Browse rare first edition classics in American, English, world literature, poetry, and plays. View our entire collection of rare literature below, search our inventory with advanced search, or use our sorting tools to find exactly what you’re looking for. Please call with any questions you may have on a specific item or order online today.
Showing items 1940-1960 of 2245
New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1972.
First edition of this classic illustrated retelling of the tale from the Brothers Grimm. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated throughout. Signed by the illustrator Nancy Ekholm Burkert on the half-title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with light shelfwear. Translated by Randall Jarrell.
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New York : The John Day Company, 1946.
First edition of this work by the Nigerian novelist and nationalist, inscribed by him to Eleanor Roosevelt. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Eleanor Roosevelt The greatest Lady of this Century in whom Africa has found a friend in deed. Mbonu Ojike.” Bookplate of EleanorContinue reading "My Africa."
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New York : Lincoln MacVeagh/ The Dial Press, 1929.
First edition of Burnett’s classic novel, which has inspired generations of gangster films. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by W.R. Burnett on the half-title page. Very good in the rare original dust jacket with light shelfwear.
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London : Methuen, 1964.
First edition of this wonderfully illustrated work on Francis Bacon. Octavo, original boards, illustrated throughout. Presentation copy, boldly inscribed on the front free endpaper, “For George with all best wishes Francis Bacon.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket photograph of Bacon on the front panel by Cecil Beaton.
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New York : E.P. Dutton, 1967.
First edition of this notable assessment of the literature of the Beats and their contemporaries, with essays on Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Gershon Legman and Jay Landesman. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author to his wife on the front free endpaper, “For Shirley- the brave adventurer, the good companion, my love- JohnContinue reading "Nothing More To Declare."
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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 half-title page, “For Maggie and Larry with love John Steinbeck.” Near fine in a near fine first-issue dust jacket with Steinbeck looking to the left on the rear panel. DrawingsContinue reading "The Pearl."
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Boston and Cleveland : John P. Jewett & Company, 1852.
First edition, first issue, with “spilt” (rather than “spiled”) in Volume I, 42, line 1; “cathecism” (rather than “catechism”) in volume II, 74, line 5; and all other first issue points of the author’s classic work. Octavo, 2 volumes, bound in contemporary three quarters leather over cloth, gilt titles to the spine, volume with titleContinue reading "Uncle Tom’s Cabin; Or, Life Among the Lowly."
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London : Chapman and Hall, 1859.
First edition, first issue of one of Dickens’ most enduring works, with p. 213 misnumbered “113,” the signature mark “b” at the foot of the plate list, and the misspelling “affetcionately” on line 12, p. 134. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, panels decoratively triple-ruled in gilt withContinue reading "A Tale of Two Cities."
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New York : Simon and Schuster, 1961.
First edition of this novel from the author of Goodbye Berlin and what many consider his finest novel. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Monroe Wheeler ex dono Christopher Isherwood.” The recipient Monroe Wheeler was an American publisher and museum coordinator and a close friend of Isherwood’s.Continue reading "Down There On a Visit."
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New York : Ecco Press, 1990.
First appearance of Foster Wallace’s first book. Octavo, original wrappers as issued. Signed by David Foster Wallace. In fine condition. The first article is a 20 page essay from David Foster Wallace and Mark Costello on Rap music, entitled Signifying Rappers.
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New York : The Dial Press, 1968.
First edition of this major work by Baldwin. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “Kathleen Peace- James Baldwin.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Paul Bacon.
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New York : The Viking Press, 1968.
First edition of this play by the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author to his editor on the front free endpaper, “Dear Aaron Thanks Arthur March, 1968.” Asher also edited Saul Bellow, Philip Roth and many others. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by MelContinue reading "The Price."
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New York : The Viking Press, 1938.
First American edition, preceding the British edition by one month of Greene’s chilling expose of violence and gang warfare in the pre-war underworld is a classic of its kind. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For Clive affectionately, Graham.” The recipient Clive Francis is a British actor,Continue reading "Brighton Rock."
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New York : Harper & Brothers, 1955.
First edition of the first book in Crockett Johnson’s Harold series. 12 mo, original half cloth, illustrated throughout. Fine in a very good dust jacket without the price to top of front flap, with code “30-60 / No. 5671A” to front flap and “No. 5672A” to rear flap. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box madeContinue reading "Harold and the Purple Crayon."
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London and New York : Frederick Warne and Co, 1889.
Robert Louis Stevenson’s first edition copy of the writings of one of his favorite prose writers, William Hazlitt. Octavo, original cloth with gilt titles to the spine and front panel, botanical gilt vignette to the front panel, tissue-guarded frontispiece of Hazlitt. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author to Robert Louis Stevenson on the half-title page,Continue reading "William Hazlitt: Essayist and Critic."
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London : Macmillan & Co, 1939.
First edition of this autobiography by the famed Irish playwright. Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication, “To Joe Cummins, with deep affection, from Sean O’Casey remembering many delightful Dublin chats round his surgery firesides. Devon 1939. Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket.
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Boston : The Stratford Company, 1925.
First edition of “arguably the first major work of American science fiction” (The Economist). Octavo, original cloth. Signed by the author on the front free endpaper, “With the compliments of the author H Gernsback 1925.” Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Bookplate on the front pastedown.
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London : Siegle, Hill & Company, 1910.
Signed limited first edition of this work reproduced in color from the manuscript written and illuminated by Francis Sangorski & George Sutcliffe, number 247 of 550 copies signed by the publisher. Folio, bound in publisher’s full vellum, front panel elaborately stamped in gilt in a peacock motif, gilt titles and a floral motif to theContinue reading "Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam."
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London : The Children's High Level Group, 2008.
First edition, limited issue of this wizarding classic. Signed by J.K. Rowling on the half-title page, with the authentication hologram. Octavo, original brown morocco-patterned boards with silver metal cornerpieces and central ornament accented with faux blue gems, silver metal clasp, marbled endpapers, green silk bookmark, illustrated. Housed in the embroidered velvet bag within the publisher’s calfContinue reading "The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Translated from the Original Runes by Hermione Granger. With Commentary by Professor Albus Dumbledore."
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Boston : Dana Estes, n.d.
The Illustrated Cabinet edition of the novels of Victor Hugo. Octavo, 12 volumes. Bound in three quarters navy blue morocco over blue cloth, elaborate gilt decorated spines with raised bands, marbled endpapers, top edges gilt, with illustrated plates, frontispieces. In near fine condition. An exceptional set.
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Biography and Autobiography
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