Gifts

Raptis, Matthew. Foreword by Nicholas A. Basbanes; Jacket Design by Chip Kidd

Provenance.

Miami : Southeastern Publishing, 2025.

First edition of this work unveiling the extraordinary stories behind seemingly ordinary books. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth with gilt titles to the spine and front panel. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Foreword by Nicholas A. Basbanes. Jacket design by legendary designer Chip Kidd.

Hemingway, Ernest; Mary Hemingway [Taylor Williams]

Ernest Hemingway Signed Photograph. [with] Mary Hemingway Typed Letter Signed.

.

Rare original black and white photograph of legendary American writer Ernest Hemingway. Black and white matte photograph of Hemingway with his wife Mary and fishing guide Taylor Williams in the trophy room of a club or private home after a day on the water. Inscribed by Ernest Hemingway in black ballpoint at the bottom rightContinue reading "Ernest Hemingway Signed Photograph. [with] Mary Hemingway Typed Letter Signed."

Christie, Agatha

The Clocks.

London : The Crime Club by Collins, 1963.

First edition of this classic murder mystery. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth. Fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by Michael Harvey. From the collection of Dr. John Talbot Gernon.

Harrison, Jim

Dead Man’s Float.

Port Townsend, Washington : Copper Canyon Press, 2016.

First limited edition of Harrison’s last published work. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth with the title stamped in blind on the front panel. One of 150 numbered copies, this is number 36. Boldly signed by Jim Harrison on the third free endpaper. In fine condition. Accompanied by an inscribed note laid in, “10/16 Thanks for yourContinue reading "Dead Man’s Float."

Lippy, Jr., John D. [Oscar Teale]

Chemical Magic.

New York : George Sully and Company, Inc, 1930.

First edition of this specialized instructional work. Octavo, original publisher’s pictorial cloth, top stain orange, frontispiece, illustrated with photographs and diagrams. From the collection of magician Oscar Teale with his book plate to the front pastedown. Oscar Teale was a magician, lecturer, and historian of magic whose work bridged performance, scholarship, and the preservation ofContinue reading "Chemical Magic."

Christie, Agatha

The Hollow.

London : The Crime Club by Collins, 1946.

First edition of this classic country-house mystery. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. From the collection of Dr. John Talbot Gernon. A sharp example.

Christie, Agatha

Sleeping Murder: Miss Marple’s Last Case.

London : Collins Crime Club, 1976.

First edition of this Christie classic. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket. From the collection of Dr. John Talbot Gernon.

London, Jack

White Fang.

New York : The Macmillan Company, 1906.

First edition of London’s beloved novel. Octavo, original pictorial cloth with white and gilt lettering, pictorial endpapers. Tissue-guarded frontispiece and 7 color plates by Charles Livingston Bull. With usual cancel title page. BAL notes that the cancel page occurs printed on either wove or on laid paper (the rest of the text sheets are allContinue reading "White Fang."

Christie, Agatha

Sparkling Cyanide.

London : The Crime Club by Collins, 1945.

First edition of this classic mystery novel. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. From the collection of Dr. John Talbot Gernon.

Christie, Agatha

The Hound of Death and Other Stories.

London : Odhams Press Limited, 1933.

First edition of this collection of short stories, which includes the classic Witness for the Prosecution which was adapted to the 1957 film starring Marlene Dietrich. Octavo, original cloth. In very good condition. From the collection of Dr. John Talbot Gernon.

Christie, Agatha

They Do It With Mirrors.

London : The Crime Club by Collins, 1952.

First edition of this classic Miss Marple mystery. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth. Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket with toning, chipping to the spine of the dust jacket, and the top right corner of the front free endpaper clipped. From the library of Dr. John Talbot Gernon with his red leather andContinue reading "They Do It With Mirrors."

Christie, Agatha

At Bertram’s Hotel.

London : The Crime Club by Collins, 1965.

First edition of this classic novel. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket design by Brian Russell. From the collection of Dr. John Talbot Gernon.

Wiesenthal, Simon

Max and Helen: A Remarkable True Love Story.

New York : William Morrow and Company, 1982.

First edition of this glorious love story. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by the author on the title page. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Honi Werner. Translated by Catherine Hutter.

Groom, Winston [Tom Hanks, Gary Sinise, Sally Field]

Forrest Gump.

New York : Doubleday & Company, Inc, 1986.

First edition of this modern classic, basis for one of the most iconic films of the twentieth century, starring Tom Hanks, Gary Sinise and Sally Field. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rearContinue reading "Forrest Gump."

Ernst, Bernard M.L.; Hereward Carrington [Harry Houdini; Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; Oscar Teale]

Houdini and Conan Doyle.

New York : Albert and Charles Boni, Inc, 1932.

First edition of this historical account on the friendship between writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and magician Harry Houdini. Octavo, original publisher’s orange cloth, top stain green, frontispiece of Conan Doyle and Houdini. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Oscar S. Teale With every good wish from Bernard M.L.Continue reading "Houdini and Conan Doyle."

Carr, Lucien [Helen Weaver] [Jack Kerouac]

Lucien Carr Autograph Letter Signed to Helen Weaver.

.

Autograph letter signed by American journalist and editor Lucien Carr. One page, handwritten to Jack Kerouac’s former girlfriend Helen Weaver on a yellow legal pad page and dated “Sept. 04”, regarding the signing of Kerouac books. The letter reads in full, “Dear Slugger: Enjoyed your book. First half made me weepy. Second half beyond myContinue reading "Lucien Carr Autograph Letter Signed to Helen Weaver."

Nabokov, Vladimir [Elizabeth Bishop]

Lolita.

Paris : The Olympia Press, 1955.

First edition, association copy of Nabokov’s masterpiece, from the library of Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet Elizabeth Bishop. First issue with the price of 900 francs on the rear panel of each volume. Octavo, 2 volumes, original green wrappers. In near fine condition with light rubbing, some toning to the extremities. Bishop and Nabokov both gainedContinue reading "Lolita."

Swinnerton, Frank. [Raymond Chandler]

The Cats and Rosemary.

London : Hamish Hamilton, 1950.

First edition of Swinnerton’s keen observation to present a nuanced portrayal of human nature, delving into emotional complexities, personal growth, and societal expectations. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth, with unique black and white illustrations. From the library of Raymond Chandler with his library stamp to the front free endpaper: Raymond Chandler 6005 Camino de la CostaContinue reading "The Cats and Rosemary."

Cohen, Leonard; Irving Layton

Pan-ic: A Selection of Contemporary Canadian Poems.

New York : Alan Brilliant, 1958.

First edition of this anthology of Canadian poetry. Octavo, original pictorial wrappers, four issues of poetry, number two. Boldly signed and dated by Leonard Cohen on the title page, “Leonard Cohen 2002.” This is an early appearance of Cohen in an anthology at the age of 24, and features Cohen’s poems, “The Cuckold’s Song” andContinue reading "Pan-ic: A Selection of Contemporary Canadian Poems."

Bank of Augusta Uncut Banknote Sheet.

Georgia : Bank of Augusta, c. 1850.

Rare original uncut banknote sheet from the Bank of Augusta. One sheet with three notes priced at one dollar and the last bottom note priced at two dollars. Not signed, dated, or marked with serial numbers. In near fine condition with creasing and a few inked fingerprints to the extremities.

Christie, Agatha

Ordeal By Innocence.

Collins Crime Club : London, 1958.

First edition of Christie’s classic murder mystery. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket. From the collection of Dr. John Talbot Gernon.

Perkovich, George; Jessica T. Mathews; Joseph Cirincione; Rose Gottemoeller; Jon B. Wolfsthal [Madeleine Albright]

Universal Compliance: A Strategy for Nuclear Security.

Washington, D.C. : Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, March 2005.

First edition of this work on preventing nuclear proliferation. Octavo, original pictorial wrappers. From the library of Madeleine K. Albright with her bookplate to the front pastedown. Albright was the first woman to serve as the U.S. Secretary of State. She acted under President Bill Clinton from 1997 to 2001, leading the United States throughContinue reading "Universal Compliance: A Strategy for Nuclear Security."

Zafon, Carlos Ruiz; Translated by Lucia Graves

The Midnight Palace.

London : Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 2011.

Signed limited first edition of Zafón’s second young-adult novel. Octavo, original pictorial boards. One of 1000 numbered copies signed by the author on the limitation page, this is number 958. In fine condition. Cover illustration by Neal Murren.

Lee, Harper

To Kill a Mockingbird.

New York : Harper Collins, 2010.

First edition of the 50th anniversary edition of the author’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Octavo, original half cloth. Inscribed by Harper Lee on the front free endpaper, “With best wishes, Harper Lee.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Shirley Smith.