James, Henry

The Outcry.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1911.

First American edition, published simultaneously with the British edition of James’ final novel. Octavo, original cloth. In near fine condition, bookplate, library markings in pen to the first three pages. A very sharp example.

Tagore, Rabindranath

Rabindranath Tagore Signed Photograph.

1921.

Photograph of Nobel Prize-winning author Rabindranath Tagore. Signed and dated on the photograph, “Rabindranath Tagore Jul. 22, 1921.” Double-matted and framed. The photograph measures 3.5 inches by 5 inches. The entire piece measures 13.5 inches by 18.25 inches. Photographs signed by Tagore rare.

Rawlings, Marjorie Kinnan

The Yearling.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1938.

First edition of the author’s Pulitzer Prize-winning classic. Octavo, original cloth. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with light rubbing and wear, bookplate to the front pastedown.

Kerouac, Jack

On The Road.

New York : Viking Press, 1957.

First edition. Octavo, original black cloth. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with just a touch or rubbing. The nicest copy we have seen or handled.

James, Henry

Views and Reviews: Now First Collected.

Boston : The Ball Publishing Company, 1908.

First edition of this series of literary essays written in James’ earlier style. Octavo, original cloth, gilt titles to the spine, gilt topstain. Introduction by Le Roy Phillips. In near fine condition. A very bright example.

James, Henry

The Real Thing.

New York and London : Macmillan & Co, 1893.

First edition, second issue of one of James’ neatest tales. Octavo, original cloth. In near fine condition with light rubbing to the extremities, small tear to the front free endpaper.

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, original olive cloth, 2 volumes. Published under the pseudonym ‘Ralph Iron’. The entire printing of this first edition has been estimated to be about 300 copies. and most were destined to libraries. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Rare, especially in the original cloth.

Disney, Walt; Brown, Margaret Wise

Little Pig’s Picnic and Other Stories.

Boston : D.C. Heath and Company, 1939.

First edition of this collection of stories. Octavo, original illustrated cloth, pictorial endpapers. Boldly signed by Walt Disney on the half-title page. Illustrated throughout by the Walt Disney Studio. Story by Margaret Wise Brown. In very good condition with some rubbing to the extremities. Rare and desirable signed by Walt Disney.

Drury, Allen

Advise and Consent: A Novel of Washington Politics.

New York : Doubleday & Company, 1959.

First edition of the author’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For Senator Clark with best regards Allen Drury.” The recipient Joseph S. Clark, Jr. was an American lawyer and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a United States SenatorContinue reading "Advise and Consent: A Novel of Washington Politics."

Gaines, Ernest J

Catherine Carmier.

New York : Atheneum , 1964.

First edition of Gaines’ first book. Octavo, original half cloth. Signed by the author on the title page with the added words, “When Brother got out of the car, the two Cajuns sitting on the porch turned to look at him. Ernest J. Gaines.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket with a touch ofContinue reading "Catherine Carmier."

Raskin, Ellen

Figgs and Phantoms.

New York : E.P. Dutton & Company, Inc, 1974.

First edition of the author’s Newbery Honor book. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For Ethel & Paul many, many thanks for all your kind words Ellen Raskin.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket.

Gardner, John

Icebreaker.

London : Jonathan Cape, 1983.

First edition of the third novel by John Gardner featuring Ian Fleming’s secret agent, James Bond. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by John Gardner on the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Uncommon signed.

Gardner, John

For Special Services.

London : Jonathan Cape and Hodder and Stoughton, 1982.

First edition of this Bond novel. Octavo, original cloth. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket painting and design by Bill Botten.

Carroll, Lewis (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson)

The Game of Logic.

London : MacMillan and Co, 1887.

First trade edition of Lewis Carroll’s game, with scarce original card and several original markers. Octavo, original publisher’s red cloth. Association copy, inscribed by Lewis Carroll to his nephew, on the half-title in purple ink in the year of publication, “Bertram J. Collingwood with the Author’s love Mar. 87.” The volume contains the original envelope containingContinue reading "The Game of Logic."

Kundera, Milan

The Festival of Insignificance: A Novel.

New York : Harper Collins Publishers, 2015.

First edition of Kundera’s eleventh fictional work. Octavo, original boards. Inscribed and dated by Milan Kundera in the the year of publication. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Translated from the French by Linda Asher.

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 the fading endemic to the spine panel. A very sharp example.

Grass, Gunter

The Tin Drum.

London : Secker and Warburg, 1962.

First British edition of the Nobel Prize-winning author’s classic first novel. Octavo, original cloth. Inscribed and dated in 1986 by Gunter Grass on the half-title page. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. With a signed letter from Gunter Grass’ secretary. Translated by Ralph Manheim. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box madeContinue reading "The Tin Drum."

Greene, Graham

The Lost Childhood and Other Essays.

London : Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1951.

First edition of this collection of essays by Graham Greene, two of its four parts, Personal Prologue and Personal Postscript, comprise seven invaluable pieces of autobiography. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author to fellow writer Norman Douglas on the front free endpaper, “Dear Norman This with my love. Thank you so muchContinue reading "The Lost Childhood and Other Essays."

Greene, Graham

The End of the Affair.

London : William Heinemann, 1951.

First edition of the Graham Greene novel William Faulkner called, “one of the best, most true and moving novels of my time, in anybody’s language.” Octavo, original cloth. Inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For Jerry Shestack from Graham Greene.” The recipient Jerry Shestack was a distinguished American Jurist, President of theContinue reading "The End of the Affair."

Tagore, Rabindranath

Creative Unity.

London : MacMillan & Company , 1925.

First edition, later printing. Octavo, original cloth. Signed and dated by the author on the front free endpaper, “Rabindranath Tagore Feb. 26, 1932.” In very good condition with some wear to the extremities and to the side front panel. Books signed by Tagore are rare.

Trilling, Lionel

The Liberal Imagination: Essays on Literature and Society.

New York : The Viking Press, 1950.

First edition of one of the influential works of criticism published in the twentieth century. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication, “To Sue and George in friendship and regard Lionel March 1950.” Fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by Robert Hallock.

Calvino, Italo

Difficult Loves.

New York : Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Publishers, 1984.

First edition of this classic collection of short stories by Calvino. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by Italo Calvino on the front free endpaper. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Louise Fili. Translated from the Italian by William Weaver, Archibald Colquhoun and Peggy Wright.

Mitchell, Margaret

Margaret Mitchell Signed Letters.

1941-42.

Two letters signed in full by Margaret Mitchell, author on the classic Gone With the Wind. Both letters addressed to Rear Admiral Edward J. Marquart and his wife, one dated December 26, 1941, the other December 19, 1942, each with their original envelopes; both letters refer to the commissioning of the U.S.S. Atlanta.

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 title page, “For Bob Kriendler with best wishes John Steinbeck.” The recipient was the owner of the legendary New York City landmark restaurant and speakeasy ”21”. Steinbeck was a frequentContinue reading "The Pearl."

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.