Rare Poetry Books & First-Edition Poetry Books for Sale Online
If you’re looking for a particular rare or first-edition poetry book, you’re on the right page. Raptis Rare Books is a trusted antiquarian book dealer and as such we maintain an extensive collection of antique books and antique children’s books specifically. Browse through our entire collection below, use the search or filters to find exactly what you’re looking for than call or email with any questions or order online!
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First Edition of A Brave and Startling Truth; Inscribed by Maya Angelou
Angelou, Maya.
A Brave and Startling Truth.
New York: Random House, 1995.
First edition. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Signed and inscribed by the author, “______ Joy Maya Angelou." A poem read by Maya Angelou at the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the United Nations.
Price: $225.00
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"Let me be the one To do what is done": A Further Range; Signed by Robert Frost
Frost, Robert.
A Further Range.
New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1936.
First edition of Frost’s Pulitzer Prize-winning collection of verse. Octavo, original maroon cloth. Signed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Robert Frost Smith College 1937.” Near fine in a very good dust jacket with light rubbing and wear to the extremities.
Price: $600.00
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First Edition of W.S. Merwin's Rare First book A Mask For Janus; Signed by Him
Merwin, W.S.; Forword by W.H. Auden.
A Mask For Janus.
New Haven: Yale University Press, 1952.
First edition of the poet’s first book. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Signed by W.S. Merwin on the title page.
Price: $1,850.00
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Lengthily Inscribed by Allen Ginsberg
Ginsberg, Allen.
Allen Verbatim: Lectures on Poetry, Politics, Consciousness.
New York: McGraw-Hill Company, 1974.
First edition. Octavo, original cloth. Inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “See paperback version for textual corrections Signed for Richard Lautz Nov 2 1978 La Salle, Phila Pa Allen Ginsberg.” Very good in a very good dust jacket. Edited by Gordon Ball.
Price: $95.00
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“Tell me, what is it your plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”: First Edition of American Primitive; Inscribed in the Month of Publication by Mary Oliver
Oliver, Mary.
American Primitive.
Boston: Little, Brown, 1983.
First edition of the poet’s Pulitzer Prize-winning collection. Octavo, original green cloth. Inscribed in the month of publication on the front free endpaper, “For Roger and Betty, with many good wishes. Mary. April, 1983.” Additionally signed by Mary Oliver on the title page. The recipients were neighbors and close friends of the author in Cape Cod. Fine in a fine dust jacket. The hardcover edition is scarce, as it was issued simultaneously in paperback and association copies inscribed in the month of publication are rare.
Price: $2,200.00
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First Edition of An Ordinary Woman; Inscribed by Lucille Clifton
Clifton, Lucille .
An Ordinary Woman.
New York: Random House, 1974.
First edition. Octavo, original wrappers. Warmly inscribed by the author on the title page, “For Richard- In memory of old days- Lucille Clifton 3/75.” In near fine condition.
Price: $125.00
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First Edition of Adam Zagajewski's Another Beauty; Signed by Him
Zagajewski, Adam.
Another Beauty.
New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1998.
First edition. Octavo, original half cloth. Signed and dated by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
Price: $125.00
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"Anyone with gumption and a sharp mind will take the measure of two things: what's said and what's done": First Edition of Beowulf; Signed by Seamus Heaney
Heaney, Seamus.
Beowulf: A New Verse Translation.
London: Faber and Faber, 1999.
First edition. Octavo, original boards. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Signed by Seamus Heaney on the title page.
Price: $450.00
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"Behaviour that's admired is the path to power among people everywhere": First Edition of Beowulf; Signed by Seamus Heaney
Heaney, Seamus.
Beowulf: A New Verse Translation.
New York: Farrar, Straus Giroux, 1999.
First edition. Octavo, original half cloth. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Signed by the Seamus Heaney on the title page.
Price: $375.00
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"You go your way I'll go your way too": FIrst Edition of Book of Longing; Signed by Leonard Cohen
Cohen, Leonard.
Book of Longing.
Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 2006.
First Canadian edition, preceding the American first. Octavo, original black boards. Signed by Leonard Cohen on the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
Price: $975.00
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First Edition of Gao Xingjian's Buying a Fishing Rod For My Grandfather; Signed by Him
Xingjian, Gao.
Buying a Fishing Rod For My Grandfather.
New York: Harper Collins, 2004.
First American edition of the author’s first collection of short stories published in English. Octavo, original boards. Signed and dated in the year of publication by Gao Xingjian on the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
Price: $225.00
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“COME AND SHOW ME ANOTHER CITY WITH LIFTED HEAD SINGING SO PROUD TO BE ALIVE AND COARSE AND STRONG AND CUNNING”: First Edition of Carl Sandburg's Chicago Poems; Signed by Him
Sandburg, Carl.
Chicago Poems.
New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1916.
First edition of the author’s first regularly published book. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by Carl Sandburg opposite the title page. In very good condition. First issue with the advertisement dated “3’16” at the rear.
Price: $475.00
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First edition of Allen Ginsberg's Collected Poems 1947-1980; Signed by Him
Ginsberg, Allen.
Collected Poems 1947-1980.
New York: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1984.
First edition. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by the author on the title page, “Allen Ginsberg 1985 and initials AH New York.” Fine in a fine dust jacket.
Price: $225.00
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First Edition of The Collected Poems of Robert Frost; Signed by Him
Frost, Robert.
Collected Poems of Robert Frost.
Garden City, NY: Halcyon, 1942.
First edition of this collected poems of Frost. Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece photograph of Robert Frost taken by Doris Ulmann. Signed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Robert Frost Rockford College to.” The recipient has written there name below. Near fine in a very good dust jacket.
Price: $950.00
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"This One in me knows the universe of the many": Signed by Nobel Prize-Winning Author Rabindranath Tagore
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.
Price: $4,200.00
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"It's like our visit to the moon or to that other star I guess you go for nothing if you really want to go that far": First Edition of Leonard Cohen's Death of a Lady's Man; Signed by Him
Cohen, Leonard.
Death of a Lady’s Man.
Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1978.
First edition, first state with “Lie down.” on page 94. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by Leonard Cohen on the title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with light rubbing.
Price: $850.00
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The New York Times)."
Heaney, Seamus.
Death of a Naturalist.
New York: Oxford University Press, 1966.
First American edition of the author’s first major collection. Octavo, original cloth. Fine in a near fine dust jacket that shows some of the usual fading to the pink portion of the spine panel. Signed by the author on the title page. Laid into this copy is a ticket to the reading at Harvard University where this copy was signed. A pleasing copy.
Price: $1,650.00
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"Between my finger and my thumb the squat pen rests. I'll dig with it": First Edition of Death of A Naturalist; Lengthily Signed by Seamus Heaney
Heaney, Seamus.
Death of a Naturalist.
London: Faber and Faber, 1966.
First edition of Heaney’s first major published volume. Octavo, original green cloth with titles to the spine in gilt. Signed by the author on the title page, with the added lines from one of his most famous poems Digging, “Between my finger and my thumb the squat pen rests. I’ll dig with it.” Seamus Heaney.” Fine in near fine dust jacket with light sunning to the pink portion of the spine. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. A sharp example with a nice inscription.
Price: $7,500.00
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"Who Is Content Only With The Right Word": First Edition of Death of a Naturalist; Inscribed by Seamus Heaney to his Aunt
Heaney, Seamus.
Death of a Naturalist.
London: Faber and Faber, 1966.
First edition. Octavo, original green cloth with titles to the spine in gilt. Inscribed by the author to his aunt in a contemporary hand, “For Aunt Annie: who is content only with the right word. Love, Seamus.” Additionally signed by Heaney in full on the title page. Fine in very good dust jacket with sunning to the pink portion of the spine and some overall wear. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Association copies of this caliber seldom enter the market.
Price: $12,500.00
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"to set the darkness echoing": First American Edition of Death of a Naturalist; Warmly Inscribed by Seamus Heaney
Heaney, Seamus.
Death of a Naturalist.
New York: Oxford University Press, 1966.
First American edition of the Nobel Prize-winning poet’s first major collection. Octavo, original green cloth. Inscribed by the author on the title page, “For Steve with gratitude-“to set the darkness echoing”19th March 1970 Seamus Heaney.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket that shows some fading to the pink portion of the spine panel.
Price: $2,200.00