Literature

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."

McCullers, Carson

The Member of the Wedding.

New York : Houghton Mifflin Company, 1946.

First edition of McCullers’ classic coming-of-age story like no other about a young girl’s fascination with her brother’s wedding, which has been compared to The Catcher in the Rye and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For Harrell with love Carson.” NearContinue reading "The Member of the Wedding."

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, 1967.

Second editions of the author’s classic trilogy, signed by Tolkien in each volume. Octavo, 3 volumes, original cloth, folding maps. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “Signed for Ethel May with love J. R. R. Tolkien.” Volumes two and three are signed by J.R.R. Tolkien on the half-title page. The recipient,Continue reading "The Lord of The Rings Trilogy: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King."

Kipling, Rudyard

Rudyard Kipling’s Verse: Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.

London : Hodder and Stoughton, 1919.

First trade edition of the Inclusive Edition of Rudyard Kipling’s Verse. Octavo, three volumes, original publisher’s full vellum, gilt titles to the spine, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, top edge gilt, titles in red and black. In near fine condition.

The First Spelling Primer; or an Easy Introduction to the Art of Reading Adorned with Emblematic Pictures.

London-Derry : Published by G. Douglas, 1795.

Second edition of this scarce 18th century spelling primer. 16mo, original limp paper boards, illustrated with twenty-six small text woodcuts illustrating the Prince’s Alphabet, followed by an ABC poem, The Alphabet in Rhime, syllables of two and three letters, easy words, easy reading lessons, the Lord’s Prayer, and a publisher’s advertisement leaf aimed at childrenContinue reading "The First Spelling Primer; or an Easy Introduction to the Art of Reading Adorned with Emblematic Pictures."

Dickens, Charles

The Christmas Books: A Christmas Carol; The Chimes; The Battle of Life; Cricket on the Hearth; The Haunted Man and The Ghost’s Bargain.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1843-48.

Complete set of Charles Dickens’ Christmas Books containing first editions of each volume in the series with the exception of A Christmas Carol. Octavo, five volumes elaborately 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, double gilt rulingContinue reading "The Christmas Books: A Christmas Carol; The Chimes; The Battle of Life; Cricket on the Hearth; The Haunted Man and The Ghost’s Bargain."

Dickens, Charles

The Uncommercial Traveller.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1861.

First edition in book form of Dickens’ classic collection of personal vignettes. Octavo, bound in full polished calf by Tout, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, ribbon bound in, all edges gilt. In near fineContinue reading "The Uncommercial Traveller."

Maugham, W. Somerset

For Services Rendered: A Play in Three Acts.

London : William Heinamann Ltd, 1932.

First edition of Maugham’s popular play. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “by W. Somerset Maugham for Elsie Tritton.” The recipient, Elsie Tritton, was a noted collector and friend of Maugham‘s who introduced him to Alan Searle. A younger man from the London slum area of Bermondsey, Searle hadContinue reading "For Services Rendered: A Play in Three Acts."

Herriot, James

The Lord God Made Them All.

New York : St. Martin's Press, 1981.

First edition of this installment in Herriot’s true-life-saga as a veterinarian in the Yorkshire countryside. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by James Herriot on the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket painting by Bob Chronister. Author photograph by Chris Krugs.

Lee, Harper

To Kill a Mockingbird.

Barnstable, MA : Crane’s Duplicating Service, for J.B. Lippincott Company,, 1960.

Rare advance reading copy of the first edition of Harper Lee’s classic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel signed by three actors from the 1962 film and with a two page autograph letter signed and entirely in the hand of Harper Lee declining the invitation to participate in a documentary film about her novel. Octavo, original wrappers. PresentationContinue reading "To Kill a Mockingbird."

Hugo, Victor

The Works of Victor Hugo: Including [Les Misérables, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, The Contemplations and The Legend of the Ages].

Boston : George H. Richmond & Co, 1892.

Finely bound complete set of the Cabinet edition of the Works of Victor Hugo, one of 1000 numbered sets produced. Octavo, 40 volumes bound in three quarters morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in three compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt with others untrimmed, illustrated with tissue-guarded engravingsContinue reading "The Works of Victor Hugo: Including [Les Misérables, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, The Contemplations and The Legend of the Ages]."

Cohen, Leonard

Let Us Compare Mythologies.

Montreal : McGill Poetry Series by Contact Press, 1956.

First edition of Cohen’s first book, which explores philosophy, sexuality, death, a world of violent contrasts that would define his future literary and musical careers. Octavo, original cloth. With five full-page line illustrations by Freda Guttman. An excellent example of this rare first book, which reportedly, fewer than 400 copies of the first edition wereContinue reading "Let Us Compare Mythologies."