Literature

Potter, Beatrix

Peter Rabbit’s Painting Book.

London & New York : Frederick Warne & Co, 1911.

First edition of this charming paint-by-line children’s book featuring Potter’s most beloved animal characters. Quarto, original pictorial cloth, pictorial endpapers, illustrated with 12 color plates, each with facing outlined illustration intended for coloring-in, two of which have been hand-painted. Presentation copy, lengthily inscribed by the author on the second free endpaper in the year ofContinue reading "Peter Rabbit’s Painting Book."

Johnson, Crockett. [Maurice Sendak]

Harold and the Purple Crayon.

New York : Harper & Brothers, 1955.

First edition, first issue of the first book in Crockett Johnson’s charming Harold series, first issue with “30-60” and “No. 5671A” to the front flap of the dust jacket. 12 mo, original cloth, illustrated. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper to fellow children’s book author and illustrator Maurice Sendak, “ToContinue reading "Harold and the Purple Crayon."

Potter, Beatrix

The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle.

London : Frederick Warne and Co, 1905.

The earliest known first edition, presentation copy of Potter’s popular children’s story. Octavo, original boards with embossed titles and pictorial cover label, pictorial endpapers, illustrated with 26 color plates by the author. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by the author on the front pictorial endpaper in the year of publication, “For Theresa Thorp with love fromContinue reading "The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle."

Forester, C.S. [Alexander Kent]

Hornblower One More Time.

Tacoma : The Non-Profit Press, 1976.

First edition of this collection of three Hornblower stories never before published in book form. Octavo, original boards, cartographic endpapers. One of 25 numbered copies signed by Alexander Kent of an edition of 350 numbered copies. Additionally one of 15 copies with one of the co-sponsors’ gilt names to the front panel. Fine in aContinue reading "Hornblower One More Time."

Kessel, Joseph. Translated by Patrick O'Brian

The Horsemen.

London : Arthur Barker Limited, 1968.

First edition in English of the basis for the 1971 American adventure film starring Omar Sharif and directed by John Frankenheimer. Octavo, original cloth. Very good in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by Graham Percy. Translated by Patrick O’Brian

Vargas Llosa, Mario

The Green House.

New York : Harper & Row, Publishers, 1968.

First edition of the author’s masterpiece. Octavo, original green cloth. Boldly signed by Mario Vargas Llosa on the half-title page. Very good in a very good dust jacket with light shelfwear. Jacket design by Guy Fleming. Translated by Gregory Rabassa.

Byron, George Gordon [Lord]

The Poetical Works of Lord Byron. [Fore-edge Painting].

London : John Murray, 1850.

Finely bound edition of the complete poetical works of Lord Byron. Octavo, bound in full crushed red morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, quadruple gilt ruling and fleuron cornerpieces to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-in and inner dentelles, patterned endpapers, illustrated, frontispiece portrait of Byron. Decorated with a fore-edge paintingContinue reading "The Poetical Works of Lord Byron. [Fore-edge Painting]."

Irving, John

Trying to Save Piggy Sneed.

New York : Arcade Publishing, 1996.

First edition of this collection of short stories. Octavo, original half cloth. Signed by John Irving on the title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Jeffrey Fisher. Author photographs by Mary Ellen Mark and Isolde Ohlbaum.

Washington, Booker T

Up From Slavery. An Autobiography.

New York : Doubleday, Page, 1901.

First edition of Booker T. Washington’s landmark biography with an autograph letter signed by him on his Tuskegee Institute letterhead. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated, tissue-guarded frontispiece portrait of the author. Accompanied by an autograph letter signed by Washington on his The Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute letterhead which reads, “Oct. 19, 190 Mr. George A.Continue reading "Up From Slavery. An Autobiography."

Gibbon, Edward

Miscellaneous Works of Edward Gibbon, Esquire. With Memoirs of His Life and Writings, Composed by Himself: Illustrated from His Letters, with Occasional Notes and Narrative by John Lord Sheffield.

London : Printed for A. Strahan, and T. Cadell Jun. and W. Davies, 1796.

First edition of Gibbon’s memoirs, letters, and additional works, posthumously collected and published by his closest friend, John Baker Holroyd, 1st Earl of Sheffield. Quarto, bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, engraved frontispiece portraitContinue reading "Miscellaneous Works of Edward Gibbon, Esquire. With Memoirs of His Life and Writings, Composed by Himself: Illustrated from His Letters, with Occasional Notes and Narrative by John Lord Sheffield."

Frost, Robert

In the Clearing.

New York : Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1962.

First edition of Frost’s final book of poetry. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Robert Frost on the front free endpaper. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket photograph by David H. Rhinelander.

Tolstoy, Lyof [Leo]

The Fruits of Enlightenment: A Comedy in Four Acts.

London : William Heinemann, 1891.

First edition in English of Tolstoy’s satirical play. Octavo, original boards, tissue-guarded frontispiece portrait of Tolstoy. Translated from the Russian by E. J. Dillon. Introduction by Arthur W. Penero. In fine condition. An exceptional example of this rare work.

Butler, Octavia E

Mind of My Mind.

Garden City : Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1977.

First edition of Butler’s second book; the chilling “pre-sequel” to Patternmaster. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “To Ron Keep Reading Octavia E. Butler.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket with a touch of shelfwear. Jacket design by Jan Esteves.

Maugham, W.Somerset

A Maugham Reader.

Garden City, NY : Doubleday & Company, 1950.

First edition of this collection by the author of The Razor’s Edge. Octavo, bound in full morocco by Sangorski and Sutcliffe, frontispiece of Maugham, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands, double gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, all edges gilt. With an introduction by Glenway Wescott. In fine condition.

Paz, Octavio

Vuelta.

Mexico : Editorial Seix Barral, S.A, 1976.

First edition of this collection of poems that were written between 1969 and 1975. Octavo, original wrappers. Association copy, inscribed on the half-title page to his good friend, “A Sergio Muñoz Bata, cordialmente Octavio Paz.” With Sergio Muñoz Bata’s ownership inscription on the title page with the words Mexico 76. Sergio Muñoz Bata writes aContinue reading "Vuelta."

McClelland, Nancy

The Practical Book of Decorative Wall-Treatments.

Philadelphia and London : J. B. Lippincott, 1926.

First edition of Nancy McClelland’s authoritative work on interior design. Octavo, original decorated cloth, frontispiece in color with tissue guard present, eight other illustrations in color and 206 in doubletone. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. A very nice example, uncommon in the original dust jacket.

Hughes, Langston and Milton Meltzer

A Pictorial History of the Negro in America.

New York : Crown Publishers, Inc, 1956.

First edition of this important compilation on the history of African Americans. Quarto, original half cloth, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Especially for Laura and Louise Fields, as a gift at Christmas from Mabel Smythe- Sincerely, Langston Hughes New York 1957.” In near fine condition.

Lewis, C.S

Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia.

London : Geoffrey Bles, 1951.

First edition of the second book in Lewis’ beloved Narnia series. Octavo, original cloth, cartographic endpapers, illustrated by Pauline Baynes. With an autograph note signed by C.S. Lewis to his PhD student at Cambridge, Anthony Spearing. On Lewis’ Magdalene College, Cambridge letterhead, the note reads in full, “5th Nov. 57 Dear Mr. Spearing, I gatherContinue reading "Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia."

le Carre, John

[The Karla Trilogy]: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy; The Honourable Schoolboy; Smiley’s People.

London : Hodder & Stoughton, 1974-1979.

First editions of each title in the author’s acclaimed Karla Trilogy. Octavo, original cloth, 3 volumes. Each volume is signed by John le Carre on a bookplate to the title page. Each is near fine in near fine dust jackets. An exceptional set, uncommon in this condition and signed.

Stein, Gertrude

The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas.

New York : Harcourt Brace and Company, 1933.

First edition of Gertrude Stein’s most famous work; one of the richest biographies ever written. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated from photographs. Near fine in the rare original dust jacket which is in good condition.

Stein, Gertrude. [Alice B. Toklas] Introduction by Virgil Thomson

Bee Time Vine and other Pieces [1913-1927].

New Haven : Yale University Press, 1953.

First edition of volume three of the Yale edition of Stein’s unpublished writings, collected under the general editorship of Carl Van Vechten. Octavo, original boards. Presentation copy, inscribed by Stein’s partner Alice B. Toklas on the front free endpaper, “A peace offering to dear Elizabeth with love from Alice Paris 4 – VI – 54.”Continue reading "Bee Time Vine and other Pieces [1913-1927]."

Vonnegut Jr., Kurt

Breakfast of Champions or Goodbye, Blue Monday.

New York : Delacorte Press, 1973.

First edition of Vonnegut’s classic work. Octavo, original orange cloth, with drawings by the author. Boldly signed by the author in a contemporary hand, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr on the half-title page. Near fine in a very good dust jacket, inscription to the front free endpaper. Jacket design by Bob Giusti.

Caldwell, Erskine

God’s Little Acre.

New York : The Viking Press, 1933.

First edition of what many consider Caldwell’s finest novel. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “For Ingle Barr Here is a book you should read some day Erskine Caldwell.” The recipient, Ingle Barr was a prominent book collector. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Housed in aContinue reading "God’s Little Acre."

One Hand Clapping.

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First edition of this work by the author of A Clockwork Orange. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To dear Si with affection ‘Joe’(Anthony/John.” The recipient, Si Litvinoff was the executive producer for Stanley Kubrick’s film A Clockwork Orange that was based on Burgess’ 1962 dystopian novel.Continue reading "One Hand Clapping."