Literature

Bellow, Saul

Humboldt’s Gift.

New York : The Viking Press, 1975.

First edition of the author’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author, “To Judge Abraham Lincoln Marovitz — the homage of letters to justice Best wishes Saul Bellow June 3 1982.” The recipient Abraham Marovitz was a famed Chicago attorney and long-time powerful United States District Court judge. BothContinue reading "Humboldt’s Gift."

Vladimir Nabokov: A Tribute.

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First edition of this tribute to Nabokov. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Edited by Peter Quennell. Fine in a near fine dust jacket.

Bellow, Saul

The Victim.

New York : The Vanguard Press, 1947.

First edition of the author’s second book. Octavo, original black cloth. In near fine condition. A Burgess 99 title.

Smith, Lillian; Illustrated by Constance McMillan

Memory of a Large Christmas.

New York : W.W. Norton & Company, 1962.

First edition of this “beautifully written book which should be read by families at Christmas time as Dickens’ Christmas Carol used to be” (The New York Times Book Review). Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper to George Plimpton, “ForGeorge- who owe still owes me a love letter-Continue reading "Memory of a Large Christmas."

Vassilikos, Vassilis

Z.

New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1968.

First American edition of the author’s classic work. Octavo, original black cloth. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by the author on the title page, “For Matthew with my love, Vassilis Vassilikos 5.05.01.” Fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket that shows very light wear. Jacket design by Enrico Arno. Translated from the Greek by MarilynContinue reading "Z."

Wyndham, Francis

The Other Garden.

New York : Moyer Bell Limited, 1987.

First edition of Wyndham’s first novel. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “For Rolland from Francis.” The recipient was the well-known bibliophile Rolland Comstock. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket illustration by Jane Human.

Wilde, Oscar

An Ideal Husband.

London : Leonard Smithers and Co, 1899.

First signed limited edition of Wilde’s classic comedic stage play. Octavo, original lavender publisher’s cloth with gilt titles to the spine and gilt flourishes to the spine and front panel. One of 100 large paper copies signed by Oscar Wilde, this is number 85. In near fine condition with a touch of toning. Housed inContinue reading "An Ideal Husband."

O'Neill, Eugene

All God’s Chillun Got Wings and Welded.

New York : Boni and Liveright, 1927.

First edition of this collection of two of O’Neill’s expressionist plays, including one of his most controversial. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by Eugene O’Neill on the front free endpaper. Near fine in a very good dust jacket.

O'Hara, Frank, Larry Rivers and Grace Hartigan [WIlliam de Kooning]

Hartigan and Rivers With O’Hara.

New York : Tibor de Nagy Gallery, 1959.

First edition of this exhibition flyer for the 1959 Tibor de Nagy exhibition of works by Larry Rivers and Grace Hartigan inspired by O’Hara’s poetry. Octavo, original wrappers as issued, illustrated with twelve black and white lithographs. Association copy, inscribed by Larry Rivers on the verso of the front cover to fellow member of theContinue reading "Hartigan and Rivers With O’Hara."

Malamud, Bernard

The Natural.

New York : Harcourt Brace and Company, 1952.

First edition of the author’s first book, and one of the greatest baseball novels of all time. Octavo, original cloth. Advance review copy with the slip laid in for a release date of August 21, 1952. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper one month before the date of publication, “ForContinue reading "The Natural."

Vardon, Harry) Edgar Guest

The Time I Played With Vardon.

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Rare original broadside poem by Edgar Guest on golfer Harry Vardon. A photograph of Vardon with a putter and the poem by Edgar Albert Guest is below. Guest who was popular poet in the 20th century and became known as the “People’s Poet”. Matted and framed.

Malamud, Bernard

Rembrandt’s Hat.

New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1973.

First edition of this collection of short stories by the author of The Natural. Octavo, original half cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “For Susie and Paul, Kind good friends- Bern May 1973.” The recipients, Suzanne and Paul Shrag were close friends of Malamud and brother of printmaker Karl Schrag.Continue reading "Rembrandt’s Hat."

Malamud, Bernard

Assistant.

New York : Farrar, Straus and Cudahy, 1957.

First edition of Malamud’s second novel, which went on to win the Daroff Fiction Award from the Jewish Book Council of America and the  Award of the National Institute of Arts and Letters. Octavo, original half cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Susie and Paul dear friends, greetings!Continue reading "Assistant."

Malamud, Bernard

A New Life.

New York : Farrar, Straus and Cudahy, 1961.

First edition of Malamud’s third novel. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For Susie and Paul, Old friends, Everything good Bern.” The recipients, Suzanne and Paul Shrag were close friends of Malamud and brother of printmaker Karl Schrag. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. JacketContinue reading "A New Life."

Malamud, Bernard

The Tenants.

New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1971.

First edition of Malamud’s sixth novel. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For Susie and Paul With affection for dear friends- Bern.” The recipients, Suzanne and Paul Shrag were close friends of Malamud and brother of printmaker Karl Schrag. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. JacketContinue reading "The Tenants."

Malamud, Bernard

The Stories of Bernard Malamud.

New York : Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1983.

First edition of this collection of stories. Octavo, original half cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For Susie and Paul Old and dear friends- a long life in friendship Bern.” The recipients, Suzanne and Paul Shrag were close friends of Malamud and brother of printmaker Karl Schrag. With aContinue reading "The Stories of Bernard Malamud."

Clellon Holmes, John

Get Home Free.

New York : E.P. Dutton & Co., Inc, 1964.

First edition of Clellon Holmes’ third novel. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “For Phyllis- all good wishes- John Clellon Holmes.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Paul Bacon.

Malamud, Bernard

Pictures of Fidelman: An Exhibition.

New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1969.

First edition of Malamud’s fifth novel. Octavo, original half cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For Susie and Paul Old dear good friends with affection Bern.” The recipients, Suzanne and Paul Shrag were close friends of Malamud and brother of printmaker Karl Schrag. Near fine in a near fine dustContinue reading "Pictures of Fidelman: An Exhibition."

Malamud, Bernard

Idiots First.

New York : Farrar, Straus & Company, 1963.

First edition of this collection of stories. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For Susie and Paul Old and good friends Bern.” The recipients, Suzanne and Paul Shrag were close friends of Malamud and brother of printmaker Karl Schrag. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket designContinue reading "Idiots First."

France, Anatole. Translated by Robert B. Douglas. Illustrated by Frank C. Pape

Thais.

New York : John Lane, 1926.

First Frank C. Pape illustrated edition of Anatole France’s novel based on the life of Saint Thais of Egypt. Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers, illustrated with engravings and decorations by Frank C. Cape. InContinue reading "Thais."

Gardner, Erle Stanley

The Perry Mason Mystery Series Collection.

New York : William and Morrow Company, 1950-1957.

First editions, first issues of 39 titles from the Perry Mason Mystery series. Octavos, 39 volumes, original cloth. The Case of the Ice-Cold Hands, The Case of the Deadly Toy, and The Case of the Screaming Woman are each inscribed by the author to his secretary with a full page inscription on the front freeContinue reading "The Perry Mason Mystery Series Collection."

Chaucer, Geoffrey

Poetical Works of Geoffrey Chaucer.

London : George Bell and Sons, 1878.

Finely bound set of Chaucer’s poetical works. Small octavos, four volumes bound in three quarters morocco by Bayntun Bindery with gilt tooling to the spine and red morocco spine labels lettered in gilt in six compartments within raised bands, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers, tissue guarded frontispiece portrait of Chaucer to volume one. In nearContinue reading "Poetical Works of Geoffrey Chaucer."

Cleary, Beverly

Henry and Ribsy.

New York : William Morrow & Company, 1954.

First edition of the third book in Cleary’s classic Henry Huggins series. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Signed by Beverly Cleary on the title page. In very good condition. Illustrated by Lois Darling.

Mandino, Og and Buddy Kaye

The Gift of Acabar.

Philadelphia and New York : J. B. Lippincott Company, 1978.

First edition of Mandino and Kaye’s enchanting parable. Octavo, original half cloth. Inscribed by Mandino on the front free endpaper in the year of publication, “With Love Og Mandino 9/28/78.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Don Bender.