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Rare & Classic, American or English Literature Books for Sale Online
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Le Vasseur's "Alexandre Dumas Illustré" edition of Dumas' Les Quarante-Cinq
DUMAS, Alexandre.
Les Quarante-Cinq. [The Forty-Five Guardsmen].
Paris: A. Le Vasseur et Cie, Editeurs, nd.
Le Vasseur's "Alexandre Dumas Illustré" edition of third and final work in Dumas' Valois trilogy. Quarto, original wrappers, frontispiece, illustrations by d'Alphonse de Neuville. In very good condition.
Price: $300.00 Item Number: 117946
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"I do not ask for saintly souls to help me on my way, or male and female devilkins to lead my steps astray": First edition of Reveille: Devoted to the Disabled Sailor & Soldier with contributions by Rudyard Kipling, Joseph Conrad and John Galsworthy; with an autograph letter signed by the editor John Galsworthy tipped in
KIPLING, Rudyard; Joseph Conrad; John Galsworthy; J. M. Barrie et al. Edited by John Galsworthy.
Reveille: Devoted to the Disabled Sailor & Soldier.
London: Published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, [1918].
First edition of this scarce WWII periodical dedicated to wounded soldiers and sailors, containing appearances of Rudyard Kipling's A Pilgrim's Way, John Galsworthy's The Gist of the Matter, Joseph Conrad's The First News, and J. M. Barrie's Barbara's Wedding. Octavo, original wrappers, illustrated. With an autograph letter signed by Galsworthy tipped in. In near fine condition. Housed in a custom half morocco and chemise case.
Price: $1,250.00 Item Number: 121473
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The Salon edition of Gustave Flaubert's A Simple Heart
FLAUBERT, Gustave.
A Simple Heart.
Paris: Societe des Beaux Arts, n.d. [ca. 1895].
The limited Salon edition of Flaubert's classic novella. Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards, gilt titles and elaborate gilt tooling with red morocco onlays to the spine in five compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt with others untrimmed, with tissue-guarded illustrations by Emile Adan. Limited to five hundred and fifty numbered copies, this is number 152. Preface by A. de Claye. In near fine condition with rubbing to the extremities.
Price: $750.00 Item Number: 139337
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Rare autograph note signed by famed English writer Rudyard Kipling
KIPLING, Rudyard.
Rudyard Kipling Autograph Note Signed.
Sept. 2, 1917.
Rare autograph note signed by and in the hand of Rudyard Kipling. 12mo, one page on Kipling's Bateman's house letterhead, the note reads in full, "Sep. 2, 1917 Dear Dr. Curtiss, Would you please come down to Bateman's as soon as may be to see Mrs. Kipling who is suffering from a sudden attack of illness that I cannot make out the nature of. Very sincerely, Rudyard Kipling." A 17th-century house located in Burwash, East Sussex, Bateman's was the home of Rudyard Kipling from 1902 until his death in 1936. Kipling wrote some of his finest works at the house…
Price: $1,500.00 Item Number: 142237
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The Beauties of Mozart, Consisting of the most Admired Sonatas Duetts and Concertos of this Esteemed Author
MOZART, Wolfgang Amadeus.
The Beauties of Mozart, Consisting of the Most Admired Sonatas Duetts and Concertos of this Esteemed Author.
London: Printed & Sold by Preston, c. 1810.
Rare edition of this compilation of Mozart's sonatas. Quarto, bound in full diced morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, front and rear panels, marbled endpapers, 6 parts in 1, each part engraved throughout, titles incorporating small oval portrait vignette. In near fine condition.
Price: $8,800.00 Item Number: 143842
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Rare First edition of the The Salvation Army British Exhibition Handbook; containing the first appearance of Rudyard Kipling's "Empire Building"
[KIPLING, Rudyard].
The Salvation Army British Exhibition Handbook.
New York: Harper & Brothers, [1924].
First edition of The Salvation Army British Empire Exhibition Handbook compiled for the information of visitors at the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley in 1924; containing the first appearance of Rudyard Kipling's "Empire Building". Quarto, original illustrated wrappers, illustrated. In near fine condition. Housed in a custom chemise case. Rare.
Price: $650.00 Item Number: 121047
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SCARCE JACK KEROUAC AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT QUESTIONNAIRE. HIS CAREER GOAL: "BE A GREAT WRITER MAKING EVERYBODY BELIEVE IN HEAVEN"
KEROUAC, Jack.
Jack Kerouac Autograph Manuscript Signed.
February 28,1964.
Autograph manuscript signed, being Kerouac’s answers to twelve typed questions from Robert Dodd, two pages, quarto, 28 February 1964. Kerouac candidly replies to a young man’s questions. Given a ninth-grade classroom assignment to contact his favorite writer, Robert Dodd chose Jack Kerouac. The author provides lengthy answers to the young Dodd's questions. On the question of his changing writing style Kerouac explains: "The Town and the City was my first, young man novel when I was just starting our trying to write like Thomas Wolfe -- Lonesome Traveler is a product of my own style which I developed in later…
Price: $75,000.00 Item Number: 79098
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“THREE THINGS CANNOT LONG BE HIDDEN: THE SUN, THE MOON, AND THE TRUTH": The Philosophy of Confucius; finely bound in full morocco by Maurin
CONFUCIUS. TRANSLATED BY JAMES LEGGE. ,.
The Philosophy of Confucius.
Mount Vernon and New York: The Peter Pauper Press, n.d..
First Peter Pauper edition of Legge's translation of the Analects of Confucius. Octavo, bound in full pebbled morocco by Maurin with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers, illustrations by Jeanyee Wong. In near fine condition. Housed in a custom slipcase.
Price: $650.00 Item Number: 130503
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Scarce complete First edition, first issue of Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities; in the original monthly parts; with three variant issues of part 1
DICKENS, Charles.
A Tale of Two Cities.
London: Chapman and Hall, June-December 1859.
First edition, first issue of one of Dickens’ most enduring works, with p.213 in part 7/8 mispaginated "113", and signature mark 'b' present on List of Plates at end, etched frontispiece, additional title and 14 plates by "Phiz" (Hablot K. Browne). Octavo, original blue-green wrappers. Complete with all the advertisements called for by Hatton & Cleaver, and the two rare slips in parts 1 and 5. Includes three variant issues of part 1, one with Morison's 'premises' advert, the second with Morison's 'lion' advert, and the third with the rare French version of the Morison's 'lion' advert. In near fine…
Price: $25,000.00 Item Number: 131460
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"The version that should've been made": Rare original Bill Phillips Screenplay of Firestarter; inscribed by him
PHILLIPS BILL; STEPHEN KING,.
Firestarter Screenplay.
Universal Studios, August 23, 1982.
Original bound screenplay written by Bill Phillips for the Universal Studios film production of Firestarter, based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King. Quarto, original wrappers. Presentation copy, inscribed by Bill Phillips on the title page, "To Gary Word, with warm regards, Bill Phillips *the version that should've been made." Additionally laid in is a note on Phillips' letterhead which reads in full, "Gary, I'll be glad to sign the limited edition! Enclosed is my script of FIRESTARTER. I would've sent it sooner, but I lost your address! Best, Bill." During the filming of The Thing, Universal…
Price: $750.00 Item Number: 139549
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Harriet Martineau's Feats on the Fiord; illustrated by Arthur Rackham
MARTINEAU, Harriet. Illustrated by Arthur Rackham.
Feats on the Fiord.
London: J. M. Dent & Sons Limited, n.d.
Early printing of Martineau's classic collection. Octavo, original publisher's blue cloth elaborately decorated in gilt, color pictorial onlay to the front panel, illustrated by Arthur Rackham with eight lithographic plates in color. In very good condition.
Price: $95.00 Item Number: 142418
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Rare finely bound set of the complete novels of Francis Edward Smedley
SMEDLEY, Francis Edward [Frank].
The Works of Frank E. Smedley. [Lewis Arundel, Frank Fairlegh, Harry Coverdale’s Courtship, The Colville Family]
London: George Routledge and Sons, c. 1888.
Rare finely bound set of the complete novels of Francis Edward Smedley. Octavo, 4 volumes bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards with gilt tooling to the spine in four compartments within raised gilt bands, red and green morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers and all edges marbled. In near fine condition.
Price: $1,250.00 Item Number: 110526
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First edition of H. A. Tapp's United Services College 1874-1911. A Short Account of Rudyard Kipling's Old School at Westward Ho! containing Rudyard Kipling’s The Song of the Exiles
TAPP, Major H. A. Preface by Major-General L. C. Dunsterville. [Rudyard Kipling].
United Services College 1874-1911. A Short Account of Rudyard Kipling’s Old School at Westward Ho!
Aldershot: Gale & Polden, Ltd., [1933].
First edition of Tapp's history of Westward Ho! College with Kipling's The Song of the Exiles. Quarto, original boards with gilt titles to the front panel, marbled endpapers. In near fine condition.
Price: $175.00 Item Number: 121048
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Finley bound limited edition of J. Carpenter's French translation of The Rubáiyát
Roubayyat de Hafiz et d’Omar Khayyam. [The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám].
Paris: Francis LeBegue, [1921].
Finely bound example of the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám. Octavo, bound in full levant morocco with gilt titles to the spine, gilt Art Deco style decorations to the front and rear panel, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, decorated borders and initials. One of 300 copies. Text in French. Translated by J. Carpenter after L. Cramner Byng for Haifiz and after the poetic English version of Edward Fitzgerald for Omar Khayyám. Original wrappers bound in. Housed in a custom slipcase.
Price: $1,250.00 Item Number: 127096
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First Edition of Edmund C. Bentley's Trent's Last Case
BENTLEY, Edmund C.
Trent’s Last Case.
London: Thomas Nelson and Sons, n.d. [c. 1913].
First edition of Bentley's groundbreaking detective novel, "one of the three best detective stories ever written" (Agatha Christie). Octavo, original publisher's cloth with gilt titles to the spine, pictorial endpapers, frontispiece in color. In very good condition. Small bookplate and ownership inscription. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box.
Price: $300.00 Item Number: 137405
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The Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare; finely bound with a concealed fore-edge painting of Shakespeare
SHAKESPEARE, William.
The Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare with Copious Glossarial Notes and a Biographical Notice. [Fore-edge Painting].
Edinburgh and London: Gall & Inglis, n.d.
Finely bound example of Inglis' compilation of the dramas of Shakespeare. Octavo, bound in full morocco with gilt titles to the spine and front panel, all edges gilt, decorated with a concealed fore-edge painting of Shakespeare, illustrated with four engravings on steel. In very good condition.
Price: $2,000.00 Item Number: 138237
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"Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal; Dust thou are, to dust thou returnest, Was not spoken of the soul": The Poetical Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow; finely bound in full polished tree calf
LONGFELLOW, Henry Wadsworth.
The Poetical Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
London: Frederick Warne and Co, n.d.
Finely bound example of the collected poetical works of Longfellow. Octavo, bound in full contemporary polished tree calf with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In good condition.
Price: $175.00 Item Number: 138271
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Rare George Orwell Typed Letter Signed
ORWELL, George.
George Orwell Typed Letter Signed.
June 1945.
Rare typed letter signed "Geo. Orwell", to Gerry Byrne announcing that "my wife died three months ago, very suddenly and unexpectedly", writing about the aftermath of her death including his relief that their son Richard was too young to to miss her ("...He is now 13 1/2 months old and is extremely well. He has twelve teeth and is almost able to walk..."), apologising that he cannot come to speak at a Labour Party campaign meeting ("...I am up to the eyes in the election myself, apart from other work. I don't even know of anyone suitable..."), 1 page, 4to,…
Price: $19,500.00 Item Number: 142701
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"This faint resemblance of thy charms, though strong as mortal art could give": Finely bound collection of the Poems of Lord Byron, each accompanied by an elaborately engraved plate
LORD BYRON. DRAWINGS BY CHALON, Leslie.
Heath’s Illustrations to the Works of Lord Byron, From Drawings by The First Artists.
London: A. Fullarton, And Co, c.1830.
Finely bound example of the poems of Lord Byron, each accompanied by a period engraving. Quarto, bound in three quarters morocco over decorative boards, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, raised gilt bands, inner dentelles, all edges gilt, frontispiece engraved portrait of Lord Byron. Illustrated with 36 full page engraved plates. In very good condition with the plates bright and crisp.
Price: $750.00 Item Number: 95864
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Rare autograph letter signed by P.L. Travers mourning the death of close friend and lifetime companion Madge Burnand
TRAVERS, P.L.
P.L. Travers Autograph Letter Signed.
[1959].
Autograph letter signed by the author of Mary Poppins, Pamela Lyndon Travers, concerning the distressing news of the death of close friend, long-term companion and possible lover Madge Burnand. Quarto, two pages, the letter reads, "‘Salvatore Mundi Hospital Rome - 19th March [1959]. My dear Richard, You will grieve to know that our dear Madge died last night. She had been ill & was in Chichester Christ Hospital. After asking the matron how she was, & being told 'very ill... it is in higher hands' she said 'I know what that means' - & cheerfully made her will - Then...…
Price: $3,500.00 Item Number: 143284
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The Weimar edition of The Works of Friedrich Schiller; elaborately bound in full morocco
SCHILLER, Friedrich.
The Works of Friedrich Schiller.
Weimar and New York: The Northern Press, Printed for Subscribers only, n.d.
The Weimar edition of the collected works of Friedrich Schiller. Octavo, 10 volumes bound in full morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in five compartments within raised bands, elaborate gilt tooling to the front and rear panels, gilt inner dentelles, watered silk endleaves and doublures with central gilt mongrams "EHR", top edge gilt, illustrated with numerous hand-colored photogravures. One of 100 numbered copies of the Weimar edition, this is number 2. Provenance: from the collection of Fred and Kay Krehbiel. In very good condition.
Price: $2,000.00 Item Number: 143624
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"Love will find a way through paths where wolves fear to prey": The Poetical Works of Lord Byron; Finely Bound
LORD BYRON. [GEORGE GORDON BYRON],.
The Poetical Works of Lord Byron.
London: Frederick Warne and Co, c. 1890.
The Poetical Works of Lord Byron. Octavo, bound in half vellum over cloth, frontispiece, morocco spine label, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, raised bands, marbled endpapers top edge gilt. In near fine condition. An attractive set.
Price: $375.00 Item Number: 111329
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First editions Ransom Riggs' The Miss Peregrine Series; Each Signed by him
RIGGS, Ransom.
The Miss Peregrine Series Including: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Hollow City, Library of Souls, Tales of the Peculiar, Map of Days, The Conference of the Birds.
New York : Random House, various dates.
First editions of the first six volumes in the author's acclaimed series. Octavo, original boards, illustrated. Each are signed by Ransom Riggs on the half-title and title pages. Fine in fine dust jackets.
Price: $850.00 Item Number: 128727
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"In a little village there was a church, and on the top of the church stood a weathercock": Evelyn Sharp's The Story of the Weathercock
SHARP, Evelyn. Illustrated by Charles Robinson.
The Story of the Weathercock.
London: Blackie & Son Limited, n.d..
Early printing of Sharp's children's classic. Quarto, original publisher's decorated cloth, illustrated with sixteen color plates and numerous black-and-white illustrations by Charles Robinson. In good condition.
Price: $75.00 Item Number: 135422
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“There's no liquor in the land that can stop your brain from bleedin": First Edition of Bob Dylan's First Book Tarantula; Signed by Him
DYLAN, Bob.
Tarantula.
Madison, Wisconsin: Wimp Press, c. 1966.
First pirated edition of Dylan's first book. Octavo, original wrappers as issued. Signed by Bob Dylan in a contemporary hand on the title page. One of the earliest pirated editions of Dylan’s novel, taken from the Macmillan 1966 proofs after production was delayed, pre-dating the 1971 trade edition. In very good condition. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Scarce and desirable signed by Dylan.
Price: $14,500.00 Item Number: 60050
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Rare first edition of Victor Hugo's La Légende des Siècles: First Series; From the Library of H. Bradley Martin
HUGO, Victor.
La Légende des Siècles. [The Legend of the Ages: First Series].
Bruxelles: 1859, Edition Hetzel.
First Brussels edition and true first edition of the first series of Hugo's epic work. Octavo, original publisher's cloth. Provenance: from the library of H. Bradley Martin (his sale, Sotheby's New York, October 16-17, 1989, lot no. 901; bookplate). "The H. Bradley Martin sale of 1989-1990 was a terribly significant sale of a stupendously varied and robust library that realized some major funds as well as publicity for Sotheby’s and for Martin’s executors. It also led H. Bradley Martin into the historic pantheon of legendary great bookmen. From it, we can surmise that book collecting on a massive scale and…
Price: $3,200.00 Item Number: 142580
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Rare unauthorized edition of Mark Twain's Autobiography (Burlesque) First Romance, and Memoranda
TWAIN, Mark. [Samuel L. Clemens].
Autobiography (Burlesque) First Romance, and Memoranda.
Toronto: James Campbell & Son, [1871].
Rare unauthorized edition of Twain's witty collection of satirical sketches; this edition possibly containing the first appearance of My Late Senatorial Secretaryship. BAL 3334. Octavo, original publisher's cloth. In very good condition. Rare.
Price: $375.00 Item Number: 137267
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"I hardly think that any letter will further your object; still, if the accompanying one can be made of the least service, I shall be happy": Rare autograph letter signed by Great American Author Herman Melville
MELVILLE, Herman.
Herman Melville Autograph Letter Signed.
c. 1855.
Rare autograph letter signed and entirely in the hand of great American novelist Herman Melville. One page, the letter reads in full, "Pittsfield Aug 26 Osmond Tiffany Esq. My dear Sir, With pleasure I comply with your request, but hardly think that any letter will further your object; still, if the accompanying one can be made of the least service, I shall be happy. Wishing you all success in your affairs I am Very Truly Yours H Melville." The recipient, Osmond Tiffany was a Baltimore merchant and occasional author who contributed to the Atlantic Monthly and The Knickerbocker. In 1855, he…
Price: $18,500.00 Item Number: 138591
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James T. Farrell's Studs Lonigan Trilogy; inscribed by him to American journalist William Safire
FARRELL, James T. [William Safire].
Studs Lonigan. A Trilogy Containing Young Lonigan, The Young Manhood of Studs Lonigan, and Judgment Day.
New York: The Modern Library, [1938].
First edition, early printing of Farrell's well-regarded trilogy. Octavo, bound in three quarter morocco with gilt titles and raised bands to the spine, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, "Jan 9/ 1950 For Bill Safire with best wishes Jim Farrell." The recipient, William Safire was an important American author, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist, journalist, and presidential speechwriter. He joined Nixon’s campaign in the 1960 Presidential race, and again in 1968. Following Nixon’s 1968 victory, Safire served as a presidential speechwriter for both Nixon and Vice President Spiro Agnew. He was a…
Price: $1,750.00 Item Number: 127643
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"Who dost though love O seer in thy vision? Women I love, slender and strange and stately waiting untroubled for the years to bear them": First Edition of Sir George Macmunn's Kipling's Women
MACMUNN, Sir George [Rudyard Kipling].
Kipling’s Women.
London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd., n.d..
First edition of the former President of the Kipling Society's study of the women portrayed in Kipling's song and story. Octavo, original publisher's cloth with gilt titles and central gilt emblem to the front panel. Very good in the rare original dust jacket which is in good condition.
Price: $30.00 Item Number: 135257
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"IF I HAD A WORLD OF MY OWN, EVERYTHING WOULD BE NONSENSE. NOTHING WOULD BE WHAT IT IS, BECAUSE EVERYTHING WOULD BE WHAT IT ISN'T": Lewis Carrol's Through The Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There
CARROLL, Lewis.
Through The Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There.
New York: Worthington Co, n.d..
Early printing of the immensely popular sequel to Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Octavo, original publisher's cloth decorated in gilt, patterned endpapers, with fifty illustrations by John Tenniel. In very good condition.
Price: $400.00 Item Number: 136052
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Rare original May 17, 1963 Time Magazine Cover; Signed by James Baldwin
BALDWIN, James.
James Baldwin Signed Time Magazine Cover.
Chicago: Time Magazine, May 17, 1963.
Original cover from the May 17, 1963 issue of Time Magazine featuring a portrait of James Baldwin, inscribed by him, "Peace, James Baldwin." Quarto, original illustrated front wrapper. In very good condition.
Price: $2,000.00 Item Number: 141087
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The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam; with 12 remarkably intricate full color plates illustrated by Edmund Dulac
FITZGERALD, Edward. With illustrations by Edmund Dulac.
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.
London: Hodder and Stoughton, c. 1920.
Magnificent edition of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, rendered into English Verse by Edward Fitzgerald and with illustrations by Edmund Dulac. Quarto, bound in three quarters morocco, gilt titles to the spine, top edge gilt, pictorial endpapers, title page on Japanese vellum, with 12 full color plates tipped with tissue guards. In fine condition. A nice presentation.
Price: $1,100.00 Item Number: 126161
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"I begin to see that a man's got to be in his own Heaven to be happy": Mark Twain's Extract From Captain Stormfield's Visit to Heaven; from the library of American journalist William Safire
TWAIN, Mark [Samuel L. Clemens].
Extract From Captain Stormfield’s Visit to Heaven.
New York: Harper & Brothers, n.d..
Early printing of the last work published by Twain during his lifetime. Octavo, original cloth with titles in white and vignette in black, frontispiece in blue and white, no publication date to the title page. From the library American journalist William Safire with his bookplate to the pastedown. William Safire was an important American author, columnist, journalist, and presidential speechwriter. He joined Nixon’s campaign for the 1960 Presidential race, and again in 1968. After Nixon’s 1968 victory, Safire served as a speechwriter for him and Spiro Agnew. He authored several political columns in addition to his weekly column “On Language”…
Price: $475.00 Item Number: 127530