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Biography and Autobiography

Rare Biography & Autobiography Books for Sale Online

If you are looking for rare or first edition biography or autobiography books look no further than Raptis Rare Books. Browse through our entire collection of rare biographies and autobiographies below, view details about individual books and contact us to ask a question or find out more information.

Showing items 168-192 of 1128

Earhart, Amelia

20 Hrs. and 40 Min. Our Flight in the Friendship. The American Girl, First Across the Atlantic by Air, Tells Her Story.

New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1928.

First edition of Earhart’s classic dramatic chronicle. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated with 61 black-and-white photographic plates, illustrated endpapers. Presentation copy, inscribed by Amelia Earhart on the verso of the frontispiece, “For Earnestine Fishbaugh. Amelia Earhart.” The recipient, Earnestine Fishbaugh was the daughter of noted Hollywood physician, Dr. Ernest C. Fishbaugh. Accompanied by a laid in note fromContinue reading "20 Hrs. and 40 Min. Our Flight in the Friendship. The American Girl, First Across the Atlantic by Air, Tells Her Story."

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$11,000.00
Item Number: RRB-150335
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Keynes, John Maynard [J.M]

Two Memoirs. Dr Melchior: A Defeated Enemy and My Early Beliefs.

London : Rupert Hart-Davis, 1949.

First edition of Keynes’ intellectual, literary and reflective history. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth, frontispiece photograph of Keynes, Bertrand Russell and Lytton Strachey at Garsington. In very good condition. Introduced by David Garnett.

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$60.00
Item Number: RRB-150748
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Crawford, J. Marshall

Mosby and His Men: A Record of the Adventures of That Renowned Partisan Ranger, John S. Mosby.

New York : G.W. Carleton & Co., Publishers, 1867.

First edition of this record of personal recollections during the Civil War. Octavo, original publisher’s green cloth with gilt titles to the spine, floral detailing stamped in blind to the front and rear panels, frontispiece, with black and white illustrations and decorations. In very good condition.

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$475.00
Item Number: RRB-150353
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Boccaccio, Giovanni

Opera Dim Giovanni Boccaccio Soprai Casi Degli Huomini Illustri. [Giovanni Boccaccio’s Work on the Cases of Illustrious Men].

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Sixteenth century edition of Giovanni Boccaccio’s Latin work on the downfalls of powerful or famous historical and biblical figures. Duodecimo, written in Italian, bound in full vellum, woodcut chapter decorations. Translated and expanded by Giuseppe Betussi of Bassano. In very good condition with light toning and soiling.

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$1,200.00
Item Number: RRB-146548
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Reagan, Ronald

An American Life.

New York : Simon & Schuster, 1990.

First edition of the 40th President of the United States’ memoir. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “To Winnie- With Best Wishes. Ronald Reagan Feb. 9- 1991” and signed by Nobel Peace Prize winner Lech Walesa. Lech Wałęsa is a Polish labor leader and statesman whoContinue reading "An American Life."

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$4,800.00
Item Number: RRB-144010
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Mendell, David [Barack Obama]

Obama: From Promise to Power.

New York : Armistad, 2007.

First edition of this early Obama biography. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Boldly signed by Barack Obama in person in Keene, New Hampshire in full on the front free endpaper. Fine in a fine dust jacket. We have never seen another full signature in this title.

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$1,600.00
Item Number: RRB-150812
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Menand, Louis [Peter Matthiessen]

The Metaphysical Club: A Story of Ideas in America.

New York : Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2001.

First edition of the author’s Pulitzer Prize-winning work. Octavo, original half cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the title page to fellow author Peter Matthiessen, “For Peter Thank you! with warm regards Louis Menand.” From the library of National Book Award-winning author Peter Matthiessen with his bookplate to the front free endpaper. TheContinue reading "The Metaphysical Club: A Story of Ideas in America."

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$1,500.00
Item Number: RRB-150975
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Boswell, James

The Life of Johnson.

London : Printed by Henry Baldwin, for Charles Dilly, in The Poultry, 1791.

First edition, first issue of both volumes of the most celebrated biography in the English language, which was published on May 16, 1791 in a print run of only 1,750 copies. Quarto, bound in full calf, gilt titles to the spine, morocco spine labels. Frontispiece portrait of Samuel Johnson, engraved by J. Heath after the Sir Joshua ReynoldsContinue reading "The Life of Johnson."

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$11,000.00
Item Number: RRB-124524
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Fangio, Juan Manuel; Foreword by Stirling Moss

My Twenty Years of Racing.

London : Temple Press Limited , 1961.

First edition of the racing legend’s autobiography. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated throughout. Boldly signed by Stirling Moss, who contributed the foreword. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by Michael Turner. In collaboration with Marcello Giambertone.

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$500.00
Item Number: RRB-151044
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Spink, Kathryn. [Mother Teresa]

For the Brotherhood of Man, Under the Fatherhood of God: Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Her Missionaries of Charity & Her Co-Workers.

Surrey : Colour Library International, 1981.

First edition of this work regarding Mother Teresa. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Lengthily inscribed by Mother Teresa in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, “My dear Sisters, Let us love Jesus with undivided love and others as He loves each one of us. God bless you, M. Teresa mc, 6/7/81.” Near fineContinue reading "For the Brotherhood of Man, Under the Fatherhood of God: Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Her Missionaries of Charity & Her Co-Workers."

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$5,500.00
Item Number: RRB-150928
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Didion, Joan

The Year of Magical Thinking.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2005.

First edition of the account of the year following the death of the author’s husband. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by Joan Didion on the front free endpaper. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Carol Devine Carson.

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$1,500.00
Item Number: RRB-150913
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Obama, Barack

The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream.

New York : Crown Publishers, 2006.

First edition of Obama’s second book. Octavo, original boards. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “To John and Rosemary- All the best! Barack Obama.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket photograph by Deborah Feingold.

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$1,400.00
Item Number: RRB-150902
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Wiesenthal, Simon

Max and Helen: A Remarkable True Love Story.

New York : William Morrow and Company, 1982.

First edition of this glorious love story. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by the author on the title page. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Honi Werner. Translated by Catherine Hutter.

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$175.00
Item Number: RRB-150075
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Merton, Thomas

The Seven Storey Mountain.

New York : Harcourt, Brace & World, 1948.

Early printing of the author’s classic work. Octavo, original cloth. Very good in a very good price-clipped dust jacket, bookplate to the front free endpaper.

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$275.00
Item Number: RRB-151033
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Ernst, Bernard M.L.; Hereward Carrington [Harry Houdini; Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; Oscar Teale]

Houdini and Conan Doyle.

New York : Albert and Charles Boni, Inc, 1932.

First edition of this historical account on the friendship between writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and magician Harry Houdini. Octavo, original publisher’s orange cloth, top stain green, frontispiece of Conan Doyle and Houdini. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Oscar S. Teale With every good wish from Bernard M.L.Continue reading "Houdini and Conan Doyle."

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$2,750.00
Item Number: RRB-149956
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Acheson, Dean

Present At The Creation: My Years In The State Department.

New York : W.W. Norton & Company, 1969.

First edition of Acheson’s Pulitzer-Prize-winning classic. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, lengthily inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, “For Adolfo Alessandrini fellow author and colleague in the field  of foreign affairs, with the best wishes of Dean Acheson October 1969.” Very good in a very good dustContinue reading "Present At The Creation: My Years In The State Department."

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$975.00
Item Number: RRB-150943
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[Chavez, Cesar] Jacques E. Levy

Cesar Chavez. Autobiography of La Causa.

New York : W.W. Norton & Company, 1975.

First edition of this biography of the famous labor activist. Octavo, original cloth, photographic endpapers, illustrated with 33 pages of photographs. Presentation copy, lengthily inscribed by Chavez on the half-title page, “To Jim Dyer best personal wishes viva la causa! Cesar Chavez 2-21-76 San Antonio Mission, Calif.” Fine in a very good dust jacket. JacketContinue reading "Cesar Chavez. Autobiography of La Causa."

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$750.00
Item Number: RRB-148357
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King Jr., Martin Luther [Marian Taylor]

Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story.

New York : Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1958.

First edition of Dr. Martin Luther King’s first book. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Presentation copy, lengthily inscribed by the author opposite the half-title page, “To: Marian Taylor With best wishes and warm personal regards, and in appreciation for the stimulating interview that you provided for me. Martin Luther King, Sept. 17, 1958.” Taylor, under theContinue reading "Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story."

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$27,500.00
Item Number: RRB-149819
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Dylan, Bob

Bob Dylan: Chronicles.

New York : Simon & Schuster, 2004.

First edition of Dylan’s revealing autobiography. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by Bob Dylan on the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Coco Shinomiya. PSA/DNA LOA and sticker to the title page. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box by the Harcourt Bindery.

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$9,800.00
Item Number: RRB-143531
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Atwood, Margaret

Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts.

New York : Doubleday, 2025.

First edition of “the most spectacular, hilarious, and generous autobiography of the last quarter century–or ever” (The Boston Globe). Octavo, original boards, illustrated endpapers, illustrated. Boldly signed by Margaret Atwood. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Suzanne Dean, Kelly Hill, and Emily Mahan.

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$175.00
Item Number: RRB-150971
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Goodwin, Doris Kearns

No Ordinary Time. Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II.

New York : Simon & Schuster, 1994.

First edition of this dual biography on the Roosevelts. Octavo, original publisher’s half-cloth, illustrated with black and white photographs. Presentation copy, lengthily inscribed by the author on the title page, “For John, ‘As long as she continued to fight for his ideals, he would continue to live,’ Doris Kearns Goodwin.” Near fine in a nearContinue reading "No Ordinary Time. Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II."

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$1,200.00
Item Number: RRB-149796
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Hopkins, Samuel [Jonathan Edwards]

The Life and Character of the Late Reverend, Learned, and Pious Mr. Jonathan Edwards, President of the College of New-Jersey. Together with Extracts From His Private Writings & Diary, and Also Seventeen Select Sermons on Various Important Subjects.

Northampton : Andrew Wright for S. & E. Butler, 1804.

Finely bound edition of this biographical account of Jonathan Edwards’ life, ministry, and theological contributions. Octodecimo, bound in full calf with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, morocco spine labels. In very good condition with light rubbing and toning, annotations from the previous owner in the margins toContinue reading "The Life and Character of the Late Reverend, Learned, and Pious Mr. Jonathan Edwards, President of the College of New-Jersey. Together with Extracts From His Private Writings & Diary, and Also Seventeen Select Sermons on Various Important Subjects."

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$1,250.00
Item Number: RRB-149943
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Usborne, Richard [P.G. Wodehouse]

After Hours with P.G. Wodehouse.

New York : James H. Heineman Inc, 1991.

First American edition of this record of Usborne’s involvement with the unmatched comedic novelist P.G. Wodehouse. Octavo, original boards. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper to his publisher, James Heineman, in the year of publication. Additionally signed by Usborne on the title page above his printed name which has beenContinue reading "After Hours with P.G. Wodehouse."

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$450.00
Item Number: RRB-145360
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Hirsch, James S. [Willie Mays]

Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend.

New York : Scribner, 2010.

First edition of this definitive biography authorized by Willie Mays and written by Wall Street Journal and New York Times journalist James Hirsch. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated with black and white photographs. Boldly signed by Willie Mays on the front free endpaper. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Jason J. Heuer.Continue reading "Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend."

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$475.00
Item Number: RRB-149847
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