Literature

Boccaccio, Giovanni

Il Corbaccio. [The Crow].

Paris : Federigo Morello, 1569.

Rare sixteenth century edition of this literary work in the original Italian. Duodecimo, original full vellum. In near fine condition with light splitting to the front interior hinge.

Le Carre, John

The Naïve and Sentimental Lover.

London : Hodder and Stoughton, 1971.

First edition of le Carré’s classic sixth novel. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by John le Carre on the title page. Near fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket design by Tony Geddes. An exceptional example.

Bussard, Paul

The Sacrifice.

Saint Paul : The Leaflet Missal, 1939.

First edition of this liturgical work. Octavo, original wrappers. In good condition. Rare.

Houdini, Harry

The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin.

New York : The Publishers Printing Co, 1908.

First edition of this work by Houdini regarding his one-time idol. Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece of Houdini, illustrated throughout. Boldly signed by Harry Houdini on the front free endpaper. Bookplate to the front pastedown, in near fine condition. Rare and desirable signed.

Milne, A.A

Ten Plays: Mr. Pim Passes By: A Comedy in Three Acts, The Stepmother: A Play in One Act, Wurzel-Flummery: A Comedy in One Act, The Romantic Age: A Comedy in Three Acts, The Artist: A Duologue, The Camberley Triangle: A Comedy in One Act, To Have the Honour: A Comedy in Three Acts, The Man in the Bowler Hat: A Terribly Exciting Affair, The Boy Comes Home: A Comedy in One Act, Ariadne, or Business First: A Comedy in Three Acts.

London and New York : Samuel French, 1921-1926.

Collection of ten of A.A. Milne’s plays, each signed my him, including several first editions. Octavo, original wrappers, the collection includes: First French’s Acting edition of ‘Mr. Pim Passes By: A Comedy in Three Acts’ (London: Samuel French, 1921, illustrated with a photograph and floor plan of the set design and an electric floor planContinue reading "Ten Plays: Mr. Pim Passes By: A Comedy in Three Acts, The Stepmother: A Play in One Act, Wurzel-Flummery: A Comedy in One Act, The Romantic Age: A Comedy in Three Acts, The Artist: A Duologue, The Camberley Triangle: A Comedy in One Act, To Have the Honour: A Comedy in Three Acts, The Man in the Bowler Hat: A Terribly Exciting Affair, The Boy Comes Home: A Comedy in One Act, Ariadne, or Business First: A Comedy in Three Acts."

Gaines, Ernest J

The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.

New York : The Dial Press, 1971.

First edition of this classic novel, which depicts the struggles of African Americans as seen through the eyes of the narrator, a woman named Jane Pittman. Octavo, original boards. Presentation copy, lengthily inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, “Dear Dale and Diane: I heard about you fromContinue reading "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman."

King, Stephen

The Dead Zone.

New York : The Viking Press, 1979.

First edition of this classic work, basis for the 1983 thriller film directed by David Cronenberg. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by Stephen King on the title page. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by One + One Studio.

le Carre, John

The Spy Who Came In From The Cold.

London : Victor Gollancz, 1963.

First edition of the le Carre’s classic work, which went on to reinvigorate the spy genre. Octavo, original cloth. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with light toning to the spine. An exceptional example.

Milne, A.A.; Illustrated by Ernest Shepard

The Four Pooh Books: When We Were Very Young; Winnie-The-Pooh; Now We Are Six; The House At Pooh Corner.

London : Methuen & Co. Ltd, 1924-1928.

First editions, first issues of each work in Milne’s wonderful Pooh quartet, with only When We Were Very Young being a first issue. Octavo, four volumes, original publisher’s gilt-decorated pictorial cloth, top edge gilt, pictorial endpapers, illustrated with decorations by Ernest Shepard. When We Were Very Young is a first issue with page ix unnumbered,Continue reading "The Four Pooh Books: When We Were Very Young; Winnie-The-Pooh; Now We Are Six; The House At Pooh Corner."

Dusk and Other Stories

.

First edition of this collection of stories by the award-winning author. Octavo, original boards. Signed by James Salter on the title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by David Bullen.

Butler, Octavia E

Imago.

New York : Warner Books, 1989.

First edition of the gripping climax to Butler’s acclaimed Xenogenesis trilogy. Octavo, original half cloth. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Don Puckey. Cover illustration by Wayne Barlowe.

Eco, Umberto

The Name of the Rose.

New York : Harcourt, Brace & Company, 1980.

First edition of one of the best-selling books of all-time, basis for the film starring Sean Connery. Octavo, original cloth. Translated from the Italian by William Weaver. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “to Ken & Dee Gros Louis, friendly, by Umberto Ecco Bloomington June 10, ’83.” The recipients, KennethContinue reading "The Name of the Rose."

le CARRÉ, John

John le Carré Autograph Letter Signed.

Cornwall 2006.

Autograph letter signed by British author John le Carré. Quarto, two pages on John le Carré’s personal stationary, the letter reads in full, “Dear Stacy, Thanks for your letter. Mine will be short as I am correcting galley (first printed sheets) of my new novel ‘The Mission Song’ out next September, & I’m just backContinue reading "John le Carré Autograph Letter Signed."

Coleridge, Samuel Taylor; Introduction and Notes by T. Ashe

The Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

London : George Bell and Sons, 1885.

The Aldine edition of Coleridge’s poetical works, including The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Duodecimo, two volumes bound in three quarter calf over gilt boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, all edges marbled, marbled endpapers, illustrated with engraved frontispieces, head-pieces, and initials. In very good condition.

Fitzgerald, Edward; Introduction by A. C. Benson; Illustrated by E. Geddes

The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.

London : Siegle, Hill & Co, c. 1919.

Finely bound edition of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, rendered into English Verse by Edward Fitzgerald and reproduced from a manuscript written and illuminated by F. Sangorski & G. Sutcliffe. Quarto, bound in full deerskin with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, gilt borders and blind stamping toContinue reading "The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam."

Rowling, J.K

Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire.

London : Bloombsbury, 2000.

First edition of Rowling’s fourth book in the Harry Potter series. Octavo, original illustrated boards. Boldly signed by J.K. Rowling on the dedication page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Cover illustration by Giles Greenfield. Cover design by Richard Horne.

Waugh, Evelyn

The Loved One: An Anglo-American Tragedy.

London : Chapman & Hall, 1948.

First edition of Waugh’s short satirical novel about a Los Angeles funeral parlor. Octavo, original boards, marbled endpapers, illustrated by Stuart Doyle. Very good in a good dust jacket.

Bolaño, Roberto

La Pista de Hielo. [The Skating Rink].

Alcalá de Henares : Fundación Colegio Del Rey, 1993.

First edition of this prize-winning crime novella in the original Spanish. Octavo, original pictorial wrappers. In near fine condition. Cover painting by Hilla Schürholz. Accompanied by the original publisher’s ‘La Pista de Hielo’ informational bookmark.

Pullman, Philip

Once Upon a Time in the North.

Oxford : David Fickling Books, 2008.

First edition of this masterful prequel to Pullman’s ‘His Dark Materials’ trilogy. Duodecimo, original cloth with gilt title and pictorial cover labels to the front panel, illustrated with in-line engravings by John Lawrence, immersive full-page facsimile documents, and folding pamphlets in a pocket adhered to the rear pastedown. In near fine condition.

Bemelmans, Ludwig

Madeline’s Rescue.

New York : The Viking Press, 1955.

First edition, early printing of the second book in the Madeline series, which went on to win the Caldecott Medal in 1954. Thin quarto, original cloth, pictorial endpapers, illustrated throughout. Presentation copy, boldly inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “To Linda with love Ludwig Bemelmans Christmas 1955.” Near fine in a very goodContinue reading "Madeline’s Rescue."

Beagle, Peter S

A Fine and Private Place.

New York : The Viking Press, 1960.

First edition of Peter Beagle’s first fantasy novel. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by Peter Beagle on the front free endpaper with a smiley in the “P.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by George Salter. An exceptional signed example.

Beardsley, Aubrey; Sir Thomas Malory; William Caxton; John Rhys; Aymer Vallance

[Morte D’Arthur]. The Birth Life and Acts of King Arthur of His Noble Knights of the Round Table Their Marvellous Enquests and Adventures the Achieving of the San Greal and in the End Le Morte Darthur with the Dolourous Death and Departing Out of This World of Them All.

Edinburgh : Turnbull & Spears, 1927.

Limited Beardsley illustrated edition of perhaps the best-known work of Arthurian literature in English, containing two additional illustrations not appearing in the second edition, in addition to the 10 further illustrations published in the second edition that did not appear in the first. Quarto, original publisher’s cloth with gilt art-deco botanical design by Aubrey Beardsley,Continue reading "[Morte D’Arthur]. The Birth Life and Acts of King Arthur of His Noble Knights of the Round Table Their Marvellous Enquests and Adventures the Achieving of the San Greal and in the End Le Morte Darthur with the Dolourous Death and Departing Out of This World of Them All."

Perelman, S.J

The Beauty Part.

New York : Simon and Schuster, 1963.

Rare uncorrected proof of the first edition of this marvelous play in two acts. Thin quarto, original wrappers and comb binding. In very good condition with a spot of toning to the front and rear panel, an inscription to the top edge of the front panel, a miniscule closed tear to the fore edge ofContinue reading "The Beauty Part."

Roth, Philip

The Human Stain.

Boston : Houghton Mifflin Company, 2000.

First edition, early printing of Roth’s award-winning novel. Octavo, original half cloth. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Michaela Sullivan.