Americana
Rare Americana Books, Manuscripts & More for Sale Online
If you’re looking for first edition books celebrating the American experience, you’ve come to the right place. At Raptis Rare Books we maintain an extensive collection of rare Americana, books, manuscripts and more. Browse through our entire collection online, use our sorting tools or search to find exactly what you’re looking for then call with any questions you may have or order online today.
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Exceptionally rare first edition, presentation copy of Experiments and Observations on Electricity; inscribed by Benjamin Franklin to Prominent Philadelphia Merchant, Colleague, and friend Thomas Livezey
FRANKLIN, Benjamin.
Experiments and Observations on Electricity, Made at Philadelphia in America, by Benjamin Franklin, L.L.D. and F.R.S. To which are added, Letters and Papers on Philosophical Subjects. The Whole corrected, methodized, improved, and now first collected into one Volume, and Illustrated with Copper Plates.
London: Printed for David Henry; and sold by Francis Newbery, at the Corner of St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1769.
First complete edition of "the most important scientific book of eighteenth-century America" (PMM), inscribed by Benjamin Franklin to prominent Pennsylvania Quaker and merchant Thomas Livezey, Jr. Quarto, bound in full contemporary calf with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, gilt turn-ins. Illustrated with 7 copper-engraved plates, 2 of which are folding. Presentation copy, inscribed by Benjamin Franklin on the front free endpaper, “To Mr. Livesy [sic] From his obliged Friend & humble Servant The Author.” With Thomas Livezey's ownership signature to the second free endpaper, "Thomas Livezey…
Price: $375,000.00 Item Number: 147283
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First octavo edition, presentation copy of John James Audubon's The Birds of America; warmly inscribed by him in both volumes I and II to Lydia E. E. Greene
AUDUBON, John James.
The Birds of America, From Drawings Made In The United States And Their Territories.
New York: Published by J. J. Audubon. Philadelphia: J. B. Chevalier, 1840-1844.
First octavo edition of Audubon's landmark work; one of the most spectacular collections of ornithological prints ever produced. Royal octavo, 7 volumes bound in full 19th-century morocco by P. Low of Boston with their ticket, gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins, marbled endpapers, ribbons bound in. Illustrated with 500 hand-colored lithographed plates after Audubon by W. E. Hitchcock, R. Trembly and others, printed and colored by J. T. Bowen, wood-engraved anatomical diagrams in text. Presentation copy, inscribed by John James Audubon on…
Price: $200,000.00 Item Number: 143567
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"The first surgical work by an American and printed in North America": John Jones' Plain Concise Practical Remarks, on the Treatment of Wounds and Fractures
JONES, John.
Plain Concise Practical Remarks, on the Treatment of Wounds and Fractures.
Philadelphia: Robert Bell, 1776.
Exceptionally rare edition of the first surgical work by an American and printed in North America. Octavo, bound in nineteenth century three quarters morocco over marbled boards, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, frontispiece. Jones' work was the accepted guide to surgical practice during the American Revolutionary War" G&M 2155; Austin 1843; Evans 15100 and 14814; Sabin 94063 and 36524. In near fine condition.
Price: $25,000.00 Item Number: 91322
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"No one quality by itself makes a good man or woman; many are essential; but three especially - courage, straightforward honesty, and common sense": Rare autograph quotation book lengthily inscribed by Theodore Roosevelt as President in addition to many others including William Howard Taft, John Muir, John Burroughs, and Bernard Baruch
ROOSEVELT, Theodore; William Howard Taft; John Muir; John Burroughs; Bernard Baruch et al. [Olga Roosevelt].
Theodore Roosevelt Signed and Inscribed Autograph Quotation Book.
c. 1903.
Olga Roosevelt's autograph book, lengthily inscribed and signed by Theodore Roosevelt as President of the United States, William Howard Taft as Vice President of the United States and several other famous figures of the era, including naturalists John Muir and John Burroughs and financier Bernard Baruch. Octavo, bound in full vellum with hand painted decorations to the spine and panels, patterned endpapers. Inscribed and signed by Theodore Roosevelt with a lengthy quotation, "No one quality by itself makes a good man or woman; many are essential; but three especially - courage, straightforward honesty, and common sense. Theodore Roosevelt July 23rd…
Price: $15,000.00 Item Number: 116342
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Rare Scientific Pamphlet Collection compiled during President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's 1938 Smithsonian-sponsored scientific expedition to the Galapagos islands; six signed and inscribed by him
[FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT],.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Presidential Cruise Pamphlet Collection.
City of Washington: Published by the Smithsonian Institution, 1939-1942.
First editions of ten botanical and zoological pamphlets published as a result of collections and investigations made during Franklin D. Roosevelt's Presidential Cruise of 1938 to the Galapo, six being presentation copies inscribed and signed "FDR" on the front wrapper. Octavo, ten pamphlets, original brown printed paper wrappers, illustrated. Presentation copies, 6 pamphlets are signed and inscribed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 5 to his friend and long-time colleague in combating polio, Basil "Doc" O'Connor. The pamphlets include: Flowering Plants Collected on the Presidential Cruise of 1938 (Ellsworth P. Killip, May 27, 1939), inscribed. "R.T. McI From F.D.R."; Two New Gobioid…
Price: $12,500.00 Item Number: 123500
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"Reader if thou wilt do the fame, thy profit will be as great as mine": Exceptionally rare printing of Benjamin Franklin's An Old Man's Experience, or Poor Richard's Maxims Improved
SAUNDERS, Richard [Benjamin Franklin].
An Old Man’s Experience, or Poor Richard’s Maxims Improved.
: , .
Rare printing of Benjamin Franklin's An Old Man's Experience, or Poor Richard's Maxims Improved, published under the pseudonym Richard Saunders in full, "An Old Man's Experience, or, Poor Richard's Maxims Improved. Reader, if you buy this Book, and seriously consider its contents, though it cost thee but a Trifle, it may save thee Many Pounds." Small octavo, original wrappers as issued. No publisher or date listed. In very good condition with tape repair to the spine and rear panel. Exceptionally rare, no other copies matching this title and pagination have come to auction.
Price: $7,500.00 Item Number: 96182
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Rare Portrait of the first man to walk on the moon Neil Armstrong; boldly signed by him
ARMSTRONG, Neil.
Neil Armstrong Signed Portrait.
Portrait of American astronaut Neil Armstrong, boldly signed by him. Double matted and framed. The entire piece measures 13 inches by 11.75 inches. Rare and desirable signed and uninscribed by Armstrong.
Price: $4,800.00 Item Number: 117764
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"A new truth is a truth, an old error is an error": Rare First Edition of Benjamin Franklin's Oeuvres
FRANKLIN, Benjamin.
Oeuvres.
Paris: Chez Quillau, Esprit, et l'Auteur, 1773.
First French edition of Franklin's complete works on electricity, based on the fourth and best British edition. Quarto, two volumes bound in one, contemporary calf, illustrated with engraved frontispiece portrait of Franklin in his study and twelve full-page plates. In very good condition. Uncommon.
Price: $4,000.00 Item Number: 133908
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"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind": Rare Original July 21st 1969 Delaware Evening Journal Front Page; Signed by legendary astronaut Neil Armstrong
ARMSTRONG, Neil.
Neil Armstrong Signed Delaware Evening Journal.
Wilmington: Delaware Evening Journal, July 21, 1969.
Rare original Delaware Evening Journal featuring the headline "Eagle Jets Safely Off Moon; In Orbit for Rendezvous", a front page article on the Apollo 11 moon landing, and large photograph of Neil Armstrong collecting dirt on the lunar surface. Boldly signed by Neil Armstrong on his photograph. Below the headline is Armstrong's famous quote, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Articles featured on the front page include, "Neil, Buzz Leave Prints on Moon", "Kennedy Charged in Crash", and "Luna 15 Lands On Moon, 500 Miles from LM." In very good condition. Double matted and framed.…
Price: $4,000.00 Item Number: 100158
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"SURGICAL ANATOMY IS, TO THE STUDENT OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY, THE MOST ESSENTIAL BRANCH OF ANATOMICAL SCIENCE": Gray's Anatomy
GRAY, Henry.
Anatomy, Descriptive and Surgical [Gray’s Anatomy].
Philadelphia: Blanchard and Lea, 1862.
Rare second edition of this influential work on Anatomy. Quarto, bound in contemporary wrappers, possibly original, illustrated with wood-engravings after the drawings by H. V. Carter. In good condition.
Price: $3,600.00 Item Number: 137096
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“The Body of Benjamin FRANKLIN Printer, Like the Covering of an Old Book Its contents torn out and stript of its Lettering and Gilding, Lies Here, Food for Worms": Scarce first edition of Nathaniel Ames' 1771 Almanack, containing the first known printing of Benjamin Franklin's famous epitaph
AMES, Nathaniel. [Benjamin Franklin].
An Astronomical Diary or Almanack, for the Year of Our Lord Christ 1771.
Boston: Printed and Sold by the Printers and Booksellers, [1770].
First edition of Nathaniel Ames' 1771 Almanack, containing the first known printing of "the most famous of American epitaphs" (Mark Van Doren). 12mo, original wrappers stitched as issued. In very good condition. Housed in a custom cloth chemise and half morocco slipcase. An exceptional example of this scarce early almanac.
Price: $3,500.00 Item Number: 125283
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"SURGICAL ANATOMY IS, TO THE STUDENT OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY, THE MOST ESSENTIAL BRANCH OF ANATOMICAL SCIENCE": Gray's Anatomy
GRAY, Henry.
Anatomy, Descriptive and Surgical [Gray’s Anatomy].
Philadelphia: Blanchard and Lea, 1862.
Rare second edition of this influential work on Anatomy. Quarto, bound in full black morocco, gilt titles to the spine, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, raised bands, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers, illustrated with wood-engravings after the drawings by H. V. Carter. In near fine condition.
Price: $3,500.00 Item Number: 129536
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“Most people who travel look only at what they are directed to look at. Great is the power of the guidebook maker, however ignorant": First Edition of John Muir's Travels in Alaska
MUIR, John.
Travels in Alaska.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1915.
First edition of the author's classic work. Octavo, original grey cloth lettered in white, color illustrated paper cover label, top edge gilt. Illustrated with several plates from photographs, including frontispiece with tissue-guard. Near fine in near fine dust jacket with a few small chips. The nicest example we have seen of the rare dust jacket.
Price: $2,200.00 Item Number: 139821
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First Edition of Theodore Roosevelt's Life-Histories of African Game Animals; in the original cloth
ROOSEVELT, Theodore and Edmund Heller.
Life-Histories of African Game Animals.
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1914.
First edition of Roosevelt's final work on big-game hunting. Octavo, 2 volumes, original buckram cloth with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, tissue-guarded engraved frontispieces, with illustrations from photographs and drawings by Philip R. Goodwin and with forty faunal maps. In very good condition. A nice example.
Price: $2,000.00 Item Number: 125598
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"I'm proud to be an American, I'll tell you! What a program and what a place and what an experience!": Rare large format glossy color photograph of Apollo 16 Lunar Module Pilot Charlie Duke walking on the lunar surface; inscribed by him
DUKE, Charlie.
Charlie Duke Signed “10th Man to Walk on the Moon” Photograph.
Rare large format glossy color photograph of Apollo 16 Lunar Module Pilot Charlie Duke; the 10th man to walk on the lunar surface. Signed by Duke in gold ink, "'I'm proud to be an American, I'll tell you! What a program and what a place and what an experience!' Charlie Duke, Apollo 16 LMP, 10th Man to Walk on the Moon, April 21, 1972." In fine condition. The photograph measures 16 inches by 20 inches.
Price: $1,850.00 Item Number: 142784
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“Most people who travel look only at what they are directed to look at. Great is the power of the guidebook maker, however ignorant": First Edition of John Muir's Travels in Alaska
MUIR, John.
Travels in Alaska.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1915.
First edition of the author's classic work. Octavo, original grey cloth lettered in white, color illustrated paper cover label, top edge gilt. Illustrated with several plates from photographs, including frontispiece with tissue-guard. Near fine in the rare original dust jacket with a small chip to the front panel.
Price: $1,750.00 Item Number: 125110
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Rare collection of periodicals containing first and early appearances of articles by or about John Muir; including his landmark article "Features of the Proposed Yosemite National Park"
MUIR, John.
John Muir Periodical Collection.
Various Publishers, 1872-1977.
Rare collection of periodicals containing first and early appearances of articles by or about John Muir. Octavo, 20 volumes, original illustrated wrappers. The collection includes: The Overland Monthly. Volume 9, No. 6, Number 43 [John H. Carmany & Co., San Francisco, December 1872] which contains Muir's "Living Glaciers of California"; The Overland Monthly. Volume 13, No. 2, Number 74 [John H. Carmany & Co., San Francisco, August 1874] which contains Muir's "Studies in the Sierra, No. IV, Glacial Denudation"; Harper's New Monthly Magazine. Volume 57, No. 342 [Harper & Brothers, New York, November 1878] which contains Muir's "The New Sequoia…
Price: $1,250.00 Item Number: 126180
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“Medicine is a science of uncertainty and an art of probability": Rare Second Edition of William Osler's The Principles and Practice of Medicine
OSLER, William.
The Principles and Practice of Medicine.
New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1895.
Rare first printing of the second edition of Osler's magnum opus. Thick octavo, bound in contemporary leatherette. In very good condition.
Price: $850.00 Item Number: 140471
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Jacob Bigelow's Florula Bostoniensis. A Collection of Plants of Boston and Its Vicinity
BIGELOW, Jacob.
Florula Bostoniensis. A Collection of Plants of Boston and Its Vicinity, With Their Generic and Specific Characters, Principal Synonyms, Descriptions, Places of Growth, and Time of Flowering, and Occasional Remarks.
Boston: Published by Cummings, Hilliard & Co, 1824.
Enlarged and second edition of Bigelow's authoritative work on the flora of Boston and its vicinity. Octavo, original boards, rebacked, greatly enlarged and with a significant glossary of botanical terms. In very good condition. Period ownership inscriptions and notations.
Price: $200.00 Item Number: 137356