Literature

Sacks, Oliver

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales.

New York : Summit Books, 1985.

First edition of the author’s masterpiece. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “For John Roger, With kind regars Oliver Sacks 1/15.” Fine in near fine dust jacket with a touch of shelf wear. Jacket design by Carin Goldberg.

Thackeray, William

The Works of William Makepeace Thackeray. [Including The History of Henry Esmond, Vanity Fair, Pendennis, The Newcomes, and The Virginians].

London : Smith, Elder and Co., 1900-1902.

The Biographical edition of the Works of William Makepeace Thackeray. Octavo, thirteen volumes bound in three quarter morocco over marbled boards by Maclehose with gilt titles and ruling to the spines in six compartments within raised gilt bands, tissue-guarded frontispiece to each volume. In very good condition.

Vidal, Gore

Duluth.

New York : Random House, 1983.

First edition of this novel by the award-winning author. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “Kit – all love – Gore Vidal.” The recipient, Katherine “Kit” Vidal was Eugene Vidal’s second wife; he married her in 1939 when she was a 20 year old model with the Powers Agency, onlyContinue reading "Duluth."

Tolstoy, Leo

The Christian Teaching.

New York : Frederick A. Stokes, 1898.

First American edition of Tolstoy’s work the history and influence of Christianity, inspired by his own spiritual awakening. Octavo, original cloth with gilt titles to the spine and front panel, top edge gilt. Translated by Vladimir Tchertkoff. In very good condition. Ownership inscription.

Whyte-Melville, George J

“Bones and I;” or, The Skeleton at Home.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1869.

Rare second edition of the author’s melancholy novel. Octavo, original cloth. In very good condition.

Gibbon, Lewis Grassic [James Leslie Mitchell]

A Scots Quair Trilogy. Including: Sunset Song, Cloud Howe, and Grey Granite.

London : Jarrolds Publishers, 1932-1934.

First editions of each volume of Gibbon’s classic trilogy describing the life of Chris Guthrie, a woman from the north-east of Scotland during the early 20th century, each volume inscribed by him to George Malcolm Thomson. Octavo, original cloth, 3 volumes. Sunset Song is inscribed on the title page, “For G. Malcolm Thomson, L. GrassicContinue reading "A Scots Quair Trilogy. Including: Sunset Song, Cloud Howe, and Grey Granite."

Cohen, Leonard

Beautiful Losers.

Toronto : McClelland and Stewart, 1966.

First edition of Cohen’s second and final novel. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Dear Susan Farrier MacKay, Thanks for your kind words. Am I in that bath or serenading from a distance? All good things to you Leonard Cohen Toronto November 18, 1992.” Near fine inContinue reading "Beautiful Losers."

Hemingway, Ernest

Death in the Afternoon.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1948.

Early printing of Hemingway’s masterwork on bullfighting. Octavo, original black cloth, spine lettered in gilt, frontispiece by Juan Gris, illustrated. Association copy, inscribed by Hemingway on the front free endpaper, “For Nita with regards and affection (Ernest Hemingway) Mr. Papa. Finca Vigía – SF. de Paula 22/7/49.” The recipient, Juanita “Nita” Jensen was Hemingway’s secretaryContinue reading "Death in the Afternoon."

Vidal, Gore

A Search For The King.

New York : E.P. Dutton & Company, 1950.

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, “Marie from Gore- all best wishes 1950.” Near fine in a very good dust jacket.

McCullers, Carson

Reflections In A Golden Eye.

Boston : Houghton Mifflin Company, 1941.

First edition of the author’s classic work. Octavo, original cloth. In near fine condition.

Dean, James. [Sanford H. Roth]

James Dean Signed Photograph.

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Rare large format Sanford H. Roth photograph of cultural icon James dean playing table tennis. Inscribed beneath his image, “To Mr. Roth best wishes James Dean.” The recipient, renowned American photographer Sanford H. Roth, was a close friend of Dean’s and photographed him frequently. Dean visited Roth’s home in California frequently and treated him andContinue reading "James Dean Signed Photograph."

[Hemingway, Ernest; Gregory Peck; Susan Hayward; Ava Gardner]

Ernest Hemingway’s The Snows of Kilimanjaro Theatre Lobby Card Poster.

: 20th Century-Fox Film Corp., 1952.

Rare original lobby card poster for the 1952 film The Snows of Kilimanjaro produced exclusively for display in theatres. One page, printed in color, featuring a still from the film of Peck and Hawyard embracing. In fine condition.

Johnson, James Weldon

Black Manhattan.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1930.

First edition of this classic work. Octavo, original cloth, pictorial endpapers, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the second free endpaper, “To Laura H. Marks, with sincere regards, James Weldon Johnson.” Very good in the rare original dust jacket. Rare and desirable signed and inscribed.

Styron, William

The Confessions of Nat Turner.

New York : Random House, 1967.

First edition of Styron’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “To Gene Barnett best wishes William Styron.” Near fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket design by Paul Bacon.

Rankin, Ian; Alexander McCall Smith; Irvine Welsh. Introduction by J. K. Rowling

One City.

Edinburgh : Polygon, 2005.

First edition of this collection initiated by four of Edinburgh’s most famous authors to benefit One City Trust, a charity committed to tackling social injustice and inequality in Edinburgh. Octavo, original cloth, patterned endpapers. One of 150 numbered copies signed by J.K. Rowling, Ian Rankin, Alexander McCall Smith and Irvine Welsh on the half-title page,Continue reading "One City."

Arnold, Matthew

New Poems.

London : Macmillan and Co., 1867.

First edition of Arnold’s 1867 book of poems. Octavo, original cloth with gilt titles to the spine, double gilt ruling to the panels. In near fine condition. Rare with only a handful of examples appearing at auction in the last 80 years.

Collins, Charles Allston

At The Bar: A Tale.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1866.

First edition of Collins’ ambitious novel. Octavo, original cloth with gilt titles to the spine. In very good condition. Embossed library stamp. Rare.

Tolstoy, Leo

The Christian Teaching.

London : Horace Marshall & Son, 1898.

First edition in English of Tolstoy’s work the history and influence of Christianity, inspired by his own spiritual awakening. Octavo, original cloth with gilt titles to the spine and front panel. Translated by Vladimir Tchertkoff. In very good condition. Ownership inscription.

Johnson, James Weldon

Fifty Years and Other Poems.

Boston : The Cornhill Publishing Co., 1921.

Early printing of Johnson’s first collection of classic poems. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For Mrs. Edward Lee McCatgin with the sincere regards of James Weldon Johnson.” With an introduction by Brander Matthews. In very good condition, with an inscription below “To August Meier withContinue reading "Fifty Years and Other Poems."

Wells, H.G

The First Men in the Moon.

London : George Newnes, Limited, 1901.

First edition, first issue binding of Wells’ classic work. Octavo, original cloth, 12 plates by Claude Shepperson. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with a touch of shelfwear. Exceptionally rare in the original dust jacket, especially in this condition.

Tolstoy, Lyof N. [Leo Tolstoy]

The Dominion of Darkness: A Drama, in Five Acts.

London : Vizetelly & Co., 1888.

First edition in English of Tolstoy’s five-act drama, the performance of which was forbidden in Russia until 1902. Octavo, original wrappers, publisher’s advertisements. Translated from the original Russian. In very good condition. Scarce.

Scott, Sir Walter

The Waverly Novels First Edition Collection.

Edinburgh : Printed for Archibald Constable and Co.; and John Ballantyne; And Hurst, Robinson, and Co., London, 1816-1821.

First edition collection of Scott’s Waverly Novels. Octavo, bound in full contemporary cloth with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, the set includes first editions of The Antiquary (1816, 3 volumes, half-titles present); Guy Mannering (1817); Rob Roy (1818, 3 volumes, half-titles); and The Abbot (1820, 3 volumes); Tales of My Landlord (second series: 1818, 4Continue reading "The Waverly Novels First Edition Collection."

Frank, Pat

An Affair of the State.

Philadelphia and New York : J. B. Lippincott Company, 1948.

First edition of Frank’s classic Cold War political thriller, inspired in part by his experiences as an international journalist. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed on the front free paper, “For Betty Wells – In the hope that some part of this book comes true. Pat Frank.” Very good in a very good dust jacket.Continue reading "An Affair of the State."

Burning Village.

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First edition of the acclaimed poet’s crowning achievement; a harrowing account of his experience as a boy in Lithuania during WWII. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Feb 3rd 1977 For Prof. Chimieu Abronsky from Menke Katz.” Katz has also added a large illustration of flowers. NearContinue reading "Burning Village."