Tolstoy, Lyof N. [Leo Tolstoy]

The Dominion of Darkness: A Drama, in Five Acts.

London : Vizetelly & Co., 1888.

First edition in English of Tolstoy’s five-act drama, the performance of which was forbidden in Russia until 1902. Octavo, original wrappers, publisher’s advertisements. Translated from the original Russian. In very good condition. Scarce.

Act of Parliament for Erecting the Bank in Scotland.

Edinburgh : [Royal Bank of Scotland] , 1695-1719.

Rare 17th century printing of the Act of the Scottish Parliament erecting the Bank of Scotland. Octavo, original wrappers, the act is dated July 17, 1695 and approved a joint stock amounting to the sum of 120,000 pounds to be raised by a company thereby established to manage the first public bank of Scotland. BoundContinue reading "Act of Parliament for Erecting the Bank in Scotland."

Durant, Will

Caesar and Christ.

New York : Simon & Schuster, 1944.

First edition of the author’s classic work. Octavo, original cloth, original cloth, cartographic endpapers, illustrated. Association copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on half-title page, “For Martha and Maurice Speiser with cordial regards from Will Durant 12.7.44.” The recipient Maurice Speiser was Ernest Hemingway’s lawyer and literary agent. He was alsoContinue reading "Caesar and Christ."

Scott, Sir Walter

The Waverly Novels First Edition Collection.

Edinburgh : Printed for Archibald Constable and Co.; and John Ballantyne; And Hurst, Robinson, and Co., London, 1816-1821.

First edition collection of Scott’s Waverly Novels. Octavo, bound in full contemporary cloth with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, the set includes first editions of The Antiquary (1816, 3 volumes, half-titles present); Guy Mannering (1817); Rob Roy (1818, 3 volumes, half-titles); and The Abbot (1820, 3 volumes); Tales of My Landlord (second series: 1818, 4Continue reading "The Waverly Novels First Edition Collection."

Frank, Pat

An Affair of the State.

Philadelphia and New York : J. B. Lippincott Company, 1948.

First edition of Frank’s classic Cold War political thriller, inspired in part by his experiences as an international journalist. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed on the front free paper, “For Betty Wells – In the hope that some part of this book comes true. Pat Frank.” Very good in a very good dust jacket.Continue reading "An Affair of the State."

Katz, Menke

Burning Village.

New York : The Smith, 1972.

First edition of the acclaimed poet’s crowning achievement; a harrowing account of his experience as a boy in Lithuania during WWII. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Feb 3rd 1977 For Prof. Chimieu Abronsky from Menke Katz.” Katz has also added a large illustration of flowers. NearContinue reading "Burning Village."

Kaufman, Sue [Richard Benjamin]

Diary of a Mad Housewife: A Novel.

New York : Random House, 1967.

First edition of this classic, bestselling novel of Central Park West ennui — and a seminal piece of urban women’s fiction. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, ‘To Kornby with love Sue Kaufman.” Additionally signed by actor Richard Benjamin, who starred in the film bearing the sameContinue reading "Diary of a Mad Housewife: A Novel."

[Roth, Philip; Ali MacGraw; Richard Benjamin; Jack Klugman]

Goodbye, Columbus: Music From the Soundtrack of the Paramount Motion Picture.

Burbank and New York : Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records, Inc., 1969.

Rare original Goodbye, Columbus LP featuring music from the soundtrack of the Paramount Motion Picture based on the 1959 novella of the same name by Philip Roth. Signed on the front panel by actress Ali McGraw and actors Richard Benjamin and Jack Klugman. In very good condition.

Valens, E.G. [Jill Kinmont]

A Long Way Up: The Story of Jill Kinmont.

New York : Harper & Row, Publishers, 1967.

First edition of this powerful biography of Jill Kinmont. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated with photographs by Burk Uzzle and others. Presentation copy, inscribed by Kinmont on the front front free endpaper, “To Dr. Robinson, Thank you for your nice letter. Best Wishes- Jill Kinmont 2-27-67.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket designContinue reading "A Long Way Up: The Story of Jill Kinmont."

Anglund, Joan Walsh

Nibble Nibble Mousekin: A Tale of Hansel and Gretel.

New York : Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc., 1962.

First edition of Anglund’s beloved children’s classic. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated by the author. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper with an original drawing of two strawberries, “For Toby & For Johnny! Joan Walsh Anglund.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket.

Caldwell, Erskine

Tobacco Road.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1932.

First edition of Caldwell’s classic work. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For  with the best wishes of Erskine Caldwell July 13th 1935.” Near fine in a very good dust jacket with light rubbing to the spine extremities. Rare and desirable signed and inscribed.

Houdon, Jean-Antoine. [George Washington]

Jean-Antoine Houdon George Washington Bronze Bust.

.

Fine bronze bust of George Washington, after the famed Houdon bust of 1785 which is considered the most accurate depiction of Washington. Bronze, mounted on a marble pedestal. French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon was revered for his life-like portrayals of numerous notable eighteenth-century philosophers, inventors, and political figures including Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Voltaire, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson,Continue reading "Jean-Antoine Houdon George Washington Bronze Bust."

[Erskine, J. M.]

Our Bank: The Story of the Commercial Bank of Scotland Ltd. 1810-1941.

London : Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd, n.d. [1941].

First edition of the history of The Commercial Bank of Scotland. Octavo, original cloth decorated in gilt, illustrated, frontispiece portrait of General Manager John M. Erskine. Signed by Erskine beneath his portrait, “J.M. Erskine 27/1/42.” Fine in the original dust jacket which is in near fine condition. Ownership inscription.

Jones, Mary G. Harris. [Mother Jones]

Autobiography of Mother Jones.

Chicago : Charles H. Kerr & Company, 1925.

First edition of the autobiography of the most famous female labor activist of the nineteenth century, Mother Jones. Octavo, original cloth. Edited by Mary Field Parton. Introduction by Clarence Darrow. In very good condition.

Ware, Chris

Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth.

New York : Pantheon Books, 2000.

First edition of the author’s inventive first book, which Publishers Weekly called “graphically inventive, wonderfully realized.” Octavo, original boards, illustrated. Signed and dated by Chris Ware with a drawing of stars. Fine in a fine dust jacket.

Herder, Johann Gottfried

Herder’s Ausgewahlte Dichtungen.

Stuttgart : J. G. Gotta'sche Buchhandlung, 1874.

Rare 19th century printing of Herder’s selected poems. Small octavo, original cloth. Text in German. In good condition.

Williamson, Henry

Love and the Loveless: A Soldier’s Tale.

London : Macdonald & Co., 1958.

First edition of the seventh novel in the author’s semi-autobiographical Chronicle of Ancient Sunlight series. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Broom Lynne. Bookplate.

Braine, John

The Vodi.

London : Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1959.

Publisher’s advance proof of the author’s second book. Octavo, original wrappers. In near fine condition.

Porter, Bruce. [Ted Demme]

Blow: How a Small-Town Boy Made $100 Million with the Medellin Cocaine Cartel and Lost it All.

New York : St. Martin's Griffin, 1993.

First St. Martin’s Griffin edition of Porter’s thrilling retelling of the story of George Jung, adapted into the 2001 film of the same name directed by Ted Demme and starring Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz. Octavo, original wrappers. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “For Edgar Best wishes Bruce Porter 3/30/01”Continue reading "Blow: How a Small-Town Boy Made $100 Million with the Medellin Cocaine Cartel and Lost it All."

Canin, Ethan. [Jeff Bezos]

The Palace Thief.

New York : Random House, 1994.

Jeff Bezos’ special thank-you print run of his favorite book. Octavo, original boards. Signed by the author and by Jeff Bezos on the title page. Laid in is a letter from Bezos on amazon.com letterhead which reads, “Dear Friend of Amazon.com, What can I say? It’s been five years since we sold our first book,Continue reading "The Palace Thief."

Norgay, Tenzing with Malcolm Barnes

After Everest: An Autobiography by Tenzing Norgay Sherpa.

New Delhi : Vikas Publishing House, 1977.

First edition of Tenzing’s second autobiography, the sequel to his best-selling Tiger of the Snows. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by the author on the half-title page beneath an inscription in a secretarial hand, “To William Levine,” “Tenzing Norgay.” With the original typed transmittal letter on Norgay’s personal letterhead signed by him laid in which reads:Continue reading "After Everest: An Autobiography by Tenzing Norgay Sherpa."

Lee, Ang and James Schamus. [Sigourney Weaver]

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: A Portrait of the Ang Lee Film Including the Complete Screenplay.

New York : Newmarket Press, 2000.

First edition of the book companion to the epic Academy Award-winning film. Octavo, original boards, illustrated. Association copy, inscribed by director Ang Lee on the front free endpaper, “To dear Sigourney & Jim With Love Ang Lee 李安.” The recipient, Golden Globe Award-winning American actress Sigourney Weaver, is best known for her pioneering action heroineContinue reading "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: A Portrait of the Ang Lee Film Including the Complete Screenplay."

Dobree, Bonamy. [Rudyard Kipling]

Rudyard Kipling.

London : Published for The British Council and the National Book League by Longmans, Green & Co., 1951.

First edition of Dobree’s work on Kipling, the man and the writer. Octavo, original wrappers, frontispiece portrait of Kipling. In near fine condition.

Carrington, Charles. [Rudyard Kipling; Lafcadio Hearn]

Rudyard Kipling: His Life and Work.

London : Macmillan & Co Ltd, 1955.

First edition of Carrington’s famed biography of Kipling. Octavo, original cloth. With an autograph note signed by Lafcadio Hearn adhered to the front pastedown which reads, “Kipling is priceless – his single story of Purima Bayal is worth a Kingdom; I & his suggestive moral of human life is such a miracle! I can’t tellContinue reading "Rudyard Kipling: His Life and Work."