Shakespeare, William. Revised by George Steevens

The Dramatic Works of Shakespeare.

London : Printed by W. Bulmer and Co. for John and Josiah Boydell, George and W. Nicol., 1802.

Rare finely bound complete set of “by far the largest single engraving enterprise ever undertaken in England”, John Boydell’s magnificent illustrated folio edition of the dramatic works of Shakespeare. Folio, 9 volumes. Bound in three quarters morocco with gilt titles to the spine, all edges marbled. Elaborately illustrated with 96 plates engraved by the mostContinue reading "The Dramatic Works of Shakespeare."

Trollope, Anthony

The Claverings.

London : Smith, Elder and Co, 1867.

First edition of this work by Trollope. Octavo, two volumes, bound in half leather. In very good condition. With Sixteen Illustrations by M. Ellen Edwards.

Wells, H.G. [George Bernard Shaw]

The World Set Free: A Story of Mankind.

London : Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1914.

First edition, first issue of Wells’ prophetic novel predicting the arrival of atomic weaponry with the publisher listed as Macmillan and Co. Limited (as opposed to Ltd.), 8 pages of advertisements at rear, and no statement of printing to the copyright page. Octavo, original cloth stamped in blind with gilt titles to the spine andContinue reading "The World Set Free: A Story of Mankind."

New Brunswick Readers: The Second Reader.

Toronto : W. J. Gage & Company, 1900.

First edition of The Second Reader in the New Brunswick Readers series, prescribed by the Board of Education for use in the Schools of New Brunswick. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Very good in a very good dust jacket from Hall’s Book Store in St. John, New Brunswick. Ownership inscription to the front free endpaper.

Durrell, Lawrence

Quinx or The Ripper’s Tale.

London : Faber and Faber, 1985.

First edition of the fifth and final volume in the author’s Avignon Quintet. Octavo, original cloth. Signed and dated by the author in the year of publication on the title page, “Lawrence Durrell 1985.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket watercolor by David Gentleman. Jacket design by Pentagram.

Hasford, Gustav

The Phantom Blooper: A Novel of Vietnam.

New York : Bantam Books, 1990.

First edition of the author’s sequel to The Short-Timers, basis for the film Full Metal Jacket. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper with a full page inscription in the month of publication, “To My Friend Gene- One Jarhead to Another- from Gustav USMC RTD. Gustave HasfordContinue reading "The Phantom Blooper: A Novel of Vietnam."

Simon, Andre L

Star Chamber Revels (Or, The Fountayne of Justice). A Satyre Acted on Friday the eleventh day of June, in the yeare 1602 by the then Lords of the Queen Elizabeth’s most honourable Council.

Peekskill : Printed by Crosby Gaige, 1937.

First edition of Andre L. Simon’s retelling of a day in the life of the Lords of the Star Chamber. Octavo, original boards, engraved headpiece and tailpiece. Signed by the author at the conclusion of his introduction. Very good in the rare original glassine.

Hasford, Gustav

The Phantom Blooper: A Novel of Vietnam.

New York : Bantam Books, 1990.

First edition of the author’s sequel to The Short-Timers, basis for the film Full Metal Jacket. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper with a full page inscription in the year of publication, “Gustav Hasford For My good friends Jeff and Jacquie from Uncle Gus  San DiegoContinue reading "The Phantom Blooper: A Novel of Vietnam."

Bernstein, Aline

Masterpieces of Women’s Costume of the 18th and 19th Centuries.

New York : Crown Publishers, Inc, 1959.

First edition of Aline Bernstein’s great work on the history of costume design, published posthumously. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated with 32 color plates and 51 correlated line drawings. In fine condition. From the library of actress Vivien Leigh.

Nooteboom, Cees

The Following Story.

New York : Harcourt Brace & Company, 1991.

First American edition of Nooteboom’s mysterious tale. Octavo, original half cloth. Translated from the Dutch by Ina Rilke. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket painting by Claude Verlinde. Jacket photograph by Simone Sassen.

Darwin, Bernard

Dickens.

London : Duckworth, 1933.

First edition of Bernard Darwin’s concise biography of literary master Charles Dickens. Small octavo, original cloth. Very good in the rare original dust jacket which is in very good condition. Name to the front free endpaper.

Trollope, Anthony

Barchester Towers.

London : Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, & Roberts, 1857.

Rare first editions, first issue of one of Trollope’s most important novels. Octavo, original cloth, blind stamped boards. Half-title present in Volume I, brick-red endpapers with advertisements. Sadleir 5. Bookplates of Oliver Brett on front free endpapers and of Duff Cooper on versos. In near fine condition. Each volume is housed in a three quarterContinue reading "Barchester Towers."

Wallace, Lew. Illustrated by Eric Pape

The Fair God: A Tale Of The Conquest of Mexico.

Boston and New York : Houghton Mifflin and Company, 1899.

First edition of Union General Lew Wallace’s first novel. Octavo, two volumes, original publisher’s embossed morocco with gilt titles to the spine and front panel, rebacked, top edge gilt, patterned endpapers, elaborately illustrated with both in-text and full page engravings within gilt frames and with lettered tissue-guards by Eric Pape, decorated initials. One of 250Continue reading "The Fair God: A Tale Of The Conquest of Mexico."

Danielson, Richard E

Martha Doyle and Other Sporting Memories.

New York : The Derrydale Press, 1938.

First edition of Danielson’s collection of sporting memories. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated by Edwin Megargee. One of 1250 numbered copies, this is number 775. In near fine condition.

Cather, Willa

Death Comes for the Archbishop; Alexander’s Bridge; Shadows on the Rock.

Boston and New York : Houghton Mifflin Company; Alfred A. Knopf, 1922-1931.

Finely bound collection of three of the author’s best-known works, including her first novel: Death Comes for the Archbishop. Octavos, three volumes bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers. Armorial bookplate to the pastedown of two volumes. InContinue reading "Death Comes for the Archbishop; Alexander’s Bridge; Shadows on the Rock."

James, Henry

The Real Thing.

New York and London : Macmillan & Co, 1893.

First edition of this fine collection of James’ tales. Octavo, original decorated cloth with gilt titles to the spine. In very good condition.

Palgrave, Francis T

The Treasury of Sacred Song: Selected from the English Lyrical Poetry of Four Centuries.

Oxford : Clarendon Press, 1889.

First trade edition of Palgrave’s treasury of the lyrical poems of the finest English poets. Octavo, original publisher’s gilt-stamped half vellum, top edge gilt with others untrimmed. In near find condition. Ownership inscription.

Moore, George

Memoirs Of My Dead Life.

London : William Heinemann, 1906.

First edition of the first great modern Irish novelist’s memoirs. Octavo, original cloth with gilt titles to the spine. In near fine condition. Housed in a custom half morocco and chemise slipcase.

Smith, Thorne

The Bishop’s Jaegers.

Garden City : Sun Dial Press, 1932.

First Sun Dial Press edition of Smith’s  wildly hilarious comic romp, preceded by the first edition published by Doubleday, Doran & Company in the same year. Octavo, original cloth. Illustrations by Roese. Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket.

Dickens, Charles

The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.

London : Curtis Guild, 1882.

First Curtis Guild extra-illustrated edition of one of Dickens’ greatest works. Octavo, two volumes, bound in full morocco by F.P. Hathaway with gilt titles and elaborate gilt tooling to spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, elaborate gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, inner dentelles, silk endpapers. With 53 illustrations by SeymourContinue reading "The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club."

Langner, Lawrence [John Steinbeck]

The Importance of Wearing Clothes.

New York : Hastings House Publishers, 1959.

First edition of this entertaining history of clothing and its impact on the human condition. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. The dedication copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To John Steinbeck-whose interest in the book when half written encouraged me to complete it. And to Elaine Steinbeck with love to youContinue reading "The Importance of Wearing Clothes."

Joyce, James

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.

London : The Egoist Ltd, 1916.

First English edition, second printing of Joyce’s classic stream-of-consciousness work, his first novel. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Beatrice Randegger. James Joyce. 25 Novembre 1919. Trieste.” The recipient was a private student’s of Joyce in Italy. In excellent condition with light rubbing and wear. Housed inContinue reading "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man."

Beckett, Samuel

En Attendant Godot. Pièce en Deux Actes.

Paris : Les Éditions de Minuit, 1952.

First edition, one of 2500 copies printed of the author’s masterpiece. Octavo, original wrappers printed in blue and black. In excellent condition with light rubbing to the extremities.

Trollope, Anthony

Framley Parsonage, The Warden, and Doctor Thorne.

London : Smith, Elder & Co.; Longmans, Green and Co.; Chapman and Hall, 1872-1873.

Finely bound collection of a selection of Trollope’s works. Octavo, three volumes bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled. In very good condition.

Pickard, Samuel T. [John Greenleaf Whittier]

The Writings of John Greenleaf Whittier.

Boston and New York : Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1895.

Riverside edition of the collected writings of abolition advocate John Greenleaf Whittier. Octavos, nine volumes bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers, tissue-guarded engraved frontipieces. In fine condition.

Frost, Robert

North of Boston.

New York : Henry Holt and Company, 1929.

Early printing of Frost’s second published book. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, lengthily inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper with an excerpt from his poem, The Wood Pile, “I thought that only Someone who lived in turning to fresh tasks Could so forget his handiwork on which He spent himself, the laborContinue reading "North of Boston."

Capote, Truman

One Christmas.

New York : Ladies' Home Journal, 1982.

First separate edition of this work by Capote, an offprint put out by the Ladies’ Home Journal in advance of the story’s appearance in the December 1982 issue. Octavo, original wrappers as issued. Signed by Truman Capote on the front panel. In fine condition.

Cobb, Humphrey [Kirk Douglas]

Paths of Glory.

New York : The Viking Press, 1935.

First edition of the author’s first and only book, the basis for Stanley Kubrick’s classic film, starring Kirk Douglas. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by both Humphrey Cobb and actor Kirk Douglas. Near fine in a very good dust jacket.

Dylan, Bob

The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan.

1963.

The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on May 27, 1963 by Columbia Records, boldly signed by Dylan. Whereas his self-titled debut album Bob Dylan had contained only two original songs, Freewheelin‘ represented the beginning of Dylan’s writing contemporary words to traditional melodies. Eleven of the thirteen songsContinue reading "The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan."

Trollope, Anthony

Barchester Towers.

London : Robert Hayes, 1925.

Finely bound example of this classic work. Octavo, bound in three quarters leather, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers. Illustrated with eight plates by F.C. Tilney. In very good condition, bookplate.

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 author on the front free endpaper prior to publication, “Lizzie Agassiz from her Julia Howe Dec. 22nd 1853.” The recipient, Elizabeth Cabot Agassiz was an American author,Continue reading "Passion-Flowers."

Hemingway, Ernest

Death in the Afternoon.

Charles Scribner's Sons : New York, 1932.

Early printing of Hemingway’s work on bullfighting. Octavo, bound in full morocco by Zaehnsdorf for Asprey, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands, gilt ruled to the spine, front and rear panels, inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, frontispiece by Juan Gris, illustrated. In fine condition.

Wharton, Edith

The Fruit of the Tree.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1907.

First edition of Wharton’s classic novel. Octavo, original cloth, illustration by Alonzo Kimball. In fine condition.

Loti, Pierre. Introduction by Henry James

Impressions.

Westminster : Archibald Constable and Co, 1898.

First edition of Pierre Loti’s Impressions. Octavo, original green pictorial buckram, woodcut pictorial title page, woodcut initials. In near fine condition.

James, Henry

The Ivory Tower.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1917.

First British edition of James’ unfinished novel, published posthumously in 1917. Octavo, original cloth, gilt titles to the spine. In near fine condition.    

Maugham, W. Somerset

Of Human Bondage With a Digression on the Art of Fiction: And Address by Somerset Maugham.

Washington : The Library of Congress, 1946.

Signed limited edition of the address given by Maugham upon the Library’s acceptance of the original autograph manuscript of his masterpiece, Of Human Bondage. Octavo, original boards. One of 500 copies signed by W. Somerset Maugham on the front free endpaper. In fine condition. Accompanied by the original accompanying program which is in very goodContinue reading "Of Human Bondage With a Digression on the Art of Fiction: And Address by Somerset Maugham."

Jarrell, Randall; Illustrated by Burkert, Nancy Burkert

Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs.

New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1972.

First edition of this classic illustrated retelling of the tale from the Brothers Grimm. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated throughout. Signed by the illustrator Nancy Ekholm Burkert on the half-title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with light shelfwear. Translated by Randall Jarrell.

Alvarez, Julia

How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents.

Chapel Hill, NC : Algonquin Press, 1991.

First edition of the author’s classic work. Octavo, original half cloth, Lengthily signed by the author on the title page, “May you enjoy my book- There are still times I wake up at three o’clock in the morning… to write books like this one, Julia Alvarez.” Near fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket artContinue reading "How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents."

Ojike, Mbonu [Eleanor Roosevelt]

My Africa.

New York : The John Day Company, 1946.

First edition of this work by the Nigerian novelist and nationalist, inscribed by him to Eleanor Roosevelt. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Eleanor Roosevelt The greatest Lady of this Century in whom Africa has found a friend in deed. Mbonu Ojike.” Bookplate of EleanorContinue reading "My Africa."

Burnett, W.R

Little Caesar.

New York : Lincoln MacVeagh/ The Dial Press, 1929.

First edition of Burnett’s classic novel, which has inspired generations of gangster films. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by W.R. Burnett on the half-title page. Very good in the rare original dust jacket with light shelfwear.

Bacon, Francis] John Russell

Francis Bacon.

London : Methuen, 1964.

First edition of this wonderfully illustrated work on Francis Bacon. Octavo, original boards, illustrated throughout. Presentation copy, boldly inscribed on the front free endpaper, “For George with all best wishes Francis Bacon.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket photograph of Bacon on the front panel by Cecil Beaton.

Smith, Betty

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn.

New York : Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1943.

First edition of Smith’s classic first novel about a young girl’s coming-of-age at the turn of the twentieth century. Octavo, original green cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper in the year of publication, “For Foster and Marian Best Love Betty Smith Aug. 23, 1943.” Near fine in a nearContinue reading "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn."

Holmes, John Clellon

Nothing More To Declare.

New York : E.P. Dutton, 1967.

First edition of this notable assessment of the literature of the Beats and their contemporaries, with essays on Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Gershon Legman and Jay Landesman. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author to his wife on the front free endpaper, “For Shirley- the brave adventurer, the good companion, my love- JohnContinue reading "Nothing More To Declare."

Steinbeck, John

The Pearl.

New York : The Viking Press, 1947.

First edition of this classic story of simplicity, based on a Mexican folk tale. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “For Maggie and Larry with love John Steinbeck.” Near fine in a near fine first-issue dust jacket with Steinbeck looking to the left on the rear panel. DrawingsContinue reading "The Pearl."

Stowe, Harriet Beecher

Uncle Tom’s Cabin; Or, Life Among the Lowly.

Boston and Cleveland : John P. Jewett & Company, 1852.

First edition, first issue, with “spilt” (rather than “spiled”) in Volume I, 42, line 1; “cathecism” (rather than “catechism”) in volume II, 74, line 5; and all other first issue points of the author’s classic work. Octavo, 2 volumes, bound in contemporary three quarters leather over cloth, gilt titles to the spine, volume with titleContinue reading "Uncle Tom’s Cabin; Or, Life Among the Lowly."

Caesar, Gaius Julius

Commentaires de César, avec des Notes Historiques, Critiques et Militaires [Caesar’s Comments, with Historical, Critical and Military Notes].

Paris : A Montargis, 1785.

First edition edited and translated by Lancelot Turpin de Crissé. Quarto, three volumes, bound in full contemporary calf, morocco spine labels, gilt titles to the spine, engraved title pages, two portraits and 40 folding plates, inner dentelles, marbled endpapers. In near fine condition. An exceptional example.

Dickens, Charles

A Tale of Two Cities.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1859.

First edition, first issue of one of Dickens’ most enduring works, with p. 213 misnumbered “113,” the signature mark “b” at the foot of the plate list, and the misspelling “affetcionately” on line 12, p. 134. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, panels decoratively triple-ruled in gilt withContinue reading "A Tale of Two Cities."

Isherwood, Christopher

Down There On a Visit.

New York : Simon and Schuster, 1961.

First edition of this novel from the author of Goodbye Berlin and what many consider his finest novel. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Monroe Wheeler ex dono Christopher Isherwood.” The recipient Monroe Wheeler was an American publisher and museum coordinator and a close friend of Isherwood’s.Continue reading "Down There On a Visit."