Skip to content

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 40-60 of 181

Anderson, Maxwell

Key Largo: A Play in a Prologue and Two Acts.

Washington, D.C : Anderson House, 1939.

First edition of this classic fast-paced play in blank verse, basis for the 1948 film directed by John Huston and starring Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson and Lauren Bacall. Octavo, original cloth, pictorial endpapers. Presentation copy, inscribed by Maxwell Anderson in the year of publication on the half-title page and additionally signed on the titleContinue reading "Key Largo: A Play in a Prologue and Two Acts."

Read more
$2,600.00
Item Number: RRB-147690

Browning, Robert

Balaustion’s Adventure: Including a Transcript From Euripides.

London : Smith, Elder & Co, 1871.

First edition of this poetic retelling of Euripides’ ‘Alkestis’ by Victorian poet Robert Browning. Octodecimo, original cloth with gilt titles to the spine and decorative borders stamped in black to the front and rear panels. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “Mrs. Procter — with RB’s affectionate regards.” The recipient wasContinue reading "Balaustion’s Adventure: Including a Transcript From Euripides."

Read more
$2,250.00
Item Number: RRB-147688

Browning, Robert

Dramatis Personae.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1864.

First edition of Browning’s popular poetry collection. Octavo, contemporary tree calf bound in full morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within gilt raised bands, gilt ruling to boards, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the second free endpaper, “Robert Browning wishes all happinessContinue reading "Dramatis Personae."

Read more
$7,500.00
Item Number: RRB-147759

Tennyson, Lord Alfred

Tiresias and Other Poems.

London : Macmillan and Co, 1885.

First edition of this collection of poems by one of the most famous poets of the Victorian era. Duodecimo, original cloth with gilt titles to the spine. Association copy, inscribed by Lord Alfred Tennyson to his niece on the title page, “Cecilia from her affectionate Uncle Tennyson April 15th – 87.” Cecilia Tennyson was theContinue reading "Tiresias and Other Poems."

Read more
$7,800.00
Item Number: RRB-147858

Burgess, Anthony [William Shakespeare]

The World of William Shakespeare.

London : The Arcadia Press, 1971.

Signed limited edition of this comprehensive exploration of Shakespeare’s life, works, and lasting cultural influence, blending historical context with literary analysis to highlight his enduring legacy. Quarto, bound in full crushed red morocco by Zaehnsdorf with pictorial inlay of the Globe Theater in gilt, all edges gilt, frontispiece, with black and white illustrations and 42 colored plates. OneContinue reading "The World of William Shakespeare."

Read more
$1,100.00
Item Number: RRB-147850

Lewis, C.S

A Preface to Paradise Lost.

London : Oxford University Press, 1942.

First edition of this classic work, which discusses Milton’s Paradise Lost. Octavo, original green cloth. Boldly signed by C.S. Lewis on the front free endpaper. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. From the library of noted collector William A. Strutz with his small bookplate to the pastedown. House in a custom half moroccoContinue reading "A Preface to Paradise Lost."

Read more
$18,500.00
Item Number: RRB-149050

Moyers, Bill. [Madeleine K. Albright]

The Language of Life: A Festival of Poets.

New York : Doubleday, 1995.

First edition of this compelling exploration of poetry’s power. 8vo, original publisher’s half cloth, illustrated with black and white photographs. The recipient, Madeleine K. Albright was the first woman to serve as the U.S. Secretary of State. She acted under President Bill Clinton from 1997 to 2001, leading the United States through foreign policy inContinue reading "The Language of Life: A Festival of Poets."

Read more
$125.00
Item Number: RRB-149002

Browning, Robert

Dramatic Idyls.

London : Smith, Elder, & Co, 1879 & 1880.

First edition of this classic work by Robert Browning exploring dramatic monologue and narrative poetry, inscribed by Browning in each volume. Octodecimo, two volumes, bound in full levant morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within gilt raised bands, triple gilt ruling to boards, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, doubluresContinue reading "Dramatic Idyls."

Read more
$12,000.00
Item Number: RRB-147760

Browning, Robert

The Ring and The Book.

London : Smith, Elder, & Co, 1869.

First edition of Robert Browning’s greatest work. Octodecimo, four volumes, contemporary tree calf bound in full morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spines in six compartments within gilt raised bands, gilt ruling to boards, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the second free endpaper, “Robert Browning wishesContinue reading "The Ring and The Book."

Read more
$6,800.00
Item Number: RRB-147757

McKay, Claude. [Introduction by Max Eastman]

Harlem Shadows: The Poems of Claude McKay.

New York : Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1922.

First edition of McKay’s groundbreaking volume of over 50 poems together in book form for the first time; the first book of poetry to emerge from the Harlem Renaissance. Octavo, original publisher’s half cloth with printed paper spine label. In near fine condition.Bookplate to the pastedown. Rare and desirable.

Read more
$1,500.00
Item Number: RRB-149309

Browning, Robert

The Inn Album.

London : Smith, Elder, & Co, 1875.

First edition of this compelling narrative poem. Octodecimo, contemporary tree calf bound in full morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within gilt raised bands, gilt ruling to boards, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled. Presentation copy, lengthily inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “My last poem, published aContinue reading "The Inn Album."

Read more
$3,800.00
Item Number: RRB-147756

Widney, J.P. [Eleanor Roosevelt]

The Lure and The Land: An Idyl of the Pacific.

Los Angeles, CA : Pacific Publishing Company, 1932.

Limited first edition, one of one thousand copies of this collection of poems about the Pacific Coast. Octavo, original cloth with gilt titles to the spine and front panel, frontispiece, illustrated with black and white photographs. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front pastedown, “To Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt from the author, J.P. Widney.”Continue reading "The Lure and The Land: An Idyl of the Pacific."

Read more
$750.00
Item Number: RRB-147697

Auden, W.H. [Raymond Chandler]

The Collected Poetry of W.H. Auden.

New York : Random House, 1945.

First edition, fifth printing of the collected poetry of W.H. Auden. Octavo, original cloth. From the library of Raymond Chandler with his library stamp to the front free endpaper: Raymond Chandler 6005 Camino de la Costa La Jolla, California. Subsequently from the library of Chandler’s personal secretary, fiancé, and muse Jean Vounder-Davis, with her ownershipContinue reading "The Collected Poetry of W.H. Auden."

Read more
$475.00
Item Number: RRB-147729

Frost, Robert

A Masque of Mercy.

New York : Henry Holt & Company, 1947.

Signed limited edition of Frost’s play of the purported last chapter in the book of Job. Royal octavo, original half cloth with gilt titles to the spine and front panel. One of 751 numbered copies boldly signed by Robert Frost in black ballpoint on the limitation page, this is number 177. In fine condition inContinue reading "A Masque of Mercy."

Read more
$475.00
Item Number: RRB-147534

Frost, Robert

A Further Range.

New York : Henry Holt and Company, 1936.

First edition of Frost’s Pulitzer Prize-winning collection of verse. Octavo, original maroon cloth with gilt titles to the spine and front panel. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For Richard Brooks to make him make some books too Robert Frost Boston 1940”. Near fine in a very good dust jacket.

Read more
$850.00
Item Number: RRB-147533

Zagajewski, Adam

Another Beauty.

New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1998.

First edition of the author’s memoirs. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “To Matthew Adam Zagajewski Boston, October 2004.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Marc J. Cohen. Translated by Clare Cavanagh.

Read more
$150.00
Item Number: RRB-147467

Burns, Robert; Introduction by John Buchan

The Complete Writings of Robert Burns.

Boston and New York : Houghton Mifflin Company, 1926.

The Large-Paper edition of the complete works of Robert Burns. Royal octavo, ten volumes bound in three quarter contemporary dark blue crushed morocco by the Riverside Press with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, top edge gilt, ribbons bound in, illustrated with tissue-guarded engravings, some in color,Continue reading "The Complete Writings of Robert Burns."

Read more
$3,000.00
Item Number: RRB-147505

Betjeman, John; David Gentleman

The Illustrated Poems of John Betjeman. [WITH] Autograph Letter Signed by David Gentleman.

London : John Murray, 1995.

First edition of this humorous collection of intimate poems, illustrated with charming watercolors by one of England’s most familiar artists. Medium octavo, original boards, illustrated throughout. Presentation copy, inscribed by the artist, “For Gill Sandilands with all good wishes from David Gentleman.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Accompanied by an autograph letter signedContinue reading "The Illustrated Poems of John Betjeman. [WITH] Autograph Letter Signed by David Gentleman."

Read more
$350.00
Item Number: RRB-147100

Silverstein, Shel

Falling Up.

New York : HarperCollins Publishers, 1996.

Early printing of this classic poetry collection published by Shel Silverstein. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated with drawings by the author throughout. Signed by the author opposite the half-title page, “With love, Shel Silverstein,” with a shoe hanging by its laces on the end of the signature, matching the shoe on the title page. Additionally inscribedContinue reading "Falling Up."

Read more
$4,800.00
Item Number: RRB-147074

Coleridge, Samuel Taylor; Introduction and Notes by T. Ashe

The Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

London : George Bell and Sons, 1885.

The Aldine edition of Coleridge’s poetical works, including The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Duodecimo, two volumes bound in three quarter calf over gilt boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, all edges marbled, marbled endpapers, illustrated with engraved frontispieces, head-pieces, and initials. In very good condition.

Read more
$400.00
Item Number: RRB-146831
Previous 1 2 3 4 5 ... 10 Next