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.
    A Loss of Roses: A New Play by William Inge.

    Inge, William. [Peter O'Toole]

    A Loss of Roses: A New Play by William Inge.

    New York: Random House, 1960.

    First edition of Inge’s 1959 play, from the working library of legendary stage and screen actor Peter O’Toole. Octavo, original half cloth over pictorial boards. Association copy, inscribe...
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    $1,800.00 Item Number: RRB-123340
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    The Good Earth.

    Buck, Pearl S

    The Good Earth.

    New York: The John Day Company, 1931.

    First edition of the author’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and masterpiece. First issue with “flees” for “fleas” on page 100, line 17. Octavo, bound in full morocco by th...
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    $1,800.00 Item Number: RRB-143665
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    Seraph on the Suwanee: A Novel.

    Hurston, Zora Neale

    Seraph on the Suwanee: A Novel.

    New York: Charles Scribner's Sons , 1948.

    First edition of this humorous novel set in Florida, a place Hurston knew well, having been born in Eatonville, an entirely black Florida town. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a very good dust ja...
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    $1,800.00 Item Number: RRB-143512
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    Ethan Frome.

    Wharton, Edith

    Ethan Frome.

    New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1911.

    First edition, first issue with “wearily” in perfect type on penultimate line of page 135 and with four pages of publisher’s advertisements at rear, of Wharton’s greatest tragic story, a “grim tale of...
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    $1,800.00 Item Number: RRB-98455
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    The Color Purple.

    Walker, Alice

    The Color Purple.

    New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1982.

    First edition, early printing of Walker’s third novel, which made her the first African-American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize. Octavo, original half cloth. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jack...
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    $1,800.00 Item Number: RRB-146798
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    Greta Garbo Signed Check.

    Garbo, Greta

    Greta Garbo Signed Check.

    :, March 26, 1963.

    Rare signed check from Greta Garbo, with typed recipient, amount and date, boldly signed by Greta Garbo. The entire piece measures 2.75 inches by 6.25 inches.
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    $1,800.00 Item Number: RRB-119763
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    Countrymen of Bones.

    Butler, Robert Olen [John Updike]

    Countrymen of Bones.

    New York: Horizon Press, 1983.

    First edition of this work by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author. Octavo, original half cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author to John Updike on the front free endpaper, “For John Updik...
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    $1,800.00 Item Number: RRB-4403
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    Dombey and Son.

    Dickens, Charles

    Dombey and Son.

    London: Bradbury and Evans, 1848.

    First edition in book form of Dickens’ novel of “Pride,” with 40 etchings by Hablôt Knight Browne (“Phiz”). Octavo, bound in original cloth. With 40 engraved plates including frontispiece and engraved...
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    $1,800.00 Item Number: RRB-131468
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    I Am the Beautiful Stranger; The Line of Least Existence: and Other Plays; To Smithereens.

    Drexler, Rosalyn [Paul “Dr. Z” Zimmerman]

    I Am the Beautiful Stranger; The Line of Least Existence: and Other Plays; To Smithereens.

    New York: Grossman Publishers; Random House; The New American Library, 1965-72.

    First editions of this collection of works from the Emmy Award-winning screenwriter and professional wrestler. Octavo, three volumes, original publisher’s cloth and half-cloth. To Smithereens is...
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    $1,800.00 Item Number: RRB-149446
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    Capricorn One.

    Ross, Bernard L. [Ken Follet]; Peter Hyams; Elliot Gould

    Capricorn One.

    London: Arthur Baker Limited, 1978.

    First British edition of Follett’s novelization of the classic 1978 thriller film Capricorn One, based on the screenplay by Peter Hyams. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by d...
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    $1,800.00 Item Number: RRB-148553
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    La Mala Hora.

    Garcia Marquez, Gabriel

    La Mala Hora.

    Barcelona: Plaza & Janes, S.A. Editores, 1979.

    Early printing of this classic novella written just before One Hundred Years of Solitude. Octavo, original illustrated wrappers. Boldly signed by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. In near fine condition.
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    $1,800.00 Item Number: RRB-150387
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    Two Serious Ladies.

    Bowles, Jane

    Two Serious Ladies.

    New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1943.

    First edition of this classic work. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a very good dust jacket, name to the front free endpaper. Housed in a custom half morocco slipcase. A sharp example.
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    $1,800.00 Item Number: RRB-142122
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    The Adventures of Augie March.

    Bellow, Saul

    The Adventures of Augie March.

    New York: The Viking Press, 1953.

    First edition of Bellow’s first National Book Award winning novel. Octavo, original cloth, salmon topstain. Signed by Saul Bellow on the front free endpaper. Near fine in a very good first issue...
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    $1,800.00 Item Number: RRB-58004
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    Dog Songs: Poems.

    Oliver, Mary

    Dog Songs: Poems.

    New York: The Penguin Press, 2013.

    First edition of this collection of poems by Mary Oliver. Octavo, original boards, illustrated. Boldly signed by Mary Oliver and illustrator John Burgoyne on the title page. Near fine in a fine dust j...
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    $1,800.00 Item Number: RRB-150919
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    The Stonemason: A Play In Five Acts.

    McCarthy, Cormac [Chip Kidd]

    The Stonemason: A Play In Five Acts.

    Hopewell, NJ: The Ecco Press, 1994.

    First edition of this expansively imagined drama about four generations of an American family. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by Cormac McCarthy on the front free endpaper. Additionally si...
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    $1,800.00 Item Number: RRB-151479
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    Henry and Ribsy.

    Cleary, Beverly

    Henry and Ribsy.

    New York: William Morrow & Company, 1954.

    First edition of the third book in Cleary’s classic Henry Huggins series. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Signed by Beverly Cleary on the title page. In very good condition. Illustrated by...
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    $1,800.00 Item Number: RRB-10007
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    Passion-Flowers.

    Howe, Julia Ward

    Passion-Flowers.

    Boston: Ticknor, Reed, and Fields, 1854.

    First edition of Julia Ward Howe’s first book. Octavo, original cloth with gilt titles to the spine, publisher’s advertisements at rear dated 1853. Association copy, inscribed by the autho...
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    $1,800.00 Item Number: RRB-109025
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    Money.

    Amis, Martin

    Money.

    London: Jonathan Cape, 1984.

    First edition of this modern classic. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Martin Amis on the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Mon Mohan/ Dick Jones. Author’s photogr...
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    $1,800.00 Item Number: RRB-133821
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    Miguel Street.

    Naipaul, V.S

    Miguel Street.

    London: Andre Deutsch, 1959.

    First edition of Naipaul’s third novel. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by V.S. Naipaul on the title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with just a touch of wear to the crown. Jacket design by Steph...
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    $1,800.00 Item Number: RRB-3544
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    Where the Crawdads Sing.

    Owens, Delia

    Where the Crawdads Sing.

    New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2018.

    First edition of one of the best-selling books of all-time and basis for the 2022 film. Octavo, original boards. Lengthily signed by the author on the title page, “Way out yonder, where the craw...
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    $1,800.00 Item Number: RRB-136037
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    Arthur Conan Doyle Autograph Note Signed.

    Doyle, Arthur Conan

    Arthur Conan Doyle Autograph Note Signed.

    :, c. 1919.

    Rare handwritten note signed by Arthur Conan Doyle concerning spiritualism. One page on plain paper, not date. The letter reads, “Such cases are unhappily not very rare. For this reason people s...
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    $1,760.00 Item Number: RRB-152085
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    Analog: Science Fiction and Fact. [Containing the First Appearance of Children of Dune: Part Two.]

    Herbert, Frank

    Analog: Science Fiction and Fact. [Containing the First Appearance of Children of Dune: Part Two.]

    New York: Analog: Science Fiction and Fact, 1976.

    First edition of Analog: Science Fiction and Fact magazine containing the first appearance of the second part of Frank Herbert’s Children of Dune, later published as a novel. Octavo, issue February 19...
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    $1,750.00 Item Number: RRB-150280
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    The Well of Loneliness.

    Hall, Radclyffe

    The Well of Loneliness.

    New York: Covici-Friede Publishers, 1929.

    Signed limited edition of this classic work, one of only 225 copies. Octavo, 2 volumes, original cloth, frontispiece to volume one. Signed by Radclyffe  Hall. In fine condition. An exceptional example...
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    $1,750.00 Item Number: RRB-141326
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    The City and the Pillar.

    Vidal, Gore

    The City and the Pillar.

    New York: E.P. Dutton, 1948.

    First edition of this landmark novel. Octavo, original black cloth. Signed by the author on the title page. Fine in a bright near fine dust jacket with two small chips to the crown but does not show t...
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    $1,750.00 Item Number: RRB-25087
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