Literature

Dahl, Roald

Switch Bitch.

London : Michael Joseph, 1974.

First British edition of this collection of Dahl’s short stories. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Ann Love Roald Dahl.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Charles Nickelaides.

Melville, Herman

Herman Melville Autograph Letter Signed.

1888.

Herman Melville autographed letter signed to his wife’s cousin Ellen Marrett Gifford completely in his hand, which reads, “164 E. 26th St. Nov. 6th 1888 My Dear Mrs. Gifford: By mail I send you a small volume, some portions of which, I hope may prove more or less interesting to you- Lissie tells me sheContinue reading "Herman Melville Autograph Letter Signed."

Churchill, Winston S

Savrola: A Tale of the Revolution in Laurania.

New York : Longmans, Green and Co, 1900.

First American edition (which precedes the British first) of Churchill’s singular attempt at full-length fiction. Octavo, original cloth with gilt titles to the spine and front panel. In near fine condition. Rare and desirable in this condition, Churchill’s only work of literature.

Landscape with Rowers: Poetry from the Netherlands.

.

First edition of this collection of poetry translated and introduced by Nobel Prize-winning author J.M. Coetzee. Octavo, original half cloth. Signed by J.M. Coeztee on the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Maria Lindenfeldar.

Schiller, Friedrich

The Works of Friedrich Schiller.

Boston : Francis A. Niccolls, c.1900.

Finely bound example of the Connoisseur edition of the works of Schiller, number 34 of only 150 sets printed. Octavo, 10 volumes, bound in full red morocco, ornate gilt tooling to the spine, with pastedowns of red leather borders and central green morocco panel, with floral decorations at the corners and a central gilt sprigContinue reading "The Works of Friedrich Schiller."

Hughes, Langston

Montage of a Dream Deferred.

New York : Henry Holt and Company, 1951.

First edition of Hughes’ classic jazz poem suite. Octavo, original boards. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper in the year of publication, “For Marion ~ good wishes ever, Sincerely ~ Langston New York January 30, 1951.” The recipient, Marion Palfi, was a German-born social-documentary photographer who fled Nazi Germany forContinue reading "Montage of a Dream Deferred."

Hughes, Langston

The First Book of Africa.

New York : Franklin Watts, Inc., 1960.

First edition of Hughes’ concise history of Africa. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated with photographs. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For the Richardsons ~ Sincerely ~ Langston New York, July 24, 1960.” Very good in a very good dust jacket.

Locker, Frederick

London Lyrics.

London : John Wilson, 1868.

Rare privately printed edition of Locker’s first book. Octavo, bound in three quarter morocco. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page in the year of publication, “John S. Smith from the author July 28 1868.” In very good condition.

Marshall, Paule

Triangular Road: A Memoir.

New York : Basic Civitas Book, 2008.

Uncorrected proof of the first edition of the famed author’s insightful memoir. Octavo, original illustrated wrappers, illustrated. Boldly signed by Paule Marshall on the the title page. In near fine condition. Uncommon signed.

Marshall, Paule

Soul Clap Hands and Sing.

New York : Atheneum, 1961.

First edition of the author’s classic work. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by Paule Marshall on the title page. Fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket design by Susan Foster.

Dumas, Alexandre [Alexander]

The Count of Monte-Cristo.

London : London: Chapman and Hall, 1846.

First edition in English of the author’s masterpiece, published just one year after the original French edition and before the American first, the Richard Manney copy. Octavo, 2 volumes, original publisher’s terracotta cloth, decoratively blind-embossed, gilt titles to the spine. Twenty wood-engraved plates after Henry Valentin. In near fine condition with only light rubbing toContinue reading "The Count of Monte-Cristo."

Sōseki, Natsume

Botchan (Master Darling).

Tokyo : Ogawa Seibundo, 1918.

First edition in English of one of the most popular novels in Japan. Octavo, original cloth. Translated by Yasotaro Morri. In very good condition. Scarce.

Hemingway, Ernest

To Have and Have Not.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1937.

First edition of Hemingway’s classic novel about smuggling, intrigue, and love. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles and ruling to the spine, raised bands, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, gilt signature to the front panel, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In fine condition.

Kipling, Rudyard

The First Assault Upon the Sorbonne (Le Premier Assault Contre la Sorbonne).

Garden City : Doubleday, Page & Company, 1922.

Rare first American edition of Kipling’s classic work on the Sorbonne. Octavo, original publisher’s half vellum, text in French and English. One of fifty copies. In near fine condition. Scarce.

Miller, Henry

The Colossus of Maroussi.

New York : Colt Press, 1941.

True first edition of the author’s landmark travel book and frequently cited as one of his finest. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, “To Tania and Jimmy, from their good friend, Henry Miller, N.Y., 12/3/41.” The recipients were James and Tania Stern,Continue reading "The Colossus of Maroussi."

Thigpen, Corbett H.; Hervey M. Cleckley

The Three Faces of Eve.

New York : McGraw-Hill, 1957.

Early printing of this work, basis for the 1957 Academy Award-winning film starring Joanne Woodward. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed and signed by both authors on the front free endpaper, “Nov. 20, 1980 For Mary and Marion Barnett With appreciation for your thoughtfulness and friendship Corbett Thigpen and signed below “Hervey Cleckley.” NearContinue reading "The Three Faces of Eve."

Campbell, John Lord

The Lives of the Lord Chancellors, The Lives of the Chief Justices of England

London : John Murray, 1845-69.

Finely bound set of Campbell’s works. Octavo, 13 volumes, bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, raised bands. In near fine condition.

Durrell, Lawrence

Justine, Balthazar, Mountolive, Clea. [The Alexandria Quartet].

London : Faber and Faber, 1960-1961.

First editions of each of the novels comprising the author’s acclaimed Alexandria Quartet, each signed by Lawrence Durrell. Octavo, original cloth, 4 volumes. Justine is a presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “Signed for Christopher hope he finds her good company! Lawrence Durrell 1985.” Balthazar, Mountolive, Clea are each signed onContinue reading "Justine, Balthazar, Mountolive, Clea. [The Alexandria Quartet]."

MacKay, Charles

Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds.

London : Richard Bentley, 1841.

First edition of this classic study of crowd psychology, a compilation of human folly throughout the ages. Octavo, three volumes, illustrated. Bound in three quarter calf over marbled boards, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands. With an autographed letter signed by Charles MacKay in 1867 laid in. In near fine condition with light rubbingContinue reading "Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds."

Various Authors

Olympia Press Collection.

Paris : Paris, Various Dates.

First editions of a selection of works from Olympia Press, which was based in Paris and specialized in English-language books which could not be published elsewhere without risking legal action. Octavo, 44 volumes, original wrappers. In near fine condition.

Defoe, Daniel

The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; Serious Reflections During the Life And Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe.

London : Printed for W. Taylor at the Ship in Pater-Noster-Row, 1719-1720.

Exceedingly rare complete first edition set of all three books in Defoe’s classic Robinson Crusoe series, including the scarce first and only printing of the third book in the series. Octavo, three volumes bound in full crushed red morocco by Francis Bedford with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raisedContinue reading "The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; Serious Reflections During the Life And Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe."

Dickens, Charles

Master Humphrey’s Clock.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1840.

First edition in book form of this collection of short stories which originally appeared as a weekly periodical of the same name. Large octavo, 3 volumes bound in three quarter morocco by W. Pratt with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, illustratedContinue reading "Master Humphrey’s Clock."

Boccaccio, Giovanni

The Decameron.

London : Isaac Jaggard, 1620.

First edition in English of Boccaccio’s masterpiece, published by Jaggard published three years prior to his printing of the Shakespeare First Folio. Boccaccio’s masterpiece. Folio, 2 volumes, bound in full morocco by Riviere, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, all edges gilt, errata leaf at end of volume one, B1 is a cancellans, woodcutContinue reading "The Decameron."

Translated by Edward Fitzgerald. Illustrated by Will Pogany

Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.

London : George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd., n.d..

Elaborately bound example of Pogany’s finely illustrated Rubaiyat. Octavo, bound in full crushed red morocco by Banytun Riviere with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, quadruple gilt ruling, fleuron cornerpieces, and central gilt arabesque to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers,Continue reading "Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam."