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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“I once started out to walk around the world but ended up in Brooklyn": First Edition of A Coney Island of the Mind: Poems
Ferlinghetti, Lawrence.
A Coney Island of the Mind: Poems.
San Francisco: City Light.
First edition of this modern classic, which contains some of Ferlinghetti’s most famous poems, such as “I Am Waiting” and “Junkman’s Obbligato”, which were created for jazz accompaniment. Octavo, original illustrated wrappers as issued. Signed by Lawrence Ferlinghetti on the title page. In near fine condition.
Price: $850.00
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“CONTEMPLATE TRUTH UNTIL IT BURNS YOUR EYES OUT”: Signed Limited First Edition of Robert Frost's A Masque of Mercy
Frost, Robert.
A Masque of Mercy.
New York: Henry Holt, 1947.
Signed limited first edition, one of 751 numbered copies, this is number 67. Octavo, original half cloth, original slipcase. Fine in a near fine slipcase. An exceptional example.
Price: $400.00
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"Success is counted sweetest by those who ne'er succeed": First edition of A Masque of Poets; containing the only poem published in a book by Emily Dickinson during her lifetime
Dickinson, Emily.
A Masque of Poets.
Roberts Brothers: 1878.
Scarce first edition of the poetry collection containing the only poem published in a book by Emily Dickinson during her lifetime. Octavo, original cloth, rebacked, gilt titles to the spine and front panel, top edge gilt illustrated. With Emily Dickinson’s poem Success on page 174. In very good condition. Scarce and desirable.
Price: $1,250.00
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First Edition of A Masque of Reason; Inscribed by Robert Frost
Frost, Robert.
A Masque of Reason.
New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1945.
First edition of this work by Frost. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Robert Frost to Samuel Plotkin.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket.
Price: $550.00
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Review Copy of the First Edition of Frost's A Masque of Reason
Frost, Robert.
A Masque of Reason.
New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1945.
First edition of this work by Frost. Octavo, original cloth. Review copy, with the slip laid in, near fine in a very good dust jacket.
Price: $85.00
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“TOO LONG I'VE OWED YOU THIS APOLOGY FOR THE APPARENTLY UNMEANING SORROW YOU WERE AFFLICTED WITH IN THOSE OLD DAYS”: SIGNED LIMITED FIRST EDITION OF ROBERT FROST'S A MASQUE OF REASON
Frost, Robert.
A Masque of Reason.
New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1945.
Signed limited first edition of this work by Frost. Octavo, original cloth. One of 800 copies, this is number 433 signed by Robert Frost. In fine condition.
Price: $450.00
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First edition of A New Directions Reader; Inscribed by James Laughlin
Edited by Hayden Carruth & James Laughlin.
A New Directions Reader.
1964: New Directions, Norfolk, Connecticut.
First edition of this collection of stories, poems, and excerpts published in celebration of the publishing firms 25th Anniversary. Octavo, a paperback original. Presentation copy. Inscribed by James Laughlin, founder of New Directions Publishing, on the half-title page in the year of publication, “For Herb, from J. Christmas 1964.” In near fine condition. Cover design by Alvin Lustig. A nice example.
Price: $30.00
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First Edition of Raymond Carver's A New Path to the Waterfall
Carver, Raymond.
A New Path to the Waterfall: Poems.
New York: The Atlantic Monthly Press, 1989.
First edition of this collection of poems. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated endpapers. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Robbin Schiff. Introduction by Tess Gallagher.
Price: $40.00
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A Poetry Handbook; Signed by Pulitzer Prize-Winning Poet Mary Oliver
Oliver, Mary.
A Poetry Handbook: A Prose Guide to Understanding and Writing Poetry.
Boston: Mariner Books/ Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1994.
Early printing of the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet’s handbook on poetry. Octavo, original wrappers. Signed by Mary Oliver on the title page. In fine condition.
Price: $300.00
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First Edition of Rudyard Kipling's A Song of The English; With 30 Mounted Color Plates by W. Heath Robinson
Kipling, Rudyard.
A Song of The English.
London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1909.
First edition of this wonderfully illustrated work by Robinson. Quarto, original blue cloth, gilt pictorial to the front panel, gilt titles and tooling to the spine. Illustrated by W. Heath Robinson with 30 mounted color plates, lettered tissue guards. In near fine condition with light rubbing.
Price: $750.00
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“Who would you be, I wonder, by those marks If I had moths to friend as I have flowers?”: Signed Limited Edition of Robert Frost's A Witness Tree
Frost, Robert.
A Witness Tree.
New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1942.
Signed limited first edition of Frost’s Pulitzer Prize-winning collection of poetry. Octavo, original green cloth backed paper covered boards, gilt titles to the spine, frontispiece, slipcase. One of 735 copies signed by Robert Frost, this is number 721. Laid in is a letter from a family friend of Robert Frost’s to Mrs. Muriel T. Eden explaining how the death of Frost’s wife and daughter formed Frost’s decision to withdraw from teaching and society. Fine in a near fine slipcase. An exceptional example with noted provenance.
Price: $825.00
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"God gave us life not just to buy and sell, And all that matters is to live it well": Edgar Guest's All that Matters; Lengthily Inscribed by Him
Guest, Edgar A.
All That Matters.
Chicago: The Reilly & Lee Co, 1922.
Second printing of this work by the famed American poet. Octavo, original cloth, gilt topstain, frontispiece, illustrated throughout. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page in the year of publication, “For Miss Emma D. Gardner I Here’s my best wishes to you and the hope that every joy will come your way Sincerely Edgar A. Guest In Indianapolis, Ind Sept 14/ 22.” Near fine in a very good dust jacket.
Price: $200.00
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Signed Limited Edition of Pablo Neruda's Alturas de Macchu Picchu
Neruda, Pablo and Martin Chambi.
Alturas de Macchu Picchu.
Chile: Nascimento, 1954.
Signed limited edition of Neruda’s masterpiece. Quarto, original illustrated wrappers as issued, photographs by Martin Chambi. Signed by Pablo Neruda at the colophon as issued. In near fine condition. Laid in is the scarce insert on green paper that was issued with all copies, which is a bibliographic note on the genesis and publication history of the poem by Jorge Sanhueza. This is the first definitive edition of the poems, including the Chambi photographs referenced in “The Latin American Photobook. A superior example, rare in this condition.
Price: $3,800.00
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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; Signed by Mary Oliver
Oliver, Mary.
American Primitive.
Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1983.
First edition of the poet’s Pulitzer Prize-winning collection. Octavo, original green cloth. Signed by Mary Oliver on the title page. Fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket with light rubbing. Jacket photograph by Lisa Paquette. Author photograph by Molly Malone Cook. The hardcover edition is scarce, as it was issued simultaneously in paperback.
Price: $4,500.00
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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 of the author’s memoirs. Octavo, original half cloth. Signed and dated by the author on the title page, “Adam Zagajewski Boston, October 2004.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Marc J. Cohen. Translated by Clare Cavanagh.
Price: $200.00
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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 of the author’s memoirs. Octavo, original half cloth. Signed by the author on the title page with the following line from this work, which reads, “We find comfort only in another beauty, in others music Adam Zagajewski.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Marc J. Cohen. Translated by Clare Cavanagh.
Price: $250.00
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First Edition of Yeats' Collected Autobiographies
Yeats, William Butler (W.B.).
Autobiographies: Reveries Over Childhood and Youth and The Trembling of the Veil.
London: Macmillan.
First edition of this collection of Yeats’ autobiographies. Octavo, original blind-stamped cloth with gilt titles to the spine, engraved frontispiece portrait of Yeats with tissue guard, illustrated. In very good condition. Bookplates.
Price: $125.00
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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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First Edition of Mary Oliver's Blue Horses; Signed by Her
Oliver, Mary.
Blue Horses: Poems.
New York: Penguin Press, 2014.
First edition of this “lyric collection to be treasured” (The New York Journal of Books). Octavo, original boards. Signed by Mary Oliver on the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Darren Haggar.
Price: $750.00
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"Farmhouses curl like horns of plenty, hide lean paintless against the barn, or crouch empty in the shadow of a mountain": First edition of Malcolm Cowley's Blue Juniata: Poems
Cowley, Malcolm.
Blue Juniata: Poems.
New York: Jonathan Cape & Harrison Smith, 1929.
First edition of this landmark in modern American poetry. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in the scarce original dust jacket which is in good condition with wear and tear.
Price: $2,200.00
