Shakespeare, William. Revised by George Steevens

The Dramatic Works of Shakespeare.

London : Printed by W. Bulmer and Co. for John and Josiah Boydell, George and W. Nicol., 1802.

Rare finely bound complete set of “by far the largest single engraving enterprise ever undertaken in England”, John Boydell’s magnificent illustrated folio edition of the dramatic works of Shakespeare. Folio, 9 volumes. Bound in three quarters morocco with gilt titles to the spine, all edges marbled. Elaborately illustrated with 96 plates engraved by the mostContinue reading "The Dramatic Works of Shakespeare."

Trollope, Anthony

The Claverings.

London : Smith, Elder and Co, 1867.

First edition of this work by Trollope. Octavo, two volumes, bound in half leather. In very good condition. With Sixteen Illustrations by M. Ellen Edwards.

Wells, H.G. [George Bernard Shaw]

The World Set Free: A Story of Mankind.

London : Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1914.

First edition, first issue of Wells’ prophetic novel predicting the arrival of atomic weaponry with the publisher listed as Macmillan and Co. Limited (as opposed to Ltd.), 8 pages of advertisements at rear, and no statement of printing to the copyright page. Octavo, original cloth stamped in blind with gilt titles to the spine andContinue reading "The World Set Free: A Story of Mankind."

New Brunswick Readers: The Second Reader.

Toronto : W. J. Gage & Company, 1900.

First edition of The Second Reader in the New Brunswick Readers series, prescribed by the Board of Education for use in the Schools of New Brunswick. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Very good in a very good dust jacket from Hall’s Book Store in St. John, New Brunswick. Ownership inscription to the front free endpaper.

Durrell, Lawrence

Quinx or The Ripper’s Tale.

London : Faber and Faber, 1985.

First edition of the fifth and final volume in the author’s Avignon Quintet. Octavo, original cloth. Signed and dated by the author in the year of publication on the title page, “Lawrence Durrell 1985.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket watercolor by David Gentleman. Jacket design by Pentagram.

Hasford, Gustav

The Phantom Blooper: A Novel of Vietnam.

New York : Bantam Books, 1990.

First edition of the author’s sequel to The Short-Timers, basis for the film Full Metal Jacket. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper with a full page inscription in the month of publication, “To My Friend Gene- One Jarhead to Another- from Gustav USMC RTD. Gustave HasfordContinue reading "The Phantom Blooper: A Novel of Vietnam."

Simon, Andre L

Star Chamber Revels (Or, The Fountayne of Justice). A Satyre Acted on Friday the eleventh day of June, in the yeare 1602 by the then Lords of the Queen Elizabeth’s most honourable Council.

Peekskill : Printed by Crosby Gaige, 1937.

First edition of Andre L. Simon’s retelling of a day in the life of the Lords of the Star Chamber. Octavo, original boards, engraved headpiece and tailpiece. Signed by the author at the conclusion of his introduction. Very good in the rare original glassine.

Hasford, Gustav

The Phantom Blooper: A Novel of Vietnam.

New York : Bantam Books, 1990.

First edition of the author’s sequel to The Short-Timers, basis for the film Full Metal Jacket. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper with a full page inscription in the year of publication, “Gustav Hasford For My good friends Jeff and Jacquie from Uncle Gus  San DiegoContinue reading "The Phantom Blooper: A Novel of Vietnam."

Bernstein, Aline

Masterpieces of Women’s Costume of the 18th and 19th Centuries.

New York : Crown Publishers, Inc, 1959.

First edition of Aline Bernstein’s great work on the history of costume design, published posthumously. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated with 32 color plates and 51 correlated line drawings. In fine condition. From the library of actress Vivien Leigh.

Nooteboom, Cees

The Following Story.

New York : Harcourt Brace & Company, 1991.

First American edition of Nooteboom’s mysterious tale. Octavo, original half cloth. Translated from the Dutch by Ina Rilke. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket painting by Claude Verlinde. Jacket photograph by Simone Sassen.

Darwin, Bernard

Dickens.

London : Duckworth, 1933.

First edition of Bernard Darwin’s concise biography of literary master Charles Dickens. Small octavo, original cloth. Very good in the rare original dust jacket which is in very good condition. Name to the front free endpaper.

Trollope, Anthony

Barchester Towers.

London : Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, & Roberts, 1857.

Rare first editions, first issue of one of Trollope’s most important novels. Octavo, original cloth, blind stamped boards. Half-title present in Volume I, brick-red endpapers with advertisements. Sadleir 5. Bookplates of Oliver Brett on front free endpapers and of Duff Cooper on versos. In near fine condition. Each volume is housed in a three quarterContinue reading "Barchester Towers."

Wallace, Lew. Illustrated by Eric Pape

The Fair God: A Tale Of The Conquest of Mexico.

Boston and New York : Houghton Mifflin and Company, 1899.

First edition of Union General Lew Wallace’s first novel. Octavo, two volumes, original publisher’s embossed morocco with gilt titles to the spine and front panel, rebacked, top edge gilt, patterned endpapers, elaborately illustrated with both in-text and full page engravings within gilt frames and with lettered tissue-guards by Eric Pape, decorated initials. One of 250Continue reading "The Fair God: A Tale Of The Conquest of Mexico."

Danielson, Richard E

Martha Doyle and Other Sporting Memories.

New York : The Derrydale Press, 1938.

First edition of Danielson’s collection of sporting memories. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated by Edwin Megargee. One of 1250 numbered copies, this is number 775. In near fine condition.

Cather, Willa

Death Comes for the Archbishop; Alexander’s Bridge; Shadows on the Rock.

Boston and New York : Houghton Mifflin Company; Alfred A. Knopf, 1922-1931.

Finely bound collection of three of the author’s best-known works, including her first novel: Death Comes for the Archbishop. Octavos, three volumes bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers. Armorial bookplate to the pastedown of two volumes. InContinue reading "Death Comes for the Archbishop; Alexander’s Bridge; Shadows on the Rock."

James, Henry

The Real Thing.

New York and London : Macmillan & Co, 1893.

First edition of this fine collection of James’ tales. Octavo, original decorated cloth with gilt titles to the spine. In very good condition.

Palgrave, Francis T

The Treasury of Sacred Song: Selected from the English Lyrical Poetry of Four Centuries.

Oxford : Clarendon Press, 1889.

First trade edition of Palgrave’s treasury of the lyrical poems of the finest English poets. Octavo, original publisher’s gilt-stamped half vellum, top edge gilt with others untrimmed. In near find condition. Ownership inscription.

Moore, George

Memoirs Of My Dead Life.

London : William Heinemann, 1906.

First edition of the first great modern Irish novelist’s memoirs. Octavo, original cloth with gilt titles to the spine. In near fine condition. Housed in a custom half morocco and chemise slipcase.

Smith, Thorne

The Bishop’s Jaegers.

Garden City : Sun Dial Press, 1932.

First Sun Dial Press edition of Smith’s  wildly hilarious comic romp, preceded by the first edition published by Doubleday, Doran & Company in the same year. Octavo, original cloth. Illustrations by Roese. Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket.

Dickens, Charles

The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.

London : Curtis Guild, 1882.

First Curtis Guild extra-illustrated edition of one of Dickens’ greatest works. Octavo, two volumes, bound in full morocco by F.P. Hathaway with gilt titles and elaborate gilt tooling to spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, elaborate gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, inner dentelles, silk endpapers. With 53 illustrations by SeymourContinue reading "The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club."

Langner, Lawrence [John Steinbeck]

The Importance of Wearing Clothes.

New York : Hastings House Publishers, 1959.

First edition of this entertaining history of clothing and its impact on the human condition. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. The dedication copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To John Steinbeck-whose interest in the book when half written encouraged me to complete it. And to Elaine Steinbeck with love to youContinue reading "The Importance of Wearing Clothes."

Joyce, James

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.

London : The Egoist Ltd, 1916.

First English edition, second printing of Joyce’s classic stream-of-consciousness work, his first novel. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Beatrice Randegger. James Joyce. 25 Novembre 1919. Trieste.” The recipient was a private student’s of Joyce in Italy. In excellent condition with light rubbing and wear. Housed inContinue reading "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man."

Beckett, Samuel

En Attendant Godot. Pièce en Deux Actes.

Paris : Les Éditions de Minuit, 1952.

First edition, one of 2500 copies printed of the author’s masterpiece. Octavo, original wrappers printed in blue and black. In excellent condition with light rubbing to the extremities.

Trollope, Anthony

Framley Parsonage, The Warden, and Doctor Thorne.

London : Smith, Elder & Co.; Longmans, Green and Co.; Chapman and Hall, 1872-1873.

Finely bound collection of a selection of Trollope’s works. Octavo, three volumes bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled. In very good condition.