Pope John XXIII [Martin Luther King, Jr.]

Pacem in Terris: Encyclical Letter of His Holiness Pope John XXIII. [Peace on Earth].

Glen Rock, NJ : Paulist Press, 1963.

Original printed pamphlet of Pope John XXIII’s 1963 Pacem in Terris. Boldly signed by Martin Luther King, Jr. at the bottom of the title page. Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister and activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movement from 1954 through 1968. He is bestContinue reading "Pacem in Terris: Encyclical Letter of His Holiness Pope John XXIII. [Peace on Earth]."

Lewis, C.S

Beyond the Bright Blur.

New York : Harcourt, Brace & World Inc, 1963.

First edition of this selection from Letters to Malcolm. Octavo, original boards. Near fine in the original rice paper jacket, which is in good condition. Rare.

King, Jr. Martin Luther. Editor's note by Ed Clayton

The SCLC Story in Words and Pictures.

Atlanta, Georgia : Southern Christian Leadership Conference, 1964.

First edition, first printing of The SCLC Story containing one of the first appearances in print of Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have a Dream Speech. Quarto, original illustrated wrappers as issued, illustrated with photographs including a full-page photograph of King, photographs of the officers, executive board, regional, and secretarial staffs of the SCLC. SignedContinue reading "The SCLC Story in Words and Pictures."

Shahn, Ben

Haggadah for Passover.

The Trianon Press : Paris, 1966.

Signed limited edition of Lithuanian-born American artist Ben Shahn’s magnificently illustrated retelling of the Haggadah for Passover. Large folio, original wrappers, gilt titles to the front panel, loose leaves as issued, illustrated by Shaun with 21 color pictorial borders and line drawings and an additional double-page color lithograph also signed by him. One of onlyContinue reading "Haggadah for Passover."

Ben-Gurion, David

The Jews in Their Land.

Garden City, NY : Doubleday & Company, 1966.

First edition of this finely illustrated work by David Ben-Gurion. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Ben Shahn. Translated from the Hebrew by Modechai Nurock and Misha Louvish.    

Schwartz, Steven; John Michael Tebelak

Godspell: New Testaments Sections on Which the Musical is Based.

New York : The British and Foreign Bible Society in association with Collins Fontana Books, 1966.

First edition of this collection of gospels in Today’s English Version used in Godspell the Musical by Stephen Schwartz and John Michael Tebelak as played at Wyndham’s Theatre, London. Octavo, original pictorial wrappers, illustrated. Boldly signed by Stephen Schwartz on the title page. In near fine condition. Rare, especially signed.

Wilkerson, David with John & Elizabeth Sherrill. [Pat Boone]

The Cross and the Switchblade: A True Story of the Saving Power of Faith.

London : Hodder and Stoughton, 1967.

First edition of the author’s best-selling “modern day sequel to the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament” (Pat Boone). Octavo, original cloth. Signed by David Wilkerson on the half-title page and signed by American actor Pat Boone, who starred as Wilkerson in the 1970 film adaptation of the book, on the front freeContinue reading "The Cross and the Switchblade: A True Story of the Saving Power of Faith."

Siddur Avodat Israel with English Translation.

Tel-Aviv : Sinai Publishing, 1967.

Rare elaborately bound Jewish Siddur prayer book. Small octavo, bound in full silver metal with elaborate tooling to the spine and panels, inlaid turquoise decorations to the front panel, patterned enpdapers, ribbon bound in. English translation facing the Hebrew text. In fine condition. Presentation bookplate to the pastedown. An elaborate presentation.

Blume, Judy

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.

New York : Bradbury Press, 1970.

First edition, early printing of this landmark novel in the history of young adult literature. Octavo, original publisher’s boards. Boldly signed by the author on the half-title page, “Love, Judy Blume July 1991.” Near fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket design by Eros Keith. Rare and desirable signed.

Wiesel, Elie

Souls on Fire: Portraits and Legends of Hasidic Masters.

New York : Random House, 1972.

First edition of this exploration of Hasidism, focusing on the tales, legends, and portraits of its 18th and 19th-century masters. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth, top stain maroon, cartographic endpapers. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by the author on the half-title page and signed in English and Hebrew, “For Maurine and Stanley Kessler – in these daysContinue reading "Souls on Fire: Portraits and Legends of Hasidic Masters."

Pagels, Elaine H.

The Johannine Gospel in Gnostic Exegesis: Heracleon’s Commentary on John.

Nashville & New York : Abingdon Press, 1973.

First edition of this comprehensive study examining how Gnostic texts interpret the Gospel of John. Octavo, original boards. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page. Fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket.

[Richard M. Nixon]

The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments: Translated Out of the Original Tongues and with the Former Translations Diligently Compared. Commonly Known as the Authorized (King James) Version.

Nashville, TN : The Gideons International, 1974.

The 1974 edition of the Gideon Bible used to swear in President Richard M. Nixon before his voluntary deposition to the Watergate Special Prosecution Force on June 23, 1975, the only sworn testimony Nixon provided in connection with the Watergate proceedings. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth, pictorial endpapers. Presentation copy, inscribed by Nixon on the frontContinue reading "The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments: Translated Out of the Original Tongues and with the Former Translations Diligently Compared. Commonly Known as the Authorized (King James) Version."

Plantinga, Alvin

The Nature of Necessity.

Oxford : Oxford at the Clarendon Press, 1974.

First edition of this classic work. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Alvin Plantinga on the front free endpaper. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket.

Wiesel, Elie. [Herman Wouk]

Messengers of God: Biblical Portraits and Legends.

New York : Random House, 1976.

First edition of this collection of portraits exploring the lives of key biblical figures. Octavo, original publisher’s half cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the half-title page, “For Herman Wouk – in friendship, Marion and Elie Wiesel May 9, 1976.” Herman Wouk was a novelist, playwright, and essayistContinue reading "Messengers of God: Biblical Portraits and Legends."

Kung, Hans

On Being A Christian.

Garden City, NY : Doubleday and Company, 1976.

First edition, early printing of this landmark work. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “To my friend Matthew: confidence and courage! Hans Kung.” Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by Robert Aulicino. Translated by Edward Quinn.

Robinson, James M. [Director] [Elaine Pagels]

The Nag Hammadi Library in English.

Leiden, The Netherlands : E.J. Brill, 1977.

First edition of this collection of early Christian and Gnostic texts discovered in Egypt in 1945. Octavo, original publisher’s green cloth. Boldly signed and dated by Elaine Pagels on the half-title page, “Elaine Pagels September 23 2025.” Elaine Pagels is an American religious historian and scholar best known for her groundbreaking work on early ChristianityContinue reading "The Nag Hammadi Library in English."

Pagels, Elaine

The Gnostic Gospels.

New York : Random House, 1979.

First edition of the author’s groundbreaking work. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by the author on the half-title page. Near fine in a very  good price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket design by R.D. Scudellari.

Pagels, Elaine [Annie Dillard]

The Gnostic Gospels.

New York : Random House, 1979.

First edition of the author’s groundbreaking work. Octavo, original half cloth. Association copy, warmly inscribed by the author to fellow writer Annie Dillard on the half-title page, “For Annie with best wishes from Elaine Pagels.” The recipient, fellow author Annie Dillard has published works of poetry, essays, prose, and literary criticism, as well as twoContinue reading "The Gnostic Gospels."

Bourgeois, Jean-Louis. Photographs by Carollee Pelos. [Peter Matthiessen]

Spectacular Vernacular: The Adobe Tradition.

New York : Aperture Foundation, Inc, 1980.

First edition of this spectacular celebration of traditional Adobe architecture in the West. Quarto, original half cloth, illustrated with photographs by Carollee Pelos. Historical Essay by Basil Davidson. Signed by Jean-Louis Bourgeois and Carollee Pelos on the half-title page. From the library of Peter Matthiessen with his bookplate to the pastedown. American writer Peter MatthiessenContinue reading "Spectacular Vernacular: The Adobe Tradition."

Spink, Kathryn. [Mother Teresa]

For the Brotherhood of Man, Under the Fatherhood of God: Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Her Missionaries of Charity & Her Co-Workers.

Surrey : Colour Library International, 1981.

First edition of this work regarding Mother Teresa. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Lengthily inscribed by Mother Teresa in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, “My dear Sisters, Let us love Jesus with undivided love and others as He loves each one of us. God bless you, M. Teresa mc, 6/7/81.” Near fineContinue reading "For the Brotherhood of Man, Under the Fatherhood of God: Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Her Missionaries of Charity & Her Co-Workers."

Ali, Muhammad

Prayer and Al-Islam.

Chicago : Muhammad Islamic Foundation, 1982.

First edition of this prayer book. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by Muhammad Ali on the front free endpaper, “To Marc from Muhammad Ali 9-25-86.” In fine condition.

Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa Signed Photograph.

1984.

Color photograph portrait of Mother Teresa with her hands clasped in prayer boldly inscribed, “God bless you M. Teresa mc.” In fine condition. Double matted and framed. The entire piece measures 15 inches by 12.5 inches.

Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa Signed Photograph.

1984.

Rare photograph portrait of Mother Teresa boldly signed, “God bless you M. Teresa mc.” In fine condition. The piece measures 5 inches by 7 inches.

Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa Signed Photograph.

1984.

Rare color photograph of Mother Teresa. Color semi-glossy book photograph headshot of Mother Teresa. Boldly signed in blue ink, “God bless you M. Teresa mc.” In near fine condition. The piece measures 5.25 inches by 6.25 inches.