Literature

Greene, Graham

A Burnt-Out Case.

London : Heinemann, 1961.

First edition of this Greene novel set in a leproserie on the upper reaches of a tributary of the Congo River in Africa. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Dust jacket design by Lacey Everett.

Faulkner, William

The Hamlet, The Town, and The Mansion [The Snopes Trilogy].

New York : Random House, 1940-1959.

A complete set of the limited signed first edition of Faulkner’s acclaimed Snopes Trilogy. Octavo, original cloth. Each volume is signed by William Faulkner. Each are in near fine to fine condition.

King, Stephen

Rose Madder.

New York : The Viking Press, 1995.

First edition of this King thriller. Octavo, original half cloth. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Neil Stuart. Author photograph by Tabitha King.

Tasso, Torqato

La Gerusalemme Liberata di Torquato Tasso. [Jerusalem Delivered].

Milano : Nicolo Bettoni, 1824.

Finely bound example of Torquato Tasso’s epic poem La Gerusalemme Liberata, or Jerusalem Delivered. Octavo, two volumes bound into one in three quarters vellum over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine. In very good condition.

Grahame, Kenneth

The Golden Age.

London : Thomas Nelson & Sons, c. 1920.

Finely bound example of the author of Wind and the Willows, Kenneth Grahame’s collection of short stories for children. Small octavo, bound in three quarters morocco over cloth covered boards with gilt tooling to the spine, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, engraved frontispiece, top edge gilt. In very good condition.

Pullman, Philip. Illustrated by Peter Bailey

I Was A Rat! …or The Scarlet Slippers.

London : Doubleday, 1999.

First edition of Pullman’s classic adventure story. Octavo, original illustrated boards, illustrated by Peter Bailey. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “For Eileen – greetings! Philip Pullman.” In fine condition.

DeLillo, Don

Underworld.

New York : Scribner, 1997.

First edition of this work by DeLillo, which in a 2006 survey of eminent authors and critics conducted by The New York Times found it to be the runner-up for the best work of American fiction of the past 25 years. Octavo, original half cloth. Signed by Don DeLillo. Fine in a near fine dust jacket.Continue reading "Underworld."

DeLillo, Don

Underworld.

New York : Scribner, 1997.

First edition of this work by DeLillo, which in a 2006 survey of eminent authors and critics conducted by The New York Times found it to be the runner-up for the best work of American fiction of the past 25 years. Octavo, original half cloth. Signed by Don DeLillo. Fine in a near fine dust jacket.Continue reading "Underworld."

Thomas, Tony [Kirk Douglas]

The Films of Kirk Douglas.

Secaucus, NJ : The Citadel Press, 1972.

First edition of this work on the legendary actor Kirk Douglas. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated throughout with over 400 photographs. Boldly signed by Kirk Douglas on the title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. With an introduction by Vincente Minnelli.

LORD BYRON. [GEORGE GORDON BYRON]

The Works of Lord Byron.

Boston : Francis A. Nicolls and Co, 1900.

The Edition des Amateurs, one of 100 copies signed by the editor of the complete works of Lord Byron. Octavo, 16 volumes. Bound in full contemporary morocco, elaborate tooling to the front and rear panels with central arms, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, raised bands, top edge gilt, frontispieces and plates each inContinue reading "The Works of Lord Byron."

O'Hara, John

Appointment in Samarra.

New York : Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1934.

First edition of the author’s first book. Octavo, original cloth. Fine with a contemporary bookplate to the inner gutter, in the first issue dust jacket. Housed in a custom clamshell box. A very nice example.

Shakespeare, William. Revised by George Steevens

The Dramatic Works of Shakespeare.

London : Printed by W. Bulmer and Co. for John and Josiah Boydell, George and W. Nicol., 1802.

Rare finely bound complete set of “by far the largest single engraving enterprise ever undertaken in England”, John Boydell’s magnificent illustrated folio edition of the dramatic works of Shakespeare. Folio, 9 volumes. Bound in three quarters morocco with gilt titles to the spine, all edges marbled. Elaborately illustrated with 96 plates engraved by the mostContinue reading "The Dramatic Works of Shakespeare."

Trollope, Anthony

The Claverings.

London : Smith, Elder and Co, 1867.

First edition of this work by Trollope. Octavo, two volumes, bound in half leather. In very good condition. With Sixteen Illustrations by M. Ellen Edwards.

Wells, H.G. [George Bernard Shaw]

The World Set Free: A Story of Mankind.

London : Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1914.

First edition, first issue of Wells’ prophetic novel predicting the arrival of atomic weaponry with the publisher listed as Macmillan and Co. Limited (as opposed to Ltd.), 8 pages of advertisements at rear, and no statement of printing to the copyright page. Octavo, original cloth stamped in blind with gilt titles to the spine andContinue reading "The World Set Free: A Story of Mankind."

New Brunswick Readers: The Second Reader.

Toronto : W. J. Gage & Company, 1900.

First edition of The Second Reader in the New Brunswick Readers series, prescribed by the Board of Education for use in the Schools of New Brunswick. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Very good in a very good dust jacket from Hall’s Book Store in St. John, New Brunswick. Ownership inscription to the front free endpaper.

Durrell, Lawrence

Quinx or The Ripper’s Tale.

London : Faber and Faber, 1985.

First edition of the fifth and final volume in the author’s Avignon Quintet. Octavo, original cloth. Signed and dated by the author in the year of publication on the title page, “Lawrence Durrell 1985.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket watercolor by David Gentleman. Jacket design by Pentagram.

Hasford, Gustav

The Phantom Blooper: A Novel of Vietnam.

New York : Bantam Books, 1990.

First edition of the author’s sequel to The Short-Timers, basis for the film Full Metal Jacket. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper with a full page inscription in the month of publication, “To My Friend Gene- One Jarhead to Another- from Gustav USMC RTD. Gustave HasfordContinue reading "The Phantom Blooper: A Novel of Vietnam."

Simon, Andre L

Star Chamber Revels (Or, The Fountayne of Justice). A Satyre Acted on Friday the eleventh day of June, in the yeare 1602 by the then Lords of the Queen Elizabeth’s most honourable Council.

Peekskill : Printed by Crosby Gaige, 1937.

First edition of Andre L. Simon’s retelling of a day in the life of the Lords of the Star Chamber. Octavo, original boards, engraved headpiece and tailpiece. Signed by the author at the conclusion of his introduction. Very good in the rare original glassine.

Hasford, Gustav

The Phantom Blooper: A Novel of Vietnam.

New York : Bantam Books, 1990.

First edition of the author’s sequel to The Short-Timers, basis for the film Full Metal Jacket. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper with a full page inscription in the year of publication, “Gustav Hasford For My good friends Jeff and Jacquie from Uncle Gus  San DiegoContinue reading "The Phantom Blooper: A Novel of Vietnam."

Bernstein, Aline

Masterpieces of Women’s Costume of the 18th and 19th Centuries.

New York : Crown Publishers, Inc, 1959.

First edition of Aline Bernstein’s great work on the history of costume design, published posthumously. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated with 32 color plates and 51 correlated line drawings. In fine condition. From the library of actress Vivien Leigh.

Nooteboom, Cees

The Following Story.

New York : Harcourt Brace & Company, 1991.

First American edition of Nooteboom’s mysterious tale. Octavo, original half cloth. Translated from the Dutch by Ina Rilke. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket painting by Claude Verlinde. Jacket photograph by Simone Sassen.

Darwin, Bernard

Dickens.

London : Duckworth, 1933.

First edition of Bernard Darwin’s concise biography of literary master Charles Dickens. Small octavo, original cloth. Very good in the rare original dust jacket which is in very good condition. Name to the front free endpaper.

Trollope, Anthony

Barchester Towers.

London : Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, & Roberts, 1857.

Rare first editions, first issue of one of Trollope’s most important novels. Octavo, original cloth, blind stamped boards. Half-title present in Volume I, brick-red endpapers with advertisements. Sadleir 5. Bookplates of Oliver Brett on front free endpapers and of Duff Cooper on versos. In near fine condition. Each volume is housed in a three quarterContinue reading "Barchester Towers."

Stone, Irving [Kirk Douglas]

Lust For Life.

New York : Longmans, Green and Company, 1934.

First edition of this classic, bestselling biographical novel of Vincent Van Gogh. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Rachel Ann Starr With my best wishes Irving Stone.” Additionally signed by actor Kirk Douglas, who starred as Van Gogh in the 1956 film. Bookplate of the recipient,Continue reading "Lust For Life."