There is a deceptively simple goal for the collector of first editions: to obtain the earliest printed form of a work of literature, in as close to the condition it was in when it first appeared in bookstores as a new book. Dig deeper, though, and you find that the first edition collector also has an interest in ...
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London: Methuen, (1927). First edition. This famous collection of children’s verses, featuring Milne’s son, Christopher Robin, and his bear, is illustrated throughout with Ernest H. Shepard’s whimsical drawings. Signed at a later date on the title page by Shepard. Handsomely bound by Bayntun-Rivière in deep red morocco, with gilt ruled..... More
Paris: Edmund S. Wood, 1950. Two volumes. (8), 174; (11), 204pp. This set reproduces the original edition, with John Tenniel’s famous illustrations. A fine set bound in quarter red morocco, gilt-titled to spine. This is the most famous and sought-after set of Carroll's Alice books in miniature form. T.e.g. (Bradbury..... More
Northridge, CA: Lord John Press, 1981. 29 pp. From an edition of 400, this is one of 100 copies specially bound by Bela Blau. Signed by President Gerald R. Ford. The text of a September 1980 address given to the Visa International Convention in Quebec encouraging world peace for economic..... More
Collingswood, NJ: Washburn, William Lewis, 1935. (21)ff. From an edition of sixty-four copies, this is one of forty-seven copies bound in paste-paper wrappers. Contains four literal translations of the Rubaiyat passage, plus FitzGerald's longer, more fanciful version, as well as two comparable Biblical extracts. With an introduction by Clarke W...... More
(Minneapolis): Minnesota Center for Book Arts, 2005. Tall quarto. (48)pp. From an edition of 226, this is one of twenty-six lettered copies, specially bound and with tipped-in editioned prints by five Minnesota artists. An anthology of original poetry from twelve Minnesota writers, including Robert Bly, Adrian Louis, Susan Steger Welsh..... More
Montagnola: Officina Bodoni, 1924. Quarto. 151pp. One of 224 copies. Shakespeare's late, iconic comedy, printed in Catania, an original Bodoni type, on Fabriano handmade paper. Book designed by G. Mardersteig. Bound in green-dyed vellum over boards, with the Press's device stamped in gilt on the front cover. Upper board slightly..... More
Mt. Horeb, WI: Perishable Press, (1970). Octavo. (11) ff. One of 183 copies. With an inscription by James Laughlin. A short collection of poems by the poet and legendary founder of New Directions, which published some of the most important writers of the twentieth century, including Ezra Pound, William Carlos..... More
Philadelphia: David McKay, (1929). Octavo. 225pp. First edition, printed before the limited UK edition, which Potter used to establish copyright in England. According to Linder, Potter originally wanted the book to only be printed in America, since “she felt that the stories were ‘too personal—too autobiographical'” to publish in her..... More
Boston: Small, Maynard, (1910). Octavo. First edition, second binding. Head of spine bumped and paper starting to split along upper hinge, else a near fine copy of Pound's first book printed in America. In dust wrapper with a few small chips to extremities. (Gallup A6). More
Nappanee: Press of the Indiana Kid, 1976. (10)pp. One of forty-five copies. A miniature recollection of the printer's brief correspondence with George Bernard Shaw. Bound in leather-backed marbled boards lightly rubbed, else near fine. (2 3/4 by 1 7/8; 70x48mm). More
(Evanston, IL): Press of Ward Schori, 1987. (109)pp. One of 90 copies. An affectionate, abridged representation of one of Dickens' most-loved novels. Bound by Hugo Grummich in full black leather with gilt ornaments and titles. Very fine. (1 9/16 by 1 3/8; 39x36mm). More
Evanston: Press of Ward Schori, 1962. 23pp. One of 100 copies, signed by Ward Schori. Bound in full green leather with richly gilt-stamped front cover with decorative borders and shell motif in the four corners. An extremely fine copy of the first book of the Press. A.e.g. (1 13/16 by..... More
Evanston, IL: Press of Ward Schori, 1986. 70pp. One of an edition of 225 copies. Frontispiece and cover illustration by Robert Wahlgren. Extremely fine in green cloth with a gilt-stamped frog. (2 13/16 by 2; 70x50mm). More
Middletown, CT: Price, Robin, 1998. Quarto. (36)pp. One of 150 copies. Signed by the illustrator, Keiji Shinohara, below the colophon. Decorated throughout with woodcuts in soft grays, greens, browns, and reds. The woodcuts interplay with the text itself, recreating in a visual way the experience of sitting in person for..... More
Hamburg: Raamin-Presse, 1976. Quarto. (40)pp. From an edition of 170, this is one of twenty copies with an additional two plates signed and numbered by the printer and illustrator, Roswitha Quadflieg. Translated into German from the original French by Elmar Tophoven, the short story "L'Expulsé" ("The Expelled") first appeared in..... More
Frankfurt: Raamin-Presse, 1978. Quarto. (28)pp. One of 100 copies. Signed by the artist at the colophon. Five full-page color initials by Quadflieg. The page opposite each initial features decorative rules and at two smaller decorated initials. The volume feature's Holderlin's poem in its 1803 and later versions. Bound in blue..... More
(Hamburg): Raamin-Presse, 1977. Quarto. 24pp. From an edition of 120 numbered copies signed by the artist/printer, Roswitha Quadflieg, this is one of forty copies printed in English, and from those forty, this is also one of ten with an extra signed etching. The text is from Adventures in the Skin..... More
London: Harrap, (1929). Quarto. 232pp. From an edition of 775 copies signed by Rackham, this is one of 575 copies that comprise the English issue. Illustrated with twelve full-page color plates and twenty-two black & white drawings. This is Rackham's second book published by Harrap, after 1928's Sleepy Hollow, and..... More
Charleston: Poetry Society of South Carolina, 1923. Octavo. First edition. First appearance of this poem, which was awarded the Poetry Society of South Carolina's Southern Prize for 1923. This publication also prints the poems which received honorable mention: "A Fragment" by William Alexander Percy, and "Avalon" by Donald Davidson. This..... More
(London: Harper Collins, 1992). Three volumes, all first editions. The trilogy treats the planet as a habitable environment for humans and explores its colonization. Offers vivid, breathtaking descriptions of the Martian landscape, impressive character development, and what Barron claims "may well be the finest hard-science fiction novel of the last..... More
NY: Harcourt, Brace & World, (1968). Small quarto. xiv, 577pp. Edited by Herbert Mitgang. Fine in black cloth, with near fine dust jacket showing wear to edges and hinges. More
NY: Ballantine Books, (1953). First Edition, first hardbound trade issue. Laid in to this copy is Joseph Mugnaini’s original preliminary cover art for the novel, which Bradbury personally owned. The watercolor and sketch work features the same elongated human figure dressed in newspapers and surrounded by flames. Mugnaini collaborated with..... More
NY: Ballantine Books, 1957. First edition. A sort of interstellar Robinson Crusoe, Cycle of Fire follows the survival of human castaway Nils Kruger and his shipwrecked extraterrestrial companion Dar. As they travel across an unfamiliar planet, they learn to communicate and trust one another, eventually sharing critical knowledge that ensures..... More
London: Lockwood & Co., 1864. Octavo. (4), 204pp. First edition. Inscription on recto of frontispiece identifies author: “Geo. Evans presented to him by the Author H. Cowen the 20 Sept. 1866.” In standard references and OCLC previous to this copy’s discovery, the book was recorded as anonymous or according to..... More
Hicksville, NY: Gnome Press, 1959. First edition. Inscription of publisher, Martin Greenberg, on front paste-down identifies this as the publisher’s file copy. Gnome Press, though short-lived, was responsible for the publication of many significant works in the Golden Age of science fiction. Their output included Arthur C. Clarke’s The Sands..... More
