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.
    Tobacco Road.

    Caldwell, Erskine

    Tobacco Road.

    New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1932.

    First edition of Caldwell’s classic work. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For  with the best wishes of Erskine Caldwell July...
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    $5,000.00 Item Number: RRB-124588
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    The Works of Joseph Conrad.

    Conrad, Joseph

    The Works of Joseph Conrad.

    Garden City, NY: Doubleday, Page & Company, 1920-1928.

    The Sun-Dial edition of the works of Joseph Conrad. Octavo, 24 volumes bound in three quarters morocco by Frost & Co., with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised g...
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    $5,000.00 Item Number: RRB-144388
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    Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire.

    Rowling, J.K

    Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire.

    London: Bloombsbury, 2000.

    First edition of Rowling’s fourth book in the Harry Potter series. Octavo, original illustrated boards. Boldly signed by J.K. Rowling on the dedication page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Cover illustra...
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    $5,000.00 Item Number: RRB-146932
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    Bambi’s Children: The Story of a Forest Family.

    Salten, Felix

    Bambi’s Children: The Story of a Forest Family.

    Indianapolis : Bobbs-Merrill, 1939.

    First edition of this classic work, the sequel to Bambi. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated by Erna Pinner. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Charles Fe...
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    $5,000.00 Item Number: RRB-131302
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    Concerning Children.

    Gilman [Stetson], Charlotte Perkins

    Concerning Children.

    Boston: Small, Maynard & Company, 1900.

    First edition of this book on child rearing. Octavo, original blue pictorial cloth. The dedication copy, inscribed by the author on the dedication page to her daughter Katharine, who the book is dedic...
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    $5,000.00 Item Number: RRB-145600
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    The Story of an African Farm: A Novel.

    Schreiner, Olive [as Ralph Iron]

    The Story of an African Farm: A Novel.

    London: Chapman and Hall, 1883.

    First edition of this highspot of African literature. Octavo, 2 volumes bound in three quarters contemporary morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments w...
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    $5,000.00 Item Number: RRB-118143
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    A Tramp Abroad.

    Twain, Mark. [Samuel L. Clemens]

    A Tramp Abroad.

    Hartford, Conn.: American Publishing Company, 1880.

    First edition, first state of Twain’s classic fictionalized account of his walking tour of central and southern Europe. Octavo, original publisher’s pictorial gilt-stamped brown cloth, wit...
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    $5,000.00 Item Number: RRB-136080
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    The Art of Seeing.

    Huxley, Aldous

    The Art of Seeing.

    New York: Harper & Brothers, 1942.

    First edition of this classic work which details Huxley’s experience with and views on the controversial Bates method, which according to him improved his eyesight. Octavo, original cloth. Prese...
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    $5,000.00 Item Number: RRB-139207
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    Lucky Jim.

    Amis, Kingsley

    Lucky Jim.

    London: Victor Gollancz, 1953.

    First edition of this hilarious satire about college life and high class manners, a classic of postwar English literature. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Housed in a cus...
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    $5,000.00 Item Number: RRB-142819
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    Exiles. A Play in Three Acts.

    Joyce, James

    Exiles. A Play in Three Acts.

    New York: B. W. Heubsch, 1918.

    First American edition, first printing of Joyce’s beguiling piece of drama, staged in English only once in Joyce’s lifetime and rarely revived. Octavo, original half cloth over grey boards...
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    $5,000.00 Item Number: RRB-144590
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    Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy’s Progress.

    Dickens, Charles

    Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy’s Progress.

    London: Richard Bentley, 1838.

    First edition, first issue of Dickens’ classic work with “Boz” title pages and the “Fireside” plate. Octavo, three volumes bound in three quarter leather over marbled boa...
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    $4,800.00 Item Number: RRB-133501
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    Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

    Rowling, J.K

    Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

    London: Bloomsbury, 1999.

    First deluxe edition of the first book in the Harry Potter series, a cornerstone of young adult literature, and one of the best-selling books of all time. Octavo, original original cloth, all edges gi...
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    $4,800.00 Item Number: RRB-144093
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    The Leaves of the Tree: Studies in Biography.

    Benson, Arthur Christopher [John Maynard Keynes] [J.M.]

    The Leaves of the Tree: Studies in Biography.

    London: Smith, Elder, & Co, 1911.

    First edition of this work on the challenges of writing biography. Octavo, bound in full synthetic leather with gilt titles to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands. Association copy,...
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    $4,800.00 Item Number: RRB-149266
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    Falling Up.

    Silverstein, Shel

    Falling Up.

    New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1996.

    Early printing of this classic poetry collection published by Shel Silverstein. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated with drawings by the author throughout. Signed by the author opposite the half-title...
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    $4,800.00 Item Number: RRB-147074
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    A House For Mr. Biswas.

    Naipaul, V.S

    A House For Mr. Biswas.

    London: Andre Deutsch, 1961.

    First edition of the author’s magnum opus. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by V.S. Naipaul on the title page. Near fine in an excellent dust jacket with a small chip to the foot of the spine and...
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    $4,800.00 Item Number: RRB-92563
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    No Country For Old Men.

    McCarthy, Cormac

    No Country For Old Men.

    New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005.

    First edition of this “harrowing, propulsive drama… about a stone-cold killer, a small-town sheriff, and an average Joe” (New York Times). Octavo, original half cloth. Signed by Cormac McCarthy on the...
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    $4,800.00 Item Number: RRB-152030
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    The Invisible Man.

    Wells, H.G

    The Invisible Man.

    London: C. Arthur Pearson Limited, 1897.

    First edition, first issue, with the title page printed in orange and black and pages 247 and 248 being publisher’s ads. Octavo, original cloth. In near fine condition. Housed in a custom half m...
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    $4,800.00 Item Number: RRB-131733
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    Comedias y Entremeses.

    Cervantes, Miguel de

    Comedias y Entremeses.

    Madrid: En la Imprenta de Antonio Marin, 1749.

    Finely bound example of this collection of plays from the author of “Don Quixote”. Octavo, two volumes, written in Spanish, bound in full contemporary Spanish limp parchment with alum-tawe...
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    $4,800.00 Item Number: RRB-149183
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    The Short Reign of Pippin IV: A Fabrication.

    Steinbeck, John

    The Short Reign of Pippin IV: A Fabrication.

    New York: The Viking Press, 1957.

    First edition of Steinbeck’s only political satire. unrevised proof copy, signed presentation inscription from the author “Dear Elsie Clough: This book was ghost written in the truest sens...
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    $4,800.00 Item Number: RRB-145697
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    Zemnoi Prostor. [Earthly Space].

    Pasternak, Boris

    Zemnoi Prostor. [Earthly Space].

    Moscow: Sovietskiy Pistatel, 1945.

    Rare first edition paperback of this collection of poems. Duodecimo, original wrappers with embossed titles to the front panel. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front pastedown,...
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    $4,800.00 Item Number: RRB-145453
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    Vida Y Hechos del Ingeniso Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha.

    Cervantes, Miguel de

    Vida Y Hechos del Ingeniso Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha.

    Tarragona: Joseph Barber, 1757.

    Eighteenth century finely bound example of Cervantes’ masterpiece “which is to Spanish literature what Shakespeare is to English” (Bloom). Duodecimo, four volumes, bound in full uniform contemporary l...
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    $4,800.00 Item Number: RRB-149186
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    Zebrology.

    Rey, H.A. [Ian Fleming]

    Zebrology.

    London: Chatto & Windus, [n.d.].

    First edition, fourth impression of this charming children’s book by the author of Curious George, inscribed by Ian Fleming to his lover Clare Blanshard. Oblong octavo, original illustrated wrap...
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    $4,800.00 Item Number: RRB-150484
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    Daniel Deronda.

    Eliot, George

    Daniel Deronda.

    Edinburgh and London: William Blackwood and Sons, 1876.

    First edition in the publisher’s cloth of Eliot’s final and most controversial work, which essentially predicts the foundation of Israel. Octavo, eight volumes in the rare original publisher...
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    $4,800.00 Item Number: RRB-137114
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    A Farewell To Arms.

    Hemingway, Ernest

    A Farewell To Arms.

    New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1929.

    First edition of this Hemingway classic, which established him among the American masters. Octavo, original black cloth. Near fine in a near fine first state dust jacket with the misspelling “Ka...
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    $4,800.00 Item Number: RRB-139430
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