[Napoleon Bonaparte]. Emil Ludwig. Translated by Eden and Cedar Paul

Napoleon. [Cosway Binding].

London : George Allen & Unwin, Ltd., 1927.

Elaborately bound Cosway style first edition in English of Emil Ludwig’s biography of Napoleon Bonaparte. Octavo, bound by Bayntun-Riviere in full Cosway style scarlet morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, inset ivorene hand-painted portrait of Napoleon depicting him with medals to the front panel, giltContinue reading "Napoleon. [Cosway Binding]."

Chesterfield, Lord. [Alexander Hamilton; Elizabeth Hamilton]

Lord Chesterfield’s Letters.

.

Eighteenth century printing of Lord Chesterfield’s Letters from the library of Alexander Hamilton with his wife, Elizabeth’s ownership signature. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf with gilt ruling to the spine, red morocco spine label lettered in gilt. Signed by Elizabeth Hamilton on the first page of text. In good condition. Rare and desirable, booksContinue reading "Lord Chesterfield’s Letters."

Tolstoy, Leo. (Count Lyof N Tolstoi)

War and Peace. A Historical Novel.

New York : William S. Gottsberger, 1886.

First editions in English of Tolstoy’s masterpiece; one of the most important novels in world literature and widely considered the greatest novel ever written. Small octavo, six volumes, bound in contemporary three quarters morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles to the spine. Translated into French by ‘A Russian lady’ and from the French byContinue reading "War and Peace. A Historical Novel."

Schumpeter, Joseph A

Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy.

London : George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1942.

First edition of Schumpeter’s ground-breaking work. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in the original dust jacket with some chips to the extremities. Rare in the original dust jacket.

Dickens, Charles

A Tale of Two Cities.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1859.

First edition, first issue of one of Dickens’ most enduring works. Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, all edges gilt, illustrated with sixteen plates after H.K. Browne including the frontispiece and title vignette. In very good condition.

Saint-Exupery, Antoine de; Translated by Katherine Woods

The Little Prince.

New York : Reynal and Hitchcock, 1943.

First edition of Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s masterpiece, which precedes the first edition in French. Translated from the French by Katherine Woods. Small quarto, bound in full modern full pictorial brown morocco with inlay tooling to the front panel by the Harcourt Bindery, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers, illustrated by the author. In fine condition. A stunning example.

Dickens, Charles

A Tale of Two Cities.

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 three quarters leather over marbled boards, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, raised bands, marbledContinue reading "A Tale of Two Cities."

Herodotus; Translated by Isaac Littlebury

The History of Herodotus. Translated from the Greek. By Isaac Littlebury.

London : Printed for Edward Castle and Sam Buckley, 1709.

First complete edition in English of Littlebury’s translation of the histories of Herodotus, also the first appearance in English since Thomas Marshe’s 1584 incomplete translation of only the first two books. Octavo, two volumes. Bound in full contemporary calf with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, red moroccoContinue reading "The History of Herodotus. Translated from the Greek. By Isaac Littlebury."

Stephens, Alexander. Edited by Frank Moore

Cornerstone Speech. IN: The Rebellion Record: A Diary of American Events, with Documents, Narratives, Illustrative Incidents, Poetry, Etc.

New York : G. P. Putnam, 1861.

Rare first printing in book form of Stephens’ extemporaneous March 21, 1861 Cornerstone Speech delivered in Savannah shortly before Fort Sumter, published the same year, presenting a reporter’s transcription from a Savannah newspaper, with Stephens calling the U.S. Constitution “a compact built on sand” and declaring the Confederate Constitution a “cornerstone” that rests on “theContinue reading "Cornerstone Speech. IN: The Rebellion Record: A Diary of American Events, with Documents, Narratives, Illustrative Incidents, Poetry, Etc."

Fielding, Henry

The History of Tom Jones, A Foundling.

London : Printed for A. Millar, 1749.

First edition, first issue, one of a first printing run of only 2,000 copies with errata leaf in volume one, the errata uncorrected, and all cancels and final blanks, K12 in volume one and R12 in volume three (Rothschild 850). Octavo, 6 volumes, bound in full crushed morocco by Bayntun, red and black morocco spineContinue reading "The History of Tom Jones, A Foundling."

Franklin, Benjamin

The Way to Wealth or Poor Richard Improved.

Paris : Printed for Ant. Aug. Renouard, 1795.

The rare Renouard‘s bi-lingual edition of Franklin’s popular aphorisms, first published as the preface to the Poor Richard‘s Almanac. “The prettiest edition yet printed” (Ford, Franklin 135). Sabin 25596. 12mo, bound in full contemporary calf, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, gilt ruling to the spine, gilt turn-ins, engraved frontispiece portrait of Franklin by A. Tardieu after Duplessis. This elegant ParisianContinue reading "The Way to Wealth or Poor Richard Improved."

Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de; D. Juan Antonio Pellicer

El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha: Nueva Edicion.

Madrid : Gabriel de Sancha, 1797-98.

First large paper edition of Juan Antonio Pellicer’s new edition of Don Quixote. Octavo, five volumes, bound in full red morocco by Clarke & Bedford with gilt titles and ornately tooled floral detailing to the spines in six compartments within raised bands, elaborate floral ruling to the front and rear panels, top edges gilt, giltContinue reading "El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha: Nueva Edicion."

Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de

Vida Y Hechos Del Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quixote De La Mancha: Con Muy Bellas Estampas Gravadas Sobre Los Dibujos de Coypel, Primer Pinto de el Rey de Francia.

En Haia [The Hague] : Por P. Gosse y A. Moetjens, 1744.

Rare early printing and one of the most highly coveted editions of Cervantes’ masterpiece. Octavo, 4 volumes, bound in full calf, gilt titles and  tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, burgundy spine labels, triple gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edgesContinue reading "Vida Y Hechos Del Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quixote De La Mancha: Con Muy Bellas Estampas Gravadas Sobre Los Dibujos de Coypel, Primer Pinto de el Rey de Francia."

Golding, William

Lord of the Flies.

London : Faber and Faber, 1954.

First edition of Golding’s first book, one of the best-known works in modern literature. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panel, gilt inner dentelles stamp-signed by the Harcourt Bindery, marbledContinue reading "Lord of the Flies."

The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testament. Newly Translated out of the original tongues and with the former translations diligently compared and revised by his Majesties special Command.

London : N.p, 1672.

Rare 17th century edition of the King James version of the Holy Bible in folio, with Geneva Bible notes. Herbert 708; Wing B2285. Folio, 2 parts bound into one in three quarter speckled calf over marbled boards with elaborate gilt stamping to the spine in seven compartments within raised gilt bands, burgundy morocco spine labelContinue reading "The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testament. Newly Translated out of the original tongues and with the former translations diligently compared and revised by his Majesties special Command."

Tennyson, Alfred Lord

Queen Mary: A Drama.

London : Henry S. King and Co, 1875.

First edition of the first book in Tennyson’s historical trilogy. Small octavo, original green cloth with gilt titles to the spine. Association copy, inscribed by the author to his son on the title page, “Hallam from A.” Tennyson’s eldest son Hallam Tennyson, 2nd Baron Tennyson served as his father’s personal secretary and served as hisContinue reading "Queen Mary: A Drama."

Dickens, Charles

The Christmas Books: A Christmas Carol; The Chimes; The Cricket on the Hearth; The Battle of Life; The Haunted Man and The Ghost’s Bargain.

London : Chapman and Hall/Bradbury & Evans, 1845-48.

Complete set of Charles Dickens’ Christmas Books. Octavo, 5 volumes, original cloth with gilt titles and tooling to the spine and front panels, all edges gilt. A Christmas Carol is an eleventh edition, plates hand-colored, recased by Morrell [1845]; The Chimes: A Goblin Story is a sixth edition, recased [1845]; first edition of The CricketContinue reading "The Christmas Books: A Christmas Carol; The Chimes; The Cricket on the Hearth; The Battle of Life; The Haunted Man and The Ghost’s Bargain."

Mill, James

Analysis of the Phenomena of the Human Mind.

London : Baldwin and Cradock, 1829.

First edition of this classic exploration of the processes of human thought by the father of John Stuart Mill, whose own “logical and ethical doctrines are evidently suggested” by this work. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf, armorial stamp to the front panel of the Earl of Shaftesbury, with a four page autographed letter signedContinue reading "Analysis of the Phenomena of the Human Mind."

Petty, Sir William

The Political Anatomy of Ireland…To Which is Added Verbum Sapienti.

London : Printed for D. Brown and W. Rogers, 1691.

First edition of this seminal, early statistical survey that analyzes 17th-century Irish land, people, and government to propose improvements for efficiency, taxation, and union with England. Duodecimo, bound in full speckled calf with gilt titles to the spine in six compartments within double ruled gilt bands, morocco spine label, and gilt turn-ins. In very goodContinue reading "The Political Anatomy of Ireland…To Which is Added Verbum Sapienti."

Bronte, Charlotte; Edited by Currer Bell

Jane Eyre: An Autobiography.

New York : Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1848.

First American edition of this revolutionary feminist romance, issued as number 109 in Harper’s Library of Select Novels. Octavo, finely bound in half calf over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, printed in to columns throughout, single leaf of publisher’s ads dated October 1847 advertisingContinue reading "Jane Eyre: An Autobiography."

Ovid

Ovid’s Metamorphoses in Latin and English Translated by the Most Eminent Hands.

Amsterdam : Printed for the Wetsteins and Smith, 1732.

First English edition of Ovid’s Metamorphoses with Picart’s illustrations. Folio, two volumes in one, bound in full in early mottled calf with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in seven compartments within raised bands, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins, engraved title vignette. Illustrated with a copper-engraved frontispiece, 130Continue reading "Ovid’s Metamorphoses in Latin and English Translated by the Most Eminent Hands."

Emerson, Ralph Waldo

The Complete Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Cambridge : Riverside Press, 1903.

Autograph Centenary edition with a double sided manuscript in Emerson’s hand bound into volume one. Octavo, 12 volumes, bound in three quarters contemporary morocco over cloth, elaborately gilt-decorated spines, raised bands, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers. Numerous mounted photogravure illustrations. One of 600 copies. In near fine condition.

Kipling, Rudyard

The Jungle Book and The Second Jungle Book.

London : Macmillan, 1894-95.

First editions of both volumes of The Jungle Book. Octavo, two volumes, original blue cloth decorated and lettered in gilt, all edges gilt, engraved tissue-guarded frontispiece, illustrated by J. L. Kipling, W.H. Drake and P. Frenzeny. In near fine condition with light rubbing to the extremities. Near ownership inscriptions. An exceptional example.

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."