Literature
Rare & Classic, American or English Literature Books for Sale Online
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"Many thanks for your lucid thoughts and interest in my work": First edition of Bombs Away: The Story of a Bomber Team; inscribed by John Steinbeck to Legendary literary critic Edmund Wilson
STEINBECK, John.
Bombs Away: The Story of a Bomber Team.
New York: The Viking Press, 1942.
First edition of Steinbeck's riveting account of his experiences with several bomber crews of the U.S. Army Air Forces during WWII. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated with 60 photographs by John Swope. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, "Dear Mr. Wilson, Many thanks for your lucid thoughts and interest in my work, John Steinbeck." The recipient, Edmund Wilson, was an American literary critic and progenitor of the Library of America publication series. His critical works helped foster public appreciation for many of the foremost American writers of the 20th century including F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway,…
Price: $9,200.00 Item Number: 109635
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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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Rare Samuel Arlent-Edwards Signed Mezzotint Portrait of Izaak Walton
ARLENT-EDWARDS, Samuel .
Samuel Arlent-Edwards Signed Izaak Walton Mezzotint Portrait.
c. 1898.
Rare mezzotint print of Samuel Arlent-Edwards' portrait of Izaak Walton, inscribed by the artist. Folio, color mezzotint. Inscribed by Samuel Arlent-Edwards in the lower right corner, "Engraved and printed in color at one printing without retouching Samuel Arlent-Edwards." In very good condition. The print measures 14.75 inches by 12 inches. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Rare.
Price: $2,800.00 Item Number: 132607
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"Standing on a street corner waiting for no one is power": First Edition of Gregory Corso's The Vestal Lady on Brattle and Other Poems; Signed by Him
CORSO, Gregory.
The Vestal Lady on Brattle and Other Poems.
Cambridge, MA: Richard Brukenfeld, 1955.
First edition of the poet's first book one of 500 copies printed though about half of which were lost in the mail. Octavo, original wrappers. Signed by Gregory Corso. In near fine condition. Rare and desirable signed.
Price: $1,750.00 Item Number: 123719
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First edition of Charles Dickens' Memoirs of Joseph Grimaldi; in the rare original cloth
DICKENS, Charles.
Memoirs of Joseph Grimaldi. Edited by “Boz.”
London: Richard Bentley, 1838.
First edition of Dickens’ popular retelling of the memoirs of celebrated English clown Joseph Grimaldi. Octavo, 2 volumes, original publisher's decorated dark green cloth with gilt titles and gilt pictorial vignettes to the spines, frontispiece portrait of Grimaldi and 12 illustrations by George Cruikshank. With the 36-page undated publisher's catalogue bound-in at the end of vol.2. and plate facing page 238 in the second state. In fine condition. Housed in two half morocco and chemise slipcases.
Price: $975.00 Item Number: 121730
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First Edition of Jules Feiffer's Little Murders; Inscribed by Academy Award-winning Actor Alan Arkin
FEIFFER, Jules [Alan Arkin].
Little Murders.
New York : Random House, 1968.
First edition of this work, basis for Alan Arkin's stunning 1971 feature directorial debut. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by Alan Arkin on the half-title page, "Best Wishes to Adrienne From Alan Arkin." Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket illustration by Jules Feiffer.
Price: $975.00 Item Number: 143189
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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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First Edition of Rocking the Boat; Inscribed by Gore Vidal To His Sister
VIDAL, Gore.
Rocking the Boat.
New York : Little, Brown and Company, 1962.
First edition of this collection of essays by the award-winning novelist. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author, "Valerie -- with semi-fraternal best wishes & God-paternal blessings for Christmas '62. Gore." The recipient, Valerie Gore was the author’s sister. Vidal’s father remarried in 1939 and had two children with his second wife; Valerie was born in 1946. Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket, laminated by Vidal. An exceptional association.
Price: $300.00 Item Number: 126579
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First Edition of Raymond Hull's How to Write a Play; Inscribed by Him in the Year of Publication
HULL, Raymond.
How to Write A Play.
Cincinnati, OH: Writer's Digest Books, 1983.
First edition of this work on how to write a play. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, "Mary Greetings and best wishes for success with all your writing Raymond Hull Vancouver, B.C. October, 1983." Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Carol Strebel.
Price: $300.00 Item Number: 142459