Dark Carnival
by Bradbury, Ray
Ray Bradbury's first book was the short story collection Dark Carnival
issued in 1947 by Arkham House in the United States. These short
stories set the tone for Bradbury's future work. His eerie, sometimes
disturbing stories typify Arkham House books, and give us some insight
into the young Bradbury.This book reprinted many stories previously published by Bradbury in Weird Tales of November 1944 (such as "The Jar"), and other pulp magazines of the era. Several
stories saw print for the first time in this edition, however.
First Edition Identification and Notes
Signed
copies of the first edition sell in the $2,000 to $5,000 range if of
high quality. Only a little over 3,000 copies of this book were
initially printed. The book as
such was never reprinted, though individual stories were reissued
occasionally. The author refused to allow reprints until a limited
edition was issued with new stories and a new introduction by the author
by Gauntlet Press in 2001. Because of the unique nature of
this book, it continues to become more highly sought after. The high
quality of Arkham House publishing limits problems with the quality of
this book, with scuffing and minor tears the most common flaw seen.
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Available copies

Dark Carnival
by BRADBURY, RAY
- Seller
- James Pepper Rare Books, Inc.
- Published
- 1947
- Item Price
-
$7,000.00
Show Details
Description:
Sauk City, WI: Arkham House, 1947. First Edition of the Author’s First Book. Signed by the author, Ray Bradbury. The inscription reads (in upper case): "For Bob Hoffman, With fond remembrances of many pleasant evenings of Prokofieff, Gliere, Rozsa and others - and the old days of record making - With all my best from your friend, Ray Bradbury… Read more
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Item Price
$7,000.00

DARK CARNIVAL
by Bradbury, Ray
- Seller
- THE FINE BOOKS COMPANY
- Published
- 1947
- Edition
- First Edition
- Item Price
-
$4,657.50
Show Details
Description:
DARK CARNIVAL, Arkham House, 1947, first edition, one leaf of the text block creased at the upper fore edge section, else fine in like dust-wrapper with some very slight wear to the dust-wrapper spine extremities and just a hint of rubbing to the rear dust-wrapper panel. The authors most desirable first book. 1/3,000 published. A choice copy! … Read more
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$4,657.50

Dark Carnival
by Bradbury, Ray
- Seller
- Burnside Rare Books, ABAA
- Published
- 1947
- Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- First Edition
- Item Price
-
$3,500.00
Show Details
Description:
Sauk City: Arkham House, 1947. First Edition. Fine/Fine. First edition, first printing. A superlative copy. Bound in publisher's black cloth with spine lettered in gilt. "Read April 1978" penned in small letters to the top corner of the front free endpaper, else Fine, in a jacket with light rubbing and very subtle color-correction to the front spine joint,… Read more
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Item Price
$3,500.00

Dark Carnival
by Bradbury, Ray
- Seller
- Bookbid Rare Books
- Published
- 1947
- Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Item Price
-
$3,500.00
Show Details
Description:
Arkham House, 1947. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Fine/Very Good. Author signed on the title page. This is one of 3112 copies although colophon page states 3000. First Edition. Book is fine in a very good dust jacket. Comes housed in a custom slipcase. We will provide a certificate of authenticity for this item.
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Item Price
$3,500.00

Dark Carnival
by Bradbury, Ray
- Seller
- Bookbid Rare Books
- Published
- 1947
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Item Price
-
$3,000.00
Show Details
Description:
Arkham House, 1947. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine/Near Fine. A near fine first edition in a near fine dust jacket, which still has the original $3 price on the front flap. Very slight wrinkle to side of pages 22 and 23. Signed by Bradbury on the title page. Comes in a custom-made collector's slipcase.
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Item Price
$3,000.00

Dark Carnival
by Ray Bradbury
- Seller
- Jeff Bergman Books ABAA/ILAB
- Published
- 1947
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Item Price
-
$3,000.00
Show Details
Description:
Arkham House, 1947. Book. Near Fine. Hardcover. 1st Edition. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. Author's First Book. Fine Copy In like Jacket.Author's First Book.$3.00 on flap.First Edition (1947).Beautiful Fresh Copy.Scarce in this Condition. Bookplate under front flap.Excellent Copy. .
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Item Price
$3,000.00

Dark Carnival
by Bradbury, Ray
- Seller
- Bookbid Rare Books
- Published
- 1947
- Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Item Price
-
$2,950.00
Show Details
Description:
Arkham House, 1947. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Fine/Very Good. Arkham House, Sauk City, Wisconsin, 1947. Bradbury's first published book. 3,112 copies were printed by Arkham House. A fine first edition in a very good dust jacket with slight wear at the top and bottom of the spine. Signed by Bradbury on the title page.
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$2,950.00

Dark Carnival (First Edition In Dust Jacket, Signed By Bradbury)
by Bradbury, Ray
- Seller
- Arroyo Seco Books
- Published
- 1947
- Condition
- Near Fine Book
- Edition
- First Edition
- Item Price
-
$2,750.00
Show Details
Description:
Sauk City: Arkham House, 1947. First Edition . Black Cloth. Near Fine Book/Very Good Dustjacket. G. Barrows Dustjacket. 313 Pp. Black Cloth, Gilt. Signed By Bradbury. One Of A Stated Edition Of 3000; Chalker Cites 3112 Copies As The Actual Printing Run. A Bright Clean Example, Light Wear Along Bottom Edge Of Book, Hinges Tight, No… Read more
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Item Price
$2,750.00

Dark Carnival
by Bradbury, Ray
- Seller
- Bookbid Rare Books
- Published
- 1947
- Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Item Price
-
$2,750.00
Show Details
Description:
Arkham House, 1947. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. A very good first edition in a very good dust jacket, signed and dated by Bradbury on the front free endpaper. Year 1947 on title page and copyright page. Book has bumped corners, former owner's bookplate on front pastedown, some offsetting along front hinge, and small blemish on front… Read more
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Item Price
$2,750.00

Dark Carnival
by Bradbury, Ray
- Seller
- Bookbid Rare Books
- Published
- 1947
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Item Price
-
$2,500.00
Show Details
Description:
Arkham House, 1947. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine/Near Fine. A near fine first edition in a near fine dust jacket, with original price still present. Year 1947 on title page and copyright page, indicating first edition. Bookplate signed by Ray Bradbury is laid in. One of a stated edition of 3,000 copies although Chalker states 3,112 as the… Read more
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Item Price
$2,500.00

Dark Carnival
by Bradbury, Ray
- Seller
- Burnside Rare Books, ABAA
- Published
- 1947
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- First Edition
- Item Price
-
$2,000.00
Show Details
Description:
Sauk City, WIS: Arkham House, 1947. First Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine/Near Fine. First edition, first printing. Signed by Ray Bradbury on the title page. Bound in publisher's black cloth with spine lettered in gilt. Near Fine with light shelf wear to cloth. Pages toned; endsheets offset from binder's glue and lightly foxed. In a Near Fine price-clipped dust… Read more
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Item Price
$2,000.00

Dark Carnival
by Bradbury, Ray
- Seller
- B & B Rare Books, Ltd., ABAA
- Published
- 1947
- Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- First Edition
- Item Price
-
$1,750.00
Show Details
Description:
Wisconsin: Arkham House, 1947 First edition, first printing, one of 3,112 copies. Signed by Bradbury on front free endpaper: "Ray Bradbury [underlined] / Dec 1, 1982". Publisher's black boards, titles in gilt to spine; original dust jacket designed by George Barrows, wraparound image with masks and other floating objects, titles in red to front panel and spine. Near fine book… Read more
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Item Price
$1,750.00

DARK CARNIVAL
by Bradbury, Ray
- Seller
- L. W. Currey, Inc.
- Published
- 1947
- Item Price
-
$1,500.00
Show Details
Description:
Sauk City, Wis.: Arkham House, 1947. Octavo, cloth. First edition. 3112 copies printed. Early signature by Bradbury on the front free endpaper underneath which Bradbury has written later: "signs / this book twice / to express his / approval of Gunther / Swain! / Ray Bradbury / 2-29-64." The author's first book, a collection of twenty-seven stories. Barron (ed),… Read more
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Item Price
$1,500.00

Dark Carnival
by Bradbury, Ray
- Seller
- Bookbid Rare Books
- Published
- 1947
- Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Item Price
-
$1,500.00
Show Details
Description:
Arkham House, 1947. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. A very good first edition in a very good dust jacket with the $3 price still present on the front flap. Housed in a custom-made collector's slipcase.
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Item Price
$1,500.00

Dark Carnival
by Bradbury, Ray
- Seller
- Crossroads Books
- Published
- 1947
- Condition
- Fine in Near Fine dust jacket
- Edition
- First Edition; First Printing
- Item Price
-
$1,800.00 $1,440.00Save $360.00!
Show Details
Description:
Sauk City: Arkham House, 1947. First Edition; First Printing. Hardcover. Fine in Near Fine dust jacket. Illustrated by George Barrows. DJ crease head tail of spine, top front flap pin head chip, unclipped $3, black boards, gilt lettering on spine, sharp corners, Ray Bradbury signed on ffep with date of May 29, 47. One of three thousand printed… Read more
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Item Price
$1,800.00
$1,440.00
Save $360.00!

DARK CARNIVAL
by Bradbury, Ray
- Seller
- THE FINE BOOKS COMPANY
- Published
- 1947
- Edition
- First Edition
- Item Price
-
$1,251.70
Show Details
Description:
DARK CARNIVAL, Arkham House, 1947, first edition, browning to the paste-downs due to the publishers choice of glue and paper, else vg in like dust-wrapper with some light wear, shallow chipping to the head of the dust-wrapper spine and some scattered foxing to the rear dust-wrapper panel and upper and fore edge margins of the dust-wrapper flaps. … Read more
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$1,251.70

Dark Carnival.
by BRADBURY, Ray.
- Seller
- Peter Harrington
- Published
- 1947
- Item Price
-
$1,250.15
Show Details
Description:
Sauk City, WI: Arkham House, 1947. First edition, first printing of the author's first book, issued in an edition of only 3000. Octavo. Original black cloth, titles to spine gilt. With dust jacket. Cloth lightly mottled, endpapers spotted, contents lightly toned. A very good copy in the rubbed, nicked, and spotted jacket.
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$1,250.15

DARK CARNIVAL.
by Bradbury, Ray,
- Seller
- VAGABOND BOOKS
- Published
- 1949
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- First Edition
- Item Price
-
$1,250.00
Show Details
Description:
HaMISH HAMILTON, 1949. Book. Near Fine. Hardcover. Signed by Author(s). First Edition. First Edition. First U.K. edition. A near fine first British edition in dj with small chips at the heel and crown of the spine. .Nicely signed by Ray Bradbury on the title page. Author's first book . Dust jacket art by Michael Ayrton..
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Item Price
$1,250.00

DARK CARNIVAL
by Bradbury, Ray
- Seller
- Quill & Brush
- Published
- 1947
- Item Price
-
$1,250.00
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Description:
Sauk City: Arkham House, 1947. First edition of Bradbury's first book, a collection of 27 of his earliest stories. There were only 3,112 copies in the first printing. 3 x 5" plain white card laid in SIGNED BY BRADBURY WITH DRAWING OF ONE OF HIS MONSTERS and dated in 1989. Touch of darkening to pastedowns, still near fine in… Read more
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Item Price
$1,250.00

Dark Carnival
by Bradbury, Ray
- Seller
- Cold Tonnage Books
- Published
- 1947
- Edition
- First edition (& 1st printing)
- Item Price
-
$1,253.35
Show Details
Description:
Arkham House: Sauk City, Wisconsin, 1947. First edition (& 1st printing). Hardcover. The author's first book: collects 27 stories, including 16 from WEIRD TALES, and 6 published here for the first time. Page edges browning, a little browning to both endpapers and pastedowns, top corner tips bruised, a VG+ copy in a good dustjacket with spine edges and corner… Read more
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Item Price
$1,253.35

DARK CARNIVAL
by Bradbury, Ray
- Seller
- VAGABOND BOOKS
- Published
- 1947
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- FIRST
- Item Price
-
$1,100.00
Show Details
Description:
ARKHAM, 1947. Book. Near Fine. Hardcover. Signed by Author(s). FIRST. A NEAR FINE FIRST EDITION IN DUSTJACKET. SIGNED ON TIPPED IN BOOKPLATE BY RAY BRADBURY..
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Item Price
$1,100.00

Dark Carnival
by Bradbury, Ray
- Seller
- Dark Hollow Books ®
- Published
- 2001
- Condition
- As New
- Edition
- First Edition
- Item Price
-
$850.00
Show Details
Description:
Springfield, PA: Gauntlet Publications, 2001. First Edition . Hardcover. As New/As New. As new in leatherette slipcase, still in publishers shrinkwrap. Never opened. One of 700 numbered copies signed by Ray Bradbury and Clive Barker who wrote the afterword. New edition of Bradbury's first book, originally published by Arkham House. Edited by Donn Albright, with a new introduction… Read more
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Item Price
$850.00

DARK CARNIVAL Signed Print
by Bradbury, Ray
- Seller
- VAGABOND BOOKS
- Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- PROOF
- Item Price
-
$850.00
Show Details
Description:
GAUNTLET Book. Fine. No Binding. Signed by Author(s). PROOF. A FINE FIRST EDITION PROOF of the print signed by Ray Bradbury.
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Item Price
$850.00

Dark Carnival
by Ray Bradbury
- Seller
- Borderlands Books
- Published
- 2001
- Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- First Thus
- ISBN
- 9781887368506
- Item Price
-
$850.00
Show Details
Description:
Gauntlet, 2001. First Thus. Hardcover, standard size (i.e. 5-6 by 8-9 inches). Fine/Without DJ as issued. One of 700 limited edition copies, signed by Ray Bradbury and Clive Barker. Includes a chapbook and CD of interviews with Bradbury. Slip Cased Collected Short Fiction … Read more
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Item Price
$850.00

Dark Carnival
by Ray Bradbury
- Seller
- Fine Book Cellar Limited ABA ILAB PBFA
- Published
- 1948
- Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- First
- Item Price
-
$833.43
Show Details
Description:
UK First Edition, First Printing (Hamish Hamilton, 1948). Signed and dated by the author to the front endpaper.
Minor compression to head of spine; edges lightly toned with some foxing; a little spotting to front and rear paste-downs and endpapers; inscription to front endpaper. Original dust jacket is price-clipped with some chipping to spine tips and corners; small closed tear to… Read more
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Item Price
$833.43

Dark Carnival
by Bradbury, Ray
- Seller
- Schwabe Books
- Published
- 1947-06-01
- Condition
- Very Good
- Item Price
-
$800.00
Show Details
Description:
Arkham House Pub, 1947-06-01. Hardcover. Very Good. 0.9449 7.6378 5.3937. Bradbury's first published book, first edition, one of only 3,112 copies printed. Dust jacket shows minor wear and rubbing, slight chipping on the corners. Black cloth cover with gold lettering on the spine is near pristine. Pages are lightly tanned and clean.
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Item Price
$800.00

Dark Carnival
by Ray Bradbury
- Seller
- Borderlands Books
- Published
- 2001
- Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- First Thus
- ISBN
- 9781887368506
- Item Price
-
$750.00
Show Details
Description:
Gauntlet, 2001. First Thus. Hardcover, standard size (i.e. 5-6 by 8-9 inches). Fine/Without DJ as issued. One of 700 limited edition copies, signed by Ray Bradbury and Clive Barker. Includes a chapbook and CD of interviews with Bradbury. Slip Cased Collected Short Fiction … Read more
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Item Price
$750.00

Dark Carnival
by Bradbury, Ray
- Seller
- Books Do Furnish A Room
- Published
- 1948
- Condition
- Good
- Edition
- First UK Edition
- Item Price
-
$700.00
Show Details
Description:
UK: Hamish Hamilton, 1948. Book. Good. Hardcover. First UK Edition. Spine moderately cocked. Binding firm. Edges of pages yellowing. Front free end page missing. DJ has small pieces out (the largest being 1/4") at top of spine. 1/4" piece of scotch tape on inner edge of front flap, and a similarly-sized piece of scotch tape reinforcing the inner side of… Read more
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Item Price
$700.00

Dark Carnival ( Author's 1st Book )
by Ray Bradbury, FORMER Owner Inscription, Inner Hinges Title Pg Light Stain Near Top
- Seller
- BLUFF PARK RARE BOOKS
- Published
- 1947
- Condition
- Good
- Edition
- First Edition
- Item Price
-
$695.00
Show Details
Description:
Arkham House, NY, 1947. HARDBACK NODJ , 1947, Limited 1st edition, STATED 3,000 copies, 1st Printing, former Owner Inscription , minor rub Cvr , Small black Cloth Titled on Spine cvr light wear FADE titles, Interior Small Stain on top Inner Hinges some pgs thru 1st half of book & on back Cvr… Read more
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Item Price
$695.00

Dark Carnival
by Bradbury, Ray
- Seller
- Cold Tonnage Books
- Published
- 1948
- Edition
- First British edition (& 1st ed thus)
- Item Price
-
$663.54
Show Details
Description:
Hamish Hamilton: London, 1948. First British edition (& 1st ed thus). Hardcover. The author's first book, a short story collection. Abridged text: first published by Arkham House the year before, this UK hardcover collects twenty of the twenty seven stories found in that edition. Page edges just a little browned, an almost fine copy in a VG+ price-clipped (by… Read more
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$663.54

Dark Carnival
by Bradbury, Ray
- Seller
- Idlegeniusbooks
- Published
- 1948
- Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- 1st Edition 1st Printing
- Item Price
-
$407.93
Show Details
Description:
0 First edition/First printing published by Hamish Hamilton, London 1948. VG clean and bright internally. Previous owner's name to top of ffep. Mild spotting to endpages and very occasional spotting throughout. Green cloth covers have minimal wear
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Item Price
$407.93

Dark Carnival
by Bradbury, Ray
- Seller
- The Bookman & The Lady
- Published
- 2001-11-12
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- First Edition
- ISBN
- 9781887368506
- Item Price
-
$400.00
Show Details
Description:
Gauntlet Pr, 2001-11-12. First Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine/Near Fine. Signed by Author. Signed, limited edition, published by Gauntlet Press, 2001. One of 700 copies signed by Ray Bradbury and Clive barker on the limitation page. This copy has not been numbered. Hardcover in jacket with slipcase. Clean and unmarked. Binding strong. Light edge wear. A couple light bumps… Read more
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Item Price
$400.00

Dark Carnival
by Bradbury, Ray
- Seller
- Idlegeniusbooks
- Published
- 1948
- Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- 1st Edition 1st Printing
- Item Price
-
$362.39
Show Details
Description:
0 First edition/First printing published by Hamish Hamilton, London 1948. VG clean and bright internally. Previous owner's name to top of ffep. Mild spotting to endpages and very occasional spotting throughout. Green cloth covers have minimal wear
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Item Price
$362.39