Literature

Grass, Gunter

The Tin Drum.

London : Secker and Warburg, 1962.

First British edition of the Nobel Prize-winning author’s classic first novel. Octavo, original cloth. Inscribed and dated in 1986 by Gunter Grass on the half-title page. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. With a signed letter from Gunter Grass’ secretary. Translated by Ralph Manheim. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box madeContinue reading "The Tin Drum."

Greene, Graham

The Lost Childhood and Other Essays.

London : Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1951.

First edition of this collection of essays by Graham Greene, two of its four parts, Personal Prologue and Personal Postscript, comprise seven invaluable pieces of autobiography. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author to fellow writer Norman Douglas on the front free endpaper, “Dear Norman This with my love. Thank you so muchContinue reading "The Lost Childhood and Other Essays."

Greene, Graham

The End of the Affair.

London : William Heinemann, 1951.

First edition of the Graham Greene novel William Faulkner called, “one of the best, most true and moving novels of my time, in anybody’s language.” Octavo, original cloth. Inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For Jerry Shestack from Graham Greene.” The recipient Jerry Shestack was a distinguished American Jurist, President of theContinue reading "The End of the Affair."

Tagore, Rabindranath

Creative Unity.

London : MacMillan & Company, 1925.

First edition, later printing. Octavo, original cloth. Signed and dated by the author on the front free endpaper, “Rabindranath Tagore Feb. 26, 1932.” In very good condition with some wear to the extremities and to the side front panel. Books signed by Tagore are rare.

Trilling, Lionel

The Liberal Imagination: Essays on Literature and Society.

New York : The Viking Press, 1950.

First edition of one of the influential works of criticism published in the twentieth century. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication, “To Sue and George in friendship and regard Lionel March 1950.” Fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by Robert Hallock.

Calvino, Italo

Difficult Loves.

New York : Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Publishers, 1984.

First edition of this classic collection of short stories by Calvino. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by Italo Calvino on the front free endpaper. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Louise Fili. Translated from the Italian by William Weaver, Archibald Colquhoun and Peggy Wright.

Mitchell, Margaret

Margaret Mitchell Signed Letters.

1941-42.

Two letters signed in full by Margaret Mitchell, author on the classic Gone With the Wind. Both letters addressed to Rear Admiral Edward J. Marquart and his wife, one dated December 26, 1941, the other December 19, 1942, each with their original envelopes; both letters refer to the commissioning of the U.S.S. Atlanta.

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 title page, “For Bob Kriendler with best wishes John Steinbeck.” The recipient was the owner of the legendary New York City landmark restaurant and speakeasy ”21”. Steinbeck was a frequentContinue reading "The Pearl."

Fleming, Ian

You Only Live Twice.

London : Jonathan Cape, 1965.

First edition, first state with “First published 1964” on the copyright page of the last James Bond novel published in Fleming’s lifetime and the eleventh in the series. Octavo, original black cloth. Inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For James You have my best wishes from Ian Fleming.” Near fine in aContinue reading "You Only Live Twice."

Thackeray, William

The Works of William Thackeray.

London : Various Publishers, 1840-1867.

First edition of the works of William Thackeray. Octavo, 34 volumes, uniformly bound in three-quarters morocco. From the library of Alfred Charles William Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Northcliffe, with his bookplate to each volume. Harmswoth was a British newspaper and publishing magnate who exercised vast influence over British popular opinion. Gilt titles and tooling to the spine, allContinue reading "The Works of William Thackeray."

Wilde, Oscar

An Ideal Husband.

London : Leonard Smithers and Co, 1899.

First edition, signed limited edition. Octavo, original lavender publisher’s cloth. One of 100 large paper copies signed by Oscar Wilde. In very good condition with some light rubbing and darkening to the extremities. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box.

Goldman, William

Which Lie Did I Tell You? More Adventures in the Screen Trade.

New York : Pantheon Books, 2000.

First edition of the sequel to Adventures in the Screen Trade. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by William Goldman on the half-title page to George Christy, former reviewer and society columnist for the Hollywood Reporter. Review material laid in, fine in a fine dust jacket.

Irving, John

The World According to Garp.

New York : E.P. Dutton, 1978.

First edition of Irving’s fourth novel. Octavo, original half cloth. Inscribed by the author on the half-title page in a contemporary hand, “For John another world according to a water-method man, John Irving.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Leo Manso. A warm inscription linking Irving’s second and fourth novel, the latter proving toContinue reading "The World According to Garp."

Wharton, Edith

The Age of Innocence.

New York : D. Appleton, 1920.

First edition of the author’s Pulitzer-Prize winning novel. Octavo, original red cloth. A very good example with some rubbing to the bottom cloth in the rare original unrestored dust jacket with some chips and wear to the spine and panels. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Rare, especially in the original unrestored dustContinue reading "The Age of Innocence."

Marias, Javier

While the Women Are Sleeping.

London : Chatto & Windus, 2010.

First edition of this collection of stories. Octavo, original boards. Presentation copy, lengthily inscribed by the author on the title page in the year of publication, “To Harold Billings, who shall find an old friend in one of these old stories, with thanks for his middle years and best wishes, Javier Marias December 2010.” TheContinue reading "While the Women Are Sleeping."

Kazantzakis, Nikos

Spain [In Greek].

Athena 1937.

Rare first Greek edition of this early travelogue by Kazantzakis. Octavo, bound in half morocco over cloth. In very good condition.

Pynchon, Thomas

V.

Philadelphia and New York : J.B. Lippincott Company, 1963.

First edition of Pynchon’s first book. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Herb Yellin- I’ve been reading this over. It’s not such a terrific book, is it? Thomas Pynchon.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Ismar David. Books signed and inscribed byContinue reading "V."

Dickens, Charles

Charles Dickens Signed Portrait Photograph.

1868.

Signed “Charles Dickens (with a large flourish) Washington, D.C. Seventh February 1868.” Large oval portrait photograph measures 13 inches by 13 inches. Matted in a walnut frame which measures 24 inches by 27 inches.  On his Washington tour Dickens met President Andrew Johnson and signed this photograph on the date of that meeting, February 7, whichContinue reading "Charles Dickens Signed Portrait Photograph."

Self-Consciousness: Memoirs

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1989.

First edition. Octavo, original cloth. Inscribed by the author to noted book collector Stratford Carter on the half title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket.

Saramago, Jose

Cadernos de Lanzarote Diario III.

Lisbon : Caminho, 1996.

First Portugese edition of the Nobel Prize-winning author’s commentaries on Lanzarote, one of Spain’s volcanic Canary Islands. Octavo, original wrappers as issued. Signed by Jose Saramago on the title page.

Saramago, Jose

Cadernos de Lanzarote Diario IV.

Lisbon : Caminho, 1997.

First Portugese edition of the Nobel Prize-winning author’s commentaries on Lanzarote, one of Spain’s volcanic Canary Islands. Octavo, original wrappers as issued. Signed and dated by Jose Saramago on the title page in 2006.

Bellow, Saul

Dangling Man.

New York : The Vanguard Press, 1944.

First edition of the Nobel Prize-winning author’s first book. Octavo, original beige cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “For Matthew and Adrienne greetings and blessings (on your wedding) Saul Bellow.” Fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket with light rubbing to the crown and foot of the spine.

La Desesperanza.

.

First edition. Octavo, original wrappers as issued. Signed and dated in 1988 by Jose Donoso on the front free endpaper. In very good condition.

Greene, Graham

Brighton Rock.

London : Heinemann, 1938.

First edition of Greene’s chilling exposé of violence and gang warfare in the pre-war underworld is a classic of its kind. Octavo, original cloth. In near fine condition. Housed in a custom slipcase. An exceptional example.