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.
    Pal Joey.

    O'Hara, John

    Pal Joey.

    New York: Duell, Sloan and Pearce, 1940.

    First edition of this classic novel, basis for the 1957 film starring Rita Hayworth, Frank Sinatra and Kim Novak. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, lengthily inscribed by the author on the fr...
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    $1,750.00 Item Number: RRB-121992
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    Questions About Angels: Poems.

    Collins, Billy

    Questions About Angels: Poems.

    New York: William Morrow and Company, 1991.

    First edition of Collins’ fourth collection of published poems. Octavo, original half cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “To Laurence and Mary Rockefeller...
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    $1,750.00 Item Number: RRB-3889
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    Bread Givers: A Novel.

    Yezierska, Anzia

    Bread Givers: A Novel.

    Doubleday, Page & Company: Garden City, NY, 1925.

    First edition of the author’s classic work. Octavo, original cloth, pictorial endpapers. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Marjorie Kellbery from a...
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    $1,750.00 Item Number: RRB-88943
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    The Life of Abraham Lincoln.

    Tarbell, Ida M

    The Life of Abraham Lincoln.

    New York: Lincoln History Society, 1909.

    Bound set of Tarbell’s classic biography of President Lincoln. Octavo, 4 volumes, bound in full morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, gilt facsimile signature of Lincoln to the front pa...
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    $1,750.00 Item Number: RRB-129092
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    A New Lease of Death.

    Rendell, Ruth

    A New Lease of Death.

    London: John Long, 1967.

    First edition of the second Inspector Wexford novel. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by Ruth Rendell on the title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with light rubbing and wear. Jacket design by Wil...
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    $1,750.00 Item Number: RRB-60053
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    Born on the Fourth of July.

    Kovic, Ron [Oliver Stone]

    Born on the Fourth of July.

    New York : McGraw-Hill, 1976.

    First edition of this classic book, basis for the 1989 film directed by Academy Award-winning director Oliver Stone. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by the author on t...
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    $1,750.00 Item Number: RRB-146813
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    The Sands of Mars.

    Clarke, Arthur C

    The Sands of Mars.

    London: Sidgwick and Jackson, 1951.

    First edition of this early classic novel, by the legendary Arthur C. Clarke. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Arthur C. Clarke on the front free endpaper. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket...
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    $1,750.00 Item Number: RRB-150418
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    History of the World in Epitome (For Use in Martian Infant Schools).

    Russell, Bertrand

    History of the World in Epitome (For Use in Martian Infant Schools).

    London: Gaberbocchus Press, 1962.

    First edition of Russell’s 21-word summary of human history, issued on the occasion of his 90th birthday and written in reaction to the Cuban missile crisis. 16 mo, original wrappers, illustrate...
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    $1,750.00 Item Number: RRB-149474
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    Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime & Other Stories.

    Wilde, Oscar

    Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime & Other Stories.

    London: James R. Osgood, 1891.

    First edition of  this collection of Wilde’s humorous mystery stories, published the same year as the first edition in book form of The Picture of Dorian Gray. Octavo, original stiff paper-cover...
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    $1,750.00 Item Number: RRB-139780
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    The Mysterious Island: Abandoned.

    Verne, Jules

    The Mysterious Island: Abandoned.

    New York: Scribner, Armstrong, & Co., 1875.

    First American edition of the second installment in Verne’s Mysterious Island trilogy. Octavo, original publisher’s green cloth decorated in gilt, illustrated. Translated from the French b...
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    $1,750.00 Item Number: RRB-129044
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    Le Capitaine Burle: Comment on Meurt pour une Nuit d’Amour aux Champs la Fete a Coqueville L’Inondation.

    Zola, Emile

    Le Capitaine Burle: Comment on Meurt pour une Nuit d’Amour aux Champs la Fete a Coqueville L’Inondation.

    Paris: G. Charpentier, 1883.

    Rare first edition of Zola’s novel exploring human weakness and desire, written at the height of his career. Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards, gilt titles and tooling...
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    $1,750.00 Item Number: RRB-95884
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    Book of Longing.

    Cohen, Leonard [Robert Stone]

    Book of Longing.

    New York: HarperCollins, 2006.

    Early printing of Cohen’s provocative book of poetry. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Association copy, inscribed by Leonard Cohen on the title page, “For Janice and Bob, sufferi...
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    $1,750.00 Item Number: RRB-96167
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    Alexander and Some Other Cats.

    Eddy, Sarah J. [Charlotte Perkins Gilman]

    Alexander and Some Other Cats.

    Boston: Marshall Jones Company, 1929.

    Early edition of this collection of facts and stories about cats, compiled by Sarah J. Eddy; from the library of writer and social reformer Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Octavo, original light green cloth...
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    $1,750.00 Item Number: RRB-145596
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    Studs Lonigan. A Trilogy Containing Young Lonigan, The Young Manhood of Studs Lonigan, and Judgment Day.

    Farrell, James T. [William Safire]

    Studs Lonigan. A Trilogy Containing Young Lonigan, The Young Manhood of Studs Lonigan, and Judgment Day.

    New York: The Modern Library, [1938].

    First edition, early printing of Farrell’s well-regarded trilogy. Octavo, bound in three quarter morocco with gilt titles and raised bands to the spine, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. Associa...
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    $1,750.00 Item Number: RRB-127643
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    For Your Eyes Only.

    Fleming, Ian

    For Your Eyes Only.

    London: Jonathan Cape, 1960.

    First edition of the eighth novel in Ian Fleming’s James Bond series. Octavo, original black cloth. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by Richard Chopping.
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    $1,750.00 Item Number: RRB-151425
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    Imago.

    Butler, Octavia E

    Imago.

    New York: Warner Books, 1989.

    First edition of the gripping climax to Butler’s acclaimed Xenogenesis trilogy. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by Octavia E. Butler on the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jac...
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    $1,750.00 Item Number: RRB-134414
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    A Judgement in Stone.

    Rendell, Ruth

    A Judgement in Stone.

    London: Hutchinson, 1977.

    First edition of the author’s masterpiece. Octavo, original cloth. Lengthily signed by the author on the title page with a transcription from the opening line of this work, “Eunice Parchman kill...
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    $1,750.00 Item Number: RRB-44083
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    The French Lieutenant’s Woman.

    Fowles, John

    The French Lieutenant’s Woman.

    London: Jonathan Cape, 1969.

    First edition of Fowles’ third novel. Octavo, original brown cloth, pictorial endpapers Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “Phil Thayer – with gratitu...
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    $1,750.00 Item Number: RRB-97577
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    Amadeus.

    Shaffer, Peter

    Amadeus.

    London: Andre Deutsch, 1980.

    First edition of the playwright’s classic work. Octavo, original cloth. Lengthily signed by the author on the front free endpaper, “What use, after all is man, if not to teach God His less...
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    $1,750.00 Item Number: RRB-128746
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    Mogg Megone, A Poem.

    Whittier, John Greenleaf

    Mogg Megone, A Poem.

    Boston: Light & Stearns, 1836.

    First edition of Whittier’s well-received narrative of the life of legendary 17th century Indian warrior Mogg Megone. BAL 21697. 16mo, original cloth with gilt title within an arabesque gilt fra...
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    $1,750.00 Item Number: RRB-133021
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    The Writings of James Fenimore Cooper.

    Cooper, James Fenimore

    The Writings of James Fenimore Cooper.

    New York: Stringer and Townsend, 1856.

    Octavo, 17 volumes. Bound in full tan leather, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, tooling to board edges. Raised bands, marbled endpapers, marbled edges. In near fine condition.
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    $1,750.00 Item Number: RRB-3663
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    The Fixer.

    Malamud, Bernard

    The Fixer.

    New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1966.

    First edition of the author’s fourth novel, which went on to win the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-ti...
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    $1,750.00 Item Number: RRB-111937
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    A Trick of the Light.

    Faulks, Sebastian

    A Trick of the Light.

    London: The Bodley Head, 1984.

    First edition of Faulks’ first novel. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper in the year of publication, “Sally – I hope this do...
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    $1,750.00 Item Number: RRB-119600
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    The Vestal Lady on Brattle and Other Poems.

    Corso, Gregory

    The Vestal Lady on Brattle and Other Poems.

    Cambridge, MA: Richard Brukenfeld, 1955.

    First edition of the poet’s first book one of 500 copies printed though about half of which were lost in the mail. Octavo, original wrappers. Signed by Gregory Corso. In near fine condition. Rar...
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    $1,750.00 Item Number: RRB-123719
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