[Faulkner, William]

Officer of the Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur Diploma Awarded to William Faulkner.

: Republique Francaise, 1949.

Partially printed diploma awarded to William Faulkner as an Officer of the Légion d’Honneur, conferred on him be the French government five months after he accepted the 1949 Nobel Prize in Literature. One page, partially printed and completed in a calligraphic hand, the diploma is signed by three French officials with an embossed seal. InContinue reading "Officer of the Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur Diploma Awarded to William Faulkner."

Hayes, Billy with William Hoffer. [Oliver Stone]

Midnight Express.

New York : Thomas Congdon Books/E.P. Dutton & Co., Inc, 1977.

First edition of Hayes’ classic true story of survival and escape. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Oliver Stone on the title page. Stone adapted the memoir into a screenplay for the 1978 film adaptation for which he won the 1979 Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket.Continue reading "Midnight Express."

Salinger, J.D

Franny and Zooey.

New York : Little, Brown, and Company, 1961.

First edition, second printing of Salinger’s third book. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by Salinger in his cursive hand on the front free endpaper to a personal friend, “Oke, Stop over sometime, JDS 8/26/61.” While Salinger was known for his reclusive behavior with regard to the spotlight of the international press, he did haveContinue reading "Franny and Zooey."

Ellison, Ralph

Invisible Man.

New York : Random House, 1952.

First edition of the author’s landmark first novel, which went on to win the National Book Award. Octavo, original black and tan cloth. Fine in an near fine price-clipped dust jacket with light rubbing. Jacket design by E. McKnight Kauffer. A nice example.

Hazzard, Shirley

The Transit of Venus.

New York : The Viking Press, 1980.

First edition of “one of the great English-language novels of the twentieth century” (The Paris Review). Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by the author in the year of publication, “For Pat and Peter and Beck Hart- with great good wishes- on this last day of winter 1980- from Shirley Hazzard New YorkContinue reading "The Transit of Venus."

Irving, John

A Son of the Circus.

New York : Random House, 1994.

First edition of “his most entertaining novel since Garp” (The New York Times Book Review). Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by the author on the title page, “For Ted & Susie with my affection John Irving.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Honi Werner.

Niven, Larry

Ringworld.

New York : Ballantine Books, 1970.

Paperback original first edition of this classic work, which went on to win the 1970 Nebula and 1971 Hugo award for best novel. Octavo, original illustrated wrappers by Dean Ellis. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “To Tim Larry Niven.” In very good condition.

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]."

Plato; Translated by Floyer Sydenham

Plato’s Dialogues.

London : W. Sandby, 1767-1779.

First edition set contains all eleven parts, although without all the individual dated titles. Part one is signed on the dedication page by the translator Floyer Sydenham as usual, and includes a sheet laid in with manuscript instructions to the binder. Quarto, three volumes, bound in contemporary full calf, armorial bookplate. Dated title pages inContinue reading "Plato’s Dialogues."

Lewis, C.S. Edited by Alastair Fowler

Spenser’s Images of Life.

London : Cambridge University Press, 1967.

First edition of Lewis’ longest piece of literary criticism, posthumously compiled by Alastair Fowler. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket design by Will Carter.

Opera Omnia. Ed. Jac. Sirmond (Volumes 1-4), and J. Garnier (Volume 5).

Paris : Sebastian and Gabriel Cramoisy, 1682-84.

A fine set of the works of Theodoretus, Bishop of Cyrus, beautifully painted on each panel. Quarto, five volumes, bound in full 17th-century vellum, both covers on each volume fully painted with a scene from the life of Christ, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, brown and black morocco lettering pieces. The first fourContinue reading "Opera Omnia. Ed. Jac. Sirmond (Volumes 1-4), and J. Garnier (Volume 5)."

West, Nathanael

A Cool Million.

New York : Covici-Friede, 1934.

Rare review copy, of the first edition of the author’s classic third novel. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by William Cotton. Rare in this condition.

Stone, Irving [Colin Powell]

The Man.

London : Cassell & Co, 1966.

First British edition, early printing of this novel which deals with America’s first elected black president faces enormous pressures, including impeachment proceedings, soon after he takes his place in the oval office. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For General Colin Powell- with respect and admiration- alwaysContinue reading "The Man."

Trollope, Anthony

The Last Chronicle of Barset.

London : Smith, Elder, 1867.

First edition in original 32 weekly parts of the final novel in Trollope’s acclaimed Barsetshire series. Octavo, original color pictorial wrappers. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. In very good condition. Rare in complete form.

Heywood, Thomas

The Life of Merlin, Sirnamed Ambrosius. His Prophesies, and Predictions Interpreted; and their truth made good by our English Analls. Being a Chronological History of all the Kings, and memorable passages of this Kingdome, from Brute to the Reigne of our Royall Soveraigne King Charles.

London : Printed by J. Okes for Jasper Emery, 1641.

First edition of “one of Heywood’s most interesting pot-boilers” (Pforzheimer). Octavo, bound in three quarter polished calf over marbled boards, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, all edges gilt, wood-engraved frontispiece portrait of Merlin “generally attributed to [Wenzel] Hollar” (Wither to Prior 448), woodcut initials, headpieces and tailpieces. In very good condition, lacking as usualContinue reading "The Life of Merlin, Sirnamed Ambrosius. His Prophesies, and Predictions Interpreted; and their truth made good by our English Analls. Being a Chronological History of all the Kings, and memorable passages of this Kingdome, from Brute to the Reigne of our Royall Soveraigne King Charles."

Oe, Kenzaburo

A Personal Matter.

New York : Grove Press, 1968.

First edition in English (preceding the British edition by one year) of the Nobel Prize-winning author’s classic work. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, warmly inscribed by the author in Japanese on the front free endpaper to Howard Hibbett. The recipient, Howard Hibbett was a prominent Harvard scholar, translator of Japanese literature and friend of Oe’s.Continue reading "A Personal Matter."

Dewey Cassell with Aaron Sultan and Mike Gartland Foreword by Stan Lee

The Art of George Tuska.

Raleigh : Two Morrows Publishing, 2005.

First edition of this work by the artist, inscribed by him to legendary creator Stan Lee, who contributed the foreword to this volume. Quarto, original illustrated wrappers, illustrated throughout. The recipient, Stan Lee co-created iconic characters, including superheroes Spider-Man, the X-Men, Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk, Ant-Man, the Wasp, the Fantastic Four, Black Panther, Daredevil,Continue reading "The Art of George Tuska."

Lee, Harper

To Kill A Mockingbird.

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

First edition 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. With an autograph postcard signed by and entirely in the hand of Harper Lee laidContinue reading "To Kill A Mockingbird."

Paterson, Katherine

The Great Gilly Hopkins.

New York : Harper Collins Publishers, 1978.

First edition of this realistic children’s novel, which was ranked number 63 among all-time children’s novels in a survey published by School Library Journal. Octavo, original half cloth. Signed by Katherine Paterson on the title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket art by Fred Marcellino.

Green, Anna Katharine

The Leavenworth Case: A Lawyer’s Story.

New York : G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1878.

First edition of the author’s first book, considered one of the best American detective novels. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth with gilt titles to the spine, rebacked. In very good condition. Small ownership name. Housed in a custom half morocco and folding chemise slipcase. Rare.

Kingsley, Charles

Two Years Ago.

Cambridge : Macmillan and Co, 1857.

First edition of the author’s classic work, containing some of his most profound passages of descriptive imagery. Octavo, three volumes bound in three quarters morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In very good condition.

Goldsmith, Oliver. With Prefatory Memoir by George Saintsbury

The Vicar of Wakefield.

London : John C. Nimmo, 1886.

Finely bound example of one of the most popular and widely read novels among Victorians. Octavo, bound in full crushed levant morocco by Bayntun Bindery, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, elaborate gilt ruling to the front an rear panels, central morocco onlay to the front panel,Continue reading "The Vicar of Wakefield."

Bunyan, John

The Pilgrim’s Progress From This World to that Which is to Come.

London : Routledge, Warne and Routledge, 1861.

Finely bound edition of one of the most significant works of religious English literature. Octavo, bound in full crushed teal levant morocco by Bayntun Bindery, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, quadruple gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, radiant cornerpieces and central morocco onlay ofContinue reading "The Pilgrim’s Progress From This World to that Which is to Come."

Huxley, Aldous

Point Counter Point.

London : Chatto & Windus, 1928.

First edition of Huxley’s classic satiric novel. Octavo, original cloth. Fine in a good dust jacket with chipping to the spine, contemporary name to the front free endpaper.