Literature
Rare & Classic, American or English Literature Books for Sale Online
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"Take this stake in your left hand, ready to place the point over the heart, and the hammer in your right...": First American edition of Dracula; inscribed by Bram Stoker, Bela Lugosi, Christopher Lee and dozens of additional icons of horror cinema
STOKER, Bram.
Dracula.
New York: Doubleday & McClure Co, 1899.
First American edition of Bram Stoker's masterpiece, the progenitor of the vampire genre which remains “arguably the most potent literary myth of the twentieth century” (Leatherdale, 11), signed by him and a host of other actors who portraed vampires. Octavo, original pictorial beige cloth stamped in blue and gilt. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, "Harry Powers from Bram Stoker 16 May 1900." Subsequently from the collection of George W. Fuller with his bookplate to the pastedown, then Forrest "Forry" J. Ackerman who dedicated his life to building what many consider to have been the…
Price: $60,000.00 Item Number: 145817
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First American Edition of One Hundred Years of Solitude
GARCIA MARQUEZ, Gabriel. Translated by Gregory Rabassa.
One Hundred Years of Solitude.
New York: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1970.
First American edition of the author's magnum opus. Octavo, original green cloth. Near fine in a very good first issue dust jacket with the exclamation point at the end of the first paragraph on the front flap of the jacket. Jacket design by Guy Fleming.
Price: $1,500.00 Item Number: 145926
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FIRST EDITION OF SALE’S LANDMARK 1734 ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE KORAN; FINELY BOUND BY BAYNTUN
TRANSLATED BY GEORGE SALE,.
The Koran, Commonly Called the Alcoran of Mohammed, Translated into English Immediately from the Original Arabic; with Explanatory Notes, Taken from the Most Approved Commentators.
London: Printed by C. Ackers for J. Wilcox, 1734.
First edition of George Sale’s important translation of the Koran, the first to translate the original text directly from the Arabic into English. Quarto, bound in full contemporary calf, rebacked, morocco spine label within five raised bands, folding engraved map with inset view of Mecca, engraved folding plate with plan and view of Mecca, 3 engraved genealogical tables (2 folding). In very good condition. From the library of Francis Enys of Truro, Cornwall with his bookplate to the front pastedown. An exceptional example with noted provenance.
Price: $6,000.00 Item Number: 145520
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Alexandre Dumas' Les Trois Mousquetaires
DUMAS, Alexandre [Alexander].
Les Trois Mousquetaires.
Paris: Calmann-Lévy, 1921.
Finely bound example of Dumas' classic work in the original French. Octavo, two volumes bound in three quarter crimson crushed levant morocco with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. In near fine condition.
Price: $975.00 Item Number: 145243
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"Mary avec l'aimite from John the XXII": First Edition of The Short Reign of Pippin IV; Inscribed by John Steinbeck to his sister
STEINBECK, John.
The Short Reign of Pippin IV: A Fabrication.
New York: The Viking Press, 1957.
First edition of Steinbeck's only political satire. Octavo, original half cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author to his sister on the front free endpaper, "Mary avec l'aimite from John the XXII." The recipient, Mary Steinbeck Dekker was the eldest sister of John Steinbeck. The warmth of this inscription reflects their close and enduring relationship throughout his life. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by William Pene Du Bois. From the library of Mary Steinbeck Dekker. An exceptional association.
Price: $6,000.00 Item Number: 145514
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First Edition of Evelyn Waugh's The Ordeal Of Gilbert Pinford
WAUGH, Evelyn.
The Ordeal Of Gilbert Pinford.
London: Chapman & Hall, 1957.
First edition of what Waugh called his "mad book"—a largely autobiographical account of a period of hallucinations caused by bromide intoxication that he experienced in the early months of 1954, recounted through his protagonist Gilbert Pinfold. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket, name to the front free endpaper. Uncommon in this condition.
Price: $500.00 Item Number: 145512
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"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men": First Edition of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; Signed by Roald Dahl
DAHL, Roald.
Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.
New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1964.
First edition, second issue with the five line colophon on the last page. Octavo, original cloth. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Boldly signed by the author on the front free endpaper, "Love Roald Dahl," with the word Love within the letter R in his name. Near fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket. Illustrated by Joseph Schindelman. A sharp example, uncommon signed.
Price: $7,500.00 Item Number: 145511
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"We cannot build the future by avenging the past": First Edition of T.H. White's The Once and Future King
WHITE, T.H.
The Once and Future King.
London: Collins, 1958.
First edition of the single volume of White's Arthurian trilogy, Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. A very sharp example, rare in the original dust jacket.
Price: $1,600.00 Item Number: 145487
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First Edition of The Constant Gardener; Signed by John le Carré
LE CARRE, John.
The Constant Gardener.
London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2001.
First edition of le Carré's spy thriller. Octavo, original navy blue boards, silk ribbon bound-in. Boldly signed by John le Carre on the title page. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Cover photograph by Christine Rodin. Author photograph by Simone Casetta.
Price: $350.00 Item Number: 145251
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“I CAN'T STAND IT TO THINK MY LIFE IS GOING SO FAST AND I'M NOT REALLY LIVING IT”: First Modern Library Edition of Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises
HEMINGWAY, Ernest.
The Sun Also Rises.
New York: The Modern Library , 1930.
First Modern Library edition of Hemingway's first major novel. Octavo, bound in original cloth. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. New introduction by Henry Seidel Canby. Uncommon in the original dust jacket.
Price: $975.00 Item Number: 145834
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“Sometimes, I feel the past and the future pressing so hard on either side that there's no room for the present at all": First Edition of Brideshead Revisited; Signed by Evelyn Waugh
WAUGH, Evelyn.
Brideshead Revisited.
London: Chapman and Hall, 1945.
First edition of Waugh's masterpiece. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Evelyn Waugh on the title page. Waugh issued a pre-publication edition of the novel in a run of 50 copies. These were printed and specially bound to distribute among friends for Christmas and to solicit any revisions. Several changes were made as a result of his friends' comments, including suggested alterations by Fr. Martin D'Arcy, Cyril Connolly, and Nancy Mitford. A letter from Graham Greene, Waugh's friend and recipient of one of the 50 copies had indicated that Waugh may have only inscribed 19 of the 50 copies (Jeffrey…
Price: $25,000.00 Item Number: 145489
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35th Anniversary Edition of To Kill A Mockingbird; Signed by Legendary Actor Gregory Peck
LEE, Harper [Gregory Peck].
To Kill A Mockingbird.
New York: HarperCollins, 1995.
First edition, early printing of the 35th Anniversary edition of the author’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, basis for the classic film starring Gregory Peck. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed and dated by Academy-Award winning actor Gregory Peck on the dedication page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Suzanne Noli.
Price: $2,000.00 Item Number: 145873
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"Peggy Sweetheart, Cartes and Sudie want to go for a ride on this carriage but I think we'd better wait for Peggy and Mama. Here is a kiss X. Here is a crab kiss ↃC xxx Love, Daddy": First edition The Catcher in the Rye; with an autograph postcard signed by J.D. Salinger to his daughter Peggy
SALINGER, J.D.
The Catcher in the Rye.
Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1951.
First edition of Salinger's debut novel, a cherished portrait of adolescence and one of the most widely banned books ever published. Octavo, original black cloth with gilt-lettered spine. Near fine in a very good first issue dust jacket with the rear panel photograph of Salinger. Jacket design by Michael Mitchell. Author photograph by Lotte Jacob. With an autograph postcard signed by J.D. Salinger to his daughter Peggy laid in. The postcard bears a plastichrome image of horsedrawn carriages on 59th Street in New York City, inscribed by J.D. Salinger on the verso, "Peggy Sweetheart, Cartes and Sudie want to go…
Price: $25,000.00 Item Number: 145286
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The Aldine Edition of Geoffrey Chaucer's Poetical Works
CHAUCER, Geoffrey.
The Poetical Works of Geoffrey Chaucer.
London: George Bell and Sons, 1886.
Finely bound Aldine edition of this collection of brilliant poetical works. Octavo, six volumes, bound in three quarter brown calf over marbled boards with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt and elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within five raised gilt bands, top edges gilt, marbled endpapers, decorated with botanical headpieces, tailpieces, and initials throughout. In very good condition with some light rubbing to the extremities, light toning to the text blocks, and a bookplate to the front pastedown of Vol. VI. Edited by Richard Morris LLD with Memoir by Sir Harris Nicolas.
Price: $850.00 Item Number: 145246
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"one of the most significant works of religious English literature": Rare and unique sammelband collection of early printings of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress
BUNYAN, John.
The Pilgrim’s Progress From This World To That Which is to Come: Deliver’d under the Similitude of a Dream: Wherein is Discover’d The Manner of his Setting out, His Dangerous Journey, and Safe Arrival at the Desired Country.
London: Printed for A.W. for W. Johnston, at the Golden-Ball, in St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1752-1755.
Rare twenty-eighth edition of one of the most significant works of religious English literature, bound with a twentieth edition of its second part, a sixteenth edition of its third part, and The Life and Death of Mr. John Bunyan. 12mo, bound in full calf with gilt ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, crimson morocco spine label lettered in gilt, engraved frontispiece, illustrated with woodcuts. Bound with a twentieth edition of The Pilgrim's Progress From This World to That which is to Come: The Second Part. Delivered under the Similitude of a Dream: Wherein is set forth…
Price: $850.00 Item Number: 145684
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"LOVE MEANS NEVER HAVING TO SAY YOU’RE SORRY": LOVE STORY; SIGNED BY ERICH SEGAL, ALI MACGRAW AND RYAN O'NEAL
SEGAL, Erich.
Love Story.
New York, Evanston, and London: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1970.
First edition, early printing of the author's best-selling novel, a "sweet, sad, and, in its closing sentences, startlingly sentimental" work (John Barkham). Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed on the front free endpaper by Erich Segal, Ali MacGraw and Ryan O'Neal who co-starred in the 1970 film adaptation. A tragedy, the 1970 film Love Story was produced by Howard G. Minsky and directed by Arthur Hiller and starred Ali MacGraw and Ryan O'Neal, alongside John Marley, Ray Milland, and Tommy Lee Jones in his film debut in a minor role. The film is considered one of the most romantic by the…
Price: $1,850.00 Item Number: 145831
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"Everybody is going to be what they are, and whatever they are": First Edition of The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test; Signed by Tom Wolfe
WOLFE, Tom .
The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.
New York: Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, 1968.
First edition of the classic account of Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters during their bus trip across America in the late 1960's. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Tom Wolfe on the title page. Jacket design by Milton Glaser. An exceptional example.
Price: $2,250.00 Item Number: 138136
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First Edition of Eugene Sue's The Wandering Jew
SUE, Eugene.
The Wandering Jew.
London: Chapman and Hall, 1844-1845.
First edition of this enthralling serially published novel. Octavo, three volumes, bound in three quarter morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. In very good condition.
Price: $150.00 Item Number: 145242
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First Edition of A Century of Arts and Letters; Signed by All Eleven Contributors
AUCHINCLOSS, Louis; Beeson.
A Century of Arts and Letters.
New York: Columbia University Press, 1997.
First edition of this work celebrating the history of the American Academy of Arts & Letters on its centenary. Octavo, original cloth, pictorial endpapers. Boldly signed on the the title page by all eleven contributors. Preface and edited by John Updike. In near fine condition. Rare and desirable signed.
Price: $975.00 Item Number: 145842
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“Each moment is the fruit of forty thousand years": First Edition of Look Homeward, Angel; Inscribed by Thomas Wolfe in the year of publication
WOLFE, Thomas.
Look Homeward, Angel.
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1929.
First edition of the author's classic work. Octavo, original dark blue cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the title page, "To Jo Dauber with thanks for dragging me in. Thomas Wolfe, Nov. 27, 1929." Near fine in a very good first-issue dust jacket with the photograph of Wolfe by Doris Ulmann. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box made by the Harcourt Bindery. A nice example, uncommon in this condition and signed.
Price: $16,000.00 Item Number: 125635