Gifts

Kipling, Rudyard

The Cornhill Booklet Volume One, Number Two: Occasional Poems by Rudyard Kipling.

Boston : Alfred Bartlett, 1900.

Rare August 1900 issue of The Cornhill Booklet containing Rudyard Kipling’s “Occasional Poems.” Duodecimo, original wrappers, volume one, number two, printed in red and black, illustrated, with the original detached portrait of Kipling from an etching by William Strang laid in. In very good condition. Illustrated and designed by H.W. Colby.

Kipling, Rudyard

The Betrothed.

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Rare pamphlet of Kipling’s humorous and ironic poem. Duodecimo, original wrappers, frontispiece of Kipling, pictorial initials, six pages. In very good condition. Rare with none appearing at auction in the last 100 years.

Alison, Sir Archibald [Millard Fillmore]

History of Europe: From the Fall of Napoleon in MDCCCXV to the Accession of Louis Napoleon in MDCCCLII Vol VIII.

Edinburgh and London : William Blackwood and Sons, 1859.

Early edition of this influential work chronicling European events from the French Revolution to the mid-19th century. Sir Archibald Alison was a Scottish historian, writer, and advocate whose most notable contributions were in the realm of historical and philosophical writing. Octavo, original cloth with gilt titles to the spine, floral border details stamped in blind.Continue reading "History of Europe: From the Fall of Napoleon in MDCCCXV to the Accession of Louis Napoleon in MDCCCLII Vol VIII."

Reftelius, Johannes Martinus; Carl Linnaeus

Reformatio Botanices. [Reformation of Botany].

Uppsala : Uppsala University, December 18, 1762.

First edition of this academic dissertation presented under the supervision of Carl Linnaeus at Uppsala University, Sweden. Square octavo, written in Latin, bound in three quarters morocco over speckled boards with gilt titles to the spine in six compartments within raised bands. In near fine condition. Rare.

Smith, Wilbur

Eagle in the Sky.

London : Heinemann, 1974.

First edition of this powerful novel from the author of ‘When the Lion Feeds.’ Octavo, original light blue cloth. Very good in the very good dust jacket.

Apcar, Amy

Melodies of the Holy Apostolic Church of Armenia: The Liturgy as Sung in Ordinary, During Lent, and on Festivals.

Leipzig : Printed by Breitkopf & Haertel, 1920.

Second and enlarged edition of these rich chant traditions of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Octavo, three volumes, written in English and Armenian, bound in three-quarters morocco with gilt titles to the spine, gilt cross vignette to the front panels, musical stanzas throughout. Written down in modern notation by Amy Apcar. In very good condition.

Pasternak, Boris

The Second Birth.

Moscow : Federation, 1932.

First edition of this collection of poems by one of the greatest Russian poets and novelists of the twentieth century. Octodecimo, in the original Russian, original pictorial boards. In good condition with some rubbing.

Rowling, J.K. [Kennelworthy Whisp]

Quidditch Through the Ages and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

London : Bloomsbury/Whizz Hard Books, 2001.

First British editions of this “amazingly imaginative work” (Associated Press), each volume signed by her. Duodecimo, 2 volumes, original pictorial wrappers as issued. Boldly signed by J.K. Rowling on the title page of each volume. In fine condition. Accompanied by the original plastic packaging depicting a leather schoolbag stating, “Harry Potter’s School Books” and twoContinue reading "Quidditch Through the Ages and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them."

[Armenian Bible]

Girkr Astuatsashunchʿi hin ew nor Ktakaranatsʿ. [The Books of the Old and New Testaments in Armenian].

Venice : Printed at the Mekhitarist Monastery of Saint Lazarus, 1860.

Later edition of the Bible in classical Armenian. Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco with gilt titles to the spine, title page vignette. In good condition with rubbing to the spine and extremities. Translated from the original languages and carefully corrected.

Early English Prose Romances I-III: Robert the Deuyll, Robin Hood, and Fryer Bacon.

Edinburgh : Otto Schulze & Co, 1904.

Finely bound edition of this collection of three prose romances from early English literature. Quarto, three volumes, original publisher’s half-cloth, title page vignettes in red and black, pictorial initials, elaborate border designs, with full-page illustrations. In very good condition. Ownership plates to the front pastedowns. Housed in the original brown board slipcase.

Sheridan, Richard Brinsley

The Rivals; The Critic; The Duenna.

London : Printed for A. Millar, W. Law, and R. Cater, 1797.

Finely bound editions of three of Sheridan’s most well known and popular comic plays. Duodecimo, three volumes, bound in full red pebbled morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in three compartments within raised gilt bands, triple gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, all edges gilt, gilt inner dentelles, marbled endpapers.Continue reading "The Rivals; The Critic; The Duenna."

Cain, Alfred E. [Martin Luther King Jr.] [Sammy Davis, Jr.]

The Winding Road to Freedom: A Documentary Survey of Negro Experiences in America.

Yonkers : Educational Heritage, Inc, 1965.

First edition of this comprehensive anthology that compiles historical documents, speeches, and firsthand accounts to trace the evolving struggle for African American freedom and equality. Quarto, original publisher’s orange cloth boards, with black and white illustrations. Association copy, inscribed by Martin Luther King Jr. to Sammy Davis Jr. on the front free endpaper, “To myContinue reading "The Winding Road to Freedom: A Documentary Survey of Negro Experiences in America."

Shirer, William L

The Rise And Fall Of The Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany.

New York : Simon & Schuster, 1960.

First edition of “one of the most important works of history of our time” (Orville Prescott, New York Times). Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in five compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panel, gilt inner dentelles stamp-signedContinue reading "The Rise And Fall Of The Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany."

Morris, Jan

Hong Kong.

Franklin Center, Pennsylvania : The Franklin Library, 1988.

Signed limited first edition of this incredibly vibrant history of Hong Kong, privately printed exclusively for members of The Signed First Edition Society. Octavo, Smyth-sewn and bound in full top-grain leather specially processed for fine books by the Cromwell Leather Company with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands,Continue reading "Hong Kong."

Wodehouse, P. G

Uncle Dynamite.

London : Herbert Jenkins, 1948.

First edition of Wodehouse’s hilarious and nonsensical novel. Octavo, original cloth. Very good in a very good dust jacket, inscription to the front free endpaper. Jacket illustration by Frank Ford.

Petrarca, M. Francesco [Petrarch]

Some Sonnets and Songs of the Divine Poet M. Francesco Petrarca.

Shaftsbury : High House Press, 1926.

First High House Press limited edition of this collection of poems made in Laura’s lifetime. Octavo, original publisher’s half-cloth with paper titles to the front panel. One of 105 numbered copies, this is number 76. In very good condition, bookplate. Translated into English by William J. Ibbett.

Sophocles. With a new translation by EF Walting [Raymond Chandler]

The Theban Plays.

Great Britain : Penguin Books, 1947.

First Penguin Classics edition of the thrilling trilogy about the fate of the royal family Thebes. 16mo, original wrappers. From the library of Raymond Chandler with his library stamp to the front free endpaper: Raymond Chandler 6005 Camino de la Costa La Jolla, California OCT 13 1949. Raymond Chandler was a pivotal figure in 20th-centuryContinue reading "The Theban Plays."

Burton, Virginia Lee

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel.

Boston : Houghton Mifflin Company, 1939.

First edition of this children’s classic with the date of 1939 on the title page. Oblong quarto, original tan cloth, illustrated endpapers. Near fine in a very good dust jacket, name to the front free endpaper.

Warhol, Andy

Andy Warhol’s Exposures.

London : Hutchinson, 1979.

First British edition of Warhol’s candid and engaging photobook. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated. Presentation copy, boldly inscribed by Andy Warhol on the half-title, who has added a large sketch of a woman’s lips below, “To John love Andy Warhol.” Additionally inscribed on the front panel of the dust jacket on the right side, “Andy, John.”Continue reading "Andy Warhol’s Exposures."

Wodehouse, P. G

Piccadilly Jim.

London : Herbert Jenkins, n.d.

Later printing of Wodehouse’s lively comedy novel. Octavo, original cloth. Very good in a very good dust jacket, name to the front free endpaper. Jacket illustration by Frank Ford.

[Hill, Tex; Ken Jernstedt; Paul J. Greene; Robert T. Smith; Dick Rossi; Erik Shilling; Bob Layher; Ed Rector; Charlie Bond; Robert M. Smith; Edward F. Gallagher; Frank Losonsky; Rolland Richardson; Carl Quick; Al Kaelin; John Richard Rossi]

Chennault’s Flying Tigers: A Commemorative History of the American Volunteer Group.

Minnesota : Flying Tigers 14th Air Force Association, Inc, 1982.

First edition of this detailed and richly illustrated tribute to American Volunteer Group’s pivotal role in early World War II air combat. Quarto, original blue boards with an inlay of a flying tiger and Claire Lee Chennault, pictorial and cartographic endpapers, illustrated with black and white photographs throughout. Boldly signed on a Flying Tigers bookplateContinue reading "Chennault’s Flying Tigers: A Commemorative History of the American Volunteer Group."

King Jr., Martin Luther

Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?

New York : Harper & Row, Publishers, 1967.

First edition of King’s “last grand expression of his vision” (Cornel West). Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated with eight pages of black-and-white photogravures. Association copy, warmly inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Cass Canfield For whom I have great respect and admiration Martin Luther King, Jr.” The recipient, Cass Canfield, wasContinue reading "Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?"

Smith, Wilbur

A Sparrow Falls.

London : Heinemann, 1977.

First edition of the third book in Wilbur Smith’s original Courtney trilogy. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth. Very good in a very good dust jacket.

Perelman, S.J

The Road to Miltown: Or Under the Spreading Atrophy.

New York : Simon and Schuster, 1957.

First edition of Perelman’s critical examination of mid-20th century American society. Octavo, original publisher’s half cloth. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Photograph by Ralph A. Brooks.