Literature

Maguire, Gregory

Lost.

New York : ReganBooks, 2001.

First edition of Maguire’s haunting novel. Octavo, original pictorial boards. Inscribed by the author on the half-title page with a quote from the novel, “The sky behind, higher up, bleeding the last of the sunset, is bright with disillustion. Gregory Maguire 22 Sept 07.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design and illustrations byContinue reading "Lost."

Maguire, Gregory

A Lion Among Men.

New York : William Morrow, 2008.

First edition of the third volume in the author’s bestselling Wicked series. Octavo, original pictorial boards, cartographic endpapers, illustrated by Douglas Smith. Lengthily signed by the author on the half-title page, “There are many things in the cauldron, but the cooks do not dip in the ladle quite blindly. Their selection is important. Gregory MaguireContinue reading "A Lion Among Men."

Albee, Edward

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

New York : Atheneum, 1962.

First edition of Albee’s classic work. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by the author on the title page, “Edward Albee 2010.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket with a touch of shelfwear. An exceptional example.

Joyce, James

Ulysses.

Paris : Shakespeare and Company, 1922.

First edition of Joyce’s masterpiece, one of 750 numbered copies printed on handmade paper from a total edition of 1000 copies, this is number number 276. Thick quarto, original blue and white wrappers. In near fine condition, square and tight with a touch of rubbing to the crown and foot of the spine. Housed inContinue reading "Ulysses."

Tresilian, Stuart. [Rudyard Kipling]

The Official Set of Copyright Cards of The Jungle Pictures by Stuart Tresilian from All the Mowgli Stories by Rudyard Kipling.

London : Issued by The Boy Scouts Association, n.d..

Rare official collection of copyright illustration cards from Rudyard Kipling’s All the Mowgli Stories. Octavo, the envelope includes 8 full color illustrations cards. The cards are in near fine condition.

Tolstoy, Leo. [Count Lyof N Tolstoi]

Anna Karenina.

Moscow : T. Ris, 1878.

First edition in Russian of Tolstoy’s masterpiece. Octavo, 3 volumes, bound in three quarters calf, gilt titles, raised bands. Housed in a custom box. In near fine condition. First editions in Russian are rare.

Wallace, David Foster

The Broom of the System.

New York : The Viking Press, 1987.

First paperback edition (issued simultaneously with the hardcover edition) of the author’s first book. Octavo, original illustrated wrappers. Boldly signed by David Foster Wallace on the title page. Additionally signed three times by the illustrator Lon Kirschner, on the front panel, rear panel and on the title page with an added original illustration. In fineContinue reading "The Broom of the System."

Twain, Mark. [Samuel L. Clemens]

Punch, Brothers, Punch! And Other Sketches by Mark Twain.

New York : Slote, Woodman & Co., 1878.

First edition, second issue of Twain’s collection of short stories with the author’s name in facsimile autograph, undecorated cream end-papers, and second state scrap book illustration to the rear paste down. BAL 3378. Small octavo, original green cloth stamped in black with gilt titles to the spine. From the library of William Safire with hisContinue reading "Punch, Brothers, Punch! And Other Sketches by Mark Twain."

Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von

Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship.

London : Oliver & Boyd, 1824.

First edition in English of Goethe’s masterpiece. Octavo, 3 volumes, bound in original boards, pages uncut. In near fine condition. Exceptionally rare in the original boards, we have not seen another example.

Fitzgerald, F. Scott [Harold Pinter]

The Last Tycoon. An Unfinished Novel. Together with The Great Gatsby and Selected Stories.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1941.

First edition with the “A” and the publisher’s seal on the copyright page. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Harold Pinter, who wrote the screenplay to the 1976 film The Last Tycoon, directed by Elia Kazan and starring Robert DeNiro, Tony Curtis and Jack Nicholson. Near fine in near fine dust jacket. Foreword by EdmundContinue reading "The Last Tycoon. An Unfinished Novel. Together with The Great Gatsby and Selected Stories."

At Home: Essays 1982-1988.

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First edition of this collection of essays by the award-winning author. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “Gore Vidal, for Kit, with love.” 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 PowersContinue reading "At Home: Essays 1982-1988."

Pamuk, Orhan

My Name Is Red.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2003.

Advanced reader’s edition of this “fabulously rich novel, highly compelling” (The Independent). Octavo, original illustrated wrappers. Signed by Orhan Pamuk and twice by dust jacket designer Chip Kidd (once on the front panel and again on the rear panel. In near fine condition. Design by Chip Kidd. Translated from the Turkish by Erda M Göknar.Continue reading "My Name Is Red."

Vidal, Gore

Vidal in Venice.

New York : Summit Books, 1985.

First edition of this wonderful overview of Venice. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “Valerie from 1/2 brother Gore Vidal.” The recipient, Valerie Gore was the author’s sister. Vidal’s father remarried in 1939 and had two children with his second wife; Valerie was born in 1946. TheContinue reading "Vidal in Venice."

Vidal, Gore

1876: A Novel.

New York : Random House, 1976.

First edition of this classic novel. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the “Valerie love Gore.” The recipient, Valerie Gore was the author’s sister. Vidal’s father remarried in 1939 and had two children with his second wife; Valerie was born in 1946. The two remained close throughout the years. Near fineContinue reading "1876: A Novel."

Kipling, Rudyard

Lettres du Japon.

Paris : Rene Kieffer, 1925.

Deluxe limited edition of Kipling’s collected letters written during his 1889 travels in Japan. Octavo, original wrappers, decorated by H. Tirman. One of 50 copies printed on Japan paper. Translated into French by Louis Fabulet and Arthur Austin-Jackson. Very good in the rare original richly decorated dust jacket. Rare.

Steichen, Edward

The Family of Man.

New York : Museum of Modern Art, 1955.

First edition of this classic work. Quarto, original illustrated wrappers, illustrated throughout. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “To Mrs. Sheppard with all good wishes Edward Steichen.” In near fine condition. Prologue written by Steichen’s brother-in-law, Carl Sandburg. Housed in a custom clamshell box.

Kipling, Rudyard

From Sea to Sea and Other Sketches: Letters of Travel.

London : Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1900.

Rare Macmillan’s Colonial Library edition of Kipling’s From Sea to Sea, issued the same year as the first trade edition. Octavo, two volumes, original blue cloth with gilt titles to the spine and front panel. Signed by Rudyard Kipling on the title page of both volumes. In near fine condition. Scarce signed by Kipling.

Vidal, Gore

Screening History.

Cambridge, MA : Harvard University Press, 1992.

First edition of this work by the award-winning novelist. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “Valerie, love, Gore Vidal.” The recipient, Valerie Vidal was the author’s sister. Vidal’s father remarried in 1939 and had two children with his second wife; Valerie was born in 1946. Fine in aContinue reading "Screening History."

Vidal, Gore

The Second American Revolution and Other Essays (1976-1982).

New York : Random House, 1982.

First edition of this collection of essays. Octavo, original half 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, only sixContinue reading "The Second American Revolution and Other Essays (1976-1982)."

Twain, Mark [Samuel L. Clemens]

The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, and Other Sketches.

New York : C.H. Webb, 1867.

First edition, first printing of the author’s rare first book. Octavo, original cloth, first issue lacking the leaf of ads facing the title page but with unbroken type on pages 21, 66 and 198. In very good condition with light wear to the extremities. A sharp example.

Remington, Frederic

Pony Tracks.

New York : Harper & Brothers, 1895.

First edition of Remington’s first book. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated throughout after Frederic Remington, including frontispiece with tissue-guard. In very good condition, bookplate. Howes R201; BAL 16489; Adams Herd 1878; Graff 3458. A nice example.

Vidal, Gore

The Judgment of Paris.

New York : E.P. Dutton & Company, Inc, 1952.

First edition of this classic coming of age story. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Valerie, from Gore Vidal, June 1954.” The recipient Valerie Gore was the author’s sister. Vidal’s father remarried in 1939 and had two children with his second wife; Valerie was born in 1946.Continue reading "The Judgment of Paris."

Vidal, Gore

Washington, D.C.

Boston : Little, Brown and Company, 1967.

First edition of the final volume in Vidal’s Narratives of Empire, his acclaimed six-volume series of historical novels about the American past. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the second title page, “Valerie from Gore, 1968.” The recipient, Valerie Gore was the author’s sister. Vidal’s father remarried in 1939 and hadContinue reading "Washington, D.C."

Vidal, Gore

Williwaw.

New York : E.P. Dutton & Company, 1946.

First edition of the author’s first book. Octavo, original black cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, “For Owen Roberts, very best wishes — Gore Vidal, 1946.” The recipient, Owen Roberts was the father of Katherine “Kit” Vidal, second wife of Eugene Vidal, Gore’s father.Continue reading "Williwaw."