Didion, Joan

South and West: From A Notebook.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2017.

First edition of this collection of writings from the acclaimed author of Slouching Towards Bethlehem. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by Joan Didion. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Carol Devine Carson. Uncommon signed.

Tolstoy, Leo. [Count Lyof N Tolstoi]. Translated by Nathan Haskell Dole

Anna Karenina.

New York : Thomas J. Crowell & Co, 1886.

First edition in English of Tolstoy’s masterpiece with all the points of first issue: sheets bulk to 35 mm, floral patterned endpapers, “13 Astor Place” on title page, no front adverts, and 5 pp. of rear adverts not listing Russian titles. Octavo, original cloth, with gilt titles and tooling to the spine and front panel,Continue reading "Anna Karenina."

Dahl, Roald

Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.

London : George Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1978.

First British edition, early printing of the sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, continuing the story of young Charlie Bucket and eccentric chocolatier Willy Wonka as they travel in the Great Glass Elevator. Octavo, original publisher’s pictorial boards, with black and white illustrations. Boldly signed by the author on the front free endpaper, “WithContinue reading "Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator."

Christie, Agatha

The Clocks.

London : The Crime Club by Collins, 1963.

First edition of this classic murder mystery. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth. Fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by Michael Harvey.

Kerouac, Jack

Big Sur.

New York : Farrar, Straus & Cudahy, 1962.

First edition of Kerouac’s poignant masterpiece of self-reflection. Octavo, original quarter cloth, top stain blue. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Janet Halverson. The nicest example we have seen.

Hersey, John [Cormac McCarthy]

Antonietta.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1991.

First edition of this fictionalized history of a Stradivarius violin named “Antonietta,” created in 1699, Cormac McCarthy’s copy with his name to the front free endpaper. Octavo, original publisher’s wrappers. Boldly signed by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Cormac McCarthy on the front free endpaper. Both Cormac McCarthy and John Hersey were published by Alfred A. Knopf,Continue reading "Antonietta."

Smith, Betty

Maggie-Now.

New York : Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1958.

First edition of this unforgettable masterpiece from one of the twentieth century’s greatest talents and author of A Tree Grows In Brooklyn. Octavo, original half-cloth, title page vignette. Boldly signed by Betty Smith on the front free endpaper. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by Leo Manso. Uncommon signed.

Osler, William

The Principles and Practice of Medicine.

Edinburgh & London : Young J. Pentland, 1892.

First British edition of Osler’s magnum opus. Thick octavo, original publisher’s three quarter deluxe leather binding with gilt titles to the spine, illustrated with charts and graphs. With loose leaves of ”Sir William Osler and the Muniments of the Almshouse at Ewelme” from the Bodleian Library Record laid in. In near fine condition. Rare.

Kidder, Tracy. [Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis]

The Soul of a New Machine.

Boston : Atlantic, Little, Brown and Company, 1981.

First edition of Kidder’s second book. Octavo, original half cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis on the title page, “For Jacqueline With Best Wishes Tracy Kidder. “From the library of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis with the bookplate from the Sotheby’s 23 – 26 April 1996 sale of the estate of JacquelineContinue reading "The Soul of a New Machine."

Tolkien, J.R.R

The Hobbit.

London : George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1937.

First edition, first issue of Tolkien’s classic tale, “among the very highest achievements of children’s authors during the 20th century” (Carpenter & Prichard, 530). Octavo, original cloth, cartographic endpapers, frontispiece and 9 full-page uncolored illustrations after drawings by Tolkien. Published on September 21, 1937 with a first printing of only 1500 copies, The Hobbit hadContinue reading "The Hobbit."

Earhart, Amelia

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

New York : Grosset & Dunlap, 1928.

Early printing of Earhart’s thrilling account of her experience as a passenger aboard the Friendship, which made her the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean by air in 1928. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth, top stain orange, with 61 illustrations. Boldly signed by Amelia Earhart on the front free endpaper. Very good in the rareContinue reading "20 Hrs. 40 Min. Our Flight in the Friendship: The American Girl, First Across the Atlantic by Air, Tells Her Story."

Keynes, John Maynard [J.M.]

A Tract on Monetary Reform.

London : Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1923.

First edition, advance review copy of Keynes’ breakthrough work in the field of economics, blind-stamped ‘Presentation copy’ on the title page. Octavo, original blue cloth with gilt titles to the spine. Laid in is an autograph letter stamped ‘British Trade Review 31 Dec 1923’ which reads in part, “Dear Chris: Please let us have 300Continue reading "A Tract on Monetary Reform."

Proprietors of Dodsley's Annual Register

The Annual Register, or a View of the History, Politics, and Literature, for the Years 1789-1790, 1793-1801.

London : Printed by J. Wright, 1792 - 1813.

Uniformly bound collection of The Annual Register, a long-established reference work, written and published each year beginning in 1758 under the editorship of Edmund Burke. Octavo, 11 out of 43 original volumes, uniformly bound in full polished calf with gilt titles and elaborate floral tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands,Continue reading "The Annual Register, or a View of the History, Politics, and Literature, for the Years 1789-1790, 1793-1801."

Wilder, Thornton

Our Town: A Play in Three Acts.

New York : Coward McCann, 1938.

First edition of the author’s second Pulitzer Prize-winning work. Octavo, original cloth, pictorial endpapers. Presentation copy, lengthily inscribed and dated by Thornton Wilder on the half-title page with a quotes added, “”A star’s mighty give company.” “Yes…yes, ’tis.” Fine in a fine dust jacket without wear. An exceptional example, easily the nicest we have handled.

Burrough, Bryan and John Helyar

Barbarians at the Gate: The Fall of RJR Nabisco.

New York : Harper & Row, Publishers, 1990.

First edition of this business classic. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Signed by both authors on the half-title page, “Recognize that ultimate success comes from opportunistic, bold moves which by definition, cannot be planned. John Helyar” and “Bryan Burrough.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Neil Stuart. An exceptional inscription.

Pynchon, Thomas. [Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio]

Vineland.

Boston : Little, Brown and Company, 1990.

First edition of this novel, basis for the Academy Award-winning film One Battle After Another directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, and Chase Infiniti. Boldly signed by Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio on the half-title page. Fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket designContinue reading "Vineland."

Bouvier, Jacqueline and Lee. [Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis]

One Special Summer.

New York : Delacorte Press, 1974.

First edition of this delightful memoir written by the Bouvier sisters about their summer in Europe. Folio, original marbled blue paper boards, illustrated with drawings and decorations by both authors. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket calligraphy by Joe West.

Tennyson, Alfred

Enoch Arden, etc. [Fore-Edge Painting].

London : Edward Moxon & Co., 1867.

Finely bound example of one of Tennyson’s most famous poems. Duodecimo, bound in full red morocco with gilt titles and elaborate tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, elaborate gilt tooling to the front and rear panels, all edges gilt, gilt inner dentelles, decorated with a concealed double fore-edge painting of twoContinue reading "Enoch Arden, etc. [Fore-Edge Painting]."

Keynes, John Maynard [J.M.]

The Economic Consequences of the Peace.

London : Macmillan & Company, 1919.

First British edition of the best-selling book that established John Maynard Keynes’ reputation as a leading economist. Octavo, original blue cloth with gilt titles and ruling to the spine. In very good condition.

Dershowitz, Alan M.

Reversal of Fortune: Inside the von Bülow Case.

New York : Random House, 1986.

First edition of this detailed legal narrative of the highly publicized trial and appeal of Claus von Bülow, basis for the 1990 film directed by Barbet Schroeder, starring Jeremy Irons, Glenn Close and Ron Silver. Octavo, original publisher’s half cloth, illustrated with black and white photographs. Presentation copy, inscribed by Alan M. Dershowitz to televisionContinue reading "Reversal of Fortune: Inside the von Bülow Case."

Hardy, Thomas

The Works of Thomas Hardy. [Including Far from the Madding Crowd; The Mayor of Casterbridge; The Trumpet-Major; Tess of the D’Urbervilles; A Pair of Blue Eyes; Two on a Tower; The Return of the Native; Desperate Remedies; Wessex Tales.]

New York : Harper & Brothers, 1899.

The Wessex edition of Thomas Hardy’s works. Octavo, fifteen volumes bound in the original publisher’s cloth with gilt titles to the spines, floral details stamped in blind to the spines and front panels, top edge gilt, tissue-guarded frontispiece to each volume, illustrated with a map of The Wessex at the rear of each volume. InContinue reading "The Works of Thomas Hardy. [Including Far from the Madding Crowd; The Mayor of Casterbridge; The Trumpet-Major; Tess of the D’Urbervilles; A Pair of Blue Eyes; Two on a Tower; The Return of the Native; Desperate Remedies; Wessex Tales.]"

Isaacson, Walter

American Sketches: Great Leaders, Creative Thinkers, and Heroes of a Hurricane.

New York : Simon & Schuster, 2009.

First edition of this collection of biographical and historical essays. Octavo, original publisher’s half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by Walter Isaacson on the title page, “To Ed, All the best, Walter Isaacson.” Fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket design by Jackie Seow.

Ryan, William

The Constant Soldier.

London : Mantle, 2016.

First edition of Ryan’s “complex and gripping tale of love and guilt” (A.L. Kennedy). Octavo, original publisher’s cloth. Boldly signed by William Ryan on the title page. Near fine in a fine dust jacket.

Habermas, Jurgen

The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere: An Inquiry into a Category of Bourgeois Society.

Cambridge, Massachusetts : The MIT Press, 1989.

First edition in English of this analysis of the historical rise and decline of a space for critical, rational debate between citizens and the state. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth. Boldly signed by Jürgen Habermas on the front free endpaper. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Translated by Thomas Burger with the assistance of Frederick Lawrence.

Robinson, Jackie; Alfred Duckett

Breakthrough to the Big League: The Story of Jackie Robinson.

New York : Harper and Row, Publishers, 1965.

First edition of this autobiography detailing Robinson’s journey as the first Black player in Major League Baseball. Octavo, original pictorial boards, frontispiece, illustrated with 21 black and white photographs. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by Jackie Robinson in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, “4-18-65 To Robert Weiss with best wishes. Thanks forContinue reading "Breakthrough to the Big League: The Story of Jackie Robinson."

Didion, Joan

After Henry.

New York : Simon & Schuster, 1992.

First edition of this collection of eleven essays. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by Joan Didion on the colophon page. Near fine in a very good dust jacket, name to the front free endpaper. Jacket design by Lawrence Ratzkin.

Fleming, Ian

The Spy Who Loved Me.

London : Jonathan Cape, 1962.

First edition of the ninth novel in Ian Fleming’s James Bond series. Octavo, original black cloth. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Richard Chopping. A very sharp example.

Fleming, Ian

For Your Eyes Only.

London : Jonathan Cape, 1960.

First edition of the eighth novel in Ian Fleming’s James Bond series. Octavo, original black cloth. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by Richard Chopping.

Burrough, Bryan [Michael Mann and Christian Bale]

Public Enemies: America’s Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-34.

New York : The Penguin Press, 2004.

First edition of this work, basis for the 2009 film, directed by Michael Mann, starring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale.  Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Boldly signed by Bryan Burrough, Michael Mann and Christian Bale. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Evan Gaffney.

Sondheim, Stephen and Hugh Wheeler; Christopher Bond; Harold Prince

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

New York : Random House, 1979.

First edition of this Tony Award for Best Musical. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket art by Frank Verlizzo.

Jones, Robert T. [Bobby]

Golf Is My Game.

Garden City, New York : Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1960.

First edition of this classic golfing technique manual. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For Freeman With all sorts of best wishes, Bob.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Ben Feder. An exceptional example.

Robinson, Kim Stanley

The Ministry for the Future.

Burton, Michigan : Subterranean Press, 2023.

Signed limited edition of this New York Times bestselling science fiction novel set in the near future. Thick octavo, original publisher’s cloth, pictorial endpapers. One of 400 numbered copies and 26 lettered copies, this is number 129. Boldly signed by Kim Stanley Robinson on the limitations page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket illustrationContinue reading "The Ministry for the Future."

King, Stephen

It.

New York : The Viking Press, 1986.

First edition of this “landmark in American literature” (Chicago Sun-Times). Thick octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, lengthily inscribed by Stephen King on the front free endpaper, “For Nancy – Happy birthday from Florida! Stephen King April 6, 1999.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Neil Stuart. Jacket illustration by BobContinue reading "It."

Weaver, Warren

Lady Luck: The Theory of Probability.

New York : Anchor Books/Doubleday & Company, Inc, 1963.

First edition of this engaging and thorough discussion of the probability theory in science by one of the pioneers of machine translation and as an important figure in creating support for science in the United States. Duodecimo, original pictorial wrappers, illustrated with diagrams, problems, and sketches. In near fine condition. Illustrated by Peg Hosford. Rare.

Perry, Fred J

Perry on Tennis: Expert Advice for All on Lawn Tennis.

London : Hutchinson & Co, [1936].

First edition of this instructional work on tennis by legend Fred Perry. Octavo, original publisher’s teal cloth, frontispiece, illustrated with black and white photographs. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Foreword by H.W. Austin. Uncommon in this condition.

Keynes, John Maynard [J.M.]

A Revision of the Treaty. Being A Sequel To The Economic Consequences of the Peace.

London : MacMillan and Co., Limited, 1922.

First edition of Keynes’ classic work. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth. In near fine condition.

Ethiopian Coptic Ge’ez Bible.

Ethiopia C. 18th Century.

Rare Ethiopian Coptic Ge’ez Bible. Octodecimo, bound with twine between two wood blocks, parchment manuscript in black and red ink. The book measures 4 inches in height by inches 6 in width. Annotations in pen to the front and rear end leaves.

Bird, Kai and Martin J. Sherwin [Christopher Nolan and Cillian Murphy]

American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer.

New York : The Easton Press, 2005.

Signed limited first edition of this Pulitzer Prize-winning work, basis for the Academy Award-winning film directed by Christopher Nolan, starring Cillian Murphy, which won both an Academy Award. Octavo, bound in full leather, gilt titles to the spine, front and rear panels, all edges gilt, raised bands, silk endpapers, illustrated. Boldly signed by Kai Bird,Continue reading "American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer."

Powers, Richard

The Overstory.

New York : W.W. Norton Company, 2017.

First edition of this Pulitzer Prize-winning work, “the best novel ever written about trees, and really just one of the best novels, period” (Ann Patchett). Octavo, original boards. Boldly signed by Richard Powers. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Evan Gaffney.

BB [Denys Watkins-Pitchford]

Wild Lone: The Story of a Pytchley Fox.

London : Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1947.

First edition, early printing of this classic British nature novel. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth, frontispiece, illustrated throughout with wood engravings. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Illustrated by Denys Watkins-Pitchford. Foreword by Sir Charles Frederick.

McCullough, David

The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge.

New York : Simon and Schuster, 1972.

First edition of this definitive account of the building of the Brooklyn Bridge, an acclaimed historical work named by The Modern Library as one of the 100 greatest non-fiction books of the twentieth century. Octavo, original blue cloth, photographic endpapers, with map and 33 pages of black-and-white illustrations. Very good in a very good dustContinue reading "The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge."

Kazantzakis, Nikos

Ο Τελευταίος Πειρασμός. [The Last Temptation of Christ].

Athens : Δίφρος [Difros], 1955.

First edition in Greek of one of Kazantzakis’s most famous and controversial works, first published in a French translation in 1954. Octavo, bound in full cloth with a morocco spine label lettered in gilt, patterned endpapers. Presentation copy, inscribed by Nikos Kazantzakis in the year of publication on the third free endpaper, “Αντίνολη, 26-4-55 ΤῇContinue reading "Ο Τελευταίος Πειρασμός. [The Last Temptation of Christ]."

Heller, Joseph

Good As Gold.

Franklin Center, PA : The Franklin Library, 1982.

The Franklin Library signed limited edition of this work by the author of Catch – 22. Octavo, bound in full leather with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in five compartments within raised bands, gilt ruling and tooling to the front and rear panels, all edges gilt, silk moire endpapers, ribbon bound in, illustrated.Continue reading "Good As Gold."

Welty, Eudora

One Writer’s Beginnings.

Cambridge, Massachusetts : Harvard University Press, 1984.

First edition, early printing of this reflective memoir. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt inner dentelles stamp-signed by the Harcourt Bindery, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Boldly signed byContinue reading "One Writer’s Beginnings."

Lewis, C.S. Illustrations by Pauline Baynes

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Horse and His Boy, The Magician’s Nephew, The Last Battle.

London : Geoffrey Bles and The Bodley Head, 1950-1956.

Complete first edition set of C.S. Lewis’s best-selling work, one of the best-selling series of all time which has sold 120 million copies in 47 languages. “Adored by children and academics alike, these books are extremely collectable, sought-after, and scarce” (Connolly, 186). Octavo, seven volumes bound in full crushed green morocco by Temple Bookbinders withContinue reading "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Horse and His Boy, The Magician’s Nephew, The Last Battle."

Steinbeck, John

Cannery Row.

New York : The Viking Press, 1945.

First edition, first state of this classic work by the Nobel Prize-winning author. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket. Dust jacket design by Arthur Hawkins, Jr. An exceptional example.

Kagan, Elena

Elena Kagan Collection of Signed Photographs and Typed Letter Signed.

.

A pair of original photographs of Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan. The first photograph is of Kagan being sworn in and is signed by her in blue felt tip. The second is of Kagan signing documents and is inscribed by her, “All best wishes Elena Kagan.” Accompanied by a typed letter signed by her onContinue reading "Elena Kagan Collection of Signed Photographs and Typed Letter Signed."

O'Connor, Sandra Day

Sandra Day O’Connor Signed Photograph.

.

Rare original photograph of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. Boldly signed by her in silver felt tip to the bottom of the photograph. In fine condition. The piece measures 8 inches by 10 inches.