Literature

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."

Neruda, Pablo

We Are Many.

: Cape Coliard Press, 1967.

Signed limited edition, one of only 100 examples, this is number 65. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated with a cut-out by Jim Dine. Boldly signed by Pablo Neruda and the translator Alistair Reid. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Translated by Alistair Reid. Photographs by Hans Ehrmann.

Count Bohemond.

.

First edition of Duggan’s classic historical novel. Octavo, original cloth. Preface by Evelyn Waugh. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Inscription. Jacket design by Edward Bawden.

Doyle, Arthur Conan

The Sign of the Four.

New York : The F. M. Lupton Publishing Company, n.d.

Later printing of the second novel featuring Sherlock Holmes written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece portrait of Conan Doyle. In very good condition.

Hardy, Thomas

A Group of Noble Dames.

New York : Harper and Brothers, 1891.

First edition of this collection of stories. Octavo, original cloth, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, front panel, illustrated. In near fine condition.

Shaw, George Bernard

The Adventures of The Black Girl in Her Search For God.

London : Constable & Company Limited, 1932.

First edition of Shaw’s controversial 20th century retelling of Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. Octavo, original pictorial boards, pictorial endpapers, illustrated with wood-cut engravings by John Farleigh. In near fine condition with light rubbing to the extremities. Small bookplate to the pastedown.

Saramago, Jose

Death With Interruptions.

Orlando : Harcourt, 2008.

First edition of Saramago’s philosophical page-turner, which hinges on death taking a holiday. Octavo, original boards. Presentation copy, inscribed and dated by the author in the year of publication on the half-title page, “To Harold Jose Saramago 29.10.2008.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Translated from the Portuguese by Margaret Jull Costa.

Gordimer, Nadine

Burger’s Daughter.

New York : The Viking Press, 1979.

First edition of this powerful novel by the Nobel Prize-winning author. Octavo, original half cloth. Signed by Nadine Gordimer on the half-title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Blanche Noonoo.

Paz, Octavio

A Draft of Shadows.

New York : A New Directions Book, 1979.

Early printing of this collection of poems published in English and Spanish. Octavo, original wrappers. Association copy, inscribed by the author to friend and fellow writer Sergio Muñoz Bata, “A Sergio, con vivasimpatia, ser muco amigo, Octavio Paz.” Bata writes a weekly syndicated column published in 18 newspapers across 11 countries in the hemisphere. HeContinue reading "A Draft of Shadows."

Hawthorne, Nathaniel

The Scarlet Letter.

London : Methuen & Co. Ltd, 1920.

First edition thus of Hawthorne’s masterpiece. Quarto, bound in full morocco by Bennett, elaborate gilt tooling to the spine, with scarlet leather onlay of the letter A on the front panel, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, illustrated with 31 mounted color plates by Hugh Thomson. In fine condition. Housed in a linenContinue reading "The Scarlet Letter."

Finaly, Marguerite. [James Joyce]

Reliquiae.

Paris : Privately Printed, 1925.

James Joyce’s first edition copy of the collected works of Marguerite Finaly, compiled by her husband, Horace Finaly, in her memory and privately printed for distribution to friends; with Joyce’s ownership inscription. Octavo, bound in full crushed morocco by G. Cretté with gilt titles to the spine, silk-watered doublures and endleaves, tissue-guarded frontispiece portrait ofContinue reading "Reliquiae."

Baldwin, James

Nobody Knows My Name: More Notes of a Native Son.

New York : The Dial Press, 1961.

First edition of Baldwin’s second major book of essays, featuring his powerful analyses of the politics of race and his controversial three-part essay on Richard Wright. Octavo, original half cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the dedication page, “For Morris Milgram: My ally & friend, with the prayer that we’ll keep on fighting.Continue reading "Nobody Knows My Name: More Notes of a Native Son."

Marquez, Gabriel Garcia

El General en su Laberinto. [The General in His Labyrinth].

Mexico : Editorial Diana, 1989.

First edition of this “fascinating tour de force and a moving tribute to an extraordinary man” (Margaret Atwood, New York Times Book Review). Octavo, original illustrated wrappers. Association copy, inscribed by Gabriel Garcia Marquez in 1990 with a drawing of a flower, “Una flor Para Juana, y un abrazo para Sergio en L.A. Gabo 90.”Continue reading "El General en su Laberinto. [The General in His Labyrinth]."

Skinner, B.F

Walden Two.

New York : The Macmillan Company, 1948.

First edition of this classic work. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by F.G. Kuttner.