The Life and Works of Alfred Lord Tennyson

The Life and Works of Alfred Lord Tennyson

By Susan Christiansen | October 3, 2016 | Comments Off on The Life and Works of Alfred Lord Tennyson

Described by T.S. Eliot as “the saddest of all English poets”, Alfred Lord Tennyson is considered, to this day, to be one of Britain’s greatest poets. Heavily influenced by the strictly metered and often melancholic style of the English Romantic poets, Tennyson’s verse illustrated a mastery of rhythm and descriptive imagery drawing on both the…

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The Complete Works of Jane Austen

The Complete Works of Jane Austen

By Adrienne Raptis | May 19, 2016 | Comments Off on The Complete Works of Jane Austen

Renowned novelist Jane Austen died in 1817, and still today her works are common course material for grade school English and writing classes around the world. Her six major novels, including Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park, Persuasion, Northanger Abbey, and Emma, serve as both social commentary and romantic entertainment for her readers. Her ability to pinpoint the unseen…

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Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway

Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway

By Adrienne Raptis | April 21, 2016 | Comments Off on Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway

English author Virginia Woolf was considered one of the greatest modernists of the 20th century. Woolf was born in London as Adeline Virginia Stephen by parents Julia and Leslie Stephen, a notable author, historian, and mountaineer. Her parents home-schooled her in a household of three children from three marriages total, as both parents had been previously married and widowed. Leslie’s prominence…

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5 Highlights From Our Spring 2016 Catalog

By Adrienne Raptis | April 6, 2016 | Comments Off on 5 Highlights From Our Spring 2016 Catalog

From Darwin to Dalloway, our Spring 2016 Catalog offers an excellent collection of fine and rare books. In this collection, you’ll find landmark works in topics such as classic literature, children’s literature, sciences, travel, politics, and more. Some of these works include a rare, signed portrait of Charles Dickens and an extremely rare presentation copy of Darwin’s On the Origin of Species. Here…

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Raptis Rare Books – Advanced Book Exchange Featured Booksellers

Raptis Rare Books – Advanced Book Exchange Featured Booksellers

By Adrienne Raptis | March 25, 2016 | Comments Off on Raptis Rare Books – Advanced Book Exchange Featured Booksellers

Deep in the southern Vermont countryside, you will find an ornate Italianate villa simply packed with sumptuous books worthy of any collector’s bookshelf. Welcome to Raptis Rare Books and the world of husband-and-wife bookselling team Matthew and Adrienne Raptis.  Matthew and Adrienne specialize in fine first editions, signed and inscribed books, and books that are…

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Vellum Bindings

Vellum Bindings

By Adrienne Raptis | January 18, 2016 | Comments Off on Vellum Bindings

Vellum refers to parchment made from calf skin that can be found on old and rare books. Very old Bibles were printed on it, and so was the Declaration of Independence. Vellum is not like calf leather in that it is not tanned, but it does vary in softness and smoothness based on the quality of…

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Robert and John F. Kennedy

Robert and John F. Kennedy

By Adrienne Raptis | January 10, 2016 | Comments Off on Robert and John F. Kennedy

The famous Kennedy family first sailed to America from Ireland in 1849. Sometimes called the “Royal Family of America,” the Kennedy’s political influence began with P.J. Kennedy and was carried all the way through John F. Kennedy’s presidency, while his brothers Robert and Ted held positions as prominent senators. But while everyone knows the Kennedy’s in…

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Rare Book Gift Ideas for the Holidays

Rare Book Gift Ideas for the Holidays

By Adrienne Raptis | December 2, 2015 | Comments Off on Rare Book Gift Ideas for the Holidays

The holidays are upon us and this is your last chance to buy meaningful gifts for the loved ones in your life. There are many great gifts for readers, but for the rare book enthusiast in your life, making the right choice can be tricky. Here are some first edition novels, volumes, and autobiographies that…

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The Complete Works of John Locke

The Complete Works of John Locke

By Adrienne Raptis | November 19, 2015 | Comments Off on The Complete Works of John Locke

John Locke, born August 29, 1632, was one of the greatest liberal minds of the Enlightenment. He fathered Classical Liberalism, a school of thought that departed from the idea of society as a family and took on the view of society as a mere mesh of its individuals, all of whom were innately cold, manipulative,…

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Top 10 Best Rare Gifts for Graduates

Top 10 Best Rare Gifts for Graduates

By Amanda Shepard | June 5, 2015 | Comments Off on Top 10 Best Rare Gifts for Graduates

Graduation season is upon us, and the best gifts you can give to a young graduate are wisdom, courage, and inspiration! Such treasures are of course rare, but can be best found in any of these top 10 rare books for graduates: 1. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Albee Edward Albee Edward’s play, Who’s…

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