The Soldier’s Manual, For Cavalry, Artillery, Light Infantry, and Infantry.

Philadelphia : Published by James H. Nesmith, 1824.

First edition of the first American military color plate book. Quarto, original publisher’s boards, illustrated with twelve plates representing volunteer corps in the first division Pennsylvania militia. In very good condition with the plates exceptionally bright. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Rare, one of only three known complete copies. This example was heldContinue reading "The Soldier’s Manual, For Cavalry, Artillery, Light Infantry, and Infantry."

Lee, Harper

To Kill A Mockingbird.

Philadelphia & New York : J.B. Lippincott Company, 1960.

First edition, the finest association copy of one of the most important American novels of the 20th century which had an initial first printing of 5,000 copies and went on to earn Harper Lee the 1961 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Octavo, original half cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaperContinue reading "To Kill A Mockingbird."

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 on the front free endpaper, “To Jack L. Warner – Thank you for your courage and for a magnificent picture –Continue reading "The Fountainhead."

Malthus, Thomas Robert [T.R.]

An Essay on the Principle of Population, as It Affects the Future Improvement of Society.

London : J. Johnson, 1798.

First edition of this cornerstone text of modern economics. Octavo, bound in three quarters calf. Laid in is a clipping from an original manuscript signed by Malthus and entirely in his hand which reads in part, “If at one time such a given product would make an effectual demand for certain commodities the conditions ofContinue reading "An Essay on the Principle of Population, as It Affects the Future Improvement of Society."

Grant, Ulysses S. [U.S.] [William Tecumseh Sherman]

General William Tecumseh Sherman’s Annotated Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. [U.S.] Grant.

New York : Charles L. Webster & Company, 1885-86.

Exceedingly rare first edition of the autobiography of Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States, which focusing mainly on his military career during the Mexican War and the Civil War, entirely singular, owned and annotated by Grant’s close friend and most esteemed general: William Tecumseh Sherman. Octavo, 2 volumes, bound in theContinue reading "General William Tecumseh Sherman’s Annotated Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. [U.S.] Grant."

Audubon, John James

The Birds of America, From Drawings Made In The United States And Their Territories.

New York : Published by J. J. Audubon. Philadelphia: J. B. Chevalier, 1840-1844.

First octavo edition of Audubon’s landmark work; one of the most spectacular collections of ornithological prints ever produced. Royal octavo, 7 volumes bound in full 19th-century morocco by P. Low of Boston with their ticket, gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front andContinue reading "The Birds of America, From Drawings Made In The United States And Their Territories."

Shannon, Claude Elwood and Warren Weaver

The Mathematical Theory of Communication.

Urbana : University of Illinois, 1949.

First edition, first printing. 117 pages ; 24 cm. Octavo. Original tan cloth, spine lettered in black. Includes Warren Weaver’s expository essay, “Recent Contributions to the Mathematical Theory of Communication,” pages 3-28; Shannon’s technical monograph, “The Mathematical Theory of Communication,” pages 29-117. Content type: text. Media type: unmediated. Carrier type: volume. Inscription: Boldly signed byContinue reading "The Mathematical Theory of Communication."

Austen, Jane

Pride and Prejudice.

London : Printed for T. Egerton, 1813.

First editions of all three volumes of Jane Austen’s second novel and most popular. Octavo, three volumes, bound in contemporary three quarter calf over marbled boards with gilt titles to the spine. In very good condition. Armorial bookplates to each pastedown. Period gift inscription from the year of publication to the title page of Vol.Continue reading "Pride and Prejudice."

Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de

The History of Don-Quixote. The First Parte. The Second Part of the History of the Valorous and Witty Knight-Errant, Don Quixote of the Mancha. Written in Spanish by Michael Cervantes: and now translated into English.

London : Edward Blount, 1620.

Exceedingly rare first complete edition in English of Cervantes’ masterpiece comprising the second edition of the first part and the first edition of the second part. Octavo, 2 volumes bound in full 19th century calf, engraved title in each volume. Translated from the original Spanish by Thomas Shelton whose first English translation published in 1612 was the first translation in any languageContinue reading "The History of Don-Quixote. The First Parte. The Second Part of the History of the Valorous and Witty Knight-Errant, Don Quixote of the Mancha. Written in Spanish by Michael Cervantes: and now translated into English."

[Franklin, Benjamin]

Constitutions des Treize Etats-Unis De L’Amerique. [Constitutions of the Thirteen United States of America].

Paris : D. Pierres/Pissot, Pere & Fils, Libraries, 1783.

First French edition of the Constitution of the United States of America, inscribed by Founding Father Benjamin Franklin who had the translation published and personally distributed each of the 600 copies produced. Octavo, bound in one quarter calf with gilt ruling to the spine, burgundy morocco spine label lettered in gilt. Presentation copy, inscribed byContinue reading "Constitutions des Treize Etats-Unis De L’Amerique. [Constitutions of the Thirteen United States of America]."

Washington, George

George Washington Letter Signed.

April 10, 1781.

Highly important letter signed (“Go: Washington”), as Commander-in-Chief, 2 pages folio, “Head Quarters New Windsor April 10 [17]81”, to his French ally Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, the body of the letter in the hand of his trusted aide-de-camp, Alexander Hamilton; horizontal fold separation repaired, minor tears and chips along margins. In theContinue reading "George Washington Letter Signed."

von Neumann, John and Oskar Morgenstern

Theory of Games and Economic Behavior.

Princeton, NJ : Princeton University Press, 1944.

First edition of von Neumann and Morgenstern’s landmark work. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by John von Neumann on the title page. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. With the original “Corrigenda” slip laid in. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box made by the Harcourt Bindery. Books signed by von NeumannContinue reading "Theory of Games and Economic Behavior."

Defoe, Daniel

The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; Serious Reflections During the Life And Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe.

London : Printed for W. Taylor at the Ship in Pater-Noster-Row, 1719-1720.

Exceedingly rare complete first edition set of all three books in Defoe’s classic Robinson Crusoe series, including the scarce first and only printing of the third book in the series. Octavo, three volumes bound in full crushed red morocco by Francis Bedford with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raisedContinue reading "The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; Serious Reflections During the Life And Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe."

Saint-Exupery, Antoine de

The Little Prince Original Antoine de Saint-Exupery Watercolor Drawing.

[New York] [1942].

Rare original watercolor study of the beloved protagonist of Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s The Little Prince, a timeless masterpiece that has transcended generations and remains the most widely read work of fiction in history, having sold over 150 million copies over the course of the past 80 years. One page, pencil and watercolor on American ‘FidelityContinue reading "The Little Prince Original Antoine de Saint-Exupery Watercolor Drawing."

Hayek, Friedrich von [F.A.]. [Queen Elizabeth II]

The Companion of Honour Medal: Awarded to Friedrich von Hayek by Queen Elizabeth II.

1984.

Exquisite Companion of Honour Medal, awarded by Queen Elizabeth II to Friedrich von Hayek on June 16th 1984 at Buckingham Palace. Measuring 2.5 inches by 1.75 inches, the medallion is surmounted by the royal crown decorated in red and green enamel and features a mounted knight and oak tree with the shield of the RoyalContinue reading "The Companion of Honour Medal: Awarded to Friedrich von Hayek by Queen Elizabeth II."

Fleming, Ian [Cubby Broccoli]

Complete Set of 14 First Edition James Bond Novels: Casino Royale, Live and Let Die, Moonraker, Diamonds are Forever, From Russia with Love, Dr. No, Goldfinger, For Your Eyes Only (short stories including A View to a Kill and Quantum of Solace), Thunderball, The Spy Who loved Me, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, You Only Live Twice, The Man with the Golden Gun, Octopussy and The Living Daylights.

London : Jonathan Cape, 1953-66.

First editions of each volume in Ian Fleming’s James Bond series. Octavo, 14 volumes, original publisher’s cloth-covered boards. Each volume in a first-issue dust jacket. Casino Royale is near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket with chipping to the extremities including the crown of the spine and upper right corner of the frontContinue reading "Complete Set of 14 First Edition James Bond Novels: Casino Royale, Live and Let Die, Moonraker, Diamonds are Forever, From Russia with Love, Dr. No, Goldfinger, For Your Eyes Only (short stories including A View to a Kill and Quantum of Solace), Thunderball, The Spy Who loved Me, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, You Only Live Twice, The Man with the Golden Gun, Octopussy and The Living Daylights."

Feynman, Richard P.; Robert P. Leighton; Matthew Sands

The Feynman Lectures On Physics.

Reading, Massachusetts/Palo Alto : Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1975; 1964; 1965.

Richard Feynman’s own office copy of his collected lectures on physics, with his ownership signatures. Quarto, 3 volumes, original red cloth. With Feynman’s ownership signature and address to the front free endpaper of volume one, “R. P. Feynman. Calif Instit. of Technology Pasadena, Calif. 795-6811 Ext. 2688” and signature to the front free endpaper ofContinue reading "The Feynman Lectures On Physics."

Bardin’s New British Terrestrial and Celestial Globes. [Nineteenth Century English Globes].

c. 1800.

Fine pair of two large Regency period globes produced by William and Thomas M. Bardin, two of the most highly regarded globemakers of the period. Both the celestial and terrestrial globe measure 18 inches in diameter and are mounted on the original mahogany tripod stands with central compasses mounted on raised brass casters. Fitted withContinue reading "Bardin’s New British Terrestrial and Celestial Globes. [Nineteenth Century English Globes]."

Alhazen (Hasan Ibn al-Haytham)

Opticae Thesaurus Alhazeni Arabis. [Alhazen’s Book of Optics].

Basel : Eusebius Episcopius , 1572.

First edition of Alhazen’s fundamental work on optics and vision, which influenced Galileo and Kepler and paved the way for the modern science of physical optics. Folio, bound in full contemporary Basel vellum with central arabesques blind-stamped to the front and rear panels, titles stamped in black and five raised bands to the spine, woodcutContinue reading "Opticae Thesaurus Alhazeni Arabis. [Alhazen’s Book of Optics]."

Austen, Jane

Pride and Prejudice: A Novel.

London : Printed for T. Egerton, 1813.

First editions of all three volumes of Jane Austen’s masterpiece, her bestselling book during her lifetime which remains a landmark of English literature. 12mo, three volumes bound in full mottled calf with gilt titles and elaborate gilt tooling to the spine, double gilt ruling and botanical gilt scrolling to the front and rear panels, giltContinue reading "Pride and Prejudice: A Novel."

Adams, John

John Adams Autograph Letter Signed.

1809.

Exceptionally rare 16-page autograph letter signed by and entirely in the hand of Founding Father John Adams defending the ultimate necessity of American sovereignty and its precedence over international alliances. Sixteen pages, entirely in the hand of John Adams and written on both the recto and verso of each page, the letter is dated JanuaryContinue reading "John Adams Autograph Letter Signed."

Lee, Harper

To Kill a Mockingbird. Original Harper Lee Drawing, Painting and Letter Collection.

Philadelphia & New York : J.B. Lippincott Company, 1960.

First edition of perhaps the most important American novel of the 20th century, inscribed by Harper Lee to a close college friend and with a scarce archive of drawings and letters exchanged between the two. Octavo, original green cloth backed brown boards, titles to spine in gilt. Association copy, inscribed by Harper Lee to closeContinue reading "To Kill a Mockingbird. Original Harper Lee Drawing, Painting and Letter Collection."

Fitzgerald, Edward. With illustrations by Edmund Dulac

The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.

London : Hodder and Stoughton, c. 1910.

Exceptionally rare bound in jewelled binding, set with 37 jewels by Sangorski & Sutcliffe. Quarto, reproduced from a manuscript illuminated by F. Sangorski  G. & Sutcliffe, with miniatures after E. Geddes, original red straight-grained morocco, upper cover with central sunken oval green morocco panel and a Peacock with light green, blue, white, and brown moroccoContinue reading "The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam."

Smith, Adam

The Theory of Moral Sentiments.

London : For A. Milar, and A. Kincaid and J. Bell , 1759.

Rare first edition of Adam Smith’s first book, with a recorded “print run of 1,000 copies” (Sher, “Editions of Adam’s Smith’s Books,” 13). Octavo, bound in full calf, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, front and rear panels, morocco spine label, marbled endpapers. In near fine condition. Housed in a custom full calf clamshellContinue reading "The Theory of Moral Sentiments."