Literature

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.
    The Iliad, Book III: Helen Reviews the Champions. [With] The Iliad, Book XVIII: The Shield of Achilles.

    Fagles, Robert

    The Iliad, Book III: Helen Reviews the Champions. [With] The Iliad, Book XVIII: The Shield of Achilles.

    : Grand Street Publications, Inc, .

    Two rare Grand Street Publications separate printings of Books III and XVIII of Robert Fagles’ renowned translation of Homer’s Iliad. Octavo, two volumes. Association copy, inscribed by au...
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    $275.00 Item Number: RRB-137120
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    The Orphan Master’s Son.

    Johnson, Adam

    The Orphan Master’s Son.

    New York: Random House, 2012.

    First edition of this emotionally rousing novel, which went on to win the Pulitzer Prize. Octavo, original boards. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by the author on the title page, “For Johan...
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    $250.00 Item Number: RRB-147177
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    Day By Day.

    Kipling, Rudyard

    Day By Day.

    New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1913.

    First edition of this selection of lines from Kipling’s works for each day of the year. Duodecimo, bound in full suede with gilt titles to the front panel, pictorial endpapers, frontispiece port...
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    $250.00 Item Number: RRB-149048
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    The Confessions of Nat Turner.

    Styron, William

    The Confessions of Nat Turner.

    New York: Random House, 1967.

    First edition of Styron’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “To Gene Barnett best wishes William Styron....
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    $250.00 Item Number: RRB-127426
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    The Vivisector.

    White, Patrick

    The Vivisector.

    London: Jonathan Cape, 1970.

    First edition of this work by “one of the great magicians of fiction . . . White’s scope is vast and his invention endless” (The Observer). Octavo, original cloth. Fine in a near fin...
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    $250.00 Item Number: RRB-132699
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    The Inmates.

    Powys, John Cowper

    The Inmates.

    London: Macdonald & Co., 1952.

    First edition of the author’s astonishing tale, set in a madhouse. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Roy Sanford.
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    $250.00 Item Number: RRB-128106
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    The Human Stain.

    Roth, Philip

    The Human Stain.

    Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2000.

    First edition, second printing of Roth’s award-winning novel. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by Philip Roth on the title page. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by...
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    $250.00 Item Number: RRB-150374
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    Mauve Gloves & Madmen, Clutter & Vine And Other Stories, Sketches, and Essays.

    Wolfe, Tom

    Mauve Gloves & Madmen, Clutter & Vine And Other Stories, Sketches, and Essays.

    New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1976.

    First edition of this collection of essays. Octavo, original cloth, sketches by the author. Boldly signed by Tom Wolfe on the front free endpaper. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Jan...
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    $250.00 Item Number: RRB-141279
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    The Vivisector.

    White, Patrick

    The Vivisector.

    London: Jonathan Cape, 1970.

    First edition of this work by “one of the great magicians of fiction . . . White’s scope is vast and his invention endless” (The Observer). Octavo, original cloth. Fine in a near fin...
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    $250.00 Item Number: RRB-146095
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    The Spirit of the Place.

    Shem, Samuel

    The Spirit of the Place.

    Kent, OH: The Kent University Press, 2008.

    First edition of this ambitious novel about the complicated relationships between mothers and sons, doctors and patients, the past and the present, and love and death. Octavo, original boards. Present...
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    $250.00 Item Number: RRB-142111
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    Some Came Running.

    Jones, James

    Some Came Running.

    New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1957.

    First edition of the author’s major second novel about an aspiring Army veteran writer. Octavo, original publisher’s half cloth. Jacket design by Greta Franzen. Near fine in a near fine du...
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    $250.00 Item Number: RRB-147568
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    The General of the Dead Army.

    Kadare, Ismail

    The General of the Dead Army.

    New York: Grossman, 1972.

    First American edition of the author’s classic first book to be translated into English. Octavo, original cloth, top stain black. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by McKean, K...
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    $250.00 Item Number: RRB-152111
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    The Private Life, Lord Beaupre, The Visits.

    James, Henry

    The Private Life, Lord Beaupre, The Visits.

    New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1893.

    First edition of this collection of novellas published at the height of James’ career. Octavo, original illustrated cloth, in near fine condition.  
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    $250.00 Item Number: RRB-80104
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    The Rover.

    Conrad, Joseph

    The Rover.

    New York: Doubleday, Page & Company, 1923.

    First American edition of the last complete novel by Joseph Conrad. Octavo, original cloth. Very good in a very good dust jacket, bookplate to the front pastedown.
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    $250.00 Item Number: RRB-147454
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    Wildlife.

    Ford, Richard

    Wildlife.

    New York: Collins Harvill, 1990.

    First British edition of this work by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “Sally So finally with love. From R....
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    $250.00 Item Number: RRB-121321
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    The Three Cruikshanks: A Bibliographical Catalogue, Describing More Than 500 Works.

    Marchmont, Frederick; Isaac, George, and Robert Cruikshank

    The Three Cruikshanks: A Bibliographical Catalogue, Describing More Than 500 Works.

    London: W.T. Spencer, 1897.

    First limited edition of this biographical catalogue that documents the prolific artistic output of Isaac Cruikshank, his sons George and Isaac Robert, and their collaborations. Octavo, bound in half...
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    $250.00 Item Number: RRB-148886
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    Gossip from the Forest.

    Keneally, Thomas

    Gossip from the Forest.

    London: Collins, 1975.

    First edition of this historical novel depicting the armistice negotiations that ended World War I. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth. Boldly signed by Thomas Keneally on the title page. Fine i...
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    $250.00 Item Number: RRB-150661
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    The Works of Thomas Hardy. [Including Far from the Madding Crowd; Two on a Tower; The Return of the Native.]

    Hardy, Thomas

    The Works of Thomas Hardy. [Including Far from the Madding Crowd; Two on a Tower; The Return of the Native.]

    New York and London: Harper & Brothers Publishers, [1895].

    The Thin Paper Edition of Books by Thomas Hardy. Duodecimo, six volumes bound in the original publisher’s sheepskin with gilt titles and elaborate botanical tooling to the spines, top edge gilt,...
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    $250.00 Item Number: RRB-147346
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    Looking Back: An Autobiographical Excursion.

    Douglas, Norman

    Looking Back: An Autobiographical Excursion.

    London: Chatto & Windus, 1933.

    Signed limited edition of this work by the author of South Wind. Octavo, 2 volumes, original cloth, this is number 213 of an edition limited to 535 sets, 500 of which were for sale, signed by Norman D...
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    $250.00 Item Number: RRB-121097
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    So Well Remembered.

    Hilton, James

    So Well Remembered.

    Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1945.

    First edition of James Hilton’s later novel. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Sincerely, James Hilton.” Near fine in a very good dust jacket...
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    $250.00 Item Number: RRB-90801
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    The Great Peril and How It Was Averted.

    Clowes, W. Laird

    The Great Peril and How It Was Averted.

    London: Offices of "Black and White", 1893.

    First edition of this scarce science fiction novel. Octavo, original pictorial cloth with gilt titles to the spine, pictorial endpapers, illustrated with twelve black and white plates. In very good co...
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    $250.00 Item Number: RRB-148069
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    Riprap and Cold Mountain Poems.

    Snyder, Gary

    Riprap and Cold Mountain Poems.

    Berkeley, CA: Counterpoint Press, 2009.

    First edition, second printing of the 50th anniversary edition. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by Gary Snyder on the title page. Near fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by David Bul...
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    $250.00 Item Number: RRB-151645
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    Memory Hold-the-Door.

    Buchan, John

    Memory Hold-the-Door.

    London: Hodder and Stoughton LTD, 1943.

    Finely bound edition of this reflective autobiography of John Buchan. Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles to the spine in six compartments within raised bands,...
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    $250.00 Item Number: RRB-150773
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    Anne of Windy Willows (Anne of Windy Poplars).

    Montgomery, L.M

    Anne of Windy Willows (Anne of Windy Poplars).

    London: George G. Harrap, 1936.

    First British edition of this novel in Montgomery’s acclaimed Anne series. Octavo, original blue cloth. Light wear, else fine in the original dust jacket with some chips. Uncommon in the origina...
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    $250.00 Item Number: RRB-892
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