Literature

Washington, Booker T

Up From Slavery. An Autobiography.

New York : Doubleday, Page & Co, 1901.

First edition of Booker T. Washington’s landmark biography. Octavo, original cloth, top edge gilt, illustrated. In good condition with rubbing to the extremities and some dampstaining to the cloth. Period ownership inscription.

Twain, Mark. [Samuel L. Clemens]

What Is Man?

London : Watts & Co, 1910.

First trade edition of this uncommon Twain title. Octavo, original cloth. From the library of leading Twain authority and publisher John Gerber with his bookplate to the pastedown. Gerber served as head of the English Department at the University of Iowa for many years following the end of World War II when American literature wasContinue reading "What Is Man?"

Hemingway: The Viking Portable Library.

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First edition, early printing of this compilation of Hemingway’s works. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by Mary Hemingway on the front free endpaper, “23 June 1947 Dear Nina, With best wishes for a pleasant trip, success, and luck. Hope to see you soon. Love, Mary.” Near fine in a very good dust jacket.Continue reading "Hemingway: The Viking Portable Library."

Butler, Octavia E

Imago.

New York : Warner Books, 1989.

First edition of the gripping climax to Butler’s acclaimed Xenogenesis trilogy. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by Octavia E. Butler on the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Don Puckey. Cover illustration by Wayne Barlowe.

Boileau, Ethel [Ayn Rand]

Ballade in G Minor.

London : Hutchinson & Co, 1938.

First edition of this classic work. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, “For Ayn Rand from Ethel Boileau A tribute to “We The Living” New York Feb.10th 1938.” Lady Ethel Boileau was an English novelist, best known for Clansmen and Ballade inContinue reading "Ballade in G Minor."

Powers, J.F

Morte D’Urban.

Garden City, NY : Doubleday & Company, 1962.

Review copy of the first edition of the author’s masterpiece, winner of the National Book Award. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by J.F. Powers. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Slip laid in from the publisher. Jacket design by Joseph O’Connell. Uncommon in this condition and signed.

Shaw, George Bernard

The Apple Cart: A Political Extravaganza.

London : Constable and Company, 1930.

First edition of this classic play by the Nobel Prize-winning author. Octavo, original cloth. In near fine condition.

Irving, John

A Widow for One Year.

New York : Alred A. Knopf, 1998.

First Canadian edition of Irving’s powerful ninth novel. Octavo, original boards. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “For Ken With my appreciation John Irving.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Honi Werner. Book design by Victoria Wong.

Steinbeck, John

The Winter of Our Discontent.

New York : The Viking Press, 1961.

First edition, presentation copy of Steinbeck’s final novel, one of only 500 examples with only a few known inscribed examples, which along with The Grapes of Wrath are considered his masterpieces. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For Charles Sulner John Steinbeck.” Near fine in a nearContinue reading "The Winter of Our Discontent."

Fitzgerald, F. Scott

The Vegetable: Or, From President To Postman.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1923.

First edition of what Fitzgerald called, “undoubtedly the best thing I have ever written.” Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Dear Mr. Swelwynn (sic)- Here’s the new version of the play. Sincerely F. Scott Fitzgerald.” The recipient, prominent figure in American theatre and film in the firstContinue reading "The Vegetable: Or, From President To Postman."

Bernstein, Leonard

The Unanswered Question: Six Talks at Harvard.

Cambridge, MA : Harvard University Press, 1976.

First edition of this work by the legendary composer. Oblong, quarto, original illustrated boards, original slipcase, original records enclosed. Inscribed by the Leonard Bernstein on the front free endpaper. In near fine condition.

Hayley, William

The Triumphs of Temper; A Poem: In Six Cantos.

London : Printed For T. Cadell, 1788.

Finely bound sixth edition of Hayley’s popular work. 16mo, bound in full contemporary calf, elaborate gilt tooling to the spine, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panel, gilt-ruled turn ins, marbled endpapers, illustrated with fine engraved plates by Stothard. Elegant period ownership inscriptions.

Gunther, John

Death Be Not Proud.

London : Hamish Hamilton, 1949.

First British edition of this deeply moving book, a father’s memoir of a brave, intelligent, and spirited boy, bound for the author. Octavo, bound by the author in full morocco by Sangorski and Sutcliffe, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. InContinue reading "Death Be Not Proud."

de Beauvoir, Simone

The Mandarins.

Cleveland and New York : The World Publishing Company, 1956.

Signed limited edition and first English edition of the novel for which de Beauvoir won the Prix Goncourt, awarded to the best and most imaginative prose work. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Simone de Beauvoir. Fine in a near fine dust original glassine jacket in the original slipcase. Translated from the French by LeonardContinue reading "The Mandarins."

Krauss, Ruth; Illustrated by Maurice Sendak

I Want To Paint My Bathroom Blue.

New York : Harper & Row, Publishers, .

First edition of the re-issue of this early illustrated work by Maurice Sendak. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Boldly signed by Maurice Sendak on the half-title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket.

Frost, Robert

A Way Out: A One Act Play.

New York : The Harbor Press, 1929.

Signed limited edition and first separate edition of this one act play by Frost. Octavo, original half cloth. One of four hundred and eighty-five numbered copies signed by Robert Frost at the conclusion of the preface. In fine condition.

Churchill, Winston S

Ian Hamilton’s March.

London : Longman's, Green, and Co, 1900.

First edition of Churchill’s fifth book, a continuation of his coverage of the Boer War which he began in London to Ladysmith via Pretoria. Octavo, original red cloth with gilt titles to the spine and front panel, engraved frontispiece portrait of Ian Hamilton, folding map in color and 4 pages of advertisements for Churchill’s worksContinue reading "Ian Hamilton’s March."

Marx, Groucho

The Groucho Phile.

Indianapolis : Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1976.

First edition of this work by the legendary comedian. Quarto, original boards. Association copy, inscribed twice by the author on the dedication page and again on page 364, “To Sally from Goucho?” On page 364 Groucho writes in his hand, “There’s a picture of a pretty girl from an old friend Groucho?” In the captionContinue reading "The Groucho Phile."

Tolkien, J.R.R

The Lord of The Rings Trilogy: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King.

London : George Allen and Unwin, 1954-55.

First editions, first states of each title comprising the The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Octavo, 3 volumes, original red cloth, folding map in the rear of each volume. Near fine in excellent dust jackets with light rubbing and wear. An exceptional set.

Sartre, Jean-Paul

Le Mur. [The Wall].

Paris : Gallimard, 1939.

Limited edition of Sartre’s 1939 short story collection, containing one of his greatest existentialist works of fiction, The Wall. Octavo, original boards. One of 1,000 numbered copies, this is number 910. In near fine condition.

Ellis, George Agar

The True History of the State Prisoner, Commonly Called The Iron Mask, Extracted from Documents in the French Archives.

London : John Murray, 1826.

First edition of this early account of the French legend, later retold by Alexandre Dumas in The Man in the Iron Mask. Octavo, bound in three quarter contemporary straight grain morocco over marbled boards, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, all edges marbled. In very good condition. An attractive 19th century binding.

Camus, Albert

L’Homme Révolté. [The Rebel].

Paris : Gallimard, 1951.

First edition, review copy (marked “S.P.” on title-page and lower wrappers) of one of Camus’ most notable works. Octavo, original wrappers as issued. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “A Yvon Belaval en souvenir des Portiques d’Alger, amicalement Albert Camus.” The recipient, French philosopher and literary scholar Yvon Belaval, was aContinue reading "L’Homme Révolté. [The Rebel]."

Greene, Graham

Getting To Know The General: The Story of Involvement.

London : William Bodley, 1984.

First edition of this work by the author of The Heart of the Matter. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For Tucker with love from Graham.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket photograph by Bernard Diederich. Uncommon signed and inscribed.

Gladwell, Malcolm

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference.

Boston : Little, Brown and Company, 2000.

First edition, early printing of Gladwell’s debut work which seeks to explain and describe the “mysterious” sociological changes that mark everyday life. Octavo, original boards. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “To Susan, enjoy! Malcolm Gladwell.” Fine in a fine dust jacket.