Fleming, Ian

You Only Live Twice.

London : Jonathan Cape, 1965.

First edition, first state with “First published 1964” on the copyright page of the last James Bond novel published in Fleming’s lifetime and the eleventh in the series. Octavo, original black cloth. Inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For James You have my best wishes from Ian Fleming.” Near fine in aContinue reading "You Only Live Twice."

Thackeray, William

The Works of William Thackeray.

London : Various Publishers, 1840-1867.

First edition of the works of William Thackeray. Octavo, 34 volumes, uniformly bound in three-quarters morocco. From the library of Alfred Charles William Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Northcliffe, with his bookplate to each volume. Harmswoth was a British newspaper and publishing magnate who exercised vast influence over British popular opinion. Gilt titles and tooling to the spine, allContinue reading "The Works of William Thackeray."

Wilde, Oscar

An Ideal Husband.

London : Leonard Smithers and Co, 1899.

First edition, signed limited edition. Octavo, original lavender publisher’s cloth. One of 100 large paper copies signed by Oscar Wilde. In very good condition with some light rubbing and darkening to the extremities. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box.

Goldman, William

Which Lie Did I Tell You? More Adventures in the Screen Trade.

New York : Pantheon Books, 2000.

First edition of the sequel to Adventures in the Screen Trade. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by William Goldman on the half-title page to George Christy, former reviewer and society columnist for the Hollywood Reporter. Review material laid in, fine in a fine dust jacket.

Irving, John

The World According to Garp.

New York : E.P. Dutton, 1978.

First edition of Irving’s fourth novel. Octavo, original half cloth. Inscribed by the author on the half-title page in a contemporary hand, “For John another world according to a water-method man, John Irving.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Leo Manso. A warm inscription linking Irving’s second and fourth novel, the latter proving toContinue reading "The World According to Garp."

Wharton, Edith

The Age of Innocence.

New York : D. Appleton, 1920.

First edition of the author’s Pulitzer-Prize winning novel. Octavo, original red cloth. A very good example with some rubbing to the bottom cloth in the rare original unrestored dust jacket with some chips and wear to the spine and panels. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Rare, especially in the original unrestored dustContinue reading "The Age of Innocence."

Marias, Javier

While the Women Are Sleeping.

London : Chatto & Windus, 2010.

First edition of this collection of stories. Octavo, original boards. Presentation copy, lengthily inscribed by the author on the title page in the year of publication, “To Harold Billings, who shall find an old friend in one of these old stories, with thanks for his middle years and best wishes, Javier Marias December 2010.” TheContinue reading "While the Women Are Sleeping."

Kazantzakis, Nikos

Spain [In Greek].

Athena 1937.

Rare first Greek edition of this early travelogue by Kazantzakis. Octavo, bound in half morocco over cloth. In very good condition.

Dickens, Charles

Charles Dickens Signed Portrait Photograph.

1868.

Signed “Charles Dickens (with a large flourish) Washington, D.C. Seventh February 1868.” Large oval portrait photograph measures 13 inches by 13 inches. Matted in a walnut frame which measures 24 inches by 27 inches.  On his Washington tour Dickens met President Andrew Johnson and signed this photograph on the date of that meeting, February 7, whichContinue reading "Charles Dickens Signed Portrait Photograph."

Self-Consciousness: Memoirs

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1989.

First edition. Octavo, original cloth. Inscribed by the author to noted book collector Stratford Carter on the half title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket.

Saramago, Jose

Cadernos de Lanzarote Diario III.

Lisbon : Caminho, 1996.

First Portugese edition of the Nobel Prize-winning author’s commentaries on Lanzarote, one of Spain’s volcanic Canary Islands. Octavo, original wrappers as issued. Signed by Jose Saramago on the title page.

Saramago, Jose

Cadernos de Lanzarote Diario IV.

Lisbon : Caminho, 1997.

First Portugese edition of the Nobel Prize-winning author’s commentaries on Lanzarote, one of Spain’s volcanic Canary Islands. Octavo, original wrappers as issued. Signed and dated by Jose Saramago on the title page in 2006.

Bellow, Saul

Dangling Man.

New York : The Vanguard Press, 1944.

First edition of the Nobel Prize-winning author’s first book. Octavo, original beige cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “For Matthew and Adrienne greetings and blessings (on your wedding) Saul Bellow.” Fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket with light rubbing to the crown and foot of the spine.

Donoso, Jose

La Desesperanza.

: Seix Barral, Biblioteca Breve, 1986.

First edition. Octavo, original wrappers as issued. Signed and dated in 1988 by Jose Donoso on the front free endpaper. In very good condition.

Greene, Graham

Brighton Rock.

London : Heinemann, 1938.

First edition of Greene’s chilling exposé of violence and gang warfare in the pre-war underworld is a classic of its kind. Octavo, original cloth. In near fine condition. Housed in a custom slipcase. An exceptional example.

Bellow, Saul

The Dean’s December.

New York : Harper & Row, 1982.

First edition of the first novel Bellow published after winning the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1976. Octavo, original green cloth. Signed by Saul Bellow on the title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket.

Lee, Harper

Go Set A Watchman.

New York : HarperCollins Publishers, 2015.

Signed limited edition of the author’s second novel. Octavo. One of 500 numbered copies, signed by Harper Lee. Housed in a custom clamshell box. In fine condition with the original shipping carton.

Bellow, Saul

Him With His Foot In His Mouth and Other Stories.

New York : Harper & Row Publishers, 1984.

First edition of this work by the Nobel Prize-winning author. Octavo, original cloth. Inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper in the year of publication. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with a touch of shelfwear.

Garcia Marquez, Gabriel

Cien Anos de Soledad [One Hundred Years of Solitude].

Buenos Aires : Editorial Sudamericana, 1972.

First edition, early printing of the author’s masterpiece which is recognized as one of the most significant works in the Spanish literary canon. Octavo, original wrappers. Signed by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and the translator of this novel into English, Gregory Rabassa. Very good in wrappers. Rare and desirable signed by both Garcia Marquez and Rabassa.

Williams, Tennessee

A Streetcar Named Desire.

New York : New Directions, 1947.

First edition of Williams’ classic play, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1948. Octavo, original illustrated boards. Signed by Tennessee Williams on the front free endpaper. Near fine in an excellent dust jacket which has had some expert restoration to the extremities. Jacket design by Alvin Lustig. Housed in a custom half moroccoContinue reading "A Streetcar Named Desire."

Lee, Harper

Go Set A Watchman.

London : William Heinemann, 2015.

Signed limited edition of the author’s second novel. Octavo, bound in full morocco. One of a 100 numbered copies, signed by Harper Lee. Housed in a custom clamshell box. In fine condition.

Cline, Ernest

The Importance of Being Ernest.

Austin, TX : Write Bloody Press, 2013.

First edition. Octavo, original illustrated wrappers as issued. Signed by Ernest Cline on the title page. In fine condition.

Collins, Billy

The Apple That Astonished Paris.

Fayetteville : University of Arkansas Press, 1988.

First edition of this early collection of poems by award-winning poet. Octavo, original blue cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by Billy Collins on the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket.

Arthur, Anthony (John Updike)

Literary Feuds.

New York : St. Martins Press, 2002.

First edition. Octavo, original cloth. Inscribed by the author on the half title page, “For John Updike, with admiration- Anthony Arthur.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Updike is featured in this volume of feuds.