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"Who is the most important person I've ever met in a signing queue & the first person ever to see merit in Harry Potter. With huge [underlined 4 times] thanks. J.K. Rowling": First Edition, First Printing of J.K. Rowling's Rare First Book Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone; Signed by Her
ROWLING, J.K.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
London: Bloomsbury, 1997.
First edition, first printing with all the prerequisite first issue points called for (including “wand” listed twice on page 53). Octavo, original illustrated boards, without a dust jacket as issued. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the dedication page, “to Bryony – who is the most important person I’ve ever met in a signing queue & the first person ever to see merit in Harry Potter. With huge [underlined 4 times] thanks. J.K. Rowling.” The recipient, Bryony Evens worked as an office manager in a small publishing company in Edinburgh, Scotland. In 1995 J.K. Rowling sent the first three chapters of Harry Potter to that publishing company and it would have gone unseen if it wasn’t for Bryony. Bryony read them and fell in love with the story, and encouraged her boss Christopher Little to ask Rowling for the full book. Rowling then sent a full copy to Bryony when it was published by Bloomsbury in 1997. A year later Bryony went to visit Rowling at a book signing event, and when Rowling recognized her she gave her a big hug and wrote a special inscription, or message, in the book she’d brought. In near fine condition with a touch of rubbing to the extremities. Only 500 copies of the first printing were published, with over half making their way to libraries. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. An exceptional association and effusive inscription to the person who first recognized the value of Harry Potter.
Price: $300,000.00 Item Number: 115640
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"ONCE THERE WAS A LITTLE TREE ... AND SHE LOVED A LITTLE BOY"; The Original Manuscript for shel Silverstein's masterpiece The Giving Tree
SILVERSTEIN, Shel.
The Giving Tree Original Autograph Manuscript.
c. 1964.
The original manuscript of one of the most commercially successful children’s books of all time and Shel Silverstein’s most famous work, The Giving Tree, entirely in his had with his publisher’s edits in pencil throughout. Quarto, 38 pasteboard pages with Silverstein’s original ink drawings on paper adhered to each page and Silverstein’s original handwritten text. With numerous revisions by Silverstein, most notably on the final page of the story where Silverstein has changed “and the boy and the tree were happy” to “And the tree was happy.” In very good condition. Lacking pages 2, 3, 4 and 36. A remarkable piece offering exclusive insight into the author/illustrator’s process and furthering the mysterious and ambiguous nature of the widely interpreted story of a selfless tree and her beloved companion.
Price: $125,000.00 Item Number: 116388
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“Don't you know that everybody's got a Fairyland of their own?”: Rare First Edition of Mary Poppins; Signed by P.L. Travers
TRAVERS, P.L.
Mary Poppins.
London: Gerald Howe, 1934.
First edition of this children’s classic. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated with 27 line cuts (13 full-page) and chapter tailpieces by Mary Shepard. Signed by P.L. Travers on the front free endpaper. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with light rubbing and wear to the crown of the spine. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Signed first editions are of exceptional rarity, with none having appeared at auction since the time of publication.
Price: $48,000.00 Item Number: 54060
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Complete Set of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Deluxe Editions; Each Signed by Her
ROWLING, J.K.
Harry Potter Series Complete Deluxe Set. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix, The Half-Blood Prince, and The Deathly Hallows.
London: Bloomsbury, 1997-2007.
First editions of the deluxe edition of each book in Rowling’s Harry Potter series. Octavo, 7 volumes, original decorative cloth as issued. Each volume is signed by J.K. Rowling and were collected in person by the previous owner. The Prisoner of Azkaban is inscribed. In fine condition. No dust jackets were issued for these volumes. Scarce and desirable.
Price: $35,000.00 Item Number: 81035
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“One day, you will be old enough to start reading fairytales again": COMPLETE FIRST EDITION SET OF C.S. LEWIS' THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA
LEWIS, C. S.
The Chronicles of Narnia Set: The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Horse and His Boy, The Magician’s Nephew, The Last Battle.
London: Geoffrey Bles, 1950-1956.
First editions of each book in the author’s classic Chronicles of Narnia series, which has sold over 100 million copies in 47 languages. Octavo, 7 Volumes, illustrated by Pauline Baynes. The set comprises of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Horse and His Boy, The Magician’s Nephew, and The Last Battle. Each are in very good to near fine with only light wear in their original dust jackets, with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and The Silver Chair with some professional restoration to the dust jackets. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box.
Price: $27,500.00 Item Number: 104558
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"Life is worth living as long as there's a laugh in it": First Edition of Anne of Green Gables in the Rare Brown Cloth
MONTGOMERY, L.M.
Anne of Green Gables.
Boston: L.C. Page, 1908.
First edition dated “April 1908” on the verso of title page. Octavo, original brown cloth, titles to the spine in gilt and front panel. Mounted pictorial label on front panel. Illustrations by M.A. and W.A.J. Claus. First edition copies are generally found in the more common green cloth bindings. (Peter Parley to Penrod, p. 124) In excellent near fine condition, showing some light wear to the extremities and front panel. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box.
Price: $22,000.00 Item Number: 2639
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“AMONG THE BEST EVER WRITTEN FOR CHILDREN”: FIRST EDITIONS OF A.A. MILNE’S FOUR POOH BOOKS, IN ORIGINAL DUST JACKETS; The Winnie the Pooh Signed by Milne
MILNE, A.A.; Illustrated by Ernest Shepard.
The Four Pooh Books: When We Were Very Young; Winnie-The-Pooh; Now We Are Six; The House At Pooh Corner.
London: Methuen & Co., Ltd, 1924-1928.
First editions of each work in Milne’s wonderful Pooh quartet. Octavo, original cloth, pictorial endpapers, top edge gilt. Winnie the Pooh is signed by A.A. Milne on the title page. When We Were Very Young if a first edition, second issue as usual with page ix numbered. Each are fine in very good dust jackets with some loss and wear to the extremities and light toning. Housed in a custom full morocco clamshell box with a morocco inlay of Winnie the Pooh to the front panel. Illustrated by Ernest Shepard. An exceptional set, most rare and desirable with Winnie the Pooh signed by Milne.
Price: $20,000.00 Item Number: 95227
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“IT MATTERS NOT WHAT SOMEONE IS BORN, BUT WHAT THEY GROW TO BE": FIRST EDITION OF HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE; INSCRIBED BY J.K. ROWLING TO BRYONY EVENS
ROWLING, J.K.
Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire.
London: Bloomsbury, 2000.
First edition of the fourth book in Rowling’s acclaimed Harry Potter series. Octavo, original illustrated boards. Association copy, inscribed by Rowling on the half-title page, “to Bryony, who really did discover Harry Potter J.K. Rowling.” The recipient, Bryony Evens was one of the first people to read the beginning chapters of the first book in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone, the first to recognize the work’s inherent value, and perhaps the most instrumental figure in getting the book published. Working at the time at Christopher Little Literary Agency, Evens was the first point of contact in receiving and sorting unsolicited manuscripts. Evens read Rowling’s submission of the first three chapters of the book and passed it along to Little, who approved that she obtain the full manuscript and promote it to suitable publishers. Given a small budget, Evens was only able to print three manuscripts to pitch to publishing houses and, after twelve months and twelve rejections, was finally given the green light by editor Barry Cunningham from Bloomsbury in London. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket illustration by Giles Greenfield. Jacket design by Richard Horne.
Price: $20,000.00 Item Number: 115749
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"We've Dug So Fast And We've Dug So Well That We've Quite Forgotten To Leave A Way Out!": First Edition Of Mike Mulligan And His Steam Shovel; Signed By Virginia Lee Burton
BURTON, Virginia Lee.
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1939.
First edition, first issue with the date of 1939 on the title page. Oblong quarto, original tan cloth. Signed by the author on the half-title page, “greetings from Virginia Lee Burton.” An excellent near fine example in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Most rare and desirable signed by Virginia Lee Burton.
Price: $20,000.00 Item Number: 2273
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“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye": Signed Limited Edition of Saint-Exupery’s The Little Prince; One of 525 Numbered Copies
SAINT-EXUPERY, Antoine De.
The Little Prince.
New York: Reynal and Hitchcock, 1943.
Signed limited first edition, one of 525 signed numbered copies, this is number 66. Signed by Antoine De Saint-Exupery. Small quarto, original salmon cloth, illustrated. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. A very sharp example.
Price: $20,000.00 Item Number: 99850
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“Don't you know that everybody's got a Fairyland of their own?”: Rare First Edition of Mary Poppins; Signed by P.L. Travers
TRAVERS, P.L.
Mary Poppins.
New York: Reynal & Hitchcock, 1934.
First American edition of this children’s classic. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated with 27 line cuts (13 full-page) and chapter tailpieces by Mary Shepard. Boldly signed by P.L. Travers on the front free endpaper. Very good in a very good dust jacket with some light rubbing and wear. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Rare and desirable signed.
Price: $20,000.00 Item Number: 96590
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“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye": Signed Limited Edition of Saint-Exupery’s The Little Prince; One of 525 Numbered Copies
SAINT-EXUPERY, Antoine De.
The Little Prince.
New York: Reynal and Hitchcock, 1943.
Signed limited first edition, one of 525 signed numbered copies, this is number 236. Signed by Antoine De Saint-Exupery. Small quarto, original salmon cloth, illustrated. Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box.
Price: $19,500.00 Item Number: 102850
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First edition, first issue of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets; warmly inscribed by J.K. Rowling
ROWLING, J.K.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
London: Bloomsbury, 1998.
First edition, first issue of the second novel in Rowling’s Harry Potter series. Octavo, original illustrated boards. Association copy, inscribed by J.K. Rowling on the dedication page, “Susie and Emily (a female Fred & George) with best wishes J.K. Rowling.” The recipients, redhead twins Susie and Emily, were family friends of Bryony Evens, whom they accompanied to the Cheltenham Literary Festival where Rowling inscribed the present volume. The inscription refers to Harry Potter character Ron Weasley’s elder twin brothers and fellow redheads, Fred and George. Bryony Evens was one of the first people to read the beginning chapters of the first book in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone, the first to recognize the work’s inherent value, and perhaps the most instrumental figure in getting the book published. Working at the time at Christopher Little Literary Agency, Evens was the first point of contact in receiving and sorting unsolicited manuscripts. Evens read Rowling’s submission of the first three chapters of the book and passed it along to Little, who approved that she obtain the full manuscript and promote it to suitable publishers. Given a small budget, Evens was only able to print three manuscripts to pitch to publishing houses and, after twelve months and twelve rejections, was finally given the green light by editor Barry Cunningham from Bloomsbury in London. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with toning to the spine. Jacket design by Cliff Wright. An exceptional association.
Price: $17,500.00 Item Number: 115867
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Scarce First Edition, First Printing of L. Frank Baum's The Emerald City of Oz; inscribed by him
BAUM, L. Frank.
The Emerald City of Oz.
Chicago: Reilly & Britton, 1910.
First edition, first state of the sixth Oz book, with the colored pictorial front panel and 16 elaborate full-page color illustrations by John R. Neill. Octavo, original blue cloth, illustrated with 16 color plates with metallic green ink and numerous black & white drawings by John R. Neill. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the the ownership leaf, “Martha Kneedler, Having been presented by her own true lover L. Frank Baum August 1910.” The recipient, Martha Kneedler, was the daughter of Baum’s close personal friend Major William L. Kneedler, a military medical officer who served as President Taft’s personal physician. The inscription was likely in jest as Martha would have been only 16 in 1910. In very good condition with the plates in fine condition. An exquisite example, The Emerald City of Oz was intended to be the final volume in the series, and so Neil embellished his plates with the most elaborate detail of any other volume. Even later printings of the present volume did not include these elaborate designs. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Scarce and desirable. No other inscribed first printing is known to have appeared at auction.
Price: $17,500.00 Item Number: 96123
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“Don't let the muggles get you down": First Edition of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban; Signed by J.K. Rowling
ROWLING, J.K.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
London: Bloomsbury, 1999.
First edition, first state of the third novel in Rowling’s acclaimed Harry Potter series. Octavo, original illustrated boards. Boldly signed by J.K. Rowling on the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Cover illustration by Cliff Wright. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box.
Price: $17,500.00 Item Number: 97598
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"Goodnight room, goodnight moon": Rare First Edition of Goodnight Moon in the scarce first-issue dust jacket
BROWN, Margaret Wise. Pictures by Clement Hurd.
Goodnight Moon.
New York: Harper & Brothers, 1947.
First edition of one of the most elusive first editions in children’s literature. Octavo, original illustrated boards. Near fine in a very good price-clipped first issue dust jacket with some light professional restoration, lacking any evidence of residue from the ‘Harper Blue Ribbon Book’ sticker which wrapped around the spine in later issue jackets, with the “Little Chicken” listing on the rear flap. Name to the front free endpaper.
Price: $15,000.00 Item Number: 115591
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"I hope that this book ain't so silly and that it will always remain in the cas[s]a": First Edition of Where the Sidewalk Ends, Signed by Shel Silverstein; Inscribed to the Children of His Editor
SILVERSTEIN, Shel.
Where the Sidewalk Ends: Poems and Drawings.
New York: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1974.
First edition of the author’s first collection of children’s poetry. Stated first edition on the copyright page. Small quarto, original brown cloth, illustrated. Association copy, inscribed by Shel Silverstein with an original poem on the front free endpapers to the children of his editor and publicist William Cole, “For Alex and Rossa and Billy, I hope that this book ain’t so silly and that it will always remain in the cas[s]a (The superfluous ‘s’ has been scribbled out with footnote “Bill Cole’s Incessant Editorial Meddling”) of Billy and Alex Rossa (Not a bad rhyme for three such difficult names and if you don’t read Spanish, Learn it!) Love, Shel Silverstein.” American editor and anthologist William Rossa Cole edited over 50 anthologies of verse for children and adults throughout his career which included tenures at Knopf, Simon & Schuster and Viking, where he had his own imprint. He is thanked by Silverstein at the end of Where the Sidewalk Ends “for his continued encouragement” and many of Silverstein’s poems made their first appearance at Cole’s solicitation. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. An exceptional association copy.
Price: $15,000.00 Item Number: 91344
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"I'm wearing a necklace and ear-rings so that the mountains can enjoy looking at them!": Exceptionally rare collection of autograph letters signed by reclusive author P.L. Travers
TRAVERS, P.L.
Collection of P. L. Travers Autograph Letters Signed Archive.
1974-1993.
Exceptionally rare collection of 28 typed and hand written letters and notes signed by the author of Mary Poppins, P. L. Travers. 36 pages, the letters are a collection of 20 years of correspondence between Travers and close personal friends John and Jacqueline Rutherfurd and offer an intimate glimpse into Travers’ personal life and many travels. In one note dated August 10, 1981, Travers writes: “Dear Jaqueline, I write, with a newly overhauled portable (and see how it works and imagine what I will have to say to them when I get back to London!) from Chandolin, the highest lived-in-all-the-year-round village in Europe. Lovely high air and I try to come for a short time every year to get away from London sea level. And I’m wearing a necklace and ear-rings so that the mountains can enjoy looking at them!” Another letter, dated December 20, 1981, reads in part: “I am waiting for a photograph of me that was taken for my new book that is coming out here in the spring…I wish I could say when the book will be out in the U. S. but there are all sorts of goings on there; I’ve rewritten one of the stories, called Bad Tuesday in the first Mary Poppins book as the San Francisco library put it in the index as being ‘insulting to minorities.’” Another letter dated May 7th 1980 reads in part: “That was a lovely poem to have received at three o’clock in the morning, Jacqueline! Truly beautiful…I will certainly keep it. I put special things into books and then come upon them ages after and am refreshed all over again. That is why I don’t lend my books. I’m not going to let others see my letters, my comments in the margins; why let them into my communing with myself?” Additionally included are the original envelopes addressed to the Rutherfurds in Travers’ hand. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. An exceptional collection offering a unique glimpse into the personality of the very private author.
Price: $15,000.00 Item Number: 92809
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"Tesser Well": First Edition of Madeleine L'Engle’s Newbery Award-Winning Novel A Wrinkle In Time; Inscribed by Her
L'ENGLE, Madeleine.
A Wrinkle In Time.
New York: Ariel Books, 1962.
First edition of L’Engle’s Newbery award-winning novel. Octavo, original half blue cloth. Inscribed by the author on the title page, “For Sam, Tesser Well Madeleine L’Engle.” Near fine in a near fine first issue dust jacket that shows some light wear and a closed tear to the front panel. Without the Newbery Award-winning seal to the front panel. Jacket design by Ellen Raskin. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. A very sharp example.
Price: $15,000.00 Item Number: 757
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“NIELSEN’S MOST SPECTACULAR AND CELEBRATED BOOK”: SIGNED LIMITED EDITION OF EAST OF THE SUN AND WEST OF THE MOON
NIELSEN, Kay. Asbjornsen.
East of the Sun West of the Moon: Old Tales from the North.
London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1914.
Signed limited edition of one of the most important and impressive books of the Golden Age of book illustration. One of 500 numbered copies, this is number 41. Quarto, original vellum, gilt titles and decoration to spine and front cover gilt, top edge gilt, pictorial endpapers. Signed by the illustrator Kay Nielsen. With 25 tipped in color plates. In near fine condition. A very nice example. Laid is the original notice for the Leicester Galleries exhibition held in November and December of 1914, where the watercolors for this book were offered for sale.
Price: $15,000.00 Item Number: 69026