Collins, Jim

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…And Others Don’t.

New York : Harper Business, 2001.

First edition of this analysis on how companies transition from mediocre performance to sustained greatness. Octavo, original publisher’s boards, illustrated with graphs and diagrams. Boldly signed by Jim Collins on the front free endpaper. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Chin-Yee Lai.

Shirer, William L

20th Century Journey. A Memoir of a Life and the Times by William L. Shirer: The Start 1904-1930.

New York : Simon and Schuster, 1976.

First edition of the first volume in William L. Shirer’s autobiography. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth, illustrated with black and white photographs. Boldly signed by William L. Shirer on the colophon page. Fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by Janet Halverson.

Sharpe, William F

William F. Sharpe Selected Works. World Scientific – Nobel Laureate Series: Vol 2.

New Jersey : World Scientific, 2012.

First edition of this collection of 52 key papers and seminal works by the 1990 Nobel Laureate in Economics. Octavo, original publisher’s pictorial wrappers, illustrated with graphs, diagrams, and equations. Boldly signed by William F. Sharpe on the title page. In near fine condition. Edited by William F. Sharpe. Cover art by Kathy Sharpe.

MacDonald, Elizabeth P

Undercover Girl.

New York : The Macmillan Company, 1947.

First edition of this work chronicling MacDonald’s extraordinary career in the Office of Strategic Services. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth. Very good in a good dust jacket with sunning and chipping, and toning to the textblock. Introduction by General William J. Donovan. Accompanied by a laid in typed letter from The Macmillan Company about Elizabeth P.Continue reading "Undercover Girl."

[Churchill, Winston]

Winston Churchill Kirklands Glassware.

Etruria : Albion Pottery, .

A piece of glassware modeled after Prime Minister Winston Churchill. In fine condition. The piece measures 7.5 inches by 4.5 inches.

[Churchill, Winston]

Winston Churchill Burleigh Glassware.

Burslem : Burgess & Leigh Ltd, .

A piece of glassware modeled after Prime Minister Winston Churchill and a bulldog. Engraved on the foot with a quote from Churchill’s famous 1940 ‘War of the Unknown Warriors’ speech, “We shall defend every village, every town, and every city.” In fine condition. The piece measures 11 inches by 4.5 inches.

Durrell, Lawrence

Clea.

London : Faber & Faber , 1960.

First edition of the author’s final novel in his classic Alexandria Quartet. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, “Autographed for Jeremy Mallunsin by Lawrence Durrell Jersey 1960.” Near fine in a very good dust jacket, inscription to the half-title page. Accompanied byContinue reading "Clea."

Peters, Thomas J. and Robert H. Waterman, Jr

In Search of Excellence: Lessons from America’s Best-Run Companies.

New York : Harper & Row, Publishers, 1982.

First edition, early printing of one of the best-selling business books of all time. Octavo, original half-cloth. Boldly signed by Thomas J. Peters on the front free endpaper, “Best wishes Tom Peters 1/84.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket.

Didion, Joan

The Year of Magical Thinking.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2005.

First edition of the account of the year following the death of the author’s husband. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by Joan Didion on the front free endpaper. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Carol Devine Carson.

Murakami, Haruki

1Q84.

Toronto : Alfred A. Knopf, 2011.

First edition of this classic work. Octavo, original illustrated boards. Boldly signed by Haruki Murakami on the half-title page and additionally five times by legendary jacket designer Chip Kidd in the year of publication, on the front jacket panel, on the front panel of the book (large print signature], on the front free endpaper withContinue reading "1Q84."

Shannon, Claude & Warren Weaver

The Mathematical Theory of Communication.

Urbana : University of Illinois Press, 1998.

Later printing of the “the magna carta of the information age” (Scientific American), Shannon’s work provided “a mathematical guide for the system’s engineers [at Bell Labs], a blueprint for how to move data around with optimal efficiency” (Gertner p.128). Octavo, original publisher’s pictorial boards, illustrated with equations. In fine condition.

Bradbury, Ray [Yousuf Karsh; Estrellita Karsh]

The Art of Playboy.

New York : Alfred Van Der Marck Editions, 1985.

First edition of this curated collection of art commissioned by Playboy magazine, showcasing the magazine’s effort to blend “high” and “low” art and highlighting visual legacies from artists like Salvador Dalí and Andy Warhol. Quarto, original publisher’s cloth, profusely illustrated with over 170 pieces of art. Association copy, inscribed by Ray Bradbury on the frontContinue reading "The Art of Playboy."

Lincoln, Abraham

Political Debates Between Hon. Abraham Lincoln and Hon. Stephen Douglas, In the Celebrated Campaign of 1858, in Illinois.

Columbus : Follett, Foster and Company, 1860.

First edition, early issue of the most famous debates in American history which cemented Lincoln as a national presidential candidate. Octavo, original cloth stamped in blind, with rule above the publisher’s imprint on the copyright page. In good condition, darkening to the edges, toning throughout, some damp staining, inscription to the rear pastedown.

Twain, Mark. [Samuel L. Clemens]; Caroline B. Le Row

English As She Is Taught.

London : T. Fisher Unwin, 1887.

First edition of this humorous essay on hilarious answers from school children’s examination questions. With a commentary by Mark Twain. Duodecimo, original cloth with titles stamped in black, top edge gilt. In near fine condition, bookplate to the front pastedown.

Sparks, Jared. [George Washington]

The Writings of George Washington Being His Correspondence, Addresses, Messages, and Other Papers, Official and Private.

Boston : Little, Brown, and Company, 1858.

The complete writings of George Washington compiled by Jared Sparks. Large octavo, 12 volumes, uniformly bound in full modern calf with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, gilt scrolling to the front and rear panels, gilt central Heraldic eagle to eachContinue reading "The Writings of George Washington Being His Correspondence, Addresses, Messages, and Other Papers, Official and Private."

Polanyi, Karl [Peter F. Drucker]

Origins of Our Time: The Great Transformation.

London : Victor Gollancz Ltd, 1946.

First edition, early printing of Polanyi’s landmark work, which many consider to be one of the twentieth century’s most incisive and prophetic works of scholarship. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “To Peter and Doris With Love Karl.” The recipients, Peter Drucker and his wife Doris were closeContinue reading "Origins of Our Time: The Great Transformation."

Murakami, Haruki

Wind/ Pinball.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2015.

First edition of the compilation of Murakami’s first two novels. Octavo, original boards. Signed by Haruki Murakami on the front free endpaper. Additionally signed three times by illustrator Chip Kidd, on the front panel, again on the front free endpaper and on the rear jacket flap. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design byContinue reading "Wind/ Pinball."

Bamberger, Rabbi Dr. S.; Rabbi Dr. S. Adler; Rabbi Dr. L.C. Lilienthal

The Soul of Life: A Collection of Speeches, Sermons, Laws, and Regulations Pertaining to the Jewish Religion.

New York : P. Friedman, 1897.

First edition of this work about the Jewish religion. Duodecimo, original cloth with gilt titles, floral endpapers. In very good condition wear to the spine.

Huxley, Aldous

After Many A Summer.

London : Chatto & Windus, 1939.

First edition of this classic novel. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery with gilt titles and ruling 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, frontispiece, illustrated. Founded overContinue reading "After Many A Summer."

Scott, Sir Walter

The British Poets: Sir Walter Scott

London : British Literary Society, n.d.

The extra-illustrated Crown edition of the poems of Sir Walter Scott, limited to ten numbered and registered sets. Duodecimo, five volumes, publisher’s exquisite deluxe full morocco binding with gilt titles and elaborate botanical gilt tooling to the spine in four compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling and elaborate botanical gilt decorations to the frontContinue reading "The British Poets: Sir Walter Scott"

Sedaris, David

When You Are Engulfed in Flames.

New York : Little, Brown and Company, 2008.

First edition of this collection of 22 autobiographical essays by humorist David Sedaris. Octavo, original publisher’s half-cloth. Boldly signed by David Sedaris on the title page. Boldly signed three times in the year of publication by jacket designer Chip Kidd: on the front panel, on the title page, and the rear jacket flap. Fine inContinue reading "When You Are Engulfed in Flames."

Borman, Frank

Frank Borman Signed Photograph.

.

Crew portrait of astronaut Frank Borman. Semi-glossy photograph of Borman wearing a suit and posing next to a model United States spacecraft. Boldly signed by Borman in black felt tip. In near fine condition with a small area of discoloration to Borman‘s left arm. The piece measures 8 inches by 10 inches.

De Land’s Automatic Playing Cards. [with] Mental Pictoria.

New Jersey/ Ohio : S.S. Adams Co./ S.W. Reilly, 1913/1914.

Two rare early twentieth century antique magicians card decks. The first deck is De Land’s Automatic Playing Cards, a standard 52-card deck with a De Land’s Card Locator that has an affixed spinning wheel, “What the Deland Dollar Deck does for you” instruction pamphlet, and “Stripper Tricks” instruction pamphlet. Housed in a black and whiteContinue reading "De Land’s Automatic Playing Cards. [with] Mental Pictoria."

Buergenthal, Thomas; Foreword by Elie Wiesel

A Lucky Child: A Memoir of Surviving Auschwitz as a Young Boy.

New York : Little, Brown and Company, 2009.

First edition of this “incredible tale” (The Free Lance-Star). Octavo, original boards. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For Rex, Wonderful that you are studying this subject, Best wishes Thomas Buergenthal April 2010.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Foreword by Elie Wiesel. Jacket design by Keith Hayes.