Literature

Twain, Mark. [Samuel L. Clemens]

A Tramp Abroad.

Hartford, Conn. : American Publishing Company, 1880.

First edition, first state of Twain’s classic fictionalized account of his walking tour of central and southern Europe. Octavo, original publisher’s pictorial gilt-stamped brown cloth, with 328 illustrations by Walter Francis Brown, True Williams, W.W. Denslow, and with four ‘pictures made by the author of this book, without outside help’ with the first state frontispieceContinue reading "A Tramp Abroad."

DeMille, Cecil B. [Fortunino Matania]

Cecil DeMille Signed Letter Archive.

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Rare archive of typed letters signed by legendary American film producer and star Cecil B. DeMille to Italian artist Fortunino Matania discussing paintings commissioned to assist in the set design of the 1956 film The Ten Commandments. The archive contains 10 typed letters signed by DeMille dated July 24 1952 to November 18 1957 onContinue reading "Cecil DeMille Signed Letter Archive."

Lawrence, D.H

Sons and Lovers.

London : Duckworth and Co, 1913.

First edition, first state of Lawrence’s first important novel and today regarded as a masterpiece by many critics and is often regarded as his finest achievement. Octavo, original cloth. In very good condition.

Gluck, Louise

Firstborn.

Oxford : Anvil Press Poetry, 1969.

Signed limited first edition of the Pulitzer and Nobel Prize-winning poet’s first book, one of only 50 numbered copies. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by Louise Gluck on the half-title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket.

Montgomery, L. M

Anne of the Island.

Boston : The Page Company, 1915.

First edition, first printing of the third title in Montgomery’s beloved Anne of Green Gables series with all first issue points including stated first impression on copyright page, 1915 date in roman numerals on title page. Octavo, original cloth decorated in gilt, tissue-guarded frontispiece and mounted cover illustration in color by H. Weston Taylor, 16Continue reading "Anne of the Island."

Sondheim, Stephen; Burt Shevelove

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.

New York : Dodd, Mead, 1963.

First edition of this classic work. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Kurt Rowley, with best wishes from Stephen Sondheim.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Illustrated with a drawing by Hirschfeld and photographs.

Remarque, Erich Maria

All Quiet On The Western Front.

Boston : Little, Brown & Company, 1929.

First American edition of this landmark novel of the 20th century. Octavo, original beige cloth. Signed by the author in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, “1st June Eric Maria Remarque.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Paul Wenck. Translated by A.W. Wheen. Housed in a customContinue reading "All Quiet On The Western Front."

Kovic, Ron

Born on the Fourth of July.

New York : McGraw-Hill, 1976.

First edition of this classic book, basis for the 1989 film directed by Oliver Stone. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by the author in the year of publication, “11/26/76 Mary Thank you for being so nice to me and my family Love Ron and Peace.” Near fine in a very good price-clippedContinue reading "Born on the Fourth of July."

Mitford, Jessica

The American Way of Death.

New York : Simon and Schuster, 1963.

First edition of Mitford’s classic study. Octavo, original cloth. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Janet Halverson. Author’s photograph by Seymour Linden. First editions are uncommon.

Hawthorne, Nathaniel

The Marble Faun: or, the Romance of Monte Beni.

Boston : Ticknor and Fields, 1860.

First edition, first issue of Hawthorne’s last major work of fiction. Octavo, original cloth, 2 volumes. In fine condition, from the library of noted book collector Henry Walker Bagley with his bookplate. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. BAL 7621. An exceptional example.

Kerouac, Jack; Drawings by Larry Rivers

Lonesome Traveler.

New York : McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1960.

First edition of this collection of short stories. Octavo, original half cloth, drawings by Larry Rivers. Boldly signed by Jack Kerouac on the title page. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Rare and desirable signed, this is the first example we have seen.

Rawdon’s Roof.

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Signed limited edition, one of 530 copies signed by D.H. Lawrence, this is 320. Octavo, original cloth. Fine in a fine dust jacket.

Le Carre, John

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.

London : Hodder & Stoughton, 1974.

First British edition of the author’s seventh novel and what many consider to be his finest. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by author on the title page, “with best wishes John le Carre” and by the author’s father, “and much love from his father Ronnie July 1974.” Ronald Cornwell was the father of le Carre andContinue reading "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy."

McCann, Colum

Let the Great World Spin: A Novel.

New York : Random House, 2009.

First edition of the author’s classic work, winner of the National Book Award. Octavo, original boards. Presentation copy, lengthily inscribed by the author on both the half and title pages, “For Bettyann and Ed With the very best of Irish wishes- and with thanks!! Let the great world spin forever down the ringing grooves ofContinue reading "Let the Great World Spin: A Novel."

Camus, Albert

The Rebel: An Essay on Man in Revolt.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1954.

First edition of the Nobel Prize-winning author’s classic work. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. With an introduction by Sir Herbert Read. Translated from the French by Anthony Bower.

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 very good second printing dust jacket with a chip to the crown. A sharp example.

le Carre, John

The Spy Who Came In From The Cold.

London : Victor Gollancz, 1963.

First edition of le Carre’s classic work, which went on to reinvigorate the spy genre. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by the author on a tipped-in page, “John le Carre with best wishes 16 ix 64.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket.

Bernhardt, Sarah

Petite Idole.

Paris : Editions Nilsson, 1921.

First edition of this work, lengthily inscribed by legendary actress Sarah Bernhardt. Octavo, original pictorial wrappers, front panel illustration by Maggy Monier. Presentation copy, lengthily inscribed with an eight line inscription from Bernhardt on the half-title page, “A Leon Deffocce je ne crois pas que mon petite roman arrete un instant vos regards, mais laContinue reading "Petite Idole."

Jones, Howard

Mutiny on the Amistad: The Saga of a Slave Revolt and Its Impact on American Abolition, Law, and Diplomacy.

Oxford : Oxford University Press, 1987.

Revised edition of the basis for the 1997 film Amistad directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Morgan Freeman, Anthony Hopkins, and Matthew McConaughey. Octavo, original wrappers. Signed by the author on the title page, “Howard Jones Framingham, Mass. 3/6/98.” In near fine condition. Cover design by Kathleen M. Lynch.

White, T.H

England Have My Bones.

London : Collins, 1936.

First edition of the author’s classic memoir. Octavo, original cloth, with 8 full page woodcut illustrations by the author. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Sir Thomas Birkett with the author’s constant gratitude for the best fortnight of his life.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. An exceptionalContinue reading "England Have My Bones."

Kipling, Rudyard

The Works of Rudyard Kipling: The Deluxe Signed Edition. [Including Plain Tales from the Hills; The Phantom Rickshaw; The Light That Failed; Gunga Din; The Jungle Book; The Second Jungle Book; Captains Courageous; Kim; Just So Stories].

London : Macmillan & Company, 1913-38.

The Bombay edition of Rudyard Kipling’s collected works. Octavo, 31 volumes, bound in full morocco by Riviere & Son, gilt titles to the spine, gilt tooling and ruling to the spine, front and rear panels, raised bands, inner dentelles, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers. One of 1,050 sets with volume one signed by Rudyard Kipling.Continue reading "The Works of Rudyard Kipling: The Deluxe Signed Edition. [Including Plain Tales from the Hills; The Phantom Rickshaw; The Light That Failed; Gunga Din; The Jungle Book; The Second Jungle Book; Captains Courageous; Kim; Just So Stories]."

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, 3 volumes, bound in full morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, raised bands, inner dentelles, all edges gilt. Each volume is signed by John le Carre on a bookplate, with two signed “John le Carre aka David Cornwell.” Each are inContinue reading "The Karla Trilogy] Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy; The Honourable Schoolboy; Smiley’s People."

Schulberg, Budd

Waterfront.

New York : Random House, 1955.

First edition of Schulberg’s novel adapted from his Academy Award–winning screenplay. Octavo, original beige cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author to fellow writer R.P. Dickey on the front free endpaper, “For R.P. Dickey, Here it is at last! With my thanks for your patience, and interest in my work. Sincerely Budd Schulberg Sept. 1,Continue reading "Waterfront."

McCarthy, Cormac

All the Pretty Horses; The Crossing; Cities of the Plain.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1992-1998.

First editions of each title in the author’s acclaimed Border Trilogy. Octavo, original half cloth, three volumes. Each volume is signed by Cormac McCarthy on the half-title page and each volume is signed three times by jacket designer Chip Kidd. All the Pretty Horses is a presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-titleContinue reading "All the Pretty Horses; The Crossing; Cities of the Plain."