Literature

Plath, Sylvia

The Colossus and Other Poems.

London : Heinemann, 1960.

First edition of the first complete volume of poetry to be published by Plath and the only volume published in her lifetime. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco slipcase. An exceptional example.

Bryant, William Cullen

William Cullen Bryant Autograph “The Voice of Autumn” Poem Signed.

November 21, 1853 .

Rare autograph poem in the hand of William Cullen Bryant sent by him to magazine publisher George R. Graham for inclusion in his literary periodical Graham’s Magazine with the accompanying transmittal letter from Bryant to Graham. Quarto, two pages. Addressed to George R. Graham, the letter reads in part, “New York Monday Nov. 21, 1853Continue reading "William Cullen Bryant Autograph “The Voice of Autumn” Poem Signed."

Shakespeare, William

The Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare. With A Glossary.

Chiswick : Printed by C. Whittingham, 1825.

Finely bound example of the collected dramatic works of William Shakespeare. 12mo, bound in full pebbled dark green morocco with gilt titles and elaborate gilt tooling to the spine, gilt tooling to the front and rear panels withing triple gilt ruling to the spine and front panels, gilt turn-ins and wide gilt inner dentelles, allContinue reading "The Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare. With A Glossary."

le Carre, John

Call For The Dead.

London : Victor Gollancz, 1961.

First edition of the author’s first book, which introduced the world to the recurring protagonist, George Smiley. Octavo, original red cloth. Signed by John le Carre on the title page. Near fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket with light expert restoration. With a signed letter from le Carre’s secretary stating that he willContinue reading "Call For The Dead."

Collected Stories.

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Signed limited edition of this classic collection of stories. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by Paul Bowles. In fine condition. Introduction by Gore Vidal. Housed in a custom half morocco slipcase.

Mailer, Norman

The Naked and the Dead.

New York : Henry Holt, 2005.

First edition of the 50th anniversary edition of the author’s classic first novel. Thick octavo, original boards. Lengthily inscribed by the author on the half-title page, who has transcribed the first line of this title as follows, “All over the ship, all through the convoy there was a knowledge that in a few hours someContinue reading "The Naked and the Dead."

Genet, Jean. Translated by Bernard Frechtman. Jean-Paul Sartre [Peter Matthiessen]

Our Lady of the Flowers.

New York : Grove Press, Inc., 1963.

First American edition of Genet’s debut novel. Octavo, original cloth. From the library of Peter Matthiessen with his bookplate to the front free endpaper. Peter Matthiessen remains the only writer to have won the National Book Award in both nonfiction (The Snow Leopard, 1979) and fiction (Shadow Country, 2008). A leading figure in fiction andContinue reading "Our Lady of the Flowers."

Manning, Matthew K

Wolverine: Inside the World of The Living Weapon.

London : DK Publishing, 2009.

First edition of the most comprehensive guide to the world of the X-Men’s most popular hero. Quarto, original publisher’s pictorial boards, 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, PegContinue reading "Wolverine: Inside the World of The Living Weapon."

Wharton, Edith

Ethan Frome.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1911.

First edition, first issue with “wearily” in perfect type on penultimate line of page 135 and with four pages of publisher’s advertisements at rear, of Wharton’s greatest tragic story, a “grim tale of a bud of romance ice-bound and turned into a frozen horror in the frigid setting of a New England winter landscape” (The NewContinue reading "Ethan Frome."

Berger, Thomas

Crazy In Berlin.

New York : Charles Scribner's, 1958.

First edition of Berger’s first book. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Thomas Berger on the title page. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by Sydney Butchkes. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell slipcase. An exceptional presentation.

Heaney, Seamus

Beowulf: A New Verse Translation.

London : Faber and Faber, 1999.

First edition of this work by the Nobel Prize-winning author. Octavo, original boards. Boldly signed by Seamus Heaney on the title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket painting by Barrie Cooke. Author photograph by Caroline Forbes. A very sharp example.

Sedaris, David

Naked.

Boston : Little, Brown and Company, 1997.

First edition of the author’s classic work. Octavo, original illustrated boards. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “To Patrick I still care David Sedaris on the title page. Additionally signed four times by jacket illustrator Chip Kidd, once on the front panel, on the title page, on the book front panelContinue reading "Naked."

Follett, Ken [Erica Jong]

A Place Called Freedom.

New York : Crown Publishers, Inc., 1995.

First edition of Follett’s New York Times bestseller. Octavo, original half cloth, cartographic endpapers. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “To Erica & Ken, with love Ken Follett.” The recipients, American writer Erica Jong and lawyer Kenneth David Burrows were married in August of 1989. Erica Jong remains best known forContinue reading "A Place Called Freedom."

Shreve, Anita

Resistance: A Novel.

Boston : Little, Brown and Company, 1995.

First edition of this work by the author of The Pilot’s Wife. Octavo, original half cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper in the year of publication, “March 28, 1995 For Ken, with thanks for your help in a different battle front Anita Shreve.” The recipient, American litigator Kenneth DavidContinue reading "Resistance: A Novel."

Dahl, Roald; Illustrated by Quentin Blake

The BFG: Illustrations by Quentin Blake.

London : Jonathan Cape, 1982.

First edition, early printing of this Dahl classic, which has sold over 20 million copies. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated by Quentin Blake. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “Love Doug Roald Dahl 1984.” Additionally signed by Quentin Blake below. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket.

Vargas Llosa, Mario

The Storyteller: A Novel.

New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1989.

First edition of this “brilliant novel” (The New York Times Book Review). Octavo, original boards. Boldly signed by Mario Vargas Llosa on the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket art by Mark Sturgeon. Jacket design by Cynthia Krupat. Author photograph by Jerry Bauer. Translated by Helen Lane.

Hueffer, [Ford] Ford Madox

The Good Soldier. A Tale of Passion.

London : John Lane Company, 1915.

First edition, first issue without the 16 pp. of advertisements of this literary highspot, one of the great novels of the first half of the twentieth century. Octavo, original cloth. In near fine condition. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. An exceptional presentation.

Rackham, Arthur

The Land of Enchantment.

London : Cassell and Company, Limited, 1905.

First edition of Rackham’s beautifully illustrated work. Quarto, original publisher’s cloth decorated in gilt, rebacked, illustrated with 36 full-page and vignette line drawings by Arthur Rackham. Neat ownership name. In very good condition.

Kenyon, C. R. Illustrated by Arthur Rackham

The Argonauts on the Amazon.

London and Edinburgh : W. & R. Chambers, Limited, 1901.

First edition of the author’s classic adventure tale, containing some of Arthur Rackham’s earliest illustrations. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth, illustrated with 6 full-pages illustrations by Arthur Rackham. In very good condition. Bookplate.

Updike, John [Erica Jong]

Rabbit At Rest.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1990.

First edition of the author’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For Erica Jong, one more trip to the intersection of id and superego. All best, John.” The recipient, Erica Jong remains best known for her 1973 novel Fear of Flying which became famously controversialContinue reading "Rabbit At Rest."

Updike, John [Erica Jong]

The Afterlife.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1994.

First edition of this work by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Erica J. These stories are more Jungian than Jongian, but then I’m older that you Best, John U.” Additionally signed three times by legendary jacket designer, on the front panelContinue reading "The Afterlife."

Dunne, Dominick [Erica Jong]

People Like Us.

New York : Crown Publishers, Inc, 1988.

First edition of Dunne’s richly textured novel of New York society in the eighties. Octavo, original half cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “For Erica & Ken Best regards, Dominic Dunne.” The recipients, American writer Erica Jong and lawyer Kenneth David Burrows were married in August of 1989. Erica JongContinue reading "People Like Us."

Follett, Ken [Erica Jong]

A Dangerous Fortune.

New York : Delacorte Press, 1993.

First edition of the internationally bestselling author’s classic thriller. Octavo, original cloth, pictorial endpapers. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “To Erica + Ken – with love, Ken Follett.” The recipients, American writer Erica Jong and lawyer Kenneth David Burrows were married in August of 1989. Erica Jong remains best knownContinue reading "A Dangerous Fortune."

Cheever, Susan

Elizabeth Cole.

New York : Farrar Straus Giroux, 1989.

First edition of Cheever’s savage portrait of the New York art world. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “New York City May 4, 1990 To Ken Whose friendship and council have been my mainstay for all these years Susan Cheever.” The recipient, American litigator Kenneth DavidContinue reading "Elizabeth Cole."