Literature

McCarthy, Cormac

All the Pretty Horses; The Crossing; Cities of the Plain.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1992-1998.

First editions of each title in the author’s acclaimed Border Trilogy. Octavo, original half cloth, three volumes. The Crossing is a presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “For Jim and Brenda with love Cormac.” The other two volumes are signed by Cormac McCarthy and additionally signed three times in each volumeContinue reading "All the Pretty Horses; The Crossing; Cities of the Plain."

Lewis, C.S

The Chronicles of Narnia Set: The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Horse and His Boy, The Magician’s Nephew, The Last Battle.

London : Geoffrey Bles, 1950-1956.

First editions of each book in the author’s classic Chronicles of Narnia series, which has sold over 100 million copies in 47 languages. Octavo, 7 volumes, illustrated by Pauline Baynes, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, gilt signatureContinue reading "The Chronicles of Narnia Set: The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Horse and His Boy, The Magician’s Nephew, The Last Battle."

Lewis, C.S

Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia.

London : Geoffrey Bles, 1951.

First edition of the second book in Lewis’ beloved Narnia series. Octavo, original cloth, cartographic endpapers, illustrated by Pauline Baynes. Near fine in a very good dust jacket, ownership inscription to the inside jacket flap.

Rowling, J.K.; Illustrated by Mary Grandpre

Harry Potter Series: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix, The Half-Blood Prince, and The Deathly Hallows.

New York : Arthur A. Levine / Scholastic Press, 1998-2007.

First American editions of each book in the Harry Potter series. Octavo, original half cloth, seven volumes, illustrated by Mary Grandpre. Each are near fine to fine in near fine to fine dust jackets. An exceptional set.

Asimov, Isaac

More Tales of the Black Widowers.

Garden City, NY : Published For The Crime Club By Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1976.

First edition of the second book in Asimov’s Black Widowers series. Octavo, original boards. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “To Stephen Isaac Asimov.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Lawrence Ratzkin.

Lowell, Robert

Near The Ocean.

New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1971.

First Noonday printing of Lowell’s renowned collection of poems, including his famous Waking Early on Sunday Morning. Octavo, original pictorial wrappers. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “For Sebastiano In the time of my crisis Robert Lowell Jan. 6, 1976 Greenways Nur[s]ing Home Robert.” In very good condition with  a fewContinue reading "Near The Ocean."

Lewis, C.S

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

London : Geoffrey Bles, 1950.

First edition of the first work in Lewis’ acclaimed Narnia series. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles and ruling to the spine, raised bands, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, gilt signature to the front panel, inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In fine condition. Illustrated byContinue reading "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe."

Dick, Philip K

Ubik.

Garden City : Doubleday & Company, Inc, 1969.

First edition of one of Philip K. Dick’s most acclaimed novels. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Philip K. Dick on the front free endpaper. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with light rubbing. Jacket design by Peter Rauch. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Rare and desirable signed.

Koestler, Arthur

Arrival and Departure.

London : Hutchinson of London, 1966.

First Danube edition of the third novel in the author’s classic trilogy. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “To Karl and Diane from Arthur.” The recipients were Karl Pribram and his wife Diane. Karl as a neurosurgeon and close friend of Koestler who did pioneering work on the definition ofContinue reading "Arrival and Departure."

Dahl, Roald; Illustrated by Quentin Blake

Matilda.

London : Jonathan Cape, 1988.

First British edition of Dahl’s popular story of a young girl, her genius, and her indifferent parents. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Presentation copy, boldly inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Andrew Love Roald Dahl.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Illustrated by Quentin Blake.

Zafron, Carlos Ruiz

The Shadow of the Wind.

New York : The Penguin Press, 2004.

First edition of this “gorgeous read” (Stephen King). Octavo, original boards, patterned endpapers. Signed by Carlos Ruiz Zafon on the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Darren Haggar. Translated by Lucia Graves.

Dahl, Roald

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More.

London : Jonathan Cape, 1977.

First edition of this collection of seven short stories by the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Presentation copy, boldly inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To John + Shana Love Roald Dahl.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Susan Shields. Photograph byContinue reading "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More."

Eliot, T.S

Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats.

New York : Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1939.

First American edition of Eliot’s beloved collection of whimsical feline poems which served as the basis for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1981 megamusical phenomenon Cats. Octavo, original cloth. Very good in a good price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket illustration by T.S. Eliot.

Asimov, Janet and Isaac

Norby and The Queen’s Necklace.

New York : Walker and Company, 1986.

First edition of the fifth book in the Asimovs’ Norby series. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Isaac Asimov on the title page. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Laurie McBarnette. Jacket illustration by Richard Rehbein.

Asimov, Isaac

Life and Energy.

Garden City, New York : Doubleday & Company, Inc, 1962.

First edition of Asimov’s work on the chemistry of life processes. Octavo, original half cloth. Signed by Isaac Asimov on the title page. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Alex Gotfryd. Rare and desirable signed.

Wilder, Thornton

The Bridge of San Luis Rey.

New York : Albert & Charles Boni, 1927.

First edition of the author’s masterpiece and winner of the Pulitzer Prize. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles and ruling to the spine, raised bands, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In fine condition. An exceptional presentation.

Asimov, Isaac

Casebook of the Black Widowers.

Garden City, NY : Published For The Crime Club by Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1980.

First edition of the third book in Asimov’s Black Widowers series with the publisher’s “With Compliments of Doubleday & Company, Inc.” stamp to the pastedown. Octavo, original boards. Boldly signed by Isaac Asimov on the title page. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by One Plus One Studio.

The Yogi and the Commissar.

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First Danube edition of this classic work by the author of Darkness at Noon. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “To Karl and Diane from Arthur.” The recipients were Karl Pribram and his wife Diane. Karl as a neurosurgeon and close friend of Koestler who did pioneering work on theContinue reading "The Yogi and the Commissar."

Didion, Joan

Salvador.

New York : Simon and Schuster, 1983.

First edition of this classic work by the award-winning author. Octavo, original half cloth. Signed by Joan Didion on the front free endpaper. Fine in a good dust jacket. Jacket design by Lawrence Ratzkin.

Styron, William

The Confessions of Nat Turner.

New York : Random House, 1967.

Signed limited first edition of Styron’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, one of only 500 signed examples. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a near fine slipcase. Housed in a custom half morocco slipcase.

Fleming, Ian

Casino Royale.

London : Jonathan Cape, 1953.

First edition of the first novel in Ian Fleming’s James Bond series. Octavo, original black cloth. In near fine condition. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. An exceptional example.

McCarthy, Cormac, Edward Dahlberg, Patrick Boyle, Kathleen Raine [Edited by Andrew Lytle]

The Sewanee Review, Volume 73, Number 2 (LXXIII; Spring 1965). [Includes The Dark Waters by Cormac McCarthy].

Sewanee, Tennessee : University of the South, 1965.

Rare journal which contains the first publication of Cormac McCarthy, The Dark Waters; an excerpt from his first novel The Orchard Keeper. Octavo, original wrappers. Signed by Cormac McCarthy on the front panel. In very good condition. Rare and desirable signed, we have never seen another one.

Dickinson, Emily. Edited by T.W. Higginson and Mabel Loomis Todd

Poems by Emily Dickinson: Second Series.

Boston : Roberts Brothers, 1891.

First edition of Emily Dickinson’s second book of poetry. BAL 4656. Octavo, original publisher’s gray and green cloth decoratively stamped in gilt, all edges gilt, facsimile manuscript leaves at front, tissue guarded title page. In very good condition. A nice example.

Heller, Joseph

Something Happened.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1974.

First edition of this classic work by the author of Catch-22. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Doreen Phelan, With pleasure + good wishes Joseph Heller 5/24/75 Ojai, Pal.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Paul Bacon. Housed in a custom halfContinue reading "Something Happened."