Salisbury, Mark [Stephen Sondheim]

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

London : Titan Books, 2007.

First edition of the in-depth companion volume to the big-screen adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s award-winning musical thriller. Quarto, original boards, patterned endpapers, illustrated. From the collection of Bill Zwecker. A member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, Zwecker was a longtime entertainment and celebrity journalist. A Chicago native and second-generation newspaper star (his late mother,Continue reading "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street."

Wilde, Oscar

Ave Imperatrix! A Dirge of Empire by Oscar Wilde.

Washington : Snohomish, 1902.

First edition of Wilde’s classic Hellenic poem. Octavo, original boards, illustrated with engravings and hand painted initials embellished in gilt, frontispiece by John Dennis Clancy. In very good condition.

Wilde, Oscar

Impressions of America.

Sunderland : Keystone Press, 1906.

First edition of Wilde’s report on his lecture tour throughout America in 1882. Octavo, original stiff paper wrappers. One of fifty numbered copies, this is number 24. Very good with the majority of the original dust jacket.

Bourgeois, Jean-Louis. Photographs by Carollee Pelos. [Peter Matthiessen]

Spectacular Vernacular: The Adobe Tradition.

New York : Aperture Foundation, Inc, 1980.

First edition of this spectacular celebration of traditional Adobe architecture in the West. Quarto, original half cloth, illustrated with photographs by Carollee Pelos. Historical Essay by Basil Davidson. Signed by Jean-Louis Bourgeois and Carollee Pelos on the half-title page. From the library of Peter Matthiessen with his bookplate to the pastedown. American writer Peter MatthiessenContinue reading "Spectacular Vernacular: The Adobe Tradition."

Dietrich, Marlene and Burt Bacharach

Marlene Dietrich with Burt Bacharach’s Orchestra Featuring The Jacques Loussier Trio.

[San Francisco] 1964.

Rare original playbill from the September 25, 26 & 27 1964 performances of Marlene Dietrich with Burt Bacharach’s Orchestra at the Masonic Auditorium. Octavo, original wrappers. Boldly signed by Marlene Deitrich and Burt Bacharach on the front panel. In near fine condition.

Doyle, Arthur Conan

The Land of the Mist.

London : Hutchinson & Co. (Publishers), Ltd, [1926].

First edition of the third novel in the author’s Professor Challenger series. Octavo, original publishers cloth. In good condition.

Illuminated 16th Century French Book of Hours Manuscript Leaf. [The Annunciation of the Shepherds].

Paris c. 1500.

Rare illuminated leaf from a 16th Century French Book of Hours, likely executed by Gilles and Germain Hardouyn. The detailed miniature is elaborately decorated with gold leaf and depicts the Annunciation of the Shepherds on the recto. The verso contains text, illuminated initials and elaborate decorated borders. In near fine condition. The entire piece measuresContinue reading "Illuminated 16th Century French Book of Hours Manuscript Leaf. [The Annunciation of the Shepherds]."

The Caxton Club

Chicago by the Book: 101 Publications That Shaped the City and Its Image.

Chicago : The University of Chicago Press, 2018.

First edition of this work which compiles 101 landmark publications about Chicago from the past 170 years that have helped define the city and its image. Quarto, original boards, illustrated. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Introduction by Neil Harris.

Braybrooke, Neville. [J.D. Salinger]

The Wind and The Rain: An Easter Book For 1962.

London : Seeker & Warburg, 1962.

First edition of Braybrooke’s “Easter book” of modern literature. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the editor on the front free endpaper, “To: J.D. Salinger, with best wishes, and with admiration, Neville Braybrooke.” The recipient, J.D. Salinger remains best known for his classic novel The Catcher in the Rye and its memorable cynical adolescentContinue reading "The Wind and The Rain: An Easter Book For 1962."

Flaubert, Gustave

A Simple Heart.

Paris : Societe des Beaux Arts, n.d. [ca. 1895].

The limited Salon edition of Flaubert’s classic novella. Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards, gilt titles and elaborate gilt tooling with red morocco onlays to the spine in five compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt with others untrimmed, with tissue-guarded illustrations by Emile Adan. Limited to five hundredContinue reading "A Simple Heart."

Winfrey, Oprah

Oprah Presents Master Class: Every Life Has a Story, Every Story Has a Lesson.

Auckland, New Zealand : PQ Blackwell Limited/Los Angeles: Harpo, Inc., 2010.

First edition of the book companion to Oprah Winfrey’s Master Class series. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated with color photographs. From the collection of Bill Zwecker. A member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, Zwecker was a longtime entertainment and celebrity journalist. A Chicago native and second-generation newspaper star (his late mother, Peg Zwecker, was theContinue reading "Oprah Presents Master Class: Every Life Has a Story, Every Story Has a Lesson."

Locard, Edmund

Contes Apaches.

Lyon : Les Editions Lugdunum, 1933.

First edition of this work by the pioneer of forensic science. Octavo, original wrappers. Presentation copy, inscribed by Edmund Locard on the half-title page. In near fine condition, with the bookplate of the recipient to the front pastedown. Books signed by Edmund Locard are of the utmost rarity.

Thomas, Dylan

The Map of Love: Verse and Prose.

London : J. M. Dent and Sons Ltd, 1939.

First edition, first issue of Thomas’s third book with “Dent” blind-stamped on spine. Octavo, original purple cloth with gilt titles to the spine and front panel, with the frontispiece portrait of Thomas after the painting by Augustus John. Presenation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Leo & John… From Dylan Thomas OxfordContinue reading "The Map of Love: Verse and Prose."

Carroll, Lewis; Illustrated by Barry Moser

Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There.

Berkely : Published by the University of California Press, 1983.

First Pennyroyal Press edition of Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There. Quarto, original half cloth, illustrated by Barry Moser. Near fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket.

Rodd, Rennell. Introduction by Oscar Wilde

Rose Leaf and Apple Leaf.

Philadelphia : J. M. Stoddart & Co, 1882.

First edition of Rodd’s first book of verse which was published with the assistance of Oscar Wilde. 12mo, original publisher’s vellum with gilt inner dentelles, silk watered endleaves, top edge gilt with others untrimmed, illustrated. In near fine condition. Neat ownership inscription. Rare.

Holmes, Oliver Wendell

The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table; The Professor at the Breakfast-Table; and The Poet at the Breakfast-Table.

Boston : Philips Sampson; Ticknor; Osgood, 1858, 1860, 1872.

First editions of the work that gained Oliver Wendell Holmes international fame. Octavo, three volumes, original cloth. With full page illustrations and vignettes by H.M. Brock throughout including tissue-guarded frontispieces. In near fine condition. Housed in a custom case. A beautiful set.

Hughes, Langston

Five Plays.

Bloomington : Indiana University Press, 1963.

First edition of this collection of five of Hughes’ best-known plays. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author with a full page inscription on the front free endpaper, “Especially for Geoffrey ~ some of my plays ~ Sincerely ~ Langston Hughes New York April 22, 1964.” The recipient, BBC producer Geoffrey Bridson, co-producedContinue reading "Five Plays."

Wilde, Oscar

Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime & Other Stories.

London : James R. Osgood, 1891.

First edition of  this collection of Wilde’s humorous mystery stories, published the same year as the first edition in book form of The Picture of Dorian Gray. Octavo, original stiff paper-covered boards. In good condition. Very rare.

Bland, James

An Essay in Praise of Women: Or, A Looking-glass for Ladies to See Their Perfections In.

London : Printed for the Author, and Sold by J. Batley, 1733.

First edition of the English physician’s immensely popular early 18th century essay. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf with a burgundy morocco spine label lettered in gilt, gilt ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, elaborate woodcut initials, headpieces and tailpieces. There wereContinue reading "An Essay in Praise of Women: Or, A Looking-glass for Ladies to See Their Perfections In."

Paton, Alan

Cry, the Beloved Country: A Story of Comfort in Desolation.

London : Jonathan Cape, 1948.

First edition of Paton’s classic novel. Octavo, original cloth. Fine in a near fine dust jacket.

Andrews, Julie; Dick Van Dyke; Karen Dotrice; Glynis Johns; David Tomlinson [P.L. Travers]

Walt Disney’s Mary Poppins Original Cast Soundtrack Signed LP.

: Walt Disney Productions, 1964.

Rare original LP of the Mary Poppins: Original Cast Soundtrack, boldly signed by Julie Andrews on the front panel. In near fine condition.

Fisher, M.F.K

Here Let Us Feast: A Book of Banquets.

New York : The Viking Press, 1946.

First edition of Fisher’s classic fifth book. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, lengthily inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For Marian Allen de Ford Shipley from M.F.K. Fisher (her affectionate for Mary Frances) 1969.” The recipient, Marian Allen de Ford Shipley was a fellow writer and friend of the Fisher’s. Near fineContinue reading "Here Let Us Feast: A Book of Banquets."

Hemingway, Ernest

Islands In The Stream.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1970.

First edition of Hemingway’s autobiographical novel in three parts, published posthumously. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles and ruling to the spine, raised bands, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, gilt signature to the front panel, inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In fine condition. An exceptionalContinue reading "Islands In The Stream."

Steinbeck, John

East of Eden.

New York : The Viking Press, 1952.

First edition, first issue of Steinbeck’s epic and moving story of a modern Cain and Abel. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. An exceptionally fresh example.