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Rare & Classic, American or English Literature Books for Sale Online
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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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Thomas A Kempis' The Imitation of Christ; from the library of legendary aviator Steve Fossett
A KEMPIS, Thomas. Translated by John Payne.
The Imitation of Christ; In Three Books.
Glasgow: Printed for Chalmers and Collins, 1823.
Rare early 19th century example of a Kempis’ classic work. Octavo, bound in full polished calf five raised bands to the spine, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, all edges marbled. From the library of Peggy and Steve Fossett with their bookplate to the pastedown. From the library of James Stephen “Steve” Fossett with his bookplate to the pastedown of each volume. American businessman and record-setting aviator Steve Fossett became the first person to fly solo nonstop around the world in 2002 in his 10-story high balloon Spirit of Freedom. He completed the 2002 trip in 13 days, 8 hours,…
Price: $975.00 Item Number: 130441
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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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"People go off to marvel at the height of mountains and the great waves of the sea and the broad courses of rivers, and the flow of the ocean, and the circuits of the stars: but they neglect themselves": C.S. Lewis' copy of Sir Thomas Browne's highly influential 17th century Christian confessional Religio Medici; with Lewis' ownership signature and notes throughout
BROWNE, Thomas. [C.S. Lewis].
Religio Medici and Other Essays by Sir Thomas Browne.
London: Chapman & Hall, Ltd, [1911].
C.S. Lewis' copy of Browne's celebrated 17th century "confession of Christian faith qualified by an eclectic and generally skeptical attitude" (The Oxford Companion). Octavo, original boards, paper spine label, gilt vignette to the front panel, tissue-guarded engraved frontispiece portrait of Browne. British author and theologian C.S. Lewis' copy with his ownership signature to the front free endpaper, "C.S. Lewis April 1919", underlines, marks, and footnotes to several pages, most notably a lengthy quote from The Confessions of St. Augustine to page 29: "(1) Et eunt homines mirari alta montium et ingentes fluctus maris et latissimos lapsus fluminum et oceani ambitum…
Price: $12,500.00 Item Number: 122430
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Finely Bound Example of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress; With a Foredge
BUNYAN, John.
Pilgrim’s Progress [Fore-Edge Painting]
London : L. and G. Seeley, 1840.
Finely bound example with a foredge painting of a sailing ship initialed and dated 1840 of one of the most significant works of religious English literature, Pilgrim's Progress. Octavo, bound in full morocco, all edges gilt, 15 plates and illustrations, all hand-colored, with a fore-edge painting of a sailing ship initialed and dated 1840, engraved frontispiece. In very good condition. An nice presentation.
Price: $1,600.00 Item Number: 120842
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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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John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progess; elaborately bound in full crushed teal levant morocco by Bayntun Bindery
BUNYAN, John.
The Pilgrim’s Progress From This World to that Which is to Come.
London: Routledge, Warne and Routledge, 1861.
Finely bound edition of one of the most significant works of religious English literature. Octavo, bound in full crushed teal levant morocco by Bayntun Bindery, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, quadruple gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, radiant cornerpieces and central morocco onlay of a pilgrim to the front panel, gilt turn-ins and wide inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, ribbon bound in, illustrated with one hundred and ten designs by J.D. Watson engraved on wood by the Brothers Dalziel. With a Memoir and notes by George Offor.…
Price: $2,500.00 Item Number: 139796
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finely bound and copiously illustrated 19th century printing of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress
BUNYAN, John.
The Pilgrim’s Progress and Other Works of John Bunyan with an Original Memoir by the Reverend George B. Cheever, D.D.
Howard Street, Glasgow; South Bridge, Edinburgh; 22 Paternoster Row, London: William Mackenzie, n.d. [1862].
Finely bound and copiously illustrated 19th century printing of one of the most significant works of religious English literature. Quarto, bound in three quarters morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, illustrated with 31 plates and numerous in-text illustrations, additional pictorial title page, folding plate of Bunyan's Dream. In very good condition.
Price: $1,500.00 Item Number: 144028
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"one of the most significant works of religious English literature": Rare and unique sammelband collection of early printings of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress
BUNYAN, John.
The Pilgrim’s Progress From This World To That Which is to Come: Deliver’d under the Similitude of a Dream: Wherein is Discover’d The Manner of his Setting out, His Dangerous Journey, and Safe Arrival at the Desired Country.
London: Printed for A.W. for W. Johnston, at the Golden-Ball, in St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1752-1755.
Rare twenty-eighth edition of one of the most significant works of religious English literature, bound with a twentieth edition of its second part, a sixteenth edition of its third part, and The Life and Death of Mr. John Bunyan. 12mo, bound in full calf with gilt ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, crimson morocco spine label lettered in gilt, engraved frontispiece, illustrated with woodcuts. Bound with a twentieth edition of The Pilgrim's Progress From This World to That which is to Come: The Second Part. Delivered under the Similitude of a Dream: Wherein is set forth…
Price: $850.00 Item Number: 145684
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First Edition of Joseph Campbell's The Masks of God: Creative Mythology; Inscribed by Him
CAMPBELL, Joseph.
The Masks of God: Creative Mythology.
New York: The Viking Press, 1968.
First edition of this Campbell classic, which discusses the primitive roots of mythology. Octavo, original cloth, pictorial endpapers, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, "To Anne and Brendan with my love and good wishes from Joe." The recipient, Brendan Gill wrote for the New Yorker for more than 60 years where he wrote more than 1,200 pieces including scores of reviews and served as the main architecture critic from 1987 to 1996. Near fine in a very good dust jacket.
Price: $975.00 Item Number: 101266
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Rare first edition of David Davidson's Comprehensive finely illustrated Family Bible
DAVIDSON, David.
The Comprehensive Family Bible; Containing The Old and New Testaments, According to the Authorized Version. With Copious Critical, Explanatory, and Practical Notes, and Reflections; A General Introduction, Parallel Passages, Index of Subjects, and Chronological Tables.
Glasgow, Edinburgh, and London: Blackie and Son, 1858.
First edition of Davidson's finely illustrated family Bible. Large quarto, bound in contemporary full calf with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, elaborate decorative tooling to the front and rear panels stamped in blind, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled. Illustrated with numerous hand-colored maps and engraved plates by Holl, Robinson, Knight, and Whitfield including frontispiece and engraved title page. In very good condition. Interior hinges reinforced. A nice example of this popular 19th century illustrated Bible.
Price: $1,600.00 Item Number: 130348
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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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“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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"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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"Poet, Singer, Great heart, may our god bless your name, and the womb that held you, and the breasts that gave you milk. and may god forgive us all"; First Edition of Kahlil Gibran's Jesus The Son of Man; Warmly Inscribed by him
GIBRAN, Kahlil.
Jesus: The Son of Man.
New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1928.
First edition of Kahlil Gibran's masterful retelling of the story of Jesus of Nazareth. Octavo, original cloth, illustrations by the author. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, "For Roy and D. from Howard and Bill With the blessing upon you four, and with the gratitude of Kahlil Gibran 1928." Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Rare and desirable inscribed and in the original dust jacket.
Price: $9,200.00 Item Number: 89433
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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
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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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First Edition of Abraham Joshua Heschel's Man Is Not Alone: A Philosophy of Religion; In the Rare Original Dust Jacket
HESCHEL, Abraham Joshua.
Man Is Not Alone: A Philosophy of Religion.
Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1951.
First edition of this modern classic of Jewish theology. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in the rare original dust jacket with some chips and rubbing. Jacket designed by Marshall Lee.
Price: $650.00 Item Number: 78342