Literature

Greene, Graham

The Heart of the Matter.

London : William Heinemann Ltd, 1948.

First edition of what many consider the author’s masterpiece. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in five compartments within raised bands,  gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In fine condition.

Vonnegut, Kurt

Cat’s Cradle.

New York : Holt, Rinehart Winston, 1963.

First edition of Vonnegut’s classic satire of the clash between science and religion in the nuclear age. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in five compartments within raised bands, boldly signed by Kurt Vonnegut in a page bound in, gilt ruling to the frontContinue reading "Cat’s Cradle."

Steinbeck, John

The Short Reign of Pippin IV: A Fabrication.

New York : The Viking Press, 1957.

First edition of Steinbeck’s only political satire. unrevised proof copy, signed presentation inscription from the author “Dear Elsie Clough: This book was ghost written in the truest sense of the world. An imp crept down my arm and played in the ink. Don’t turn me in please Yours John Steinbeck.” on front inner wrapper, 2Continue reading "The Short Reign of Pippin IV: A Fabrication."

In Our Time.

.

First edition of this unique collection of collection Wolfe’s drawings from his two decades as a graphic artist; a visual commentary on the changing mores and social landscape of the 1980s. Quarto, original half cloth. Presentation copy, boldly inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Al Rusch peerless tennis star Tom Wolfe.”Continue reading "In Our Time."

Gershwin, George

George Gershwin Signed Rhapsody in Blue Piano Score.

New York : Harms Incorporated, 1925.

Rare 1925 printing of the piano score for the orchestral composition that defined the jazz age, first published in 1924. Small folio, original illustrated wrappers, piano solo and second piano in score. Presentation copy, inscribed by George Gershwin on the title page, “For Mr. Fuerst – with all best wishes George Gershwin.” The recipient, EugeneContinue reading "George Gershwin Signed Rhapsody in Blue Piano Score."

Thackeray, William M

William M. Thackeray Autograph Letter Signed.

.

Autograph letter signed by William M. Thackeray to Lady John Russell, wife of the Prime Minister. One page, the letter reads, “I have an engagement contracted 3 weeks ago unfortunately, or I should have had the greatest pleasure in coming to Richmond on Friday.” Matted and framed with two engravings, one of Thackeray and theContinue reading "William M. Thackeray Autograph Letter Signed."

Williams, Tennessee

Summer and Smoke.

New York : New Directions, 1948.

First edition of this classic work. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Tennessee Williams on the half-title page. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Alvin Lustig. Housed in a custom half morocco slipcase.

Williams, Tennessee

The Rose Tattoo.

New York : New Directions, 1951.

First edition of one of Williams’ most beautiful and powerful plays. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by Tennessee Williams on the front free endpaper. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Alvin Lustig. Housed in a custom half morocco chemise and clamshell box.

Dog Years.

.

First British edition of the Nobel Prize-winning author’s third and final novel in his acclaimed Danzig Trilogy. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed and dated in the year of publication by Gunter Grass with a large drawing of a chicken on the title page. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by GunterContinue reading "Dog Years."

Huxley, Aldous

Brief Candles.

London : Chatto & Windus, 1930.

First English edition of the author’s fifth collection of short fiction. Octavo, original red boards with gilt titles and ruling to the spine, top stain red. Near fine in a very good dust jacket, name to the front free endpaper.

Masefield, John

A Play of St. George.

New York : The Macmillan Company, 1948.

First edition, first printing of this inspiring play by England’s 37-year Poet Laureate. Octavo, original red cloth. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by Graphic House Associates. Author photograph by Keystone Pictures, Inc.

Ozick, Cynthia [David Goldblatt]

The Messiah of Stockholm.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1987.

First edition of this “truly intriguing mystery…Ozick brings off effects comparable to those of Isaac Bashevis Singer” (The New York Review of Books). Octavo, original half cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For David Goldblatt, with good wishes! Cynthia Ozick.” The recipient, David Goldblatt was a South African photographer noted forContinue reading "The Messiah of Stockholm."

Uyenishi, S.K. [Raku]; Word Portrait of the author by Percy Longhurst

The Text-Book of Ju-Jutsu As Practised in Japan: Being a Simple Treatise on the Japanese Method of Self-Defence.

London : Athletic Publications Ltd, c. 1940.

Later edition of this comprehensive wrestling text-book. Octavo, original green cloth with black lettering and decoration, illustrated with several black-and-white plates. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Uncommon in the original dust jacket.

Garcia Marquez, Gabriel. Translated by Gregory Rabassa

One Hundred Years of Solitude.

New York : Harper & Row, Publishers, 1970.

First American edition of the author’s magnum opus. Octavo, original green cloth. Near fine in a very good first issue dust jacket with the exclamation point at the end of the first paragraph on the front flap of the jacket. Jacket design by Guy Fleming.

Dumas, Alexandre [Alexander]

Les Trois Mousquetaires.

Paris : Calmann-Lévy, 1921.

Finely bound example of Dumas’ classic work in the original French. Octavo, two volumes bound in three quarter crimson crushed levant morocco with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. In near fine condition.

Steinbeck, John

The Short Reign of Pippin IV: A Fabrication.

New York : The Viking Press, 1957.

First edition of Steinbeck’s only political satire. Octavo, original half cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author to his sister on the front free endpaper, “Mary avec l’aimite from John the XXII.” The recipient, Mary Steinbeck Dekker was the eldest sister of John Steinbeck. The warmth of this inscription reflects their close and enduring relationshipContinue reading "The Short Reign of Pippin IV: A Fabrication."

Waugh, Evelyn

The Ordeal Of Gilbert Pinford.

London : Chapman & Hall, 1957.

First edition of what Waugh called his “mad book”—a largely autobiographical account of a period of hallucinations caused by bromide intoxication that he experienced in the early months of 1954, recounted through his protagonist Gilbert Pinfold. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket, name to the front free endpaper. Uncommon in this condition.

Waugh, Evelyn

Brideshead Revisited.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1945.

First edition of Waugh’s masterpiece. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Evelyn Waugh on the title page. Waugh issued a pre-publication edition of the novel in a run of 50 copies. These were printed and specially bound to distribute among friends for Christmas and to solicit any revisions. Several changes were made as a resultContinue reading "Brideshead Revisited."

Lee, Harper [Gregory Peck]

To Kill A Mockingbird.

New York : HarperCollins, 1995.

First edition, early printing of the 35th Anniversary edition of the author’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, basis for the classic film starring Gregory Peck. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed and dated by Academy-Award winning actor Gregory Peck on the dedication page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Suzanne Noli.

Chaucer, Geoffrey

The Poetical Works of Geoffrey Chaucer.

London : George Bell and Sons, 1886.

Finely bound Aldine edition of this collection of brilliant poetical works. Octavo, six volumes, bound in three quarter brown calf over marbled boards with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt and elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within five raised gilt bands, top edges gilt, marbled endpapers, decorated with botanical headpieces, tailpieces,Continue reading "The Poetical Works of Geoffrey Chaucer."

Segal, Erich

Love Story.

New York, Evanston, and London : Harper & Row, Publishers, 1970.

First edition, early printing of the author’s best-selling novel, a “sweet, sad, and, in its closing sentences, startlingly sentimental” work (John Barkham). Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed on the front free endpaper by Erich Segal, Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal who co-starred in the 1970 film adaptation. A tragedy, the 1970 film Love Story wasContinue reading "Love Story."

Auchincloss, Louis; Beeson, Jack; Calisher, Hortense; Huxtable, Ada Louise; Kahn, Wolf; Lewis, R.W.B.; Lippold, Richard; Mailer, Norman; Ozick, Cynthia; Schlensinger, Arthur, Jr.; Edited by John Updike

A Century of Arts and Letters.

New York : Columbia University Press, 1997.

First edition of this work celebrating the history of the American Academy of Arts & Letters on its centenary. Octavo, original cloth, pictorial endpapers. Boldly signed on the the title page by all eleven contributors. Preface and edited by John Updike. In near fine condition. Rare and desirable signed.

Wolfe, Thomas

Look Homeward, Angel.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1929.

First edition of the author’s classic work. Octavo, original dark blue cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the title page, “To Jo Dauber with thanks for dragging me in. Thomas Wolfe, Nov. 27, 1929.” Near fine in a very good first-issue dust jacket with the photograph of WolfeContinue reading "Look Homeward, Angel."

McCarthy, Cormac

The Border Trilogy: All the Pretty Horses; The Crossing; Cities of the Plain.

New York : Everyman's Library, 2008.

First edition of McCarthy’s classic trilogy, appearing here in one volume for the first time. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by the author, “For Tom and Corinne All the best Your friend Cormac.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket photograph by Mario Ettlinger. Jacket design by Barbara de Wilde. Rare and desirableContinue reading "The Border Trilogy: All the Pretty Horses; The Crossing; Cities of the Plain."