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Rare & Classic, American or English Literature Books for Sale Online

Browse rare first edition classics in American, English, world literature, poetry, and plays. View our entire collection of rare literature below, search our inventory with advanced search, or use our sorting tools to find exactly what you’re looking for. Please call with any questions you may have on a specific item or order online today.

Showing items 1-24 of 4665

Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de

El Ingenioso hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha. Segunda Parte del Ingenioso Cavallero Don Quixote de la Mancha.

Madrid : Por Juan de La Cuesta, vendese en casa de Francisco de Robles, librero del Rey, 1608-1615.

Exceedingly rare and spectacular 17th century editions of both volumes of Cervantes’ prized work, the remarkable Beilby Thompson-Maggs-Ortiz Linares copy with a shared provenance spanning over 320 years, this is among the oldest known sets of both parts paired and uniformly bound in the 18th century, comprising one of the most desirable pairings of theContinue reading "El Ingenioso hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha. Segunda Parte del Ingenioso Cavallero Don Quixote de la Mancha."

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$1,900,000.00
Item Number: RRB-142820
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Rowling, J.K

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

London : Bloomsbury, 1997.

First edition, first printing of the rarest book in the Harry Potter series, a cornerstone of young adult literature, and one of the best-selling books of all time. First printing with “First published in Great Britain in 1997”, the full number line “10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1”, “Joanne Rowling” forContinue reading "Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone."

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$1,250,000.00
Item Number: RRB-115640
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Tolkien, J.R.R

The Hobbit.

London : George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1937.

First edition, first issue of Tolkien’s classic tale, “among the very highest achievements of children’s authors during the 20th century” (Carpenter & Pritchard, 530), one of only a handful of presentation copies reserved for Tolkien to give to family members, colleagues and close friends. Octavo, original cloth, cartographic endpapers, frontispiece and 9 full-page uncolored illustrationsContinue reading "The Hobbit."

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$975,000.00
Item Number: RRB-135801
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Hemingway, Ernest

The Sun Also Rises.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1926.

First edition, first issue of the first printing, with the misprint (“stoppped”) on page 181 line 26, in the first issue dust jacket with the misprint on the front panel (“In Our Times” vs. “In Our Time”). Octavo, original black cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page in the year ofContinue reading "The Sun Also Rises."

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$750,000.00
Item Number: RRB-124010
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Rowling, J.K

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

London : Bloomsbury, 1997.

First edition, first printing of the rarest book in the Harry Potter series, a cornerstone of young adult literature, and one of the best-selling books of all time. First printing with “First published in Great Britain in 1997”, the full number line “10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1”, “Joanne Rowling” forContinue reading "Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone."

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$600,000.00
Item Number: RRB-150920
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Schedel, Hartmann

Liber Chronicarum. [The Nuremberg Chronicle].

Nuremberg : Anton Koberger for Sebald Schreyer and Sebastian Kammermeister, 12 July 1493.

Exceptionally rare colored example of the first edition of the Nuremberg Chronicle, the most extensively illustrated book of the 15th century. Imperial folio, bound in full 17th-century pigskin over bevelled wooden boards with elaborate blind tooling and scrolling to the spine and panels, brass cornerpieces, 2 fore-edge clasps, 325 leaves (of 328, without blank 55/6Continue reading "Liber Chronicarum. [The Nuremberg Chronicle]."

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$350,000.00
Item Number: RRB-146920
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Tolkien, J.R.R

The Hobbit.

London : George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1937.

First edition, first issue of Tolkien’s classic tale, “among the very highest achievements of children’s authors during the 20th century” (Carpenter & Prichard, 530). Octavo, original cloth, cartographic endpapers, frontispiece and 9 full-page uncolored illustrations after drawings by Tolkien. Published on September 21, 1937 with a first printing of only 1500 copies, The Hobbit hadContinue reading "The Hobbit."

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$275,000.00
Item Number: RRB-150464
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Erasmus, Desiderius. Translated by Sir Thomas Chaloner

In Praise of Folie: Moriae Encomium. A book made in latine by the great clerke Erasmus Roterodame. Enlightened by Sir Thomas Chaloner, knight. [In Praise of Folly].

London : Thomas Berthelet, 1549.

First edition in English of one of the most notable and popular works of the Renaissance which played an important role in the beginnings of the Protestant Reformation and swiftly brought its author international fame. First printing with ‘latine’ and the printer’s initials ‘TB.’ to the title page. Octavo, bound in full crushed levant moroccoContinue reading "In Praise of Folie: Moriae Encomium. A book made in latine by the great clerke Erasmus Roterodame. Enlightened by Sir Thomas Chaloner, knight. [In Praise of Folly]."

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$275,000.00
Item Number: RRB-139476
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Lee, Harper

To Kill A Mockingbird.

Philadelphia & New York : J.B. Lippincott Company, 1960.

First edition, the finest association copy of one of the most important American novels of the 20th century which had an initial first printing of 5,000 copies and went on to earn Harper Lee the 1961 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Octavo, original half cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaperContinue reading "To Kill A Mockingbird."

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$250,000.00
Item Number: RRB-149590
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Melville, Herman

Typee: A Peep at Polynesian Life. During a Four Months’ Residence in A Valley of the Marquesas.

New York : Wiley and Putnam, 1846.

First edition of Melville’s first book and his most popular during his lifetime. Octavo, two volumes bound into one in the original cloth stamped in blind with gilt titles to the spine, frontispiece map, both half-titles and 6 pages of publisher’s advertisements at rear. BAL 13653. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the frontContinue reading "Typee: A Peep at Polynesian Life. During a Four Months’ Residence in A Valley of the Marquesas."

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$250,000.00
Item Number: RRB-138349
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Rand, Ayn

The Fountainhead.

Indianapolis : Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1943.

First edition, first issue with first edition stated on the copyright page of the author’s first major novel, as well as her first best-seller. Octavo, original red cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Jack L. Warner – Thank you for your courage and for a magnificent picture –Continue reading "The Fountainhead."

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$200,000.00
Item Number: RRB-125425
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Austen, Jane

Pride and Prejudice.

London : Printed for T. Egerton, 1813.

First editions of all three volumes of Jane Austen’s second novel and most popular. Octavo, three volumes, bound in contemporary three quarter calf over marbled boards with gilt titles to the spine. In very good condition. Armorial bookplates to each pastedown. Period gift inscription from the year of publication to the title page of Vol.Continue reading "Pride and Prejudice."

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$175,000.00
Item Number: RRB-133221
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Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de

The History of Don-Quixote. The First Parte. The Second Part of the History of the Valorous and Witty Knight-Errant, Don Quixote of the Mancha. Written in Spanish by Michael Cervantes: and now translated into English.

London : Edward Blount, 1620.

Exceedingly rare first complete edition in English of Cervantes’ masterpiece comprising the second edition of the first part and the first edition of the second part. Octavo, 2 volumes bound in full 19th century calf, engraved title in each volume. Translated from the original Spanish by Thomas Shelton whose first English translation published in 1612 was the first translation in any languageContinue reading "The History of Don-Quixote. The First Parte. The Second Part of the History of the Valorous and Witty Knight-Errant, Don Quixote of the Mancha. Written in Spanish by Michael Cervantes: and now translated into English."

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$175,000.00
Item Number: RRB-130505
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Saint-Exupery, Antoine de

The Little Prince Original Antoine de Saint-Exupery Watercolor Drawing.

[New York] [1942].

Rare original watercolor study of the beloved protagonist of Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s The Little Prince, a timeless masterpiece that has transcended generations and remains the most widely read work of fiction in history, having sold over 150 million copies over the course of the past 80 years. One page, pencil and watercolor on American ‘FidelityContinue reading "The Little Prince Original Antoine de Saint-Exupery Watercolor Drawing."

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$150,000.00
Item Number: RRB-146264
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Fleming, Ian [Cubby Broccoli]

Complete Set of 14 First Edition James Bond Novels: Casino Royale, Live and Let Die, Moonraker, Diamonds are Forever, From Russia with Love, Dr. No, Goldfinger, For Your Eyes Only (short stories including A View to a Kill and Quantum of Solace), Thunderball, The Spy Who loved Me, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, You Only Live Twice, The Man with the Golden Gun, Octopussy and The Living Daylights.

London : Jonathan Cape, 1953-66.

First editions of each volume in Ian Fleming’s James Bond series. Octavo, 14 volumes, original publisher’s cloth-covered boards. Each volume in a first-issue dust jacket. Casino Royale is near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket with chipping to the extremities including the crown of the spine and upper right corner of the frontContinue reading "Complete Set of 14 First Edition James Bond Novels: Casino Royale, Live and Let Die, Moonraker, Diamonds are Forever, From Russia with Love, Dr. No, Goldfinger, For Your Eyes Only (short stories including A View to a Kill and Quantum of Solace), Thunderball, The Spy Who loved Me, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, You Only Live Twice, The Man with the Golden Gun, Octopussy and The Living Daylights."

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$150,000.00
Item Number: RRB-145438
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Defoe, Daniel

The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; Serious Reflections During the Life And Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe.

London : Printed for W. Taylor at the Ship in Pater-Noster-Row, 1719-1720.

Exceedingly rare complete first edition set of all three books in Defoe’s classic Robinson Crusoe series, including the scarce first and only printing of the third book in the series. Octavo, three volumes bound in full crushed red morocco by Francis Bedford with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raisedContinue reading "The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; Serious Reflections During the Life And Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe."

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$150,000.00
Item Number: RRB-129597
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Austen, Jane

Pride and Prejudice: A Novel.

London : Printed for T. Egerton, 1813.

First editions of all three volumes of Jane Austen’s masterpiece, her bestselling book during her lifetime which remains a landmark of English literature. 12mo, three volumes bound in full mottled calf with gilt titles and elaborate gilt tooling to the spine, double gilt ruling and botanical gilt scrolling to the front and rear panels, giltContinue reading "Pride and Prejudice: A Novel."

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$140,000.00
Item Number: RRB-145824
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Fitzgerald, Edward. With illustrations by Edmund Dulac

The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.

London : Hodder and Stoughton, c. 1910.

Exceptionally rare bound in jewelled binding, set with 37 jewels by Sangorski & Sutcliffe. Quarto, reproduced from a manuscript illuminated by F. Sangorski  G. & Sutcliffe, with miniatures after E. Geddes, original red straight-grained morocco, upper cover with central sunken oval green morocco panel and a Peacock with light green, blue, white, and brown moroccoContinue reading "The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam."

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$125,000.00
Item Number: RRB-150950
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Schedel, Hartmann

Liber Chronicarum. [The Nuremberg Chronicle].

Nuremberg : Anton Koberger for Sebald Schreyer and Sebastian Kammermeister, 1493.

First edition of the Nuremberg Chronicle, the most extensively illustrated book of the 15th century, from the St. Petersburg library of William Tooke. Imperial folio, bound in three quarter calf over paper-covered boards, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, elaborate gilt tooling to the spine, five gilt-tooled raised bands, rebacked, decorated with 1809 woodcut illustrationsContinue reading "Liber Chronicarum. [The Nuremberg Chronicle]."

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$125,000.00
Item Number: RRB-149818
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Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de

The History of Don-Quixote. The First Parte. The Second Part of the History of the Valorous and Witty Knight-Errant, Don Quixote of the Mancha. Written in Spanish by Michael Cervantes: and now translated into English.

London : Edward Blount, 1620.

Exceedingly rare first complete edition in English of Cervantes’ masterpiece comprising the second edition of the first part and the first edition of the second part. Small octavo, 2 volumes bound in full calf with red morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, gilt turn-ins, frontispiece portrait of the author to Vol. I, engraved headpieces, tailpieces and initials. Translated from the original SpanishContinue reading "The History of Don-Quixote. The First Parte. The Second Part of the History of the Valorous and Witty Knight-Errant, Don Quixote of the Mancha. Written in Spanish by Michael Cervantes: and now translated into English."

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$125,000.00
Item Number: RRB-117895
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Lee, Harper

To Kill a Mockingbird. Original Harper Lee Drawing, Painting and Letter Collection.

Philadelphia & New York : J.B. Lippincott Company, 1960.

First edition of perhaps the most important American novel of the 20th century, inscribed by Harper Lee to a close college friend and with a scarce archive of drawings and letters exchanged between the two. Octavo, original green cloth backed brown boards, titles to spine in gilt. Association copy, inscribed by Harper Lee to closeContinue reading "To Kill a Mockingbird. Original Harper Lee Drawing, Painting and Letter Collection."

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$125,000.00
Item Number: RRB-1115260
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Dumas, Alexandre [Alexander]

The Count of Monte-Cristo.

London : London: Chapman and Hall, 1846.

First edition in English of the author’s masterpiece, published just one year after the original French edition and before the American first, the Richard Manney copy. Octavo, 2 volumes, original publisher’s terracotta cloth, decoratively blind-embossed, gilt titles to the spine. Twenty wood-engraved plates after Henry Valentin. In near fine condition with only light rubbing toContinue reading "The Count of Monte-Cristo."

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$110,000.00
Item Number: RRB-129384
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Salinger, J.D

The Catcher In The Rye.

Boston : Little Brown and Company, 1951.

Early printing, printed in the year of publication of the author’s classic novel. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, “December 24, 1951 To Elizabeth Fueller- with best wishes J.D. Salinger.” Salinger’s signature is scarce and signed examples of The Catcher in the Rye are rare.Continue reading "The Catcher In The Rye."

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$98,000.00
Item Number: RRB-140488
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Salinger, J.D

Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction.

Boston : Little, Brown and Company, 1963.

First edition of this classic collection of two novellas by the author of The Catcher in the Rye. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, signed by the author on the front free endpaper, “with best wishes J.D. Salinger.” The recipient was a neighbor and friendly with the author in Cornish, New Hampshire. Very good with dampstainingContinue reading "Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction."

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$82,000.00
Item Number: RRB-150612
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