Hamsun, Knut

August.

New York : Coward-McCann, 1931.

First American edition and first in English, preceding the British edition by one year of the Nobel Prize-winning author’s classic work. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, “B.A. Abel from yours respectfully Knut Hamsun 12/11.31.” Near fine in a near fine dustContinue reading "August."

Lardner Jr., Ring

The Ecstasy of Owen Muir.

Berlin : Seven Seas Publishers, 1966.

Paperback edition of Ring Lardner Jr.’s witty Candide-like satire. Octavo, original illustrated wrappers. The recipient, Vera Caspary was a novelist, most well known for Laura, which was scripted by Lardner for the film, which starred Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews. In good condition.

Kipling, Rudyard

Kim.

New York : Doubleday, Page & Company, 1901.

First edition with the chapter-heading rhymes for only chapters VII and VIII as called of what many consider Kipling’s masterpiece. Octavo, original cloth, embossed black and gilt to the front panel, gilt titles to the spine, illustrated. In near fine condition with light rubbing to the extremities. An exceptional example.

Durrell, Lawrence

Tunc.

London : Faber and Faber, 1968.

First edition of this novel by the author of The Alexandria Quartet. Octavo, original cloth. Fine in a near fine dust jacket.

Milne, A. A.; Ernest Shepard

A. A. Milne and Ernest Shepard Signed Winnie-the-Pooh Print Collection.

1928.

Rare collection of six Winnie-The-Pooh prints specially bound with an autograph note signed by both A. A. Milne and Ernest Shepard. Quarto, bound in hand-made paper wrappers, the collection includes six mounted Winnie-the-Pooh illustrations extracted from issues of Home Chat magazine which were produced by Shepard exclusively for Home Chat in 1928 and never appearedContinue reading "A. A. Milne and Ernest Shepard Signed Winnie-the-Pooh Print Collection."

Tolkien, J.R.R

J.R.R. Tolkien Autograph Letter Signed and Annotated Old English Literature Questionnaire.

1920.

Rare autograph letter signed by the author of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, J.R.R. Tolkien regarding a list of 50 questions he has composed examining Old English Literature. The one-page autograph letter signed by Tolkien reads in full, “1 Alfred Street St. Giles Oxford Mar: 17th 1920. Dear Miss Duncan, I enclose a ‘mixed bag’Continue reading "J.R.R. Tolkien Autograph Letter Signed and Annotated Old English Literature Questionnaire."

Hemingway, Ernest

The Torrents of Spring.

New York : Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1926.

First edition of Hemingway’s first novel, one of 1250 printed. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles and ruling to the spine, raised bands, double gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, gilt signature of Hemingway to the front panel, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In fine condition. An exceptionalContinue reading "The Torrents of Spring."

Bayley, Victor

House of Hatred.

London : Robert Hale Limited, 1935.

First edition of this novel of adventure set in Calcutta and the North-West Frontier along the borders of China and Russia. Octavo, original cloth. Very good in a very good dust jacket. Laid in are two autographed letters signed by Victor Bayley.

Williams, John

Nothing But The Night.

Fayetteville : The University of Arkansas Press, 1990.

First edition of the re-issue of John Williams’ first book. Octavo, original wrappers. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page in the month of publication, “For Bob and Margaret, with much love, for many years- John Williams Jan. 22, 1990.” In near fine condition. Cover art by Donald Furst.

Mercury, Freddie. Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon

Queen. Jazz Signed Album.

1989.

Original record, boldly signed by Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon on the front panel. In fine condition. Framed. The entire piece measures 18 inches by 18 inches. Rare and desirable signed by each member of Queen.

Frank, Pat

Mr. Adam.

Philadelphia : J.B. Lippincott Company, 1946.

First edition of the author’s classic first novel, which has went on to sell over two million copies. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper: “For Cynthia – With best regards, Pat Frank, Tarrytown, ’47”. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Uncommon signed and inscribed.

Griffith, Philip Jones; Foreword by Noam Chomsky

Vietnam Inc.

New York : Phaidon Press, 2001.

First edition of the re-release of classic photojournalist work. Folio, original black boards, illustrated. Boldly signed by Noam Chomsky on the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Foreword by Noam Chomsky.

Du Bois, W.E.B

The Black Flame Trilogy: The Ordeal of Mansart; Mansart Builds A School; Worlds of Color.

New York : Mainstream Publishers , 1957-61.

First editions of each of novel in the author’s acclaimed Black Flame trilogy. Octavo, original cloth, three volumes. Association copy, inscribed on the front free endpaper to his close friends and neighbors Thomas and Patricia Bell in volume one. Each are near fine in a very good dust jackets. First editions are uncommon, especially signed.

Murakami, Haruki

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1997.

First edition of Murakami’s heroically imaginative novel, which is at once a detective story, an account of a disintegrating marriage, and an excavation of the buried secrets of World War II. Octavo, original boards. Signed three times by the jacket illustrator Chip Kidd; once on the front panel, on the half-title page and on theContinue reading "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle."

Andrews, Raymond

Appalachee Red. Rosiebelle Lee Wildcat Tennessee. Baby Sweet’s [The Muskhogean Trilogy].

New York : The Dial Press, 1978, 1980, 1983.

First edition of each novel in Raymond Andrews’ famed yet elusive Muskhogean Trilogy. Octavo, three volumes, original half cloth, illustrations by Benny Andrews. Association copies, inscribed by the author in both volumes one and two to fellow author Bill Starr. Appalachee Red inscribed as follows, “For BILL, A pleasure having met you, Ray Andrews 9-24-88.”Continue reading "Appalachee Red. Rosiebelle Lee Wildcat Tennessee. Baby Sweet’s [The Muskhogean Trilogy]."

Benedictus, David

The Fourth of June.

London : Anthony Blond, 1962.

First edition of Benedictus’ first novel. Octavo, original illustrated boards. Very good in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by Richard Chopping.

Barrett, William E

The Lilies of the Field.

Garden City : Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1962.

First edition of the author’s classic retelling of the true story of the Sisters of Walburga, adapted into the Academy Award winning film of the same name starring Sidney Poitier, his performance which made him the first African-American actor to win a competitive Academy Award. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated with drawings by Burt Silverman.Continue reading "The Lilies of the Field."

Calligraphic Manuscript on Vellum with a Color Miniature of the Painting by Leonardo Da Vinci.

c.1900.

Rare illuminated manuscript regarding Da Vinci’s master drawing The Head of Christ (c. 1495), the basis for Da Vinci’s depiction of Jesus in The Last Supper. Da Vinci himself considered the drawing so important, he reworked it several times over the course of his life. The text is headed “Art” at the center in liquidContinue reading "Calligraphic Manuscript on Vellum with a Color Miniature of the Painting by Leonardo Da Vinci."

Kipling, Rudyard

The Maltese Cat: A Polo Game of the ‘Nineties.

Garden City, NY : Doubleday, Doran & Company, 1936.

First edition of Kipling’s tale of a polo pony living among the British in India. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated by Lionel Edwards, frontispiece and plates in color. Near fine in the rare original dust jacket which is in very good condition.

Robert Frank

Lines of My Hands.

Tokyo : Yugensha, 1972.

Limited first edition of Frank’s memorable autobiography in photographs, one of 500 copies. Folio, original black cloth, slipcase with mounted cover photograph. Association copy, inscribed by the photographer on the title page, “To Yuichi, getting ready to travel East. Good Luck. Robert. NYC Dec. 5, 1996” with a line drawing of a fish below a surface line.Continue reading "Lines of My Hands."

MacMunn, Sir George. [Rudyard Kipling]

Rudyard Kipling: Craftsman.

London : Robert Hale Limited, 1938.

New and revised edition of MacMunn’s biography of Rudyard Kipling. Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece portrait of Kipling. In near fine condition.

Kitton, Frederic G. [Charles Dickens]

Charles Dickens by Pen and Pencil and A Supplement to Charles Dickens by Pen and Pencil.

London : Frank T. Sabin, 1890-1891.

First edition in book form of the most sumptuous presentation of Kitton’s collection of Dickens portraits and illustrations which first appeared in serialized parts between 1889-1890. Folio, two volumes bound in full buckram with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, containing 31 engraved portraits, 30 engraved remarque plates, 78 illustrations in the text and 67Continue reading "Charles Dickens by Pen and Pencil and A Supplement to Charles Dickens by Pen and Pencil."

Sologub, Fedor

The Kiss of the Unborn and Other Stories.

Knoxville : The University of Tennessee Press, 1977.

First edition of the author’s timeless short story collection. Octavo, original cloth. Translated and with an Introduction by Murl G. Barker. Fine in a near fine dust jacket.

Milton, John. Edited by Sir Egerton Brydges, Bart

The Poetical Works of John Milton.

London : Printed For Thomas Tegg, 1842.

Finely bound example of Sir Egerton Brydges’ compilation of Milton’s poetical works. Octavo, bound in full morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt vignettes to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, all edges gilt, frontispiece portrait of Milton. In very goodContinue reading "The Poetical Works of John Milton."