Rare books from CraigsClassics

"Two Years Before the Mast" by Richard Henry Dana. "A Personal Narrative of Life at Sea." 1840 1st Edition, 2nd Issue (the letter "i" in the word "in" within the top line on the copyright page is lacking the dot, and with broken letter "i" within the running title at the top of page 9); Harper & Brothers ("Harpers' Family Library, No. CVI); New York.Condition:Light soiling and foxing to covers and spine; nearly the entire length of the left edge of the spine is separated from the back cover; sharp corners. Tight binding. No cracks. No loose pages. Overall the pages are in very good condition - mostly clean and white with occasional light foxing to some random pages; heavier foxing to the front and rear end papers. The front end papers have some pencil writing and a previous owner's bookplate. Overall a nice copy - would be very good if not for the tear along the left edge of the spine.

Early, softcover copy of "THE CRICKET ON THE HEARTH" - A Fairy Tale of Home by Charles Dickens. Though there is no date of publication stated, this copy was likely printed in 1846, the same year as the publication of the 1st American edition. Published by Jordan and Wiley in Boston. "The Cricket on the Hearth" is the third of Dickens's five Christmas books; its chapters are referred to as "chirps."THE CRICKET ON THE HEARTHJohn Peerybingle, a carrier, lives with his young wife Dot, their baby boy and their nanny Tilly Slowboy. A cricket chirps on the hearth and acts as a guardian angel to the family. One day a mysterious elderly stranger comes to visit and takes up lodging at Peerybingle's house for a few days.Condition:Note - this copy is incomplete...the back cover and a few pages at the end are not present (the last page ends with page number 36 [of 42]). Light soiling to the front cover; creases at the outer corners; there are 2 names written in pen at the upper-right corner; tear at the base of… Read More

Unique find for the du Maurier fan! This is a custom-made, three-quarter leather bound book that contains the complete serialized 1st Edition (first appearance) of "TRILBY" in eight Parts. The eight Parts were taken from individual issues of Harper's New Monthly Magazine (beginning in the January 1894 issue and concluding in the August 1894 issue) and bound as one complete book. With illustrations by the author. Also included in this book in serial form is du Maurier's work "SOCIAL PICTORIAL SATIRE" in two Parts (beginning in the February 1898 issue of Harper's New Monthly Magazine).Condition:Clean covers with no stains; worn corners and heads of spine. Tight binding with no cracks and no loose pages. The pages are in terrific condition - clean and white with no writing, stains, foxing or tears found.

This is a scarce, bound volume of POLO magazine ("The Magazine for Horsemen") that contains 8 issues from September, 1931 to April, 1932 with wonderfully illustrated color covers. "Volume VI" is printed on the spine. Red, hardcover cloth binding with gilt lettering and decorations on the spine (and the name "J.L. Lundean" in gilt at the base of the spine). Published by Quigley Publishing Company in the United States. The magazine was "obtainable by subscription only." Oversized - the volume measures 14 1/8" tall x 10 1/4" wide. "Hunting ~ Horseshows ~ Racing" - contents include general horsemanship, horse show results, sailing, steeplechase, polo and foxhunting, with many illustrations from photographs and drawings. The issues include great illustrated advertisements (some in color) for companies such as Saks-Fifth Avenue, Abercrombie & Fitch, Duesenberg, Johnston & Murphy Shoe, A.G. Spalding & Bros., Anheuser-Busch, Camel Cigarettes, and many more. The following 8 issues are included:VOLUME 6No. 4… Read More

This is a scarce, early copy of "Taintor's Route and City Guides" - this particular issue is for the "NORWICH LINE - New York to Boston and the White Mountains, Via New London, Norwich, Worcester, Lake Winnipiseogee (now "Winnipesaukee"), Plymouth, or Littleton." Published in 1868 by Taintor Brothers in New York. With attached large (8-panel) fold-out "Map of The Route to the White Mountains" in color. The guide contains illustrated advertisements at both the front and back. The guide includes "descriptive sketches of the cities, villages, stations, and scenes and objects of interest along the route."Condition:Stain spots to the covers (the stain at the top-left corner of the back cover also has a hole through it); the back cover has some light pencil writing; paper cover missing from the top and bottom edges of the spine; the front cover has a 1.5" tear at the bottom near spine. No loose pages. The map is securely attached at the spine and folds nicely in and out. The map had torn vertically (and was… Read More

This is a nice condition lot of 3 early American editions of FYODOR DOSTOEVSKY classic novels. All were published in 1915 by The Macmillan Company in New York. All have gilt top edges. From "The Novels of Fyodor Dostoevsky" set. Constance Garnett translations. The lot includes the following novels:* THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV* THE IDIOT * CRIME AND PUNISHMENT (presumed 1915 publication, though there is no publishing date stated - the year 1916 is written in pen on the front end paper)Condition:Internally the books are very clean - white text pages with no writing, tears, stains or foxing found. All are tightly bound with no loose pages. Only a few notable condition issues were found, as follows...CRIME & PUNISHMENT: small, reddish stain at the bottom edge of the spine; name/year (1916) written in pen on front end paper. BROTHERS KARAMAZOV: light soiling to spine; crack at front hinge between the pastedown and end paper; 2 diagonal crease lines on front end paper; tanning at the upper-inner corners of… Read More

This is a handsome, fine binding vintage copy of "The Complete Works of LEWIS CARROLL" with original illustrations by John Tenniel. Circa 1930's (there is no date of publication stated); Random House; New York. The book has been custom three-quarter leather bound with a decorative gilt spine with raised bands. With an Introduction by Alexander Woollcott and an Index of First Lines of Verse. Gilt top edge.The following works are included (please see the photos for the complete list of contents):* Alice's Adventures in Wonderland* Through the Looking-Glass* Sylvie and Bruno* Sylvia and Bruno Concluded* The Hunting of the Snark* Early Verse* Puzzles from Wonderland* Prologues to Plays* Phantasmagoria* College Rhymes and Notes by an Oxford Chiel* Acrostics, Inscriptions, and Other Verse* Three Sunsets and Other Poems* Stories* MiscellanyCondition:Clean covers with no stains; some wear to the leather at the center of the left edge of the front cover, at the top and bottom edges of the spine, and at the… Read More

This is a scarce, complete 6-volume "LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE" Wee Little Books set by Harold Gray with original storage box. 1934; Whitman Publishing Co.; Racine, Wisconsin. All books are illustrated and in terrific condition. The set contains the following 6 books:* Little Orphan Annie Finds Mickey* Little Orphan Annie and Daddy Warbucks* Little Orphan Annie and the Lucky Knife* Little Orphan Annie and the Pinch-Pennys* Little Orphan Annie and Her Dog Sandy* Little Orphan Annie at Happy HomeCondition:"Finds Mickey" and "Happy Home" have some wear at the top edge of the spine...otherwise, the books are in terrific condition with no other condition issues found. All books are tightly bound with no cracks and no loose pages. All books appear unread with clean pages and no writing, stains, tears or foxing found. The slip case is clean with no stains and only a tiny tear at one corner by the opening. Overall the set is in great condition.

"Men and Women" by Robert Browning. 1855 1st UK edition; Chapman and Hall; London. Complete in 2 volumes. Uncommon in original publisher's green cloth; gilt lettering and decorations on the spine. Though not received well with poor sales when first published, this collection of 51 poems is now generally considered to contain some of Browning's best work.Condition:Some sun fading along the cover edges, as well as down the center of the back cover of volume I. The tops of the spine have some cloth pieces missing. Volume I: tight binding with no loose pages; partial crack at the front hinge between the end paper and pastedown; modern inscription written in blue marker on the front end paper (dated 1986). Volume II: the front cover is barely attached and loose and has nearly separated from the spine; separation of the text block at the center of the book; crack at the rear hinge between the end paper and pastedown. The pages of both volumes are in good condition with some sparse, tiny foxing spots here… Read More

Early copy of "Esquisse d'un Tableau Historique des Progres de L'Esprit Humain" (Sketch for a Historical Picture of the Progress of the Human Mind) Suive de (followed by) "Reflexions Sur L'Esclavage des Negres" (Reflections on the Slavery of Negroes) by Marquis de Condorcet. 1822; Chez Masson et Fils, Libraires; Paris. The book is written entirely in French. Leather covers with decorative gilt borders and gilt decorations on the spine; marbled end papers and marbling on all page edges. With a Table of Contents at the back of the book.Condorcet, who denounced slavery, was a French philosopher and mathematician. His ideas, including support for a liberal economy, free and equal public instruction, constitutional government, and equal rights for women and people of all races, have been said to embody the ideals of the Age of Enlightenment and Enlightenment rationalism. In "Sketch for a Historical Picture of the Progress of the Human Mind" (originally published in 1795), he dealt with theoretical thought… Read More

This is an amazing, handmade, one-of-a-kind calligraphic manuscript containing handwriting examples of "The Lord's Prayer" written in 112 different languages. Circa 1860's - 1880's (the book is undated); there is no indication as to who had created the book, or where. Handsome leather binding with gilt decorations on the covers, spine, and board edges; marbled end papers; gilt page edges on all sides. The handmade title page features a beautiful decorative color border around the handwritten title, which reads: "The Prayer of our Lord Written in Various Languages and Characters in Propaganda." Interspersed within the book are full-page illustrations of various landmarks and regions from around the globe (the illustrations were presumably taken from another book). Each prayer is beautifully and neatly scripted in black ink, and the pages are hand-numbered in ink at the upper-outer corners - - much care was taken in creating this wonderful book.The 112 languages are as follows (Note: the spelling of… Read More

This is a rare, first edition copy of "THE IDIOT" by Fyodor Dostoevsky. 1913 1st American edition, 1st printing; The Macmillan Company; New York. Constance Garnett translation. Gilt top page edges.Condition:There is a light stain at the lower-inner corners of the covers, and light staining to the spine; sharp corners; 2 tiny cloth tears at the top edge of the spine. Tight binding with no cracks and no loose pages. Bookplate affixed to the front pastedown. The text pages are in terrific condition - clean with only a very light stain at the outer margin of page 66. Some light soiling to the front blank end paper. Light, pea-sized stain at the center of the inner page edges between the title page and opposing end paper. Light stain at the hinge between front and rear end papers and pastedowns. Staining to the bottom edge of the text block.

This is a rare, first edition copy of "THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV" by Fyodor Dostoevsky. 1912 1st American edition, 1st printing; The Macmillan Company; New York. Constance Garnett translation. Gilt top page edges.Condition:There is a light stain at the lower-inner corners of the covers by the spine, and some light staining to the spine; sharp corners; tiny cloth tears at the top and bottom edges of the spine. Bright gilt top page edges. Tight binding with no loose pages. The text pages are in excellent condition - clean and white with no issues found. Crack at the front hinge before the title page (despite the crack, the front cover is firmly attached and not shaky). There is a less severe crack at the rear hinge after the final text page (as with the front cover, despite the crack at the rear the back cover is firmly attached and not shaky). Both cracks have a thin stain at the inner page edges. Bookplate affixed to the front pastedown.

This is the rare, true first printing of "THE HOBBIT - or, There and Back Again" by J.R.R. Tolkien. 1937 1st edition, 1st printing (with "First Published in 1937" stated on the copyright page and no subsequent printings listed); George Allen & Unwin Ltd.; London. All illustrations are present as called for, and are firmly attached. The frontispiece and all illustrations are in black & white. "Thror's Map" and "Map of Winderland" are in color on the end papers. Exceedingly rare with only 1,500 copies printed. Additional photos can be provided upon request.

Condition:
Light soiling to covers and spine. Strip of cloth missing at center-left edge of spine. The center-right strip and the remainder of the spine below it are loose and attached at the right edge only. Small cloth tears at outer front cover corners; tiny cloth tear at bottom-left corner of back cover. Small cloth tear/piece missing at the top-left corner of the spine. No cracks and no loose pages. The front cover is a bit shaky. Pages 269/270… Read More

This is the exceedingly scarce, legendary wrestling book "FALL GUYS - The Barnums of Bounce" by Marcus Griffin with its original dust jacket. 1937 1st edition; The Reilly & Lee Co.; Chicago. This copy is INSCRIBED by Griffin on the front end paper. "The inside story of the Wrestling Business, America's most profitable and best organized professional sport." The book is considered to be the first credible behind-the-scenes look into the world of professional wrestling, exposing the cutthroat business of fixed matches, shady promoters, and show wrestlers. Quite rare first edition copy with its original (un-clipped) dust jacket and author's inscription.Condition:Clean covers and spine. Sharp cover corners. Tight binding with no cracks and no loose pages. Nice interior - the text pages are clean and appear unread with only some light foxing on the half title page, and on the last few pages. Light tanning to the end papers. The front end paper has an inscription by Griffin written in pen dated 1937.… Read More