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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(Loket, Czech Republic: Jan and Jarmila Sobota, 2007). Sixteen panels, accordion-fold. One of thirty copies. Signed by the artists, Jan and Jarmila Sobota. A short but pointed exigesis on the words "robot," which was first used by the Czech playwright Karel Kapek, and "robotics," first used by the Russian-born Isaac..... 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 The publication announcement was withdrawn, but the copies were not destroyed and eventually circulated.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
London: Stockdale, John, 1793. Four quarto volumes. xi, 225; vii, 188; lxv, 189 (misnumbered 891); xi, 228pp. First editions, first issues, of both sets, printed with the long "s." The Gay volumes are illustrated with an engraved title page and engravings by various artists, including William Blake, who freely adapted..... 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
London: Edward Moxon, 1855. First edition, second issue, with eight pages of advertisements bound in at the front. Victorian novelist and poet George Meredith's copy, with his signature on the title page. The volume is the first collection produced by Tennyson after he was named Poet Laureate. "Maud," Tennyson's emotional..... More
Boston: Riverside Press, 1929. Seven octavo volumes. One of 500 large paper copies. Includes illustrations from photographs of Tennyson's country by Charles S. Olcott, as well as a portrait of the author. Introduction by Henry Van Dyke. ALs by Tennyson tipped-in to preliminary leaf. A lovely set bound in full..... More
1925. A humorous cartoon measuring 10 by 8 1/2 inches. Celebrated playwright Henrik Ibsen, shown in caricature with a wild beard and hair, is depicted surrounded by four of his heroines, including Hedda Gabler and Nora from A Doll's House. Not all seem very happy to see him: Hedda points..... More
(Poiano, Italy: Franco Riva, 1979). Folio. (6)ff. One of 120 copies. Illustrated with a frontispiece etching by Italian artist Ernesto Treccani, with his signature in pencil below. A translation of Dylan Thomas' poem into Italian by Anna Maria Faccini. Part of the "Lectura Dominica" series issued by Franco Riva. Leaves..... More
(c. 1849). Single sheet measuring 7 1/2 inches by 9 3/4 inches. In brown ink with pencil annotations and strikethroughs. This is a section of Thoreau's working notes from his visit to Cape Cod in 1849, and the text touches on a comparison of land transportation to the expediency of..... More
NY: Frederick A. Stokes Company, (1924). First American edition. One of only 250 copies designated for the United States from a total edition of 2,000. The handsomely produced and lavishly illustrated tale of an old man who builds a square-rigged ship with the help of fairy artisans, and sails through..... More
Worcester, MA: St. Onge, Achille J., (1962). 28ff. First issue. One of 1,200 copies. Illustrated in full color by Tasha Tudor. Fine in gilt-titled red leather, with near fine pictorial dust jacket. A.e.g. (Massmann VIII). (3 5/8 by 2 5/8; 93x67mm). More
(Elder Mfg. Co., c. 1950). A notepad in which each sheet is printed with a different quote from Mark Twain at the top. The base of each page is printed with "Buy by name - buy... Mark Twain shirts by Elder." Twain gave permission to Miller and Bingham Company to..... More
NY: Harper, (1958). First edition. First issue of dust wrapper, which carries the statement in the biographical blurb that Updike had "two small children." Updike's first book, a collection of lean and sly poems, among which one, titled "Ex-Basketball Player," almost seems a rough character sketch for Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom..... More
Reading, PA: Fantasy Press, 1950. First edition. One of 500 copies signed by the author. A short novel dealing with time travel is coupled with a short story entitled "The Changeling," both of which were later published separately. Top corner of front endpaper is clipped, and "signed" is written in..... More
Easthampton, MA: Warwick Press, 2000. Small octavo. (9)pp. One of 140 copies signed by the two poets, the printer, Carol Blinn, and Jack Kelleher, who organized the reading in Cummington, MA that brought Hall and Wilbur together. Designed, illustrated, and letterpress printed by Blinn at the Warwick Press to commemorate..... More
NY: Harper, (1945). First edition. Illustrated with line drawings by Garth Williams. This is White’s first book for children, which was written “in the hope of amusing a six-year-old niece.” Stuart Little was a bestseller in spite of some unenthusiastic initial reviews. White spent most of his literary career writing..... More
Newburyport, MA: Wickford Press, 1968. Octavo. 12pp. First separate edition of an essay that was first published in the New York Times. One of 250 copies. Red two-line initials and title device. Printed in celebration of Christmas 1968. Updike's thoughts on meeting one's literary heroes, for better or worse, and..... More
N.p. c. 1920s. Octavo. (1)ff. Leaf excised from an unknown book, inscribed to Richard Vernon Johnson from his sister Marian. The leaf is also signed by the editors Kate Douglas Wiggin and Nora Archibald Smith, her sister. Kate Douglas Wiggin is best known for writing Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, but..... More
