Literature

Kipling, Rudyard

Many Inventions.

London : Macmillan and Co., 1893.

First English edition of this collection of Kipling’s poems and tales. Octavo, original cloth decorated in gilt. Association copy, inscribed by Rudyard Kipling on the title page in the year of publication to his second cousin by marriage, “Eliot [sic] Balestier from Rudyard Kipling Xmas. 93.” The recipient, Elliot Francis Balestier was the second cousinContinue reading "Many Inventions."

Wolfe, Tom

The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.

New York : Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, 1968.

First edition of the classic account of Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters during their bus trip across America in the late 1960’s. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Tom Wolfe and Larry McMurtry on the title page. Jacket design by Milton Glaser. An exceptional example.

Beymer, William Gilmore

On Hazardous Service: Scouts and Spies of the North and South.

New York and London : Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1912.

First edition of Beymer’s collection of ten Civil War stories including three personal narratives. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated by Howard Pyle and others, tissue-guarded frontispiece in color. In near fine condition.

Marquez, Gabriel Garcia

The General in His Labyrinth.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1990.

Signed limited first edition of this “fascinating tour de force and a moving tribute to an extraordinary man” (Margaret Atwood, New York Times Book Review). Octavo, bound in full leather. Boldly signed by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. One of 350 copies, this is number 44. Fine in a fine slipcase. Translated from the Spanish by EdithContinue reading "The General in His Labyrinth."

Emerson, Ralph Waldo

The Complete Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Cambridge : Riverside Press, 1903.

Autograph Centenary edition with a double sided manuscript in Emerson’s hand bound into volume one. Octavo, 12 volumes, bound in three quarters morocco, elaborately gilt-decorated spines, raised bands, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers. Numerous mounted photogravure illustrations. One of 600 copies. Emerson discovered Pascal in college and was a lifelong admirer of Pascal’s wisdom. AtContinue reading "The Complete Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson."

Goldoni, Carlo

Delle Commedie Del Signor Carlo Goldoni Avvocato Veneto. Pere servire di continuazione al Nuovo Teatro Comico Del Medesimo Autore.

Bologna : A. S. Tommaso d'Aquino, 1762-1765.

Rare eighteenth century Italian printing of Goldoni’s Commedie. Octavo, two volumes bound in full vellum. In good condition. A rare printing published during Goldoni’s lifetime.

Tarbell, Ida M

The Life of Abraham Lincoln.

New York : Lincoln History Society, 1909.

Bound set of Tarbell’s classic biography of President Lincoln. Octavo, 4 volumes, bound in full morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, gilt facsimile signature of Lincoln to the front panel, frontispiece portraits, one in color, illustrated with reproductions of original paintings and photographs, marbled endpapers. In good condition.

Dumas, Alexandre

The Three Musketeers; or, the Feats and Fortunes of a Gascon Adventurer.

London : Bruce and Wyld, 1846.

First edition in English of Dumas’ masterpiece. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf, gilt titles to the spine, marbled endpapers. Translated from the French by William Barrow. Barrow’s translation was the first of three English translations published in 1846 and is considered the most faithful to the original text. To conform to nineteenth century English standardsContinue reading "The Three Musketeers; or, the Feats and Fortunes of a Gascon Adventurer."

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."