Hawthorne, Nathaniel

The Scarlet Letter.

London : Methuen & Co. Ltd, 1920.

First edition thus of Hawthorne’s masterpiece. Quarto, bound in full morocco by Bennett, elaborate gilt tooling to the spine, with scarlet leather onlay of the letter A on the front panel, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, illustrated with 31 mounted color plates by Hugh Thomson. In fine condition. Housed in a linenContinue reading "The Scarlet Letter."

Machiavel, Nicolas. [Niccolo Machiavelli]

The Works of the Famous Nicolas Machiavel, Citizen and Secretary of Florence: The History of Florence; The Prince; The Discourses of Nicholas Machiavel; The Art of War In Seven Books.

London : John Starkey at the Miter in Fleetstreet, near Temple-Bar, 1675.

First edition in English of the most important writings of Niccolo Machiavelli, widely considered the foundation of the modern study of politics. Includes The History of Florence, The Prince, Discourses on Livy, and The Art of War. Folio bound in three quarter modern calf over marbled boards with gilt-lettered morocco spine label, modern endpapers butContinue reading "The Works of the Famous Nicolas Machiavel, Citizen and Secretary of Florence: The History of Florence; The Prince; The Discourses of Nicholas Machiavel; The Art of War In Seven Books."

Harper’s Weekly, A Journal of Civilization. [Harper’s Weekly’s Complete Coverage of the American Civil War: January 1, 1861-December 30, 1865].

New York : Harper & Brothers, January 1, 1861-December 30, 1865.

Rare continuous run of 260 issues of Harper’s Weekly, covering the entirety of the American Civil War. Folio, five volumes, bound in full buckram with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, illustrated with hundreds of wood-engraved illustrations, many from noted American illustrators including portraits of Union and Confederate Army Generals and Officers, battlefield scenes, maps, cityContinue reading "Harper’s Weekly, A Journal of Civilization. [Harper’s Weekly’s Complete Coverage of the American Civil War: January 1, 1861-December 30, 1865]."

[Lely, Gilbert; Alberto Giacometti]

La Folie Tristan.

Paris : Jean Hugues, 1959.

Definitive limited edition of this 12th-century Anglo-Norman poem about the medieval legend of Tristan and Iseult. Duodecimo, written in French, bound in three-quarters bordeaux morocco with gilt titles to the spine in five compartments within raised bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers, original wrappers bound in. OneContinue reading "La Folie Tristan."

Ptolomaeus, Claudius. Edited and with Commentary by Federico Commandino

Ptolemaei Planisphaerium. Iordani Planisphaerium. Federici Commandini Urbrinatis in Ptolemaei Planisphaerium Commentarius.

Venice : Paulus Manutius (Aldine Press), 1558.

First separate edition and first edition of Commandino’s commentary of Ptolemy’s Planisphaerium, the original Greek text of which is no longer extant. Octavo, two volumes bound into one in eighteenth century vellum, all edges speckled red, Aldine device on both titles and both final pages, woodcut initials, numerous woodcut diagrams. The Ptolemaei is printed inContinue reading "Ptolemaei Planisphaerium. Iordani Planisphaerium. Federici Commandini Urbrinatis in Ptolemaei Planisphaerium Commentarius."

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 full contemporary calf, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, panels decoratively triple-ruled in gilt withContinue reading "A Tale of Two Cities."

Bloomfield, Robert. [Herman Melville]

The Farmer’s Boy.

London : Sampson, Low, Son & Co, 1858.

Later printing of the poem that made Robert Bloomfield’s reputation. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth elaborately stamped in gilt, all edges gilt, illustrated with thirty engravings from drawings by Birket Foster, Harrison, Weir, and G.E. Hicks. Presentation copy, inscribed on the verso of the front free endpaper, “Fanny Melville from Herman Xmas 1876.” Presentation inscription likelyContinue reading "The Farmer’s Boy."

Flaubert, Gustave

The Complete Works of Gustave Flaubert.

New York and London : M. Walker Dunne, 1904.

The limited Académie Française edition of the complete works of Flaubert. One of only 50 sets produced on Japon paper, this is number 40. Octavos, 10 volumes, bound in full morocco with gilt titles and elaborate floral gilt tooling to the spine and front panel, raised gilt bands, fleuron cornerpieces within gilt frames and central giltContinue reading "The Complete Works of Gustave Flaubert."

Dickens, Charles

The Personal History of David Copperfield.

London : Bradbury and Evans, May 1849-November 1850.

First edition in parts of “the most perfect of all the Dickens novels” (Virginia Woolf). Octavo, original blue-green illustrated serial issue wrappers being twenty parts in nineteen with the majority of  preliminary advertisements present, frontispiece, vignette title-page and forty engraved plates. In excellent condition, an unrestored example of Dickens’ classic work, with some of theContinue reading "The Personal History of David Copperfield."

Bogle, John C. [Burton Malkiel]

Bogle On Mutual Funds: New Perspectives for the Intelligent Investor; Common Sense on Mutual Funds: New Imperatives for the Intelligent Investor; John Bogle on Investing: The First 50 Years; Character Counts: The Creation and Building of The Vanguard Group; The Battle for the Soul of Capitalism; The Little Book of Common Sense Investing: The Only Way to Guarantee Your Fair Share of Stock Market Returns; Enough: True Measures of Money, Business, and Life; Common Sense on Mutual Funds: Fully Updated 10th Anniversary Edition; Don’t Count on it!: Reflections on Investment Illusions, Capitalism, “Mutual” Funds, Indexing, Entrepreneurship, Idealism, and Heroes; The Clash of the Cultures: Investment vs. Speculation; Stay the Course: The Story of Vanguard and the Index Revolution.

New York: McGraw Hill and Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 1994-2019.

Complete first edition collection of every book published by the Chairman of the Vanguard Group, all but one volume signed or inscribed by him and signed by legendary investor and author of A Random Walk On Wall Street Burton Malkiel. Octavo, 14 volumes, original publisher’s cloth and half cloth. The collection contains: Bogle On MutualContinue reading "Bogle On Mutual Funds: New Perspectives for the Intelligent Investor; Common Sense on Mutual Funds: New Imperatives for the Intelligent Investor; John Bogle on Investing: The First 50 Years; Character Counts: The Creation and Building of The Vanguard Group; The Battle for the Soul of Capitalism; The Little Book of Common Sense Investing: The Only Way to Guarantee Your Fair Share of Stock Market Returns; Enough: True Measures of Money, Business, and Life; Common Sense on Mutual Funds: Fully Updated 10th Anniversary Edition; Don’t Count on it!: Reflections on Investment Illusions, Capitalism, “Mutual” Funds, Indexing, Entrepreneurship, Idealism, and Heroes; The Clash of the Cultures: Investment vs. Speculation; Stay the Course: The Story of Vanguard and the Index Revolution."

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.

Churchill, Winston S

The First Collected Works of Sir Winston Churchill: Centenary Limited Edition.

London : Library of Imperial History In association With Charles Scribner's Sons and The Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited, 1973-76.

Centenary limited edition of Churchill’s complete Works, one of only 3000 sets produced, with the additional four volumes usually not present. Octavo, original full vellum, 38 volumes, stamped with the Churchill arms, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers, original dark green slipcases, also gilt-stamped with the Churchill coat of arms. In near fine to fine conditionContinue reading "The First Collected Works of Sir Winston Churchill: Centenary Limited Edition."

[William T. Sherman]

The Army Reunion: With Reports of the Meetings of the Societies of The Army of the Cumberland; The Army of the Tennessee; The Army of the Ohio; and The Army of Georgia.

Chicago : S. C. Griggs and Company, 1869.

First edition of this record of post-war social meetings by members of the army; from the library of General William Tecumseh Sherman. Small quarto, bound in full deluxe red morocco stamped in blind with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, gilt centerpiece, gilt inner dentelles, all edges gilt,Continue reading "The Army Reunion: With Reports of the Meetings of the Societies of The Army of the Cumberland; The Army of the Tennessee; The Army of the Ohio; and The Army of Georgia."

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 elaborate gilt tooling to the spine, burgundy spine labels, triple gilt ruled, marbled endpapers, all edges red, ribbons bound in, with numerous engravings after the drawings of Antoine Coypel, renowned forContinue 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."

Sumner, Charles. Introduction by Hon. George Frisbie Hoar

The Complete Works of Charles Sumner.

Boston : Lee and Shepard, 1900.

The Statesman edition of the complete works of Charles Sumner, with a three-page autograph letter signed by Sumner tipped into Vol. I. Octavo, twenty volumes bound in three quarter crushed levant morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt,Continue reading "The Complete Works of Charles Sumner."

Steinbeck, John

The Grapes of Wrath.

New York : The Viking Press, 1939.

First edition, with “First Published in April 1939” on copyright page and first edition notice on the front flap of the dust jacket. 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,Continue reading "The Grapes of Wrath."

Virgil. Translated by John Ogilby

The Works of Publius Virgilius Maro. [Virgil].

London : Printed by Thomas Warren, 1654.

First illustrated edition of Ogilby’s English translation of the works of Virgil, lavishly illustrated with 101 full-page copperplate engravings by famed engravers Pierre Lombart and Wenceslaus Hollar. Folio, bound in full contemporary paneled mottled calf with gilt ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, rebacked to style preserving original morocco spine labelContinue reading "The Works of Publius Virgilius Maro. [Virgil]."

Whitman, Walt

Two Rivulets: Including Democratic Vistas, Centennial Songs, and Passage to India.

Camden, New Jersey : Author's Edition, 1876.

Scarce first edition, first issue with the blank leaf between ‘As a Strong Bird’ and ‘Memoranda’ and single leaf of advertisements for Whitman’s books inserted between the back flyleaves. One of only 100 copies. Octavo, bound in full morocco with gilt titles and elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised giltContinue reading "Two Rivulets: Including Democratic Vistas, Centennial Songs, and Passage to India."

Dickens, Charles

Oliver Twist.

London : Richard Bentley, 1838.

First edition, second printing with “By Boz” to each title page and the “Church” plate. Octavo, three volumes, bound in full brown calf, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, triple ruled gilt to the front and rear panels, marbled endpapers, inner dentelles, top edge gilt. Original cloth bound in at rear of each volume.Continue reading "Oliver Twist."

Machiavelli, Niccolò

The Florentine History in VIII Books.

London : Printed for Charles Harper, and John Amery, 1674.

Rare second edition in English of Machiavelli’s Florentine History, the first edition to appear after Thomas Bedingfield’s version in 1595. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf, morocco spine label, raised bands. In near fine condition with occasional spotting. Scarce in commerce.

Gibbon, Edward

The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.

London : Printed for W. Strahan; and T. Cadell, in the Strand, 1782-1788.

Rare early editions of the historian’s masterpiece. Quarto, 6 volumes, bound in full paper boards, 3 folding engraved maps. The frontispiece portrait of Gibbon is after Sir Joshua Reynolds, the three engraved folding maps are of the Western and Eastern Roman Empire, and a folding map of Constantinople (this map is in its original foldedContinue reading "The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire."

Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft

Valperga: or, the Life and Adventures of Castruccio, Prince of Lucca. By the Author of ‘Frankenstein’.

London : G. and W.B. Whittaker, 1823.

Rare first edition of Shelley’s second novel, which has been called “a meditation on political, psychological, and sexual power” and is considered by many to be her finest work.  12mo., bound in 19th century three quarter calf over marbled boards by Bumpus, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, morocco spine labels, raised bands. InContinue reading "Valperga: or, the Life and Adventures of Castruccio, Prince of Lucca. By the Author of ‘Frankenstein’."

Carroll, Lewis. [Charles Lutwidge Dodgson]

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

London : Macmillan and Co, 1885.

Finely bound early printing of Carroll’s beloved children’s classic. Octavo, bound in full dark green crushed levant morocco by Kelliegram with gilt titles and elaborate gilt 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, all edges gilt, yellow silkContinue reading "Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland."

Poe, Edgar Allan

The Works of Edgar Allan Poe. [Including: The Murders in the Rue Morgue, The Gold Bug, Raven, Eureka].

New York : G. P. Putnam's Sons, [1884].

The Amontillado edition of the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Octavo, 8 volumes bound in full morocco by P.B. Sanford with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in 6 compartments within raised gilt bands, double gilt ruling to the panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, tissue-guarded engraved frontispiece toContinue reading "The Works of Edgar Allan Poe. [Including: The Murders in the Rue Morgue, The Gold Bug, Raven, Eureka]."