Literature

Waller, Robert James

A Thousand Country Roads.

Alpine & Houston : John M. Hardy Publishing, 2002.

First edition of the sequel to The Bridges of Madison County. Octavo, original boards. Boldly signed by Robert James Waller on the half-title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Leisha Israel. Author photograph by Linda Solomon.

Doyle, Arthur Conan

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.

London : George Newnes, Limited, 1892-1894.

First editions of Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic stories starring literature’s most famous detective. Octavo, original pictorial black and gilt-stamped light blue and dark blue cloth, patterned endpapers, all edges gilt. First issues, the first title with the street scene vignette with no text on the street sign and with “Violent” for “Violet” on p 317. InContinue reading "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes."

Kipling, Rudyard

Rudyard Kipling Ephemera Collection.

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Rare collection of Rudyard Kipling ephemera from the collection of William Britton Stitt including his membership card to The Kipling Society, letters of correspondence between him and the President of The Kipling Society, newspaper clippings, articles, postcards, pamphlets and separate editions of Kipling stories and poems. In very good condition. A unique collection.

Hemingway, Ernest

For Whom The Bell Tolls.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1940.

First edition with Scribner’s A of the novel that is regarded as one of Hemingway’s best works. Octavo, original beige cloth. Near fine in a good unrestored second-issue price-clipped dust jacket. Bookplate.

Hill, Napoleon

Think and Grow Rich.

Meriden, Conn. : The Ralston Society, 1937.

Rare first edition of this classic bestseller, which has sold over 100 million copies. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Napoleon Hill on an official bookplate on the front free endpaper. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Rare and desirable in the original dust jacketContinue reading "Think and Grow Rich."

Rowling, J.K

The Casual Vacancy.

New York : Little, Brown and Company, 2012.

First edition of this “positively propulsive read” (Wall Street Journal). Octavo, original boards. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Mario J. Pulice. Jacket illustration by Joel Holland.

Verne, Jules

The Mysterious Island: Dropped From the Clouds.

London : Sampson, Low, Marston, Low, & Searle, 1875.

First edition in English in book form of the first volume of Verne’s Mysterious Island trilogy, preceding the Scribner Armstrong’s first American edition. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth decorated in gilt, all edges gilt, illustrated, tissue-guarded frontispiece. Translated from the French by W.H.G. Kingston. In fine condition. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. ArmorialContinue reading "The Mysterious Island: Dropped From the Clouds."

Dickens, Charles

The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.

London : Oxford University Press, 1967.

Early printing of the Oxford Illustrated edition of Dickens’ first novel. Octavo, bound in full crushed red morocco by Sangorski and Sutcliffe with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling and fleuron cornerpieces to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers,Continue reading "The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club."

Twain, Mark. [Samuel L. Clemens]

Mark Twain’s (Burlesque) Autobiography and First Romance.

New York : Sheldon & Company, n.d.

First edition, second issue of Twain’s third book with the Ball, Black, & Co. advertisement on verso of the title page (BAL 3326). Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards, gilt titles to the spine, illustrated and extra-illustrated with a tissue-guarded engraved frontispiece of Twain. In good condition.

Orwell, George

George Orwell Typed Letter Signed.

January 9, 1946.

Rare typed letter signed by the acclaimed author of Nineteen-Eighty Four, George Orwell; part of a long correspondence with scientist Edward R. Ward regarding his views on science. One page, typescript, the letter reads: ‘9th January 1946 Dear Mr. Ward, Your letter has been passed on to be by “Tribune”. I am sorry that inContinue reading "George Orwell Typed Letter Signed."

Povidky Pana Kockodana.

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First edition of this work by the famed Czech writer, humorist and journalist. Octavo, original illustrated wrappers. In near fine condition. Rare.

Dickens, Charles

Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy’s Progress.

London : Richard Bentley, 1838.

First edition, first issue of Dickens’ classic work with “Boz” title pages and the “Fireside” plate. Octavo, three volumes bound in three quarter leather over marbled boards, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, all edges speckled red, illustrated with 24 plates by George Cruikshank. In very good condition. Text blocks trimmed, without half-titles or advertisements,Continue reading "Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy’s Progress."

Holmes, John Clellon

Go.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1952.

First edition of the novel that launched the Beat Generation’s literary legacy and describes the world of Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and Neil Cassady and “one of the best novels about the Beat Generation…brilliant and important” (Los Angeles Free Press). Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a good dust jacket. Jacket design by Helen Borten.

Roger, Fred [Mr. McFeely]

You Are Special: Words of Wisdom from America’s Most Beloved Neighbor.

New York : Viking, 1994.

First edition of this collection of quotes from Rogers‘ writings throughout his career. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by Mr. McFeely on the half-title page, “To Lori and Brian from Mr. McFeely Speedy Delivery 2009.” Additionally laid in is a signed photograph, “To Brian, from Mr. McFeely Speedy Delivery 2009.” Fine in aContinue reading "You Are Special: Words of Wisdom from America’s Most Beloved Neighbor."

Livy

The Roman History Written in Latine by Titus Livius. With the Supplements Of the Learned John Freinshemius, and John Dujatius. From the Foundation of Rome to the middle of the Reign of Augustus. Faithfully done into English.

London : Awnsham Churchill, 1686.

An exceptional early English edition of Livy’s classic Roman History. Folio, bound in period calf, illustrated with four plates, including frontispiece woodcut portraits of emperors and Hannibal, one two-page plate, and two maps of the early settlement of Rome. In very good condition, rebacked. A very sharp example.

Rossetti, Lucy Madox. [Mary Shelley]

Mrs. Shelley.

London : W. H. Allen & Co, 1890.

First edition of Lucy Madox Rossetti’s biography of Mary Shelley; extra-illustrated and with an autograph letter signed by Mary Shelley laid in. Octavo, bound in full crushed levant morocco by Bayntun with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, quadruple gilt ruling to the front and rear panels,Continue reading "Mrs. Shelley."

Huxley, Aldous

Eyeless in Gaza.

London : Chatto & Windus, 1936.

First edition of Huxley’s classic work, which many consider one of his finest. Octavo, original cloth. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with a touch of shelfwear. An exceptional example.

Wells, H.G

The World of William Clissold: A Novel at a New Angle.

London : Ernest Benn Ltd., 1926.

First editions of each volume in Wells’ longest novel. Octavo, three volumes, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by H.G. Wells in the year of publication on the front free endpaper of the first volume in the series, “Walter H. Parker H.G. Wells Oct. 1926.” Each volume is very good in a very good dust jacket.Continue reading "The World of William Clissold: A Novel at a New Angle."

[Dalton, James]. Illustrated by George Cruikshank

The Gentleman in Black.

London : William Kidd, 1831.

First edition of Dalton’s The Gentleman in Black. Octavo, bound in three quarter navy morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, illustrated with an engraved frontispiece and four engraved plates by George Cruikshank. In near fine condition. A handsome example.

Cruikshank, George

George Cruikshank’s Omnibus.

London : Tilt and Bogue, 1842.

First edition of George Cruikshank‘s Omnibus. Octavo, bound in full morocco by Riviere & Son with elaborate gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, triple gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, top edge gilt. Illustrated with an engraved frontispiece and numerous platesContinue reading "George Cruikshank’s Omnibus."

Kazantzakis, Nikos; Translated by Peter A. Bien

Report to Greco: An Autobiographical Novel.

Oxford : Bruno Cassirer, 1965.

First edition of Kazantzakis’ deeply personal semi-autobiographical classic testament. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, lengthily inscribed and dated by the translator on the half-title page with a quote from this title, “For ______ ______ ‘The sole way to save oneself is to save others. Or the struggle to save others.’ Peter Bien.” Translated by PeterContinue reading "Report to Greco: An Autobiographical Novel."

Hopkins, R. Thurston. [Rudyard Kipling]

Kipling’s Sussex.

London : Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., Ltd., 1921.

First edition of Thurston’s work on Kipling in Sussex. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. In good condition.

[Kipling, Rudyard]

The Kipling Index.

London : Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1914.

First edition of The Kipling Index. 12mo, bound in cloth covered boards with the original wrappers bound in. In very good condition.

Austen, Jane

Pride and Prejudice.

London : Printed for T. Egerton, 1813.

First editions of all three volumes of Jane Austen’s second novel and most popular. Octavo, three volumes, bound in contemporary three quarter calf over marbled boards with gilt titles to the spine. In very good condition. Armorial bookplates to each pastedown. Period gift inscription from the year of publication to the title page of Vol.Continue reading "Pride and Prejudice."