Literature

Turow, Scott

Presumed Innocent.

New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1987.

First edition of Turow’s first novel and the first book to feature his memorable character Rusty Sabich and basis for the film starring Harrison Ford, Raul Julia and Greta Scacchi. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “Fran and Carl Korn Best wishes Scott Turow 1 Nov 87.”Continue reading "Presumed Innocent."

Maugham, W. Somerset

Sheppey: A Play in Three Acts.

London : William Heinemann Ltd., 1933.

First edition of Maugham’s final play. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “The author’s last play for Elsie Tritton W. Somerset Maugham.” 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 areaContinue reading "Sheppey: A Play in Three Acts."

Evita.

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First edition of the draft script for the 1996 film, boldly signed by Oliver Stone, based on the 1978 musical stage production by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, which was in turn based on Rice and Webber’s 1976 concept album, following the brief life of Argentinean first lady Eva Peron from her impoverished illegitimateContinue reading "Evita."

Scott, Paul

The Corrida at San Feliu.

London : Secker & Warburg, 1964.

First edition of Paul Scott’s rich, multi-layered novel. Octavo, original cloth. Very good in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by Peter Rudland.

Flagg, Fannie

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.

New York : Random House, 1987.

First edition of this classic novel. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, “Nov. 1987 For Mia- Best Wishes from “Susie Sweetwater” Fannie Flagg.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Wendell Minor.

Oliver, Mary

White Pine: Poems and Prose Poems.

New York : Harcourt Brace, 1994.

First edition of this collection of poems. Octavo, original half cloth. Signed by Mary Oliver on the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Steven Cooley.

Silverstein, Shel

The Missing Piece.

New York : Harper & Row, Publishers, 1976.

First edition, early printing of this classic work by Silverstein. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “For Mother of Nancy With Love Shel Silverstein” Silverstein has added a large drawing of the missing piece. Near fine in a fine price-clipped dust jacket, ownership inscription to theContinue reading "The Missing Piece."

Gluck, Louise

The Triumph of Achilles.

New York : The Ecco Press, 1985.

First edition of the Nobel Prize-winning author’s classic work, her most anthologized. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Louise Glück on the title page. Fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket.

Twain, Mark [Samuel Clemens] and Charles Dudley Warner

The Gilded Age: A Tale of To-Day.

Hartford : American Publishing Company, 1878.

Early printing of Twain and Dudley’s satirical work on greed and political corruption in post-Civil War America which has appeared in more than 100 editions since its original publication. Octavo, bound in three quarter morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled,Continue reading "The Gilded Age: A Tale of To-Day."

Bach, Richard

Biplane.

New York : Harper & Row, Publishers, 1966.

First edition of the author’s classic second novel. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “For John! Happy Flying, always Richard Bach.” Foreword by Ray Bradbury. Near fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket design by Ronald Clyne. Uncommon signed.

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, 1966.

Finely bound set of each title comprising the The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Octavo, 3 volumes, bound in full red morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, front panels, folding maps. In fine condition. Housed in a custom slipcase. The first printing of the second, revised, edition (with “Second Edition 1966” on theContinue reading "The Lord of The Rings Trilogy: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King."

Sondheim, Stephen [Annie Dillard]

The Collected Lyrics of Stephen Sondheim. Look, I Made a Hat.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2010.

First editions of the collected lyrics of Stephen Sondheim. Quarto, original boards, illustrated throughout. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author opposite the title page to fellow writer Annie Dillard, “For Annie Best Wishes from Stephen Sondheim.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. From the library of Annie Dillard.

Galbraith, Robert. [J.K. Rowling]

The Silkworm.

London : Sphere, 2014.

First edition of the second novel in Rowling’s Cormoran Strike Series, published under the pen name Robert Galbraith. Octavo, original cloth. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Sian Wilson.

Durrell, Gerald

The Overloaded Ark.

New York : Simon & Schuster, 1953.

First edition of Durrell’s first book. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by Gerald Durrell on the title page. Fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket, name to the front free endpaper. Jacket design by Bill English. Uncommon signed.

Higgins, Colin. [Cat Stevens]

Harold and Maude.

Philadelphia and New York : J.B. Lippincott Company, 1971.

First edition of the classic 1971 American coming-of-age dark comedy–drama film directed by Hal Ashby and released by Paramount Pictures. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by both Colin Higgins [on the front free endpaper] and singer-songwriter Cat Stevens [on the front pastedown]. The music in Harold and Maude was composed and performed by Cat Stevens. He had beenContinue reading "Harold and Maude."

[Disney, Walt]

Walt Disney’s Bambi: Adapted from the Novel by Felix Salten.

New York : Simon and Schuster, 1941.

First edition of this storybook version of Disney’s classic. Slim folio, original pictorial paper boards, illustrated throughout. Near fine in a very good dust jacket with a few small closed tears. Uncommon in this condition. 

Kierkegaard, Søren. Translated by A. S. Aldworth & W. S. Ferrie

Consider The Lilies: Being the Second part of “Edifying Discourses in a Different Vein”, published in 1847 at Copenhagen, by S. Kierkegaard.

London : The C. W. Daniel Company, Ltd., 1940.

First English edition of the elaboration and conclusion of Kierkegaard’s important existential discourses of 1847. Octavo, original cloth. Translated from the Danish by A. S. Aldworth & W. S. Ferrie. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. A superior example of this rare work.

Joyce, James

Finnegans Wake.

New York : The Viking Press, 1939.

First American edition, one of 6000 copies printed. Octavo, original cloth. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with light rubbing. A very sharp example.

Kipling, Rudyard

Kim.

London : Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1901.

First English edition of what many consider Kipling’s masterpiece. Octavo, original cloth. Illustrated with photographs of clay reliefs by John Lockwood Kipling including tissue-guarded frontispiece, two pages of advertisements at rear. In fine condition. Housed in a custom half morocco and chemise clamshell box. An exceptional example.

The Steagle.

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First edition. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by Richard Benjamin on the title page, who starred in the 1971 film bearing the same name. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Barry Martin Associates.

Snyder, Gary

Turtle Island.

New York : New Directions, 1974.

First edition of the legendary poet’s Pulitzer Prize-winning collection. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For Fred and Edie- All in the same web- Gary.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket woodcut by Michael Corr; design by Gertrude Huston.

Salten, Felix

Bambi’s Children: The Story of a Forest Family.

Indianapolis : Bobbs-Merrill, 1939.

First edition of this classic work, the sequel to Bambi. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated by Erna Pinner. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Charles Felix Salten.” The recipient, Charles Austin Perry, was an Episcopal clergyman and longtime Provost of the Washington National Cathedral. Near fine in a very goodContinue reading "Bambi’s Children: The Story of a Forest Family."

Yogananda, Paramhansa

Autobiography of a Yogi.

New York : The Philosophical Library, 2005.

Reprint of one of the most important spiritual books of the twentieth century, Octavo, original wrappers. In near fine condition.

Paterson, Katherine

Bridge To Terabithia.

New York : Thomas Crowell, 1977.

First edition of the author’s first Newbery-Award winning classic novel. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated by Donna Diamond. Presentation copy, lengthily inscribed by the author on the title page, “For ___ ____- ‘Just close your eyes and keep your mind wide open.’ Katherine Paterson 9/3/22 *From the movie script by David Paterson.” Fine in a nearContinue reading "Bridge To Terabithia."