Dahl, Roald

The Magic Finger.

London : George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1968.

First British edition of this classic children’s novel. Octavo, original pictorial boards, illustrated by William Pène du Bois. In near fine condition.

Shearing, George with Alyn Shipton [William Safire]

Lullaby of Birdland.

New York : Continuum, 2004.

First edition of British jazz pianist George Shearing’s autobiography. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “For Helene and Bill – Not it’s my turn! Affectionately, George Shearing.” The recipient, William Safire was an important American author, columnist, journalist, and presidential speechwriter. He joined Nixon’s campaign for the 1960Continue reading "Lullaby of Birdland."

Stark, Freya

A Winter in Arabia.

London : John Murray, 1945.

Early printing of one of the most important pieces of literature on the region and a book that placed Freya Stark in the pantheon of great writers and explorers of the Arab World. Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece, illustrated, maps. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Foreword by Sir Kinahan Cornwallis. Uncommon in theContinue reading "A Winter in Arabia."

Wolfe, Tom

A Man In Full.

New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1998.

First edition of this “masterpiece” (The Wall Street Journal). Octavo, original illustrated boards. Boldly signed by Tom Wolfe. Fine in a near fine jacket. Jacket art by Daniel Lee. Jacket design by Susan Mitchell.

Tolstoy, Leo. Vladimir Tchertkoff

Christian Martyrdom in Russia: Persecution of the Spirit-Wrestlers (or Doukhobortsi) in the Caucus.

London : The Brotherhood Publishing Co, 1897.

First edition of Tchertkoff’s work on the persecution of the Doukhobors. Octavo, original wrappers. In good condition.

Irving, John

Trying to Save Piggy Sneed.

New York : Arcade Publishing, 1996.

First edition of this collection of short stories. Octavo, original half cloth. Signed by John Irving on the title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Jeffrey Fisher. Author photographs by Mary Ellen Mark and Isolde Ohlbaum.

Meriwether, Louise; Foreword by James Baldwin

Daddy Was A Number Runner.

Englewood Cliffs, NJ : Prentice-Hall, Inc, 1970.

First edition of this modern classic “a tough, tender, bitter novel of a black girl struggling towards womanhood” in 1930s Harlem” (Publishers Weekly). Octavo, original cloth. Foreword by James Baldwin. Very good in a good dust jacket, name blacked out on the front pastedown and number to the front free endpaper. Jacket design by BobContinue reading "Daddy Was A Number Runner."

Sears Roebuck and Co. “Economy Group” Standard Quality Wallpaper Catalog.

: Sears, Roebuck and Co., 1940.

Rare 1940 Sears Roebuck and Co. wallpaper sample catalog; the “Economy Group”, featuring standard quality papers printed with fadeproof colors in a variety of patterns. Octavo, includes 14 wallpaper samples. In near fine condition.

Hardy, Thomas

A Group of Noble Dames.

New York : Harper and Brothers, 1891.

First edition of this collection of stories. Octavo, original cloth, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, front panel, illustrated. In near fine condition.

Kazin, Alfred

The Open Street.

New York : Reynal & Hitchcock, 1948.

First edition of Kazin’s short tribute to the streets of Manhattan, a selection from the work in progress that would become A Walker in the City. Small octavo, original quarter cloth over speckled boards, photographic endpapers by Victor Kraft. One of only 1,000 copies privately printed for the author, inscribed by him on the limitationContinue reading "The Open Street."

Williams, Geoffrey

Sir Thomas Lipton Wins.

London : Peter Davies, 1969.

First edition of Williams’ account of his record-breaking passage aboard the Sir Thomas Lipton in the Transatlantic Race of 1968. Octavo, original cloth. From the library of James Stephen “Steve” Fossett with his bookplate to the front pastedown. American businessman and record-setting aviator Steve Fossett became the first person to fly solo nonstop around theContinue reading "Sir Thomas Lipton Wins."

Raptis Rare Books

Custom Archival Quarto Presentation Portfolio.

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Custom archival presentation portflio designed for the safe housing and elegant presentation of historic letters, manuscripts, or ephemera. Constructed with archival-quality materials to ensure long-term preservation. Octavo, bound in full navy cloth, gilt Raptis Rare Books insignia to the front panel, with a diagonal ribbon to each corner of both pastedowns. The portfolio measures 14Continue reading "Custom Archival Quarto Presentation Portfolio."

Lehane, Dennis

Mystic River.

New York : William Morrow and Company, 2001.

First edition of this novel, basis for the 2003 film directed and scored by Clint Eastwood, and starring Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, Laurence Fishburne, Marcia Gay Harden, and Laura Linney. Octavo, original half cloth. Signed by Dennis Lehane and three times by the dust jacket designer Chip Kidd, once on the front panel,Continue reading "Mystic River."

Wood, Gordon S

Power and Liberty: Constitutionalism in the American Revolution.

New York : Oxford University Press, 2021.

First edition, second printing of this work by the Pulitzer Prize-winning historian. Octavo, original boards. Boldly signed by Gordon Wood on the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket.

Atwood, Margaret

Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts.

New York : Doubleday, 2025.

First edition of “the most spectacular, hilarious, and generous autobiography of the last quarter century–or ever” (The Boston Globe). Octavo, original boards, illustrated endpapers, illustrated. Boldly signed by Margaret Atwood. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Suzanne Dean, Kelly Hill, and Emily Mahan.

Tapp, Major H. A. Preface by Major-General L. C. Dunsterville. [Rudyard Kipling]

United Services College 1874-1911. A Short Account of Rudyard Kipling’s Old School at Westward Ho!

Aldershot : Gale & Polden, Ltd., [1933].

First edition of Tapp’s history of Westward Ho! College with Kipling’s The Song of the Exiles. Quarto, original boards with gilt titles to the front panel, marbled endpapers. In near fine condition.

Borman, Frank

Frank Borman Signed Photograph.

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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.

Fisher, Franklin M. and Karl Shell

Economic Analysis of Production Price Indexes.

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 1998.

First edition of the first study to discuss output and input price indexes. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by Karl Shell on the front free endpaper. In fine condition.

McDonald, Gregory

Fletch Won.

New York : Warner Books, 1985.

First edition of this work in the author’s classic Fletch series. Octavo, original boards. Signed by Gregory McDonald on the title page. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket, mark to the bottom.

Sonnenfeld, Jeffrey

The Hero’s Farewell: What Happens When CEOs Retire.

Oxford : Oxford University Press, Inc., 1988.

First edition of Sonnenfeld’s in-depth work on executive succession. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, with a full page inscription by the author in the year of publication, “To Yandy, Congratulations on your heroic contributions – especially in pulling this joint conference off. Best wishes, Jeff.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design byContinue reading "The Hero’s Farewell: What Happens When CEOs Retire."

Rackham, Arthur

The Land of Enchantment.

London : Cassell and Company, Limited, 1905.

First edition of Rackham’s beautifully illustrated work. Quarto, original publisher’s cloth decorated in gilt, rebacked, illustrated with 36 full-page and vignette line drawings by Arthur Rackham. Neat ownership name. In very good condition.

Schlosser, Joh. Aloys [Ludwig van Beethoven]

Beethoven’s Belles.

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Prints of Beethoven‘s belles. Three reproduction prints of Beethoven‘s belles, two in color, framed together as one. Matted and framed with gilt to the cut edges of the mat. In near fine condition. The entire piece measures 19.75 inches by 14.75 inches.

Parker, Dorothy

Death and Taxes.

New York : The Viking Press, 1931.

First edition, early printing, of Parker’s third collection of poetry. Octavo, original cloth. Very good in the uncommon original dust jacket which is in good condition.

Mahoney, David and Richard Restak. Foreword by William Safire

The Longevity Strategy: How to Live to 100 Using the Brain-Body Connection.

New York : John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 1998.

First edition of this “wise and compelling guide” (Stephen Covey). Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by David Mahoney on the half-title page in the year of publication to William Safire, who contributed the foreword, “Feb 1998 To Bill not for what you are but for what you have made me. Gratefully, David.” The recipient,Continue reading "The Longevity Strategy: How to Live to 100 Using the Brain-Body Connection."