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Rare & Classic, American or English Literature Books for Sale Online
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“For anyone who loves intensely lives not in himself but in the object of his love, and the further he can move out of himself into his love, the happier he is": Exceptionally Rare first edition in English of Erasmus' in Praise of Folly; elaborately bound in full crushed levant morocco by Sangorski and Sutcliffe
ERASMUS, Desiderius. Translated by Sir Thomas Chaloner.
In Praise of Folie: Moriae Encomium. A book made in latine by the great clerke Erasmus Roterodame. Enlightened by Sir Thomas Chaloner, knight. [In Praise of Folly].
London: Thomas Berthelet, 1549.
First edition in English of one of the most notable and popular works of the Renaissance which played an important role in the beginnings of the Protestant Reformation and swiftly brought its author international fame. First printing with 'latine' and the printer's initials 'TB.' to the title page. Octavo, bound in full crushed levant morocco by Sangorski and Sutcliffe, gilt titles and elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, triple gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, all edges gilt, wide woodcut border to the title page signed…
Price: $275,000.00 Item Number: 139476
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First Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous; In the Rare Original Dust Jacket
WILSON, William [Bill W.].
Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism.
New York: Alcoholics Anonymous, 1939.
First edition of Bill Wilson’s classic work, one of the best-selling books of all time, having sold 30 million copies. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket with the spine lightly toned, contemporary name to the front free endpaper. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box made by the Harcourt Bindery. An exceptional example.
Price: $55,000.00 Item Number: 143075
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First edition, association copy of Das Neue Ghetto; inscribed by Theodor Herzl to fellow Zionist Heinrich Elchanan York-Steiner
HERZL, Theodor.
Das Neue Ghetto: Schauspiel in 4 Acten. [The New Ghetto: A Play in 4 Acts].
Wein: Verlag Der "Welt", 1897.
First edition of Herzl's popular politically-charged drama, written several years before Der Judenstaat and praised by Max Nordau and Sigmund Freud. Octavo, original printed wrappers. Association copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication opposite the title page, "Herrn Heinrich Steiner zur freundlichen Erinnerung Th. Herzl." The recipient, Hungarian author and publisher Heinrich Elchanan York-Steiner was a prominent Zionist. He participated in all phases of early Zionist activity and was instrumental in convening the First Zionist Congress as well as conceptualizing and organizing the publication of Die Welt, the newspaper that became the official organ of the World…
Price: $35,000.00 Item Number: 143510
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"There is no other fire but this, This speck of life, this fading spark": The Screwtape Letters; signed by C.S. Lewis with an inscription of his poem The Salamander
LEWIS, C.S.
The Screwtape Letters.
London: Geoffrey Bles: The Centenary Press, 1945.
Early printing of Lewis' classic novel of spiritual conflict, one of his most celebrated works; signed by him with his poem The Salamader in the year it was published in The Spectator. Octavo, original publisher's cloth. Signed by the author on the front free endpaper, "C. S. Lewis" and inscribed by him on the final free endpaper with an inscription of his poem The Salamander which was published in the same year (1945) in The Spectator, "The Salamander I stared in to the fire: - blue waves of shuddering hear that rose and fell and blazing ships and binding caves Canyons…
Price: $30,000.00 Item Number: 143837
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A fine set of the works of Theodoretus; Each Beautifully Painted on the front and back of each panel
Opera Omnia. Ed. Jac. Sirmond (Volumes 1-4), and J. Garnier (Volume 5).
Paris: Sebastian and Gabriel Cramoisy, 1682-84.
A fine set of the works of Theodoretus, Bishop of Cyrus, beautifully painted on each panel. Quarto, five volumes, bound in full 17th-century vellum, both covers on each volume fully painted with a scene from the life of Christ, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, brown and black morocco lettering pieces. The first four volumes were edited by J. Sirmond and were published in 1642. The fifth volume, not published until 1684, was completed by Sirmond's fellow Jesuit Garnier and contains an auctarium, comprising fragments of commentaries and sermons and some additional letters, together with Garnier's five learned but…
Price: $27,500.00 Item Number: 140490
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Scarce First edition of John Marbecke's A Concordace; One of the finest and most complete copies obtainable
MARBECKE, John.
A Concordace, that is to saie, a work wherein by the ordre of the letters of the A.B.C. ye maie redely finde any worde conteigned in the whole Bible, so often as it is there expressed or mentioned.
London: Richardus Grafton, 1550.
Rare first edition of the first concordance in English to the Bible. Quarto, bound in full polished calf with raised bands and gilt titles to the spine, trimmed and mounted engraved title page. In near fine condition with some leaves supplied and mounted and restoration to the margins. One of the finest and most complete copies obtainable as this work is invariably found in defective condition. Housed in a custom slipcase. From the library of Anglo-Irish George Stokes with his bookplate to the pastedown and a presentation note signed by his daughter.
Price: $25,000.00 Item Number: 122671
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THE FIRST JEWISH TRANSLATION OF THE PENTATEUCH INTO ENGLISH
LEESER, Isaac.
The Law of God.
Philadelphia: C. Sherman, 5605, 1845-46.
First edition of the “first English translation of the Pentateuch in America,” the 1845 Hebrew-English Bible by one of the most prominent and influential figures in American Jewish history. Octavo, 5 volumes. Translated by Isaac Leeser. Bound in contemporary polished calf, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, rebacked. Lightly rubbed, moderate wear. A very nice example of a scarce and important work.
Price: $22,500.00 Item Number: 49020
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THE FIRST JEWISH TRANSLATION OF THE PENTATEUCH INTO ENGLISH
LEESER, Isaac.
The Law of God.
Philadelphia: C. Sherman, 5605, 1845-46.
First edition of the “first English translation of the Pentateuch in America,” the 1845 Hebrew-English Bible by one of the most prominent and influential figures in American Jewish history. Octavo, 5 volumes. Translated by Isaac Leeser. Bound in full contemporary calf, gilt titles and tooling to the spine. In near fine condition. A nice example, rare in contemporary binding.
Price: $18,500.00 Item Number: 78547
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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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"A Work Calculated to Promote the Protestant Religion By Giving a Pious and Christian Turn to the Mind": The Vicar of Oakley's Improved Edition of Foxe's Book of Martyrs embellished with copious illustrations
FOXE, John. [Wright.
The New and Complete Book of Martyrs, or, An Universal History of Martyrdom: Being Fox’s Book of Martyrs.
London: Printed for Alex Hogg, 1784.
Folio, bound in full brown calf, gilt title and tooling to the spine, front and rear panel, raised bands. Engraved frontispiece, copiously illustrated with engravings throughout. In very good condition with some spotting.
Price: $2,200.00 Item Number: 54022
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Rare illustrated edition of The Pilgrim's Progress, The Holy War, and Other Selected Works of John Bunyan; finely bound in full morocco
BUNYAN, John.
The Pilgrim’s Progress, The Holy War, and Other Selected Works of John Bunyan. The Life of the Author written by himself. With Interesting Historical Facts Affecting Religion at the Period in which He Wrote Explanatory Notes and Illustrative Passages From Modern Divines. Arranged by the Editors of Sturm’s Devotions.
London and New York: The London Printing and Publishing Company, n.d..
The illustrated edition of the selected works of John Bunyan. Quarto, elaborately bound in full morocco with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, red morocco spine label lettered in gilt, elaborate gilt ruling and stamping to the front and rear panels, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, illustrated with engravings, frontispiece, and engraved title page.
Price: $2,000.00 Item Number: 122608
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Rare 18th Century Heart-Shaped Christian Broadside; containing liturgical prayers, hymns, and creeds in latin
Rare 18th Century Heart-Shaped Christian Broadside.
Germany: c. 1780.
Rare late 18th century liturgical broadside. Printed broadside mounted on a decorated heart-shaped hardwood frame with a hand-painted botanical border containing Protestant liturgical chants, daily prayers, and hymns. Text in Latin. In very good condition. Scarce and desirable.
Price: $1,800.00 Item Number: 96227
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First Edition of Hymns of the Ages: Second Series; from the library of Ulysses S. Grant
[GRANT, Ulysses S.].
Hymns of the Ages: Second Series. Being Selections From Wither, Crashaw, Southwell, Harington, and Other Sources.
Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1865.
First edition of the second series of Hymns of the Ages, from the library of Ulysses S. Grant. Octavo, bound in full pebbled morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers, tissue-guarded frontispiece. From the library of Ulysses S. Grant with a presentation bookplate to the pastedown which reads, “Lieut. Gen. U. S. Grant, from the Citizens of Boston, January 1, 1866.” In very good condition. Rare and desirable.
Price: $1,600.00 Item Number: 138284
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Early Printing of Thomas Aquinas' Masterpiece Summa Theologica
AQUINAS, Thomas .
Summa Theologica Sancti Thomae Aquinatis, Divinae Voluntatis Interpretis: Sacri Ordinis Praedicatorum.
Parisiis: Sumptibus Maturini Henault, 1638.
Early printing of Aquinas' seminal work. Folio, bound in full leather with a red morocco spine label lettered in gilt, woodcut engraving of Aquinas in prayer to the title page. In very good condition with tape repairs to the title page.
Price: $1,500.00 Item Number: 90390
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Qadi Zada al-Rumi's Commentary on al-Hikma
Qadi Zada al-Rumi (1364-1436) Commentary on al-Hikma, 918 AH [1684 CE].
Octavo manuscript in Arabic on paper, consisting of two works, including Fakhr al-Din al-Razi's (1149-1209) Hashiya 'ala sharh hidayat alhikma, contemporary blind-tooled leather. In very good condition.
Price: $1,500.00 Item Number: 71008
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Rare first edition of A Dictionary of the Bible Comprising Its Antiquities, Biography, Geography, and Natural History; finely bound in full vellum
EDITED BY WILLIAM SMITH,.
A Dictionary of the Bible Comprising Its Antiquities, Biography, Geography, and Natural History.
London: John Murray, 1863.
First edition of Smith's Dictionary of the Holy Bible. Octavo, three volumes, bound in full vellum with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, marbled endpapers, all edges red, illustrations with three maps and illustrations throughout text. In near fine condition. Armorial bookplates.
Price: $1,250.00 Item Number: 111032
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First edition of Jackson Steward Lincoln's The Dream in Primitive Cultures
LINCOLN, Jackson Steward. Introduction by C. G. Seligman.
The Dream in Primitive Cultures.
London: The Cresset Press, 1935.
First edition of the author's doctorate thesis on the theory and function of dreams in primitive cultures. Octavo, original cloth, engraved frontispiece. In very good condition with toning to the spine. Very rare.
Price: $1,250.00 Item Number: 115384
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First edition of Hélène Adeline Guerber's Myths of the Norsemen From the Eddas and Sagas
GUERBER, Hélène Adeline.
Myths of the Norsemen From the Eddas and Sagas.
London: George G. Harrap & Company, 1909.
First edition of one of the author's most enduring works. Octavo, bound in full crushed levant emerald green morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, gilt ruling to the front and rear panel, gilt inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt with others untrimmed, frontispiece, illustrated. In good condition.
Price: $975.00 Item Number: 138991