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Poetry

Rare Poetry Books & First-Edition Poetry Books for Sale Online

If you’re looking for a particular rare or first-edition poetry book, you’re on the right page. Browse through our entire collection below, use the search or filters to find exactly what you’re looking for than call or email with any questions or order online.

Showing items 1-24 of 415

Oliver, Mary

No Voyage and Other Poems.

Boston : Houghton Mifflin Company, 1965.

First American edition of the poet’s scarce first book. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Mary Oliver on the title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Janet Halverson. Author photograph by Molly Malone Cook. An exceptional example, rare and desirable signed and in this condition.

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$11,000.00
Item Number: RRB-150935
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Tennyson, Alfred

Enoch Arden, etc. [Fore-Edge Painting].

London : Edward Moxon & Co., 1867.

Finely bound example of one of Tennyson’s most famous poems. Duodecimo, bound in full red morocco with gilt titles and elaborate tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, elaborate gilt tooling to the front and rear panels, all edges gilt, gilt inner dentelles, decorated with a concealed double fore-edge painting of twoContinue reading "Enoch Arden, etc. [Fore-Edge Painting]."

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$1,500.00
Item Number: RRB-151178
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Cohen, Leonard

Let Us Compare Mythologies.

Montreal : McGill Poetry Series by Contact Press, 1956.

First edition of Cohen’s first book, which explores philosophy, sexuality, death, a world of violent contrasts that would define his future literary and musical careers. Octavo, original cloth. With five full-page line illustrations by Freda Guttman. Signed by the author in the month of publication on the front free endpaper, “Leonard Cohen May 1956.” NearContinue reading "Let Us Compare Mythologies."

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$12,000.00
Item Number: RRB-140463
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Gibran, Kahlil

The Prophet.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1926.

The Deluxe Holiday edition of one of the best selling books of the 20th century. Quarto, original publisher’s parchment backed gold foil boards, rebacked with original spine strip laid down, central ornament in red to the front panel, top edge gilt, illustrated with twelve collotype plates after drawings by the author. In good condition.

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$650.00
Item Number: RRB-151250
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Cohen, Leonard

Let Us Compare Mythologies.

Montreal : McGill Poetry Series by Contact Press, 1956.

First edition of Cohen’s first book, which explores philosophy, sexuality, death, a world of violent contrasts that would define his future literary and musical careers. Octavo, original cloth. With five full-page line illustrations by Freda Guttman. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author in the month of publication on the front free endpaper, “For Anton Raft,Continue reading "Let Us Compare Mythologies."

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$13,000.00
Item Number: RRB-151360
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Green, Henry; Philip Roth; V.S. Naipaul; et al

The Paris Review. Number 19, Summer 1958.

Paris : Andre Deutsch Ltd, 1958.

The summer 1958 issue of The Paris Review, number 19, containing the first appearance of “The Art of Fiction XXII”, an interview with Henry Green conducted by Terry Southern. Octavo, original pictorial wrappers, illustrated throughout. Henry Green (1905–1973), the pen name of Henry Vincent Yorke, was an English novelist associated with the experimental currents ofContinue reading "The Paris Review. Number 19, Summer 1958."

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$40.00
Item Number: RRB-151184
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[Lord Byron]

Don Juan. [Cantos I & II].

Philadelphia : Published by M. Thomas, 1819.

Scarce first American edition, first printing of Byron’s great work which was widely criticized as immoral upon publication and is now considered one of the greatest poems of the Romantics. Duodecimo, original publisher’s boards and printed paper spine label, half-title page. In good condition, stamp to the verso of the title page. Light dampstaining toContinue reading "Don Juan. [Cantos I & II]."

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$2,800.00
Item Number: RRB-151228
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Lewis, C.S

A Preface to Paradise Lost.

London : Oxford University Press, 1943.

First edition, early printing of this classic work, which discusses Milton’s Paradise Lost. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, 22 karat gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt signature to the front panel, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt inner dentellesContinue reading "A Preface to Paradise Lost."

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$1,400.00
Item Number: RRB-151206
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Milton, John

The Works of John Milton in Verse and Prose: Printed From the Original Editions With a Life of the Author by John Mitford.

London : William Pickering, 1851.

Finely bound collection of the works of John Milton, published by William Pickering. Octavo, 8 volumes bound in full polished calf with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn ins andContinue reading "The Works of John Milton in Verse and Prose: Printed From the Original Editions With a Life of the Author by John Mitford."

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$3,000.00
Item Number: RRB-142882
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Silverstein, Shel

Where the Sidewalk Ends: Poems and Drawings.

New York : Harper & Row, Publishers, 1974.

First edition of the author’s first collection of children’s poetry. Small quarto, original brown cloth, illustrated. Fine in a near fine dust jacket.

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$1,400.00
Item Number: RRB-151077
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McGuane, Thomas

Some Horses.

New York : The Lyons Press, 1999.

First edition of this American West literary collection of essays. Octavo, original publisher’s half cloth, illustrated with black and white sketches. Boldly signed in the year of publication on the half-title page “Thomas McGuane Montana 1999.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by John Gray. Author photograph by Kurt Markus.

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$200.00
Item Number: RRB-150713
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Sondheim, Stephen

Look, I Made a Hat. The Collected Lyrics of Stephen Sondheim.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2011.

First edition of the collected lyrics of Stephen Sondheim. Quarto, original boards with the author’s name stamped in blind to the front panel, with 195 photographs and illustrated throughout. Near fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Carol Devine Carson.

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$125.00
Item Number: RRB-150305
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Kipling, Rudyard [Cormac McCarthy]

Being a Man [If-].

.

Rare print of Rudyard Kipling’s poem Being a Man, more commonly referred to as “If-“. One page, typed. Boldly signed by author Cormac McCarthy at the bottom right corner. Cormac McCarthy (1933–2023) was an American novelist whose stark prose and often violent themes earned him recognition as one of the most influential literary voices ofContinue reading "Being a Man [If-]."

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$12,800.00
Item Number: RRB-150490
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Neruda, Pablo. Translated by Nathaniel Tarn. Preface by Robert Pring-Mill.

The Heights of Macchu Picchu.

London : Jonathan Cape, 1966.

First edition in English of Neruda’s masterpiece. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Pablo Neruda on the half-title page. Translated by Nathaniel Tarn. Preface by Robert Pring-Mill. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. A very sharp example, rare and desirable signed.

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$6,800.00
Item Number: RRB-150452
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Wolfe, Humbert [Ian Fleming]

Humoresque.

London : Ernest Benn Limited, 1926.

First edition, third impression of this collection of poetry showcasing Humbert Wolfe’s characteristic blend of wit, elegance, and reflective irony, from the library of James Bond creator Ian Fleming. Octavo, original publisher’s black cloth with paper titles to the spine. Ownership signature of the 17-18-year-old Ian Fleming dated 1926, giving a tantalizing insight into hisContinue reading "Humoresque."

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$6,000.00
Item Number: RRB-150402
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Oliver, Mary

Blue Iris: Poems and Essays.

Boston : Beacon Press, 2004.

First edition of this work by the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet. Octavo, original cloth. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Sara Eisenman.

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$100.00
Item Number: RRB-151002
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Heaney, Seamus

Saw Music Broadside.

Northfield, Massachusetts : Swamp Press, 2006.

Original broadside by the Nobel Prize-winning poet, one of 200 numbered examples, signed by Seamus Heaney, designed by Shawna Parker and Wyn Cooper of Green River Press and printed with Ed Rayher at Swamp Press. The poem, which first appeared in AGNI 61, was written in memory of Czeslaw Milosz. OCLC locates only four copiesContinue reading "Saw Music Broadside."

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$475.00
Item Number: RRB-150814
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Borges, Jorge Luis

Ficciones.

London : Weidenfeld and Nicolson,, 1962.

First edition in English of the author’s classic work. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Jorges Borges on the front free endpaper. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by Ralph Mabey. Edited and with an introduction by Anthony Kerrigan. Rare and desirable signed.

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$5,000.00
Item Number: RRB-150811
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Frost, Robert

Come In and Other Poems.

New York : Henry Holt and Company, 1943.

First edition of this collection of Frost’s poems. Octavo, original cloth, pictorial endpapers, topstain red. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, “Robert Frost Indiana 1943 For Ellen McGranaham.” Selection, biographical introduction, and commentary by Louis Untermeyer. Illustrated by John O’Hara Cosgrave, II. Near fine inContinue reading "Come In and Other Poems."

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$1,500.00
Item Number: RRB-147532
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Silverstein, Shel

Where the Sidewalk Ends: Poems and Drawings.

New York : Harper & Row, Publishers, 1974.

First edition of the author’s first collection of children’s poetry. Small quarto, original brown cloth, illustrated. With a signed slip of paper boldly signed by Shel Silverstein laid in. Fine in a very good dust jacket.

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$3,200.00
Item Number: RRB-150892
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Harrison, Jim; Ted Kooser

Braided Creek: A Conversation in Poetry.

Port Townsend, Washington : Copper Canyon Press, 2003.

First limited edition of this collection of poems that were essentially a poetical conversation between Harrison and Kooser. Duodecimo, original publisher’s half-cloth with paper titles to the spine. One of 250 numbered copies, this is number 62. Boldly signed by Jim Harrison and Ted Kooser on the half-title page. In fine condition.

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$350.00
Item Number: RRB-150163
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Harrison, Jim

Dead Man’s Float.

Port Townsend, Washington : Copper Canyon Press, 2016.

First limited edition of Harrison’s last published work. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth with the title stamped in blind on the front panel. One of 150 numbered copies, this is number 36. Boldly signed by Jim Harrison on the third free endpaper. In fine condition. Accompanied by an inscribed note laid in, “10/16 Thanks for yourContinue reading "Dead Man’s Float."

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$475.00
Item Number: RRB-150162
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Oliver, Mary

Dog Songs: Poems.

New York : The Penguin Press, 2013.

First edition of this collection of poems by Mary Oliver. Octavo, original boards, illustrated. Boldly signed by Mary Oliver and illustrator John Burgoyne on the title page. Near fine in a fine dust jacket, inscription to the half-title page. Jacket design by Darren Haggar. Illustrations by John Burgoyne.

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$1,800.00
Item Number: RRB-150919
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Parker, Dorothy

Not So Deep as a Well: The Collected Poems of Dorothy Parker.

New York : The Viking Press, 1936.

First edition of the collected poems of Dorothy Parker. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a very good dust jacket, inscription to the front free endpaper.

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$400.00
Item Number: RRB-148062
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