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
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
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 1947
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Portland, Oregon, USA
- 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 about this item Item Price
$2,000.00

DARK CARNIVAL
by Bradbury, Ray
- Condition
- Used
- Published
- 1947
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Middletown, Maryland, USA
- Item Price
-
$1,250.00
Show Details
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 about this item Item Price
$1,250.00

Dark Carnival
by Bradbury, Ray
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- Dust Jacket Included
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 1947
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
New York, New York, USA
- 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 about this item Item Price
$1,750.00

Dark Carnival
by Bradbury, Ray
- Condition
- As New
- Jacket Condition
- As New
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 2001
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Wolfeboro Falls, New Hampshire, USA
- 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 about this item Item Price
$850.00

Dark Carnival
by Bradbury, Ray
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Published
- 1947
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Beverly Hills, California, USA
- 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. Item Price
$1,500.00

Dark Carnival
by Ray Bradbury
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Without DJ as issued
- Edition
- First Thus
- Published
- 2001
- Binding
- Hardcover, standard size (i.e. 5-6 by 8-9 inches)
- ISBN 10
- 1887368507
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
San Francisco, California, USA
- 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 about this item Item Price
$850.00

Dark Carnival
by Bradbury, Ray
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Published
- 1947
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Beverly Hills, California, USA
- 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. Item Price
$3,000.00

Dark Carnival
by BRADBURY, RAY
- Condition
- Used
- Published
- 1947
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Santa Barbara, California, USA
- 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 about this item Item Price
$7,000.00

DARK CARNIVAL
by Bradbury, Ray
- Condition
- Used - A fine copy in a very good dust price clipped dust jacket with shelf wear to head of spine panel and corner tips, mild rubbing,
- Edition
- First edition
- Published
- 1947
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Laurel, Maryland, USA
- Item Price
-
$2,500.00
Show Details
Description:
Sauk City: Arkham House, 1947. First edition. A fine copy in a very good dust price clipped dust jacket with shelf wear to head of spine panel and corner tips, mild rubbing, and some soiling to the rear panel. No fade to the color of the spine lettering. This jacket is not quite trimmed to size which often results… Read more about this item Item Price
$2,500.00

Dark Carnival
by Bradbury, Ray
- Condition
- Used - Hardcover, SIGNED, Limited, Fine in Fine dust jacket,
- Published
- 2001
- ISBN 10
- 1887368507
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Shingletown, California, USA
- Item Price
-
$425.00
Show Details
Description:
Springfield: Gauntlet, 2001. Hardcover, SIGNED, Limited, Fine in Fine dust jacket,. Ray Bradbury. Springfield: Gauntlet:, 2001. Hardcover, SIGNED, Limited, Fine in Fine dust jacket, 478 pp.<br/> Cover artwork by: Ray Bradbury This edition limited to 700 numbered copies signed by Ray Bradbury, and intro-writer Clive Barker. Item Price
$425.00

Dark Carnival (First Edition In Dust Jacket, Signed By Bradbury)
by Bradbury, Ray
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine Book
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good Dustjacket
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 1947
- Binding
- Black Cloth
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Pasadena, California, USA
- 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 about this item Item Price
$2,750.00

Dark Carnival
by Bradbury, Ray
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Published
- 1947
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Beverly Hills, California, USA
- 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 about this item Item Price
$2,750.00

Dark Carnival; Time Intervening
by Bradbury, Ray
- Condition
- New
- Jacket Condition
- New
- Edition
- Limited Signed Edition
- Published
- 2001
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN 10
- 1887368507
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
San Diego, California, USA
- Item Price
-
$444.44
Show Details
Description:
Gauntlet Press. SIGNED numbered limited edition as NEW. in jacket and slipcase. number 343 of 700. Signed by Ray Bradbury and Clive Barker. Also chapbook: TIME INTERVENING number652 of 752 layed in. . New. Hardcover. Limited Signed Edition. 1st Printing. 2001. Item Price
$444.44

Dark Carnival
by Bradbury, Ray
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Published
- 1947
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Beverly Hills, California, USA
- 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 about this item Item Price
$2,500.00

DARK CARNIVAL
by Bradbury, Ray
- Condition
- Used - A fine copy in a fine bright dust jacket with a touch of rubbing to corners and spine ends. A superior copy. (14630)
- Edition
- First edition
- Published
- 1947
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Laurel, Maryland, USA
- Item Price
-
$6,500.00
Show Details
Description:
Sauk City: Arkham House, 1947. First edition. A fine copy in a fine bright dust jacket with a touch of rubbing to corners and spine ends. A superior copy. (14630). Octavo, cloth. 3112 copies printed. The author's first book. Collects twenty-seven stories, most first appearing in magazines, sixteen from WEIRD TALES. Six stories are published here… Read more about this item Item Price
$6,500.00

DARK CARNIVAL
by Bradbury, Ray
- Condition
- Used - A very good copy in a very good or somewhat better dust jacket with light wear and rubbing to the corner tips and spine ends, re
- Edition
- First edition
- Published
- 1947
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Laurel, Maryland, USA
- Item Price
-
$3,500.00
Show Details
Description:
Sauk City: Arkham House, 1947. First edition. A very good copy in a very good or somewhat better dust jacket with light wear and rubbing to the corner tips and spine ends, red ink of the spine lettering is mostly faded but a bright front panel. The dust jacket for this book is not quite trimmed to size which… Read more about this item Item Price
$3,500.00

DARK CARNIVAL
by Bradbury, Ray
- Condition
- Used
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 1947
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Rochester, Michigan, USA
- Item Price
-
$1,338.40
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-wrapperwith some light wear, shallow chipping to the head of the dust-wrapperspine and some scattered foxing to the rear dust-wrapperpanel and upper and fore edge margins of the dust-wrapperflaps. The authors most desirable… Read more about this item Item Price
$1,338.40

DARK CARNIVAL Signed Print
by Bradbury, Ray
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Edition
- PROOF
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
PASADENA, California, USA
- 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. Item Price
$850.00

Dark Carnival
by Bradbury, Ray
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Published
- 1947
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Beverly Hills, California, USA
- 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. Item Price
$2,950.00

Dark Carnival
by Bradbury, Ray
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Jacket Condition
- Edge & Shelfworn Dust Jacket
- Edition
- First UK Edition
- Published
- 1948
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Durham, North Carolina, USA
- 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 about this item Item Price
$700.00