Poe, Edgar Allan

The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe.

New York : Thomas Y. Crowell & Co. Publishers, 1902.

The Virginia edition of the works of Edgar Allan Poe, edited by James A. Harrison. Octavo, 17 volumes, bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, illustrated with tissue-guarded photogravures. In very good condition. A sharpContinue reading "The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe."