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Literature

Rare & Classic, American or English Literature Books for Sale Online

Browse rare first edition classics in American, English, world literature, poetry, and plays. View our entire collection of rare literature below, search our inventory with advanced search, or use our sorting tools to find exactly what you’re looking for. Please call with any questions you may have on a specific item or order online today.

Showing items 3936-3960 of 4655

Maugham, W. Somerset

Of Human Bondage With a Digression on the Art of Fiction: And Address by Somerset Maugham.

Washington : The Library of Congress, 1946.

Signed limited edition of the address given by Maugham upon the Library’s acceptance of the original autograph manuscript of his masterpiece, Of Human Bondage. Octavo, original boards. One of 500 copies signed by W. Somerset Maugham on the front free endpaper. In fine condition. Accompanied by the original accompanying program which is in very goodContinue reading "Of Human Bondage With a Digression on the Art of Fiction: And Address by Somerset Maugham."

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$800.00
Item Number: RRB-108345
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Jarrell, Randall; Illustrated by Burkert, Nancy Burkert

Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs.

New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1972.

First edition of this classic illustrated retelling of the tale from the Brothers Grimm. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated throughout. Signed by the illustrator Nancy Ekholm Burkert on the half-title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with light shelfwear. Translated by Randall Jarrell.

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$975.00
Item Number: RRB-108773
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Alvarez, Julia

How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents.

Chapel Hill, NC : Algonquin Press, 1991.

First edition of the author’s classic work. Octavo, original half cloth, Lengthily signed by the author on the title page, “May you enjoy my book- There are still times I wake up at three o’clock in the morning… to write books like this one, Julia Alvarez.” Near fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket artContinue reading "How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents."

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$750.00
Item Number: RRB-108779
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Ojike, Mbonu [Eleanor Roosevelt]

My Africa.

New York : The John Day Company, 1946.

First edition of this work by the Nigerian novelist and nationalist, inscribed by him to Eleanor Roosevelt. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Eleanor Roosevelt The greatest Lady of this Century in whom Africa has found a friend in deed. Mbonu Ojike.” Bookplate of EleanorContinue reading "My Africa."

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$3,200.00
Item Number: RRB-102465
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Bacon, Francis] John Russell

Francis Bacon.

London : Methuen, 1964.

First edition of this wonderfully illustrated work on Francis Bacon. Octavo, original boards, illustrated throughout. Presentation copy, boldly inscribed on the front free endpaper, “For George with all best wishes Francis Bacon.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket photograph of Bacon on the front panel by Cecil Beaton.

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$2,500.00
Item Number: RRB-102743
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Burnett, W.R

Little Caesar.

New York : Lincoln MacVeagh/ The Dial Press, 1929.

First edition of Burnett’s classic novel, which has inspired generations of gangster films. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by W.R. Burnett on the half-title page. Very good in the rare original dust jacket with light shelfwear.

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$7,500.00
Item Number: RRB-102243
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Holmes, John Clellon

Nothing More To Declare.

New York : E.P. Dutton, 1967.

First edition of this notable assessment of the literature of the Beats and their contemporaries, with essays on Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Gershon Legman and Jay Landesman. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author to his wife on the front free endpaper, “For Shirley- the brave adventurer, the good companion, my love- JohnContinue reading "Nothing More To Declare."

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$1,800.00
Item Number: RRB-103995
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Smith, Betty

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn.

New York : Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1943.

First edition of Smith’s classic first novel about a young girl’s coming-of-age at the turn of the twentieth century. Octavo, original green cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper in the year of publication, “For Foster and Marian Best Love Betty Smith Aug. 23, 1943.” Near fine in a nearContinue reading "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn."

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$10,500.00
Item Number: RRB-103855
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Steinbeck, John

The Pearl.

New York : The Viking Press, 1947.

First edition of this classic story of simplicity, based on a Mexican folk tale. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “For Maggie and Larry with love John Steinbeck.” Near fine in a near fine first-issue dust jacket with Steinbeck looking to the left on the rear panel. DrawingsContinue reading "The Pearl."

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$9,500.00
Item Number: RRB-103774
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Caesar, Gaius Julius

Commentaires de César, avec des Notes Historiques, Critiques et Militaires [Caesar’s Comments, with Historical, Critical and Military Notes].

Paris : A Montargis, 1785.

First edition edited and translated by Lancelot Turpin de Crissé. Quarto, three volumes, bound in full contemporary calf, morocco spine labels, gilt titles to the spine, engraved title pages, two portraits and 40 folding plates, inner dentelles, marbled endpapers. In near fine condition. An exceptional example.

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$2,500.00
Item Number: RRB-104356
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Stowe, Harriet Beecher

Uncle Tom’s Cabin; Or, Life Among the Lowly.

Boston and Cleveland : John P. Jewett & Company, 1852.

First edition, first issue, with “spilt” (rather than “spiled”) in Volume I, 42, line 1; “cathecism” (rather than “catechism”) in volume II, 74, line 5; and all other first issue points of the author’s classic work. Octavo, 2 volumes, bound in contemporary three quarters leather over cloth, gilt titles to the spine, volume with titleContinue reading "Uncle Tom’s Cabin; Or, Life Among the Lowly."

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$8,000.00
Item Number: RRB-104745
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Dickens, Charles

A Tale of Two Cities.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1859.

First edition, first issue of one of Dickens’ most enduring works, with p. 213 misnumbered “113,” the signature mark “b” at the foot of the plate list, and the misspelling “affetcionately” on line 12, p. 134. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, panels decoratively triple-ruled in gilt withContinue reading "A Tale of Two Cities."

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$8,800.00
Item Number: RRB-104577
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Isherwood, Christopher

Down There On a Visit.

New York : Simon and Schuster, 1961.

First edition of this novel from the author of Goodbye Berlin and what many consider his finest novel. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Monroe Wheeler ex dono Christopher Isherwood.” The recipient Monroe Wheeler was an American publisher and museum coordinator and a close friend of Isherwood’s.Continue reading "Down There On a Visit."

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$650.00
Item Number: RRB-104119
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Wallace, David Foster & Mark Costello

The Missouri Review: Signifying Rappers, Volume XIII, Number 2.

New York : Ecco Press, 1990.

First appearance of Foster Wallace’s first book. Octavo, original wrappers as issued. Signed by David Foster Wallace. In fine condition. The first article is a 20 page essay from David Foster Wallace and Mark Costello on Rap music, entitled Signifying Rappers.

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$2,200.00
Item Number: RRB-105443
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Baldwin, James

Tell Me How Long the Train’s Been Gone.

New York : The Dial Press, 1968.

First edition of this major work by Baldwin. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “Kathleen Peace- James Baldwin.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Paul Bacon.

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$2,850.00
Item Number: RRB-106735
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Miller, Arthur

The Price.

New York : The Viking Press, 1968.

First edition of this play by the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author to his editor on the front free endpaper, “Dear Aaron Thanks Arthur March, 1968.” Asher also edited Saul Bellow, Philip Roth and many others. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by MelContinue reading "The Price."

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$1,250.00
Item Number: RRB-105622
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Greene, Graham

Brighton Rock.

New York : The Viking Press, 1938.

First American edition, preceding the British edition by one month of Greene’s chilling expose of violence and gang warfare in the pre-war underworld is a classic of its kind. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For Clive affectionately, Graham.” The recipient Clive Francis is a British actor,Continue reading "Brighton Rock."

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$12,500.00
Item Number: RRB-106788
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Aristotle; Antonio Andreas. Edited by Walter Burley and Robert Grosseteste

Analytica Posteriora [bound with] Quaestiones super XII libros Metaphysicae Aristotelis.

Venice : Gregorium de Gregorijs, 1514.

Rare 16th century printing of Aristotle’s Posterior Analytics; bound together with Spanish Franciscan theologian Antonius Andreas’s best known work, Quaestiones super XII libros Metaphysicae Aristotelis. Quarto, bound in contemporary parchment over handmade paper-covered boards, woodcut initials, text in two columns. In very good condition. A rare and desirable collection.

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$6,000.00
Item Number: RRB-104082
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Johnson, Crockett

Harold and the Purple Crayon.

New York : Harper & Brothers, 1955.

First edition of the first book in Crockett Johnson’s Harold series. 12 mo, original half cloth, illustrated throughout. Fine in a very good dust jacket without the price to top of front flap, with code “30-60 / No. 5671A” to front flap and “No. 5672A” to rear flap. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box madeContinue reading "Harold and the Purple Crayon."

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$4,200.00
Item Number: RRB-107552
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Ireland, Alexander. [Robert Louis Stevenson]

William Hazlitt: Essayist and Critic.

London and New York : Frederick Warne and Co, 1889.

Robert Louis Stevenson’s first edition copy of the writings of one of his favorite prose writers, William Hazlitt. Octavo, original cloth with gilt titles to the spine and front panel, botanical gilt vignette to the front panel, tissue-guarded frontispiece of Hazlitt. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author to Robert Louis Stevenson on the half-title page,Continue reading "William Hazlitt: Essayist and Critic."

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$3,750.00
Item Number: RRB-104876
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Huxley, Aldous

The Genius and the Goddess.

New York : Harper & Row, Publishers, 1955.

First edition of this classic Huxley novella. Octavo, original half cloth. Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket design by Emil Antonucci.

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$75.00
Item Number: RRB-107884
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O'Casey, Sean

I Knock At The Door: Swift Glances Back at Things That Made Me.

London : Macmillan & Co, 1939.

First edition of this autobiography by the famed Irish playwright. Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication, “To Joe Cummins, with deep affection, from Sean O’Casey remembering many delightful Dublin chats round his surgery firesides. Devon 1939. Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket.

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$1,200.00
Item Number: RRB-108016
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Uris, Leon

Exodus: A Novel of Israel.

New York : Doubleday & Company, Inc, 1958.

First edition of the author’s magnum opus. Octavo, original half cloth, cartographic endpapers. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “For Lois Shapiro Shalom Leon Uris.” Near fine in a very good dust jacket with some rubbing to the extremities. Jacket design by Sydney Butchkes. Jacket drawing by Harlan Krakowitz. Signed firstContinue reading "Exodus: A Novel of Israel."

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$1,450.00
Item Number: RRB-108911
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Gernsback, Hugo

Ralph 124C 41+.

Boston : The Stratford Company, 1925.

First edition of “arguably the first major work of American science fiction” (The Economist). Octavo, original cloth. Signed by the author on the front free endpaper, “With the compliments of the author H Gernsback 1925.” Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Bookplate on the front pastedown.

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$7,500.00
Item Number: RRB-108026
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