Literature

dePaola, Tomie

Merry Christmas, Strega Nona.

San Diego : Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Publishers, 1986.

First edition of Tomie de Paola’s Christmas children’s classic. Quarto, original illustrated boards, story and pictures by Tomie dePaola. Lengthily signed by the author opposite the title page, “‘It’s just like you,’ said Strega Nona. Big Anthony smiled. ‘Christmas has a magic of its own.’ Tomie 2016.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. With aContinue reading "Merry Christmas, Strega Nona."

Nabokov, Vladimir

Nikolai Gogol.

London : Editions Poetry London, 1947.

First British edition of Nabokov’s criticism of the work of Russian literary master Nikolai Gogol. Octavo, original cloth. Engraved frontispiece portrait of Gogol. Near fine in a good dust jacket.

Trollope, Anthony

The Works of Anthony Trollope.

London : Ward, Lock & Co, 1881.

The New Edition of the Works of Anthony Trollope. Octavo, 28 volumes bound into 14 in three quarter morocco over marbled boards with gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, red and brown morocco spine labels, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled.

Trollope, Anthony

Ralph the Heir.

London : Strahan & Co. Publishers, 1871.

First illustrated edition of Trollope’s account of a corrupt Parliamentary election, based on his own experiences as a candidate. Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco with gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, red morocco spine label lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled, wood-engraved illustrations by F.B. Fraser.Continue reading "Ralph the Heir."

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 three quarters leather over marbled boards, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, raised bands, marbledContinue reading "A Tale of Two Cities."

Frost, Robert

North of Boston.

New York : Henry Holt and Company, 1926.

Early printing of Frost’s second published book. Octavo, original cloth, tissue-guarded frontispiece of Aroldo Du Chene’s plaster bust of Frost. Very good in the rare original dust jacket which is in very good condition with chipping to the extremities. Bookplate to the pastedown.

Trollope, Anthony

Selected Works of Anthony Trollope. [The Bertrams, The Macdermots of Ballycloran, Mary Gresley and An Editor’s Tales].

London : Chapman and Hall, 1872.

Finely bound collection of a selection of three of Trollope’s best-known works. Octavo, three volumes bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, red morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled. In near fine condition.

King, Ethel

The Calendar In Rime.

Portland, Maine : Falmouth Publishing House, 1947.

First edition of this collection of poems. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by the author on the front free endpaper, “With my compliments- Ethel King.” Near fine in the rare original glassine.

Wescott, Glenway

The Babe’s Bed.

: Harrison of Paris, 1930.

Signed limited edition of Glenway Wescott’s short novel. Octavo, original cloth. One of 375 numbered copies signed by the author, this is number 252. Near fine in the original slipcase.

Jameson, Mrs. [Anna Brownell]

Visits and Sketches at Home and Abroad with Tales and Miscellanies Now First Collected and a New Edition of the Diary of an Ennuyée.

London : Saunders and Otley, 1834.

Rare first edition of Mrs. Jameson’s Visits and Sketches at Home and Abroad. Octavo, volume III only of four volumes bound in three quarters vellum over marbled boards with gilt tooling to the spine, marbled endpapers, engraved frontispiece, headpieces, and tailpieces, all edges red. In very good condition.

Cobb, Irvin S

Incredible Truth.

New York : Cosmopolitan Book Corporation, 1931.

First edition of Cobb’s absorbing collection of historical essays. Octavo, original cloth, top edge red. Signed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Yours Sincerely Irvine S. Cobb.” Near fine in the original dust jacket which is in very good condition.

Lorca, Federico Garcia [Leonard Cohen]

The Poet In New York and Other Poems.

New York : W.W. Norton & Company, 1940.

First edition of Lorca’s masterpiece. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by fellow poet Leonard Cohen on the front free endpaper. Cohen was deeply influenced by the work of Lorca for the duration of his poetic and musical career. “Now, you know of my deep association and confraternity with the poet Federico Garcia Lorca. I could sayContinue reading "The Poet In New York and Other Poems."

Hulme, Keri

The Bone People.

Auckland : Hodder and Stoughton, 1985.

First edition of the author’s Booker Prize-winning novel. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket, small name.

Dahl, Roald; Illustrated by Quentin Blake

The BFG: Illustrations by Quentin Blake.

London : Jonathan Cape, 1982.

First edition of this Dahl classic, which has sold over 20 million copies. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated by Quentin Blake. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front pastedown, “Nicola Love Roald Dahl.” Additionally inscribed by the illustrator Quentin Blake opposite Dahl’s inscription. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Uncommon signed by bothContinue reading "The BFG: Illustrations by Quentin Blake."

Bligh, Lieutenant William

A Narrative of the Mutiny on Board His Majesty’s Ship Bounty; and the Subsequent Voyage of Part of the Crew, In the Ships Boat from Tofua, one of the Friendly Islands, To Timor, Dutch Settlement in the East Indies.

London : Printed for George Nicol, 1790.

First edition of Bligh’s firsthand account of “one of the most remarkable incidents in the whole of maritime history [which ultimately absolved him] from any blame that might be levelled against him because of the incident” (Hill). Quarto, original boards, lacking the spine, engraved folding plan “A copy of the draft from which the Bounty’sContinue reading "A Narrative of the Mutiny on Board His Majesty’s Ship Bounty; and the Subsequent Voyage of Part of the Crew, In the Ships Boat from Tofua, one of the Friendly Islands, To Timor, Dutch Settlement in the East Indies."

Dickens, Charles

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1839.

First edition of one of Dickens’ most popular novels. Octavo, bound in full morocco by Morrell, ornate inlay to the spine, front and rear panels, raised bands, inner dentelles, illustrated with 40 plates. In fine condition. Housed in a custom slipcase. An exceptional presentation.

Malamud, Bernard

Idiots First.

New York : Farrar, Straus & Company, 1963.

First edition of this collection of short stories. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper to his cousin, “For Marshall, Every good wish Bernie.” Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by Marshall Lee.

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 front free endpaper in the year of publication to his cousins, “For Minnie and Marshall Greetings! Bern May 1973.” Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket designContinue reading "Rembrandt’s Hat."

Vladimir Nabokov: Selected Letters, 1940-1977.

.

Uncorrected proof of the first edition of this collection of letters by Nabokov. Octavo, original half cloth. In fine condition. Edited by Dmitri Nabokov and Matthew J. Broccoli.

Palgrave, Francis T

The Golden Treasury Selected from the Best Songs and Lyrical Poems in the English Language and Arranged with Notes.

London : Macmillan & Company, 1909.

Finely bound example of the Golden Treasury. Octavo, bound in full morocco, elaborate gilt tooling to the spine, front and rear panels, raised spine bands, inner dentelles, moiré silk endleaves, all edges gilt. In fine condition.

Bennett, Arnold

The Old Wives’ Tale.

London : Ernest Benn Limited, 1927.

Signed limited edition of Bennett’s masterpiece. Quarto, bound in original half vellum, gilt titles to the spine, gilt topstain. One of 5oo copies, signed by Arnold Bennett. Near fine in the rare original slipcase.

Barrie, J.M

Margaret Ogilvy.

London : Hodder and Stoughton, 1869.

First British edition of the author of Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie’s classic memoir of his mother. Octavo, original cloth, gilt titles to the spine, top edge gilt, tissue-guarded frontispiece. In near fine condition. Housed in a custom half morocco and chemise case. Rare in this condition.

Roth, Philip

When She Was Good.

New York : Random House, 1967.

First edition of Roth’s second novel. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by Philip Roth on the title page in a contemporary signature. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by Roy Kuhlman.

Philips, Francis Charles

My Little Husband and If Only.

Leipzig : Bernhard Tauchnitz, 1894-1904.

Finely bound example Philips’ two collections short stories. Octavo, two volumes bound into one in three quarters vellum over marbled boards with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, gilt tooling to the spine, marbled endpapers, all edges red. In near fine condition.