Thackeray, William

The Works of William Makepeace Thackeray. [Including The History of Henry Esmond, Vanity Fair, Pendennis, The Newcomes, and The Virginians].

London : Smith, Elder and Co., 1900-1902.

The Biographical edition of the Works of William Makepeace Thackeray. Octavo, thirteen volumes bound in three quarter morocco over marbled boards by Maclehose with gilt titles and ruling to the spines in six compartments within raised gilt bands, tissue-guarded frontispiece to each volume. In very good condition.

Purple, N. H. [Abraham Lincoln; William Herndon]

A Compilation of the Statutes of the State of Illinois, of a General Nature, In Force January 1, 1856. Collated with Reference to Decisions of the Supreme Court of Said State, and to Prior Laws Relating to the Same Subject Matter.

Chicago : Published by Keen & Lee, 1856.

First edition of Purple’s Statutes from the law library of Abraham Lincoln and William Herndon. Large octavo, 2 volumes, bound in full contemporary calf with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt. With Herndon’s ownership signature on behalf of the firm to the front pastedown of Vol. I, “A. Lincoln W. Herndon Lincoln & Herndon Springfield”Continue reading "A Compilation of the Statutes of the State of Illinois, of a General Nature, In Force January 1, 1856. Collated with Reference to Decisions of the Supreme Court of Said State, and to Prior Laws Relating to the Same Subject Matter."

[Livingstone, David]

David Livingstone: The Great Missionary Explorer.

New York : The Walter Scott Publishing Co., Ltd, n.d. c. 1908.

Finely bound example of this anonymous work on the life of David Livingstone. Octavo, bound in full morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled, frontispiece. In near fineContinue reading "David Livingstone: The Great Missionary Explorer."

Baxter, Richard

A Treatise of Conversion.

London : Printed by R. W. for Nevel Simmons, 1657.

Rare first edition of this book on conversion by one of the chief pioneers of English Protestantism, and also revered in the United States for his contributions to the cause of evangelism. Octavo, bound in three quarters leather over boards, morocco spine label. In very good condition, owner name to the preliminary blank and heContinue reading "A Treatise of Conversion."

Tennyson, Alfred Lord

Idylls of the King [Fore-Edge Painting].

London : Edward Moxon & Co, 1869.

Finely bound example with a fore-edge painting of Tennyson’s “long-meditated great task” which brought him to fame (Baugh, 1388). Octavo, bound in full red pebbled morocco, spine stamped in gilt in compartments, all edges and turn ins gilt, fore-edge painting with view of The Market Place, Cambridge. In very good condition.

von Clausewitz, Carl Philipp Gottfried

Vom Kriege. Hinterlassenes Werk. [On War].

Berlin : Ferdinand Dümmler, 1832-34.

Scarce first edition of arguably the most important treatise on political-military analysis and strategy ever written. Octavo, three volumes bound in contemporary half cloth over marbled boards with gilt titles and ruling to the spine. In near fine condition with light rubbing to the extremities.

18th Century Catholic Antiphonal.

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Rare 18th Century Catholic antiphonal containing the Festa Februarii, Festa Martii, and Festa Aprilis. Quarto, bound in full leather, hand-written script of both music and lyrics in black and red, all edges red, ribbon bound in. In very good condition.

Smiles, Samuel

Self-Help. With Illustrations of Conduct and Perseverance.

London : John Murray, 1908.

Finely bound example of Smith’s best-selling work on the self-improvement; an embodiment of the ideologies of mid-Victorian liberalism. Octavo, bound in full contemporary tree calf with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, giltContinue reading "Self-Help. With Illustrations of Conduct and Perseverance."

Catullus, Gaius Valerius. [Translated by Sir Richard Francis Burton]

The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus.

New York : Privately Printed for Subscribers Only, 1928.

Limited edition of The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus, translated by Sir Richard F. Burton and Leonard C. Smithers. Octavo, original boards, illustrated with eight full page plates, rebacked. One of seven hundred and fifty numbered copies, this is number 170. From the library of Oliver Craus Safir with his ownership signature and, subsequently hisContinue reading "The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus."

Homere, Veda-Vyasa, Marie de France, Burger, Hoffman, Ludwig Tieck, Ch. Dickens, Gavarni, H. Blaze

Le Pléiade. Ballads, Fabliaux, Nouvelles et Legends.

Paris : L. Curmer, 1842.

First edition of this collection which Carteret considers to be one of the most important illustrated books of the 19th century. Octavo, elaborately bound in full red morocco with elaborate gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, elaborate gilt ruling and stamping to the front and rear panels,Continue reading "Le Pléiade. Ballads, Fabliaux, Nouvelles et Legends."

Hemingway, Ernest

Death in the Afternoon.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1932.

First edition of early work on bullfighting. Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, raised bands, blind ruled to the front and rear panels, gilt signature of Ernest Hemingway to the front panel, frontispiece by Juan Gris, illustrated. In fine condition.

Wells, H.G

The Works of H.G. Wells Including [The Time Machine, The Island of Doctor Moreau, The Invisible Man, The War of the Worlds, Etc].

London : T. Fisher Unwin, 1924-27.

One of 20 sets for presentation from an overall edition of 620, this is letter e and Wells has written (Little e), signed by H.G. Wells in volume one, and additionally inscribed by Wells in volume one to his lover Elizabeth von Arnim, “To Little e H.G.” With her bookplate to all but two volumes.Continue reading "The Works of H.G. Wells Including [The Time Machine, The Island of Doctor Moreau, The Invisible Man, The War of the Worlds, Etc]."

Illuminated Astrological Sign Symbol Painting Collection.

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Rare collection of illuminated paintings depicting the twelve signs of the Zodiac. Quarto, bound in full calf with gilt tooling to the spine, elaborate gilt ruling to the front and rear panels with fleuron cornerpieces surrounding a gilt-bordered morocco onlay displaying a coat of arms, patterned endpapers, twelve vellum leaves. The illuminated paintings include: theContinue reading "Illuminated Astrological Sign Symbol Painting Collection."

Hemingway, Ernest

The Torrents of Spring.

New York : Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1926.

First edition of Hemingway’s first novel, one of 1250 printed. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles and ruling to the spine, raised bands, double gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, gilt signature of Hemingway to the front panel, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In fine condition. An exceptionalContinue reading "The Torrents of Spring."

Hazlitt, William

Political Essays, with Sketches of Public Characters.

London : Printed for William Hone, 1819.

First edition of one of Hazlitt’s most interesting collections, including his estimates and reviews of Southey as Laureate, of Coleridge, Burke, and Malthus (at length). Octavo, bound in three quarter morocco with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in five compartments within raised bands, marbled endpapers. From the library of William Safire with hisContinue reading "Political Essays, with Sketches of Public Characters."

Milton, John. Edited by Sir Egerton Brydges, Bart

The Poetical Works of John Milton.

London : Printed For Thomas Tegg, 1842.

Finely bound example of Sir Egerton Brydges’ compilation of Milton’s poetical works. Octavo, bound in full morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt vignettes to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, all edges gilt, frontispiece portrait of Milton. In very goodContinue reading "The Poetical Works of John Milton."

Lodge, Edmund

Portraits of Illustrious Personages of Great Britain. Engraved From Authentic Pictures in the Galleries of the Nobility and the Public Collections of the Country. With Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Their Lives and Actions.

London : Printed for Harding and Lepard, 1835.

Finely bound set of Lodge’s Portraits of Illustrious Personages. Folio, six volumes, bound in full morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, quadruple gilt ruling and fleuron cornerpieces to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, all edges gilt, illustrated with 240 tissue-guardedContinue reading "Portraits of Illustrious Personages of Great Britain. Engraved From Authentic Pictures in the Galleries of the Nobility and the Public Collections of the Country. With Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Their Lives and Actions."

Rand, Ayn

The Fountainhead.

Indianapolis : Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1943.

First edition, first issue with first edition stated on the copyright page of the author’s first major novel, as well as her first best-seller. Octavo, original red cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, “To Gertrude Lynneberg- – with my best wishes for long yearsContinue reading "The Fountainhead."

O. Henry [William Sydney Porter]

The Complete Works of O. Henry: The Manuscript Edition.

Garden City, NY : Doubleday, Page and Company, 1912.

The manuscript edition of the Works of O. Henry, limited to 125 examples. Octavo, 12 volumes, bound in original half vellum. In fine condition. The manuscript is bound into volume one. An exceptional set.

Dickens, Charles

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

London : Chapman and Hall, 1843-60.

Early printings of all five of Charles Dickens’ Christmas Books, finely bound. Octavo, 5 volumes, bound in full calf with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, black and green morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, double gilt ruled panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, all edges gilt, marbledContinue reading "The Christmas Books: A Christmas Carol; The Chimes; The Battle of Life; Cricket on the Hearth; The Haunted Man and The Ghost’s Bargain."

Scott, Sir Walter

Waverly Novels. [Waverley: or ‘Tis Sixty Years Since, Guy Mannering, The Antiquary, Rob Roy, Ivanhoe, Kenilworth, The Pirate, The Fortunes of Nigel, Peveril of the Peak, Quentin Durward, St. Ronan’s Well, Redgauntlet, The Betrothed, Talisman, Woodstock, or, the Cavalier, Chronicles of the Canongate, The Fair Maid Of Perth, Anne of Geierstein.

Edinburgh : Adam & Charles Black, 1883.

The Centenary Edition of Sir Walter Scott’s Waverly Novels. Octavo, 12 volumes bound in three quarter morocco over marbled boards by Robertson with burgundy morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled. Illustrated title page and tissue-guarded frontispiece toContinue reading "Waverly Novels. [Waverley: or ‘Tis Sixty Years Since, Guy Mannering, The Antiquary, Rob Roy, Ivanhoe, Kenilworth, The Pirate, The Fortunes of Nigel, Peveril of the Peak, Quentin Durward, St. Ronan’s Well, Redgauntlet, The Betrothed, Talisman, Woodstock, or, the Cavalier, Chronicles of the Canongate, The Fair Maid Of Perth, Anne of Geierstein."

Jerrold, Douglas

A Man Made of Money.

London : Punch, 1848-49.

First edition of this work. Octavo, original, six volumes, illustrated wrappers. Illustrated with 12 engraved plates by John Leech. In very good condition. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Scarce in the original wrappers.

London, Jack

The Cruise of the Dazzler.

London : Hodder and Stoughton, 1906.

First English edition of London‘s scarcest work of fiction and his only “juvenile” novel. Octavo, bound in three quarter morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, illustrated with six plates.  From the library of William Safire, although not marked. William SafireContinue reading "The Cruise of the Dazzler."

Eliot, T.S

The Cocktail Party.

London : Faber & Faber, 1950.

First edition of Eliot’s most popular play published in his lifetime. Octavo, bound in full morocco by Asprey, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands, inner dentelles. In fine condition.

Buchan, John

A History of the Great War.

Boston : Houghton Mifflin Company, 1922.

Signed limited edition of Buchan’s classic work, one of 500 numbered examples. Octavo, 8 volumes. Signed by John Buchan. In near fine condition. Uncommon in this condition.

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 morocco by Birdsall, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, raised bands, inner dentelles, all edges gilt. Frontispiece portrait of Samuel Johnson, engravedContinue reading "The Life of Johnson."

a Kempis, Thomas

The Imitation of Christ.

London : Chatto & Windus, 1908.

Finely bound example of a Kempis’ classic work. Octavo, bound in morocco by Bayntun, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands, gilt doublures, illustrated including color plates by Flint. Translated from the Latin by Richard Wbytford and then re-edited into modern English by Wilfrid Raynal. In fine condition. An exceptional presentation.

Kipling, Rudyard

The Years Between.

London : Methuen and Co., Ltd., 1919.

First edition of this collection of 45 poems. Octavo, original half vellum over buckram boards with gilt titles to the spine, top edge gilt with others uncut. One of only 30 copies printed on Japanese vellum. In fine condition. Housed in a custom half morocco and chemise slipcase. Scarce, this title was printed in threeContinue reading "The Years Between."

Irving, Washington

The Life of George Washington.

New York : G. P. Putnam & Co., 1855-59.

First edition of Irving’s monumental biography of George Washington. Quarto, bound in half crushed red levant with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers, illustrated with 47 hand-colored plates including tissue-guarded frontispiece to each volume. One of one hundred and ten numbered copiesContinue reading "The Life of George Washington."

Kipling, Rudyard with Wolcott Balestier

The Naulahka: A Story of West and East.

London : William Heinemann, 1892.

First British edition of Kipling’s ambitious narrative. Octavo, original publisher’s decorative cloth. In near fine condition. Housed in a custom half morocco and chemise slipcase.

Byron, Lord George Gordon

The Giaour, A Fragment of a Turkish Tale; The Bride of Abydos; The Corsair.

London : John Murray, 1813.

First trade edition, first issue of Byron’s The Giaour; bound with a second edition of The Bride of Abydos and a rare first edition, first issue of The Corsair. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels. In near fine condition.Continue reading "The Giaour, A Fragment of a Turkish Tale; The Bride of Abydos; The Corsair."

Dickens, Charles

The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1837.

First edition in book form of Dickens’ first novel and one of his greatest works. Octavo, bound in three full quarter morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers, with 43 engraved plates by Seymour and Browne. In very good condition.

Swift, Jonathan [Robert R. Livingstone]

The Works of Jonathan Swift: Including, Gulliver’s Travels.

Edinburgh : Printed by Mrs. Mundell, 1778.

First of 4 issues, Scotch editions, from the library of Robert R. Livingstone, with his bookplate to the pastedown of each volume. Small octavo, bound in contemporary calf, spine compartments ruled with Greek key tooling, morocco spine labels. From the library of founding father Robert R. Livingston. As one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, LivingstonContinue reading "The Works of Jonathan Swift: Including, Gulliver’s Travels."

Bunyan, John

Pilgrim’s Progress [Fore-Edge Painting]

London : L. and G. Seeley, 1840.

Finely bound example with a foredge painting of a sailing ship initialed and dated 1840 of one of the most significant works of religious English literature, Pilgrim’s Progress. Octavo, bound in full morocco, all edges gilt, 15 plates and illustrations, all hand-colored, with a fore-edge painting of a sailing ship initialed and dated 1840, engravedContinue reading "Pilgrim’s Progress [Fore-Edge Painting]"

Swift, Jonathan

The Works of Jonathan Swift.

London : Bickers & Son, 1883.

Finely bound set of the works of Jonathan Swift, with notes and a life by Sir Walter Scott, one of 750 numbered sets, this is number 330. Octavo,19 volumes, bound in three quarters morocco, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands, top edge gilt. In near fine condition. From the library of Sir Ranjitsinhji VibhajiContinue reading "The Works of Jonathan Swift."

Dickens, Charles

The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.

London : Chapman and Hall and Bradbury Evans, 1858.

Rare finely bound Library Edition of Dickens’ first novel and one of his greatest works. Octavo, two volumes bound in three quarter morocco by Sangorski & Sutcliffe with gilt titles and elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, pictorial title pages. In very good condition. Housed inContinue reading "The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club."

Conrad, Joseph

The Rover.

London : T. Fisher Unwin Ltd, 1923.

First British edition of the last complete novel by Joseph Conrad. Octavo, finely bound in full morocco by Bayntun, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, raised bands, double gilt ruled, inner dentelles, all edges gilt. In fine condition. An exceptional presentation.

Barham, Richard Harris

The Ingoldsby Legends: Or, Mirth & Marvels by Thomas Ingoldsby, Esquire First Series; Second Series; Third Series.

London : Richard Bentley, 1840.

First edition, first issue of this classic work. Octavo, 3 volumes, bound in full morocco by Tout with elaborate tooling in gilt, covers repeat the floral and pointillle tooling at corners, surrounded by a single gilt fillet, dentelles feature floral garlands extending from each corner, surrounded by inner and outer gilt fillets, top edges gilt,Continue reading "The Ingoldsby Legends: Or, Mirth & Marvels by Thomas Ingoldsby, Esquire First Series; Second Series; Third Series."

Hardy, Thomas

Selected Poems of Thomas Hardy.

London : Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1924.

Finley bound early printing of the Golden Treasury Series Selected Poems of Thomas Hardy. Small octavo, bound in full crushed crimson levant morocco by Bayntun with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, elaborate gilt ruling and cornerpieces to the front and real panels, gilt turn-ins and innerContinue reading "Selected Poems of Thomas Hardy."

Trollope, Anthony

The Vicar of Bullhampton.

London : Bradbury, Evans, and Co, 1870.

First edition in book form of Anthony Trollope’s controversial novel. Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco over pebbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, all edges marbled and marbled endpapers, with thirty-five illustrations including tissue-guarded frontispiece by H. WoodsContinue reading "The Vicar of Bullhampton."

Chaucer, Geoffrey. [Eleanor Farjeon]

Tales from Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales Done Into Prose by Eleanor Farjeon.

London : The Medici Society, 1930.

First edition of Eleanor Farjeon’s modern adaptation of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. Octavo, bound in full morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, double gilt ruling and fleuron cornerpieces to the panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers and all edges gilt, elaborately illustrated with full colorContinue reading "Tales from Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales Done Into Prose by Eleanor Farjeon."

Wright, Richard

Native Son.

New York : Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1940.

First edition, first issue binding with “A – P” on the copyright page. Octavo, bound in full morocco, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, raised bands, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers. In fine condition. An exceptional presentation.

Dickens, Charles

Memoirs of Joseph Grimaldi. Edited by “Boz.”

London : G. Routledge & Co, 1853.

Finely bound example of Dickens’ popular retelling of the memoirs of celebrated English clown Joseph Grimaldi. Octavo, bound in full crimson crushed levant morocco by Baytun with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, gilt titles and tooling to the spin in six compartments within raised gilt bands, double gilt rulings and fleuron cornerpieces to theContinue reading "Memoirs of Joseph Grimaldi. Edited by “Boz.”"

Hawthorne, Nathaniel

The Marble Faun: or, the Romance of Monte Beni.

Boston : Ticknor and Fields, 1860.

First edition, first issue, with 16-page catalog dated March, 1860 inserted at rear of Volume one of Hawthorne’s last major work of fiction. Octavo, original cloth, 2 volumes. In near fine condition. Housed in a custom clamshell box. BAL 7621.

Doyle, Arthur Conan

The Great Boer War.

London : Smith, Elder, & Co, 1901.

New edition, being the fourteenth impression, of Arthur Conan Doyle’s work on the Boer War, which he revised sixteen times throughout the course of the war. Octavo, bound in full morocco for the Edinburgh Angus Club with their insignia stamped in gilt to the front panel, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, elaborate gilt toolingContinue reading "The Great Boer War."

Schreiner, Olive [as Ralph Iron]

The Story of an African Farm: A Novel.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1883.

First edition of this highspot of African literature. Octavo, 2 volumes bound in three quarters contemporary morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers. Published under the pseudonym ‘Ralph Iron’, the entire printing of this first edition has been estimated toContinue reading "The Story of an African Farm: A Novel."

Conrad, Joseph

The Collected Works of Joseph Conrad. [Almayer’s Folly, An Outcast of the Islands, The Nigger of “Narcissus”, Tales of Unrest, Lord Jim, The Inheritors, Youth: and Two Other Stories, Romance, Typhoon and Other Stories, Nostromo, The Mirror of the Sea, The Secret Agent, A Set of Six, Under Western Eyes, Some Reminiscences, ‘Twist Land & Sea Tales, Chance, Victory, Within the Tides, The Shadow Line, The Arrow of Gold, On Day More, The Rescue].

London : Various Publishers, 1895-1920.

Rare finely bound first edition collection of the writings of Joseph Conrad including a first issue of Almayer’s Folly. Octavo, 23 volumes bound in full crushed crimson levant morocco by Sangorski and Sutcliffe with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt banes, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, top edgeContinue reading "The Collected Works of Joseph Conrad. [Almayer’s Folly, An Outcast of the Islands, The Nigger of “Narcissus”, Tales of Unrest, Lord Jim, The Inheritors, Youth: and Two Other Stories, Romance, Typhoon and Other Stories, Nostromo, The Mirror of the Sea, The Secret Agent, A Set of Six, Under Western Eyes, Some Reminiscences, ‘Twist Land & Sea Tales, Chance, Victory, Within the Tides, The Shadow Line, The Arrow of Gold, On Day More, The Rescue]."

The Book of Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, According to the Use of the Church of England: Together with the Psalter or Psalms of David, Pointed as they are to be sung or said in Churches.

Cambridge : Printed by John Archdeacon, 1771.

Rare 18th century Book of Common Prayer. Small octavo, bound in full contemporary calf tie gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, double gilt ruing and cornerpieces to the front and rear panels, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers. In very good condition. Ownership inscriptions. Desirable in a contemporary binding.