Literature

Tesnohlidek, Rudolf. Illustrated by Maurice Sendak

The Cunning Little Vixen.

New York : Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1985.

First edition of Rudolf Tesnohlidek’s classic Czech tale, translated into English and illustrated by Maurice Sendak. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated by Maurice Sendak. Presentation copy, inscribed by the illustrator on the half-title page, “For Nicholas Robertson Maurice Sendak.” Translated by Tatiana Firkusny, Maritza Morgan, and Robert T. Jones. Afterword by Robert T. Jones. Near fineContinue reading "The Cunning Little Vixen."

Baldwin, James

Tell Me How Long the Train’s Been Gone.

New York : The Dial Press, Inc., 1968.

Rare uncorrected galley proof of Baldwin’s fourth novel. Square quarto, original spiral bound wrappers. Signed by the author on the title page, “Peace James Baldwin.” In very good condition. Publication date annotated in ink on the front wrapper. Very uncommon signed.

Janis, Harriet and Sidney. [Pablo Picasso]

Picasso: The Recent Years 1939-1946.

Garden City, New York : Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1946.

Signed limited edition of this compendium of over one hundred reproductions of Picasso’s wartime paintings. Quarto, original  publisher’s half buckram, illustrated with 135 plates. One of three hundred and fifty numbered copies signed by Pablo Picasso on the limitation page, this is number 188. Near fine in the original glassine and rare original slipcase whichContinue reading "Picasso: The Recent Years 1939-1946."

Hardy, Thomas

The Dynasts: An Epic-Drama of the War with Napoleon, In Three Parts, Nineteen Acts, and One Hundred and Thirty Scenes, the Time Covered by the Action Being About Ten Years.

London : Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1927.

First edition, signed limited issue of Hardy’s epic drama. Quarto, three volumes, original half vellum over decorated paper boards with gilt titles to the spine, etched frontispiece portrait by Francis Dodd. One of five hundred and twenty-five copies signed by the author on the limitation page. Near fine in the rare original dust jackets whichContinue reading "The Dynasts: An Epic-Drama of the War with Napoleon, In Three Parts, Nineteen Acts, and One Hundred and Thirty Scenes, the Time Covered by the Action Being About Ten Years."

Wilde, Oscar

Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime. A Study of Duty.

[London] : Privately Printed, 1904.

First separate edition of Wilde’s classic collection of of mystery tales; a pirated edition produced by Leonard Smithers. Octavo, bound in three quarter morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles to the spine, original wrappers bound in. One of 300 numbered copies, this is number 125. In fine condition. A very rare Wilde title.

Eliot, George

The Mill On The Floss.

Edinburgh and London : William Blackwood and Sons, 1860.

First edition, first issue of Eliot’s classic work without the advertisement leaf to volume I and with the seventh edition of Adam Bede cited in the advertisements at rear of volume III. Octavo, three volumes bound in three quarter crushed dark green morocco by Sotheran & Co. with gilt titles and tooling to the spineContinue reading "The Mill On The Floss."

Twain, Mark. [Samuel L. Clemens]

The Prince and the Pauper.

James R. Osgood and Company : New York, 1882.

First edition, early state of this classic work. BAL 3402. Johnson p. 39-41. Octavo, original publisher’s green pictorial cloth decorated in gilt, with one hundred and ninety-two illustrations. In good condition.

Miller, Arthur

The Crucible: A Play in Four Acts.

New York : The Viking Press, 1953.

First edition of Miller’s Tony Award-winning play, a bitter satire inspired by the heightened political repression and persecution of left-wing individuals during the McCarthy era. Octavo, original half cloth over patterned boards, top edge red. Association copy, inscribed by Arthur Miller on the front free endpaper to his mother and father, “To Mother & DadContinue reading "The Crucible: A Play in Four Acts."

Fleming, Ian

The Spy Who Loved Me.

London : Jonathan Cape, 1962.

First edition of the ninth novel in Ian Fleming’s James Bond series. Octavo, original black cloth. Near fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket, bookplate. Jacket design by Richard Chopping. An exceptional example.

Poe, Edgar Allan

Eureka: A Prose Poem.

New York : George P. Putnam, 1848.

First edition, first issue of Poe’s classic work. Duodecimo, original publishers blind stamped black cloth with gilt lettering to the spine. First issue, without the review for Eureka on page 2 of the 16 page catalogue at the end of the book, but reads simply: “Poe. — Eureka, A Prose Poem: Or the Physical andContinue reading "Eureka: A Prose Poem."

Flaubert, Gustave

Madame Bovary: Provincial Manners.

Paris : Michel Lévy frères, 1857.

True first edition of the author’s masterpiece. Octavo, two volumes, bound in three quarters leather. In near fine condition. A very sharp example.

McGuffey, William

The Eclectic Fourth Reader: Containing Elegant Extracts in Prose and Poetry, From the Best American and English Writers. With Copious Rules for Reading, and Directions for Avoiding Common Errors.

Cincinnati : Published by Truman and Smith, 1838.

Finely bound sixth edition of the fourth McGuffey Reader. Octavo, bound in full contemporary mottled calf with gilt ruling to the spine, morocco spine label lettered in gilt. In very good condition.

Afternoon of a Cow Original Typed Manuscript Drafts.

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Three original typed drafts of William Faulkner’s parodical short story “Afternoon of a Cow.  By Ernest V. Trueblood.” Two complete copies, each 17 leaves; bound with brass clasps in green folders with the third copy lacking the first leaf; with 49 strikethroughs in Faulkner’s hand throughout most excising a single word. When Faulkner returned toContinue reading "Afternoon of a Cow Original Typed Manuscript Drafts."

Proulx, Annie

Bird Cloud: A Memoir.

New York : Scribner, 2011.

First edition of the Pulitzer Prize-winning author’s magnificent memoir. Octavo, original half cloth. Signed by Annie Proulx on the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Rex Bonomelli. Jacket photograph of Bird Cloud by Annie Proulx.

Hughes, Langston and Milton Meltzer

A Pictorial History of the Negro in America.

New York : Crown Publishers, Inc, 1956.

First edition of this important compilation on the history of African Americans. Quarto, original half cloth, illustrated. Boldly signed by Langston Hughes and Milton Meltzer on the front free endpaper. Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket. Uncommon signed.

McCarthy, Cormac

The Orchard Keeper.

New York : Random House, 1965.

First edition of the author’s rare first book. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by Cormac McCarthy on the front free endpaper. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket with some light wear to the extremities, closed tear with archival tape repair. Jacket design by Muriel Nasser. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshellContinue reading "The Orchard Keeper."

Keyes, Daniel

The Minds of Billy Milligan.

New York : Random House, 1981.

First edition of “this fascinating work” (Los Angeles Times). Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by Daniel Keyes on the title page. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket, bookplate. Jacket painting and interior painting by Billy Milligan. Jacket design by Lawrence Ratzkin. Uncommon signed.

Dickens, Charles

Complete Set of the Works of Charles Dickens Nonesuch Press.

London : The Nonesuch Press, 1937-38.

The complete set of Charles Dickens by the Nonesuch Press, one of only 877 sets. Octavo, 24 volumes, original cloth, woodcut illustrations, original variously colored buckram by Leighton Straker. Edited by Arthur Waugh, Hugh Walpole, Thomas Hatton and Walter Dexter. In near fine condition. A very sharp set.

Schulz, Charles M

The Charlie Brown Dictionary.

New York 1973.

Complete set of The Charlie Brown Dictionary, volume one inscribed by Charles M. Schulz. Octavo, 7 volumes. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author in volume one on the half-title page, “For Steve- Best wishes Charles M. Schulz.” In near fine condition.

Kipling, Rudyard

Rudyard Kipling First Appearance Collection: The Burning of the Sarah Sands, An English School, and My Personal Experience With a Lion.

Boston : The Youth's Companion, 1898.

Rare collection of Kipling first appearances including the first appearance of The Burning of the Sarah Sands, An English School, and My Personal Experience With a Lion. Quarto. Housed in a custom folder. In near fine condition.

Willmott, Robert Aris [Editor]

The Poets of the Nineteenth Century. [Fore-Edge Painting].

London : Frederick Warne and Co, 1869.

Finely bound example of Willmott’s compilation of the great nineteenth century poets. Octavo, bound in full pebbled morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, central gilt emblem and fleuron cornerpieces within triple gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbledContinue reading "The Poets of the Nineteenth Century. [Fore-Edge Painting]."

Goldsmith, Oliver

The Poetical Works of Oliver Goldsmith, M.B. and Professor of Ancient History in the Royal Academy of the Arts. [Fore-edge Painting].

London : Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, 1846.

Finely bound example of Goldsmith’s complete poetical works, decorated with a fore-edge painting of a golfing scene. Octavo, bound in full pebbled morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt scrolling and fleuron cornerpeices to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, illustratedContinue reading "The Poetical Works of Oliver Goldsmith, M.B. and Professor of Ancient History in the Royal Academy of the Arts. [Fore-edge Painting]."

Fielding, Henry

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, in Six Volumes.

London : Printed for A. Millar, 1749.

First edition, first issue of one of the most influential English novels, one only 2,000 copies printed. Octavo, bound in full contemporary mottled calf with gilt ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels. Armorial bookplates. In veryContinue reading "The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, in Six Volumes."

Salisbury, Mark [Stephen Sondheim]

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

London : Titan Books, 2007.

First edition of the in-depth companion volume to the big-screen adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s award-winning musical thriller. Quarto, original boards, patterned endpapers, illustrated. From the collection of Bill Zwecker. A member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, Zwecker was a longtime entertainment and celebrity journalist. A Chicago native and second-generation newspaper star (his late mother,Continue reading "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street."