Tolkien, J.R.R

The Lord of The Rings Trilogy: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King.

London : George Allen and Unwin, 1967.

Second editions of the author’s classic trilogy, signed by Tolkien in each volume. Octavo, 3 volumes, original cloth, folding maps. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “Signed for Ethel May with love J. R. R. Tolkien.” Volumes two and three are signed by J.R.R. Tolkien on the half-title page. The recipient,Continue reading "The Lord of The Rings Trilogy: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King."

Kipling, Rudyard

Rudyard Kipling’s Verse: Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.

London : Hodder and Stoughton, 1919.

First trade edition of the Inclusive Edition of Rudyard Kipling’s Verse. Octavo, three volumes, original publisher’s full vellum, gilt titles to the spine, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, top edge gilt, titles in red and black. In near fine condition.

The First Spelling Primer; or an Easy Introduction to the Art of Reading Adorned with Emblematic Pictures.

London-Derry : Published by G. Douglas, 1795.

Second edition of this scarce 18th century spelling primer. 16mo, original limp paper boards, illustrated with twenty-six small text woodcuts illustrating the Prince’s Alphabet, followed by an ABC poem, The Alphabet in Rhime, syllables of two and three letters, easy words, easy reading lessons, the Lord’s Prayer, and a publisher’s advertisement leaf aimed at childrenContinue reading "The First Spelling Primer; or an Easy Introduction to the Art of Reading Adorned with Emblematic Pictures."

Dickens, Charles

The Christmas Books: A Christmas Carol; The Chimes; The Battle of Life; Cricket on the Hearth; The Haunted Man and The Ghost’s Bargain.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1843-48.

Complete set of Charles Dickens’ Christmas Books containing first editions of each volume in the series with the exception of A Christmas Carol. Octavo, five volumes elaborately bound in full crushed red morocco by Sangorski and Sutcliffe with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, double gilt rulingContinue reading "The Christmas Books: A Christmas Carol; The Chimes; The Battle of Life; Cricket on the Hearth; The Haunted Man and The Ghost’s Bargain."

Dickens, Charles

The Uncommercial Traveller.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1861.

First edition in book form of Dickens’ classic collection of personal vignettes. Octavo, bound in full polished calf by Tout, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, ribbon bound in, all edges gilt. In near fineContinue reading "The Uncommercial Traveller."

Maugham, W. Somerset

For Services Rendered: A Play in Three Acts.

London : William Heinamann Ltd, 1932.

First edition of Maugham’s popular play. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “by W. Somerset Maugham for Elsie Tritton.” The recipient, Elsie Tritton, was a noted collector and friend of Maugham‘s who introduced him to Alan Searle. A younger man from the London slum area of Bermondsey, Searle hadContinue reading "For Services Rendered: A Play in Three Acts."

Lee, Harper

To Kill a Mockingbird.

Barnstable, MA : Crane’s Duplicating Service, for J.B. Lippincott Company,, 1960.

Rare advance reading copy of the first edition of Harper Lee’s classic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel signed by three actors from the 1962 film and with a two page autograph letter signed and entirely in the hand of Harper Lee declining the invitation to participate in a documentary film about her novel. Octavo, original wrappers. PresentationContinue reading "To Kill a Mockingbird."

Hugo, Victor

The Works of Victor Hugo: Including [Les Misérables, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, The Contemplations and The Legend of the Ages].

Boston : George H. Richmond & Co, 1892.

Finely bound complete set of the Cabinet edition of the Works of Victor Hugo, one of 1000 numbered sets produced. Octavo, 40 volumes bound in three quarters morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in three compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt with others untrimmed, illustrated with tissue-guarded engravingsContinue reading "The Works of Victor Hugo: Including [Les Misérables, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, The Contemplations and The Legend of the Ages]."

Cohen, Leonard

Let Us Compare Mythologies.

Montreal : McGill Poetry Series by Contact Press, 1956.

First edition of Cohen’s first book, which explores philosophy, sexuality, death, a world of violent contrasts that would define his future literary and musical careers. Octavo, original cloth. With five full-page line illustrations by Freda Guttman. An excellent example of this rare first book, which reportedly, fewer than 400 copies of the first edition wereContinue reading "Let Us Compare Mythologies."

Dickens, Charles

The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

London : Chapman & Hall, 1870.

First edition from the original parts Dickens’ final novel, with them bound in the rear. Octavo, bound in three quarters calf over marbled boards, frontispiece portrait of dickens, 12 wood-engraved plates, original wrappers bound in rear. In near fine condition.

Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de

The History of the Most Renowned Don Quixote of Mancha: And his Trusty Squire Sancho Pancha, Now Made English according to the Humour of our Modern Language. And Adorned with several Copper Plates.

London : Printed by Tho. Hodgkin, and are to be sold by John Newton, 1687.

First edition of the first illustrated edition in English of Don Quixote. Folio, bound in three quarters calf over marbled boards, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands. With copper-engraved frontispiece and eight copper-engraved plates, each bearing two images. Translated by John Phillips. In very good condition with all plates present, signature trimmed. A veryContinue reading "The History of the Most Renowned Don Quixote of Mancha: And his Trusty Squire Sancho Pancha, Now Made English according to the Humour of our Modern Language. And Adorned with several Copper Plates."

Jones, Jymi

Guerilla Warfare In Philly.

Elkins Park, Pennsylvania : Uhuru/Publications, 1970.

First edition  of the Philadelphia activist’s first book of poetry. Octavo, original wrappers. In near fine condition.

Maugham, W. Somerset

The Razor’s Edge.

Garden City, NY : Doubleday Doran & Company, 1944.

First American edition, which precedes the British edition of Maugham’s 20th-century manifesto for human fulfillment. Octavo, bound in full morocco, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In fine condition.

[Parrish, Maxfield] SAUNDERS, Louise

The Knave of Hearts.

New York : Charles Scribners Sons, 1925.

First edition of “one of the greatest of American illustrated books” (Porter, 84), the last and most lavish children’s book illustrated by Maxfield Parrish, with mounted cover design, pictorial endpapers, 14 full-page color plates, and nine in-text color illustrations. Folio, original black cloth, mounted cover illustration, pictorial endpapers. Housed in a custom cloth chemise and slipcase.

Dickens, Charles

The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit.

London : London: Chapman and Hall, 1839.

First edition of this classic work. Octavo, bound in contemporary three quarters calf over marbled boards, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, raised bands, illustrated with 40 plates. In near fine condition, contemporary name to the front free endpaper.

Walton, Izaak; Charles Cotton; Harris Nicolas

The Complete Angler or the Contemplative Man’s Recreation Being a Discourse of Rivers Fish-Ponds Fish and Fishing Written by Izaak Walton and Instructions on How to Angle For A Trout of Grayling in a Clear Stream by Charles Cotton.

London : William Pickering, 1836.

First Nicolas edition of this classic of English literature. Quarto, two volumes bound in full morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, triple gilt ruling and fleuron cornerpieces to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers, illustrated with engravedContinue reading "The Complete Angler or the Contemplative Man’s Recreation Being a Discourse of Rivers Fish-Ponds Fish and Fishing Written by Izaak Walton and Instructions on How to Angle For A Trout of Grayling in a Clear Stream by Charles Cotton."

Swift, Jonathan

Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. In Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, first Surgeon, and then Captain of Several Ships. [Gulliver’s Travels].

London : Printed for Benj. Motte, at the Middle Temple-Gate in Fleet-Street, 1726.

First edition of Swift’s masterpiece with Teerink-Scouten 290 (AA), with title page variant in volume II without the edition statement, but with “Vol. II”, author portrait with Latin verses beneath printed on paper with vertical chain lines. Octavo, 2 volumes, bound in full calf, illustrated with five engraved maps and one engraved table. In nearContinue reading "Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. In Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, first Surgeon, and then Captain of Several Ships. [Gulliver’s Travels]."

Amis, Martin

Money.

London : Jonathan Cape, 1984.

First edition of this modern classic. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Martin Amis on the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Mon Mohan/ Dick Jones. Author’s photograph by Jerry Bauer.

Amis, Martin

Martin Amis First Edition Collection.

Lonson : Jonathan Cape, 1984-2020.

Extensive collection of first editions by acclaimed novelist Martin Amis, including his best-known works Money and London Fields. Octavo, 18 volumes, original cloth and half-cloth. 15 volumes signed by the author. The collection includes first editions of Einstein’s Monsters [London: Jonathan Cape, 1987]; and signed first editions of London Fields [London: Jonathan Cape, 1989] andContinue reading "Martin Amis First Edition Collection."

Scott, Paul

A Male Child.

London : Eyre & Spottiswoode (Publishers) Ltd, 1956.

First edition of Paul Scott’s third novel. Octavo, original boards. Near fine in a very good dust jacket.

Buechner, Frederick

The Book of Bebb: Lion Country, Open Heart, Love Feast, Treasure Hunt.

New York : Atheneum, 1979.

First edition of the compilation of the four books that make up the Bebb Quartet. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Frederick Buechner on the title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Designed by Harry Ford.

Tolstoy, Leo

What Is Art?

London : The Brotherhood Publishing Company, 1898.

First edition of this work by the Russian master. Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece of Tolstoy. In near fine condition, contemporary name to the half-title page. Translated by A. Maude.

Teresa, Mother

Life in the Spirit: Reflections, Meditations, Prayers. Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

New York : Harper & Row, Publishers, 1983.

First edition of this work by powerful work by Mother Teresa. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by the author on the title page, “God bless you Mother Teresa MC.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Edited by Kathryn Spink. Rare and desirable signed, we have never encountered another one.

Brautigan, Richard

Trout Fishing in America.

New York : A Delta Book/ Dell Publishing, 1967.

First edition of this work “that has very little to do with trout fishing and a lot to do with the lamenting of a passing pastoral America . . . an instant cult classic” (Financial Times). Octavo, original illustrated wrappers. Cover photograph by Erik Weber. In near fine condition.