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Biography and Autobiography

Rare Biography & Autobiography Books for Sale Online

If you are looking for rare or first edition biography or autobiography books look no further than Raptis Rare Books. Browse through our entire collection of rare biographies and autobiographies below, view details about individual books and contact us to ask a question or find out more information.

Showing items 1-24 of 1143

Kerst, Friedrich; Henry Edward Krehbiel [Charles Strouse].

Mozart: The Man and the Artist Revealed in His Own Words.

New York: Dover Publications, 1965.

Dover edition of this compilation of Mozart’s own words on music, art, and life, drawn from his letters and reported sayings. Octavo, original printed wrappers. From the library of Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Award-winning composer Charles Strouse and his wife, choreographer Barbara Siman, with Strouse’s ownership stamp to the front free endpaper. Over his 50-yearContinue reading "Mozart: The Man and the Artist Revealed in His Own Words."

$95.00

Item Number: RRB-152483

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Asbury, Herbert.

Up From Methodism.

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1930.

First edition, early printing of this irreverent memoir of Herbert Asbury, the author of Gangs of New York. Octavo, publisher’s original cloth. Boldly signed by Herbert Asbury on the front free endpaper. Near fine in a very good dust jacket.

$300.00

Item Number: RRB-152453

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Lauretta, Dante S.

The Asteroid Hunter: A Scientist’s Journey to the Dawn of Our Solar System.

New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2024.

First edition of the OSIRIS-REx mission leader’s firsthand account of the daring NASA voyage to retrieve a sample from the asteroid Bennu. Octavo, original publisher’s boards. Boldly signed by the author on the half-title page with an autograph quotation, “Long ago, two carbon atoms were born entangled in the heart of a star. Dante.” FineContinue reading "The Asteroid Hunter: A Scientist’s Journey to the Dawn of Our Solar System."

$600.00

Item Number: RRB-152462

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Ernaux, Annie [Annie Dillard].

A Frozen Woman.

New York: Four Walls Eight Windows, 1995.

First edition in English of this early autobiographical work by the Nobel Prize-winning French writer Annie Ernaux, a fierce account of a spirited girl slowly frozen into the roles of wife and mother. Octavo, original boards. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the title page to fellow writer Annie Dillard, “For Annie, our historyContinue reading "A Frozen Woman."

$2,200.00

Item Number: RRB-152459

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Rodgers, Cleveland [Robert Moses].

Robert Moses: Builder for Democracy.

New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1952.

First edition of this early work on the master builder Robert Moses. Octavo, original cloth, cartographic endpapers, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by Moses on the half-title page, “To Jack Blum with our affectionate regards Mary and Robert Moses.” In near fine condition. Introduction by H.V. Kaltenborn. Books signed by Moses are uncommon.

$650.00

Item Number: RRB-124812

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Lawrence, T.E.

Seven Pillars of Wisdom.

London: Jonathan Cape, 1935.

First British trade edition of the author’s classic work. Quarto, original publisher’s brown cloth with gilt titles to the spine and front panel, illustration with four folding maps printed in red and black and forty-seven lithographic plates after Kennington. In very good condition.

$350.00

Item Number: RRB-151863

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Roosevelt, Theodore.

The Real Roosevelt: His Forceful and Fearless Utterances on Various Subjects.

New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1910.

First edition of this compilation of Theodore Roosevelt’s forceful and fearless utterances on the great questions of his day. Octavo, original publisher’s green cloth, with gilt titles to the spine and front panel, tissue-guarded frontispiece, illustrated with portraits. Association copy, inscribed by Theodore Roosevelt on the front free endpaper, “Inscribed for Edwin Willard Deming withContinue reading "The Real Roosevelt: His Forceful and Fearless Utterances on Various Subjects."

$4,200.00

Item Number: RRB-152363

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Nafisi, Azar.

Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books.

New York: Random House, 2003.

First edition of this acclaimed memoir of teaching forbidden works of Western literature to a secret book group of young women in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Octavo, original boards. Association copy, lengthily inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the title page, “To Eliot Cohen, whose vision and intellectual courage IContinue reading "Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books."

$850.00

Item Number: RRB-152442

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Ferrari, Enzo; Stirling Moss.

The Enzo Ferrari Memoirs.

London: Hamish Hamilton, 1963.

First edition in English of Enzo Ferrari’s autobiography. Octavo, original cloth, top stain red, illustrated. Boldly signed by Enzo Ferrari on the dedication page. Foreword by Stirling Moss. Edited by Richard Hough. Translated by Ivan Scott. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Accompanied by a letter of provenance dated 30th July 1981 from Ferrari’sContinue reading "The Enzo Ferrari Memoirs."

$9,800.00

Item Number: RRB-152316

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Isaacson, Walter. [Henry A. Kissinger].

Kissinger: A Biography.

New York: Simon & Schuster, 1992.

First edition of Isaacson’s authoritative biography of Henry Kissinger. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Boldly signed by Henry Kissinger on the front free endpaper. Isaacson conducted extensive personal interviews with Kissinger alongside 150 other sources, and was granted access to Kissinger’s private papers, personal letters, recorded telephone conversations, desk diaries, memos of classified meetings, andContinue reading "Kissinger: A Biography."

$850.00

Item Number: RRB-152948

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Dylan, Bob & John Elderfield.

Bob Dylan: Face Value.

London: National Portrait Gallery, 2014.

Signed limited edition of this fine art monograph of twelve previously unseen pastel portraits created by Bob Dylan specifically for the National Portrait Gallery. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated. One of 21 numbered copies, this is number 19. Signed and numbered by Bob Dylan in pencil on the title page. In fine condition.

$7,200.00

Item Number: RRB-36073

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Watson, Thomas J. and Peter Petre.

Father, Son & Co.: My Life at IBM and Beyond.

New York: Bantam Books, 1990.

First edition of the autobiography of “the greatest capitalist in history” (Fortune Magazine). Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated with 32 pages of photographs. Boldly signed by Thomas Watson Jr. on the front free endpaper. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Desirable signed.

$1,250.00

Item Number: RRB-152155

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Rosenberg, Deena [Charles Strouse].

Fascinating Rhythm: The Collaboration of George and Ira Gershwin.

New York: Dutton, 1991.

First edition of this landmark study of the creative partnership between George and Ira Gershwin. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated with musical examples and black-and-white photographs. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Dear Charles, to a lifetime of great theatre song! Warmly, Deena. Ltd. Ed. MTI New Year’s 1992.” TheContinue reading "Fascinating Rhythm: The Collaboration of George and Ira Gershwin."

$250.00

Item Number: RRB-152420

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Earhart, Amelia.

20 Hrs. 40 Min. Our Flight in the Friendship: The American Girl, First Across the Atlantic by Air, Tells Her Story.

New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1928.

First edition of Earhart’s thrilling account of of her experience as a passenger aboard the Friendship, which made her the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean by air in 1928. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth, top stain yellow, pictorial endpapers, frontispiece, illustrated with 61 illustrations. Presentation copy, inscribed by Amelia Earhart on the recto ofContinue reading "20 Hrs. 40 Min. Our Flight in the Friendship: The American Girl, First Across the Atlantic by Air, Tells Her Story."

$6,500.00

Item Number: RRB-152318

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Truman, Harry S.; William Hillman.

Mr. President.

New York: Farrar, Straus and Young, 1952.

First edition of this landmark publication drawn from the personal diaries, private letters, papers, and revealing interviews of President Harry S. Truman. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated with color and black-and-white photographs. Presentation copy, lengthily signed and inscribed by Harry S. Truman beneath the color frontispiece portrait, “Best wishes to Richard J. Feeney, may he haveContinue reading "Mr. President."

$1,250.00

Item Number: RRB-152395

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Miller, Arthur [Charles Strouse].

Timebends: A Life.

New York: Grove Press, 1987.

First edition of the celebrated playwright’s candid and sweeping autobiography. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated with black-and-white photographs. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the title page to the Broadway composer Charles Strouse, “Charley? – Happy birthday Arthur Miller June 6/93.” The recipient, Charles Strouse, was a Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Award-winning composer whoseContinue reading "Timebends: A Life."

$475.00

Item Number: RRB-152372

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Lamson, Peggy. [Julia Child] [John Kenneth Galbraith].

Speaking of Galbraith: A Personal Portrait.

New York: Ticknor & Fields, 1991.

First edition of this intimate portrait of the economist John Kenneth Galbraith. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For Julia, Bon lire! love Peggy July, 1991.” The recipient, Julia Child, was the chef, author, and television personality who brought French cuisine to the American publicContinue reading "Speaking of Galbraith: A Personal Portrait."

$450.00

Item Number: RRB-152369

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Leve, James [Charles Strouse].

Kander and Ebb.

New Haven: Yale University Press, 2009.

First edition of James Leve’s critical study of the celebrated Broadway songwriting team, a volume in the Yale Broadway Masters series. Octavo, original publisher’s boards, illustrated with black-and-white photographs and music stanzas. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the leaf facing the title page, “To Charles Strouse, Best Wishes. Jim Leve.” The recipient, CharlesContinue reading "Kander and Ebb."

$250.00

Item Number: RRB-152177

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Meir, Golda.

My Life.

New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1975.

First edition of Meir’s autobiography. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Boldly signed by Golda Meir on the title page. Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket design by Cheryl Asherman. Uncommon signed.

$1,750.00

Item Number: RRB-152944

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Bush, George H.W. [Lech Walesa].

All the Best: My Life in Letters and Other Writings.

New York: Scribners, 1999.

First edition of George H.W. Bush’s life and letters. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Boldly signed by George Bush and the leader of the Solidarity Movement and Nobel Laureate Lech Walesa on the front free endpaper. Wałęsa was a leading force behind Poland’s democratic revolution, while Bush was one of the key international leaders whoContinue reading "All the Best: My Life in Letters and Other Writings."

$1,400.00

Item Number: RRB-152945

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Wiesel, Elie. [Peter Matthiessen].

Night.

London: MacGibbon & Kee, 1960.

First English edition of Nobel laureate Wiesel’s masterpiece. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author to Paris Review co-founder Peter Matthiessen on the front free endpaper, “for Peter – Shalom, Elie Wiesel.” From the library of Peter Matthiessen with his bookplate to the front pastedown. Peter Matthiessen remains the only writer to haveContinue reading "Night."

$15,000.00

Item Number: RRB-152354

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Bono.

Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story.

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2022.

First edition of the acclaimed memoir of the U2 frontman, told through forty of his songs. Octavo, original publisher’s boards, illustrated with drawings by the author. Boldly signed by Bono on the second free endpaper. Fine in a fine dust jacket.

$275.00

Item Number: RRB-152313

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Gottfried, Martin [Charles Strouse].

Jed Harris: The Curse of Genius.

Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1984.

First edition of Gottfried’s acclaimed biography of Jed Harris, the brilliant and notorious wunderkind of the Broadway stage. Octavo, original half-cloth, illustrated with black-and-white photographs. From the collection of Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Award-winning composer Charles Strouse and his wife, choreographer Barbara Siman. Over his 50-year career, Charles Strouse wrote the music for such iconicContinue reading "Jed Harris: The Curse of Genius."

$100.00

Item Number: RRB-152197

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Craft, Robert [Charles Strouse].

Stravinsky: Glimpses of a Life.

New York: St. Martin's Press, 1993.

First American edition of Robert Craft’s intimate memoir of Igor Stravinsky. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated with black-and-white photographs. From the collection of Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Award-winning composer Charles Strouse and his wife, choreographer Barbara Siman. Over his 50-year career, Charles Strouse wrote the music for such iconic musical theater hits as Bye ByeContinue reading "Stravinsky: Glimpses of a Life."

$95.00

Item Number: RRB-152168

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