The Naked Lunch by BURROUGHS, William S - (1959)

Zurich: Rascher & Cie.. 1919. The first German edition of Joyce's play Exiles and the first of his works to be published in translation in any language. One of 600 copies printed: Joyce was living in Zurich at the time and he paid for the publication of this book out of his own pocket. This copy is inscribed by the author: "To J.R. [sic] Watson, Jun / with grateful regards / James Joyce / 8. ix. 1919." J.S. Watson, Jr. was at the time the co-owner of the modernist literary journal The Dial, which he bought from Martyn Johnson with his friend and fellow Harvard graduate, Scofield Thayer. Watson became president of the magazine and Thayer became its editor. The "grateful regards" refers to a gift of $300 that Watson had sent Joyce earlier in the year at the urging of Thayer, who had himself sent Joyce $700. These sums bailed Joyce out of dire financial straits, allowed him to settle a court case against him, and helped him support the theater group that he had associated with in Zurich, the English… Read More

Robert Hale, London, 1957. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. Hardcover. 160 pages. *** PUBLISHING DETAILS: Robert Hale, London, 1957. First Edition. This is the first UK edition. *** CONDITION: The book itself is in very good condition and comes in very good dust jacket. Lightly tanned pages. Dustjacket is in very good condition with only small closed tear in top edge and minor wear. Dust Jacket is un-clipped. Foxing to top edge of pages. *** ABOUT THIS BOOK: Very rare 1st UK edition of the authors second book. Rarer than the 1st US edition and also NOT ex-library. *** Quantity Available: 1. Category: Fiction; Western; Inventory No: 15060326..

Milano: Giovanni Ricordi [PNs 16221-16241], 1844. Oblong folio. Mid-tan leather-backed marbled boards, spine with decorative gilt rules. 1f. (title within decorative blue border), [i] (table of contents with plate numbers), [i] (named cast list), 3-229, [i] (blank) pp. Title, table of contents, and cast list typeset, music engraved. Each number with its own plate number, price, and secondary pagination. Cast list includes the names of the singers for the opera's premiere. Page 56 blank (and unpaginated). Binding quite rubbed and worn; slightly shaken. Title slightly foxed; occasional light soiling and wear to blank margins; worming, primarily to blank margins; some tears; small tear to lower blank margin of pp. 217-218 repaired; tape repair to blank verso of final leaf, not seriously affecting music to recto. Quite a nice copy overall. First complete edition, first issue. Scarce. Hopkinson 41A(a). Chusid p. 63. Catalogo Ricordi online. Ernani, to a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave after Victor… Read More

Amsterdam: Anthos, 1998. Signed first edition of rare English language Dutch edition of Irving's novel. The true first edition of Irving's novel, preceding the release of the US and UK editions. SIGNED presentation from Irving to motorcycle legend Cook Neilson, who took the photo of Irving that was used for the dust jacket of the book: "For Stepp and Cook - with my appreciation and affection - John Irving, April 1, 1998." Together with AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED by Irving on his stationery to Neilson laid in, in which Irving says that Neilson's photos will also be used on the UK edition, and jokes that another photo, to be used for the American and Canadian editions is more flattering, because it doesn't show Irving's face. Closes with mention of a nearby school in Vermont. Neilson was a preeminent motorcycle journalist and editor of Cycle Magazine. As a motrocyclist, Neilson won the Daytona Superbike race in 1977 on a Ducati. He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of… Read More

NY: Various. (1958-1967). The first four books by Southern -- creator of Dr. Strangelove and screenwriter of Easy Rider -- each inscribed by him to his friend, the bandleader, composer, and musician Artie Shaw. Flash and Filigree (NY: Coward McCann, 1958; the scarce first issue) is inscribed "To Artie and Casey with love and all best wishes/ Terry S." Laid in is an autograph note signed to Artie from Terry. The Magic Christian (NY: Random House, 1960) is inscribed "To Artie and Casey with love and best wishes for much happiness. Terry." Candy (NY: Putnam, 1964 -- first thus, and first hardcover edition) is inscribed "To Artie and Case, with love and kisses (your so-called 'soul' or 'french' kiss, natch!) / Terry." Red Dirt Marijuana (NY: New American Library, 1967) is inscribed: "To Art/ with all best, Terry." The books are near fine or better in near fine or better dust jackets; each with its own, matching, custom clamshell case. Unless otherwise noted, our first editions are first printings. First… Read More

Zurich: Rascher & Cie.. 1919. The first German edition of Joyce's play Exiles and the first of his works to be published in translation in any language. One of 600 copies printed: Joyce was living in Zurich at the time and he paid for the publication of this book out of his own pocket. This copy is inscribed by the author: "To J.R. [sic] Watson, Jun / with grateful regards / James Joyce / 8. ix. 1919." J.S. Watson, Jr. was at the time the co-owner of the modernist literary journal The Dial, which he bought from Martyn Johnson with his friend and fellow Harvard graduate, Scofield Thayer. Watson became president of the magazine and Thayer became its editor. The "grateful regards" refers to a gift of $300 that Watson had sent Joyce earlier in the year at the urging of Thayer, who had himself sent Joyce $700. These sums bailed Joyce out of dire financial straits, allowed him to settle a court case against him, and helped him support the theater group that he had associated with in Zurich, the English… Read More

Paris: Aux Editions Eliane Norberg, 1951. First edition thus. Signed, De Luxe limited edition. Sumptuous, full leather Artesian binding by Jacques Blanchet. From an edition of 202, number 72 of 180 printed on Velin d' Arches. Published Paris: Editions Eliane Norberg, 1951. Folio, 10 1/2" x 13 1/4" x 2 7/8" thick, 302pp., illustrated with full page engraved plates and fine textual engravings from copper - all with tissue guards, and two leather engravings (cover and verso) in 6 colors by Robert Fonta. Full dark blue satin morocco over 1/4" thick boards with chamfered corners and leather inner hinges attached to thick, duplex flyleaves and gray leather pastedowns. Gilt block paneled titles on spine, top edges tinted blue with gilt embossed edge design stamped into the page block. Front cover and verso decorated with unique, six-color leather inset engravings by Fonta, Signed on the half title by the Bazin: "Hommage amical / de l'auteur / Herve Bazin." Presentation… Read More

New York: Random House, 1940. First Edition. Hard Cover with Dust Jacket. Very Good/Very Good. Octavo. SIGNED AND INSCRIBED THUS ON FEP: "To Marguerite Dunsmore - /The friendly antagonist - in hopes / of more such intriguing duels / Cordially / Walter V. T. Clark / December 14, 1940. TOGETHER WITH CARBON TYPSCRIPT, ONE PAGE, SIGNED, WRITTEN TO MS. DUNSMORE: "Addressed to a Counter-blade / Let us cease this fencing of intellects / This sharp following behind masks / Of the bright points moving, this parry and thrust / Of the cold metal ringing, the guard against guard to a spark, / Seeking only a tip-tear in a heart sewed on white silk. / Let us throw down the limber blades, the screens of our faces, / Into the roses tossed early for the quick-legged dance of our brains, / Rub off the powder of our hands and join them tightly, / Looking upon each other once clearly uncovered. / Are we to dread the dark fools up in the gallery shadow / Crying the 'coward' chorus, until they weary, and bundle the… Read More

Paris: Léon Escudier [PNs L.E. 1500.; L.E. 1500. (1-4, 6-9, 11, 14); L.E. 1501. (1-3); L.E. 1504 (4).], 1855. Folio. Quarter contemporary dark green textured cloth with dark green pebbled paper boards, blind rules to spine, titling gilt. 1f. (recto title engraved by A. Vialon with the names of four of Verdi's operas printed within decorative borders, verso blank), [1] (named cast list and table of contents), 2-415, [i] (blank) pp. Engraved. Named cast includes Cruvelli, Sannier, Gueymard, Bonnehée, Obin, Boulo, Loenig, Marié, Coulon, and Guignot. Publisher's handstamp to lower margin of title. Binding somewhat worn and rubbed; endpapers browned. Occasional light foxing, soiling, and bleeding; several corners slightly creased; small tear to lower margin of pp. 55-56 with archival tape repair, not affecting music; several pages with minor annotations in pencil. A very attractive copy overall. First Edition of the first version of the opera. Hopkinson 56A(a). Chusid p. 170. Les Vêpres… Read More

NY: Various. (1958-1967). The first four books by Southern -- creator of Dr. Strangelove and screenwriter of Easy Rider -- each inscribed by him to his friend, the bandleader, composer, and musician Artie Shaw. Flash and Filigree (NY: Coward McCann, 1958; the scarce first issue) is inscribed "To Artie and Casey with love and all best wishes/ Terry S." Laid in is an autograph note signed to Artie from Terry. The Magic Christian (NY: Random House, 1960) is inscribed "To Artie and Casey with love and best wishes for much happiness. Terry." Candy (NY: Putnam, 1964 -- first thus, and first hardcover edition) is inscribed "To Artie and Case, with love and kisses (your so-called 'soul' or 'french' kiss, natch!) / Terry." Red Dirt Marijuana (NY: New American Library, 1967) is inscribed: "To Art/ with all best, Terry." The books are near fine or better in near fine or better dust jackets; each with its own, matching, custom clamshell case. Unless otherwise noted, our first editions are first printings. First… Read More