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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Prague: Státní nakladatelství krásne literatury a umení, 1964. Five illustrations by Zdenek Chotenovský depict a Matisse-like woman in various positions of repose. Her placidity underscores Neruda's twenty love poems, and put into starker light the volume's twenty-first poem, which eulogizes the grief and pain of loving. 76, (4)pp. Bound in..... 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
Fullerton, CA: Lorson's Books, 1986. (20)pp., frenchfold. One of 50 copies, numbered, dated and signed by Murray, the designer, artist and printer. Four poems by Housman are illustrated with two full-page watercolor illustrations by Murray and a decoration to the title-page. Bound in olive cloth, with cross-stitched design. Black slipcase..... 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
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
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
(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
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
East Aurora, NY: Roycrofters, 1904. Square small octavo. (vii), 70pp. One of 100 copies printed on Japan vellum. Signed by Elbert Hubbard at the limitation page. Frontispiece photograph portrait of Whitman. Whitman's expansive and exhortative centerpiece of his "Leaves of Grass" here receives sumptuous treatment, with a full floral title..... 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
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
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
![Item #31397 [Poems]. Sir Walter Scott](/pictures/thumb/31397.jpg?v=1655840423)
NY: Frederick A. Stokes, (c. 1900). Six 64mo. vols. 192; 191; (163); 165; (176); 158pp. Each volume begins with a unique frontispiece of landmarks around Scotland: Scott's family home of Abbotsford, Ellen's Isle on Loch Katrine, Newark Castle, the House of Lorn, Norham Castle, and Smailholm Tower. The six volumes..... More
NY: Random House, (1939). First edition. Inscribed by Seuss "For Lulu Godiva, II / with lots of thanks for / nice things done." Illustrated throughout in red and black, with one three-color page. In this version of an old tale, the seven Godiva sisters (Arabella, Dorcas, Mitzi et al.), "who..... More
(Mount Vernon, NY: Artists & Writers Protest Inc., 1967). Folio. (28)pp. One of 100 deluxe copies. A collection of eighteen poems by writers who contributed their work as a form of opposition to the Vietnam War. The collection was edited by the artist Jack Sonenberg and contains works by Denise..... More
London: Methuen & Co. Ltd., (1932). First edition, in second issue dust wrapper from 1933. Told by the same “last man” who related the history of humanity’s future in Last and First Men, this work describes the last man’s exploration of the consciousness of present-day Englishman Paul. The advanced being..... More
London: Metuen & Co. Ltd., 1932. First edition, first issue. Told by the same “last man” who related the history of humanity’s future in Last and First Men, this work describes the last man’s exploration of the consciousness of present-day Englishman Paul. The advanced being experiences the world through Paul..... More
London: Methuen, (1935). First edition, first issue, with ads at rear dated “535” (i.e., May, 1935); later issues bear an August date. One of 3096 copies printed. A novel that explores the idea of a Nietzschean “Super-man” with great mental prowess living among ordinary human beings. John Wainwright, the titular..... More
NY: Knopf, 1931. Second edition, third binding. This edition contains fourteen new poems, while dropping three from the original edition. The complete printing of the second edition consisted of 1,500 copies, which were bound over a period of thirteen years. This copy is inscribed by Stevens on a preliminary blank..... More
London: Privately printed, 1898. Octavo. (13)ff. First edition. One of thirty copies. First published unintentionally and without permission. The publication announcement was withdrawn, but the copies were not destroyed and eventually circulated. Includes facsimiles of the original manuscripts. In cream Japan paper over boards with gilt title on toned and..... More
(Wiltshire, England): Compton Press, (1978). Two octavo volumes. (14); (12)ff. First edition. One of fifty copies signed by both Murdoch and Stone and accompanied by a full set of numbered and initialed artist's proofs of the engravings. Twelve of Murdoch's short poems, each one titled after a month of the..... More
Amherst, MA: Swamp Press, 1982. (14)pp., that fold out to a panorama. One of 100 copies, signed by the printer, Ed Rayher. Eighteen-panel panorama with illustrations by Jon Vlakos aptly complement this modern haiku. Very fine in brown paper wrappers. (3 by 2 13/16; 75x69mm). More
Newton, IA: Tamazunchale Press, 1985. 46pp. One of 250 copies. E. B. White's observations on domestic geese first appeared in "The New Yorker." Printed by Enschedé. Extremely fine in gray morocco, gilt. The marbled endpapers resemble goose feathers. A.e.g. (Bradbury, p. 300). (2 1/2 by 1 7/8; 64x46mm). More
