Rare books from Midnight Books

Turret Books, 1967. Softcover. Very Good. 0x0x0. Turret Books issue of expatriate novelist, poet, dramatist, and travel writer Lawrence Durrell's poem, "Nothing is lost, sweet self." Includes poem and poem set to music by Wallace Southam. From the colophon: "Number 1 in a series of Contemporary Poetry set to Music." Copy #76 of 100 issued. Signed on the limitation page by author Lawrence Durrell and composer Wallace Southam. Dust jacket and cover design by Pip Benveniste. Scarce. 8 pp. 12" x 10". A very presentable copy with minimal shelf wear to dust jacket. Odor free. Photographs of or additional information about this item are available on request. All inquiries answered promptly.

Privately printed, 1866. Hardcover. Good. Collectible First Edition of C. Horton's early watchmaker's and jewelers handbook. Bound in brown pebbled cloth with blind stamped ornaments and ruling. Title stamped in gilt to front panel. Privately printed for the author by John P. Morton & Co. in 1866. Complete title: The Watchmaker's and Jeweler's Hand-Book: A Concise Yet Comprehensive Treatise on the Secrets of the Trade, A Work of Rare Practical Value to Watchmakers, Jewelers, Silversmiths, Gold and Silver-Platers, Etc. Includes numerous formulae and processes for plating, tinting, etc., watch repair processes, fusing and melting of metal and much more. Also includes author's two-page illustrated catalog of Hopkins' patent combination apparatus and watch jeweling tools. Exceptionally scarce. No copies currently appearing in WorldCat database. Tight copy with bumped corners worn through and slight fabric tear to spine panel. Early ownership inscription in lavish cursive to… Read More

Works Projects Administration, 1939. Softcover. Good. The hard-to-find Volume 13, Minstrelsy, of the notable ca. 1939 WPA San Francisco Theater Research series. This volume presents an extensive history of regional San Francisco minstrelsy from its earliest days. Illustrated with 19 historical photos of performers, etc. Numerous appendices. Scarce. 301 pp. 10 3/4" x 8 3/8". Tight, unmarked copy with light shelf wear and minor loss to bottom right corner of front panel. Light staining along margins of front panel spine and bottom. Photographs of or additional information about this item are available on request. All inquiries answered promptly.

BookLine Publishing Co, 1995. Softcover. Very Good. 49 unbroken issue run of David M. Brown's hard-to-find Mystery Collectors' BookLine, February 1995 through Nov./Dec. 1999. BookLine was, primarily, a monthly investment newsletter focusing on modern and hypermodern mystery First Editions, comprising advice on what to buy prior to its getting hot in the marketplace. Content also included upcoming publications likely to go up in value quickly, as well as scheduled book signings, book reviews, First Edition issue points and more. Recommended authors included Cormac McCarthy, John Dunning, Sue Grafton and many others. All 49 issues are inserted into a large 3-ring binder. Most issues are 12 pages in length and measure 11" x 8 1/2". A valuable and scarce resource for booksellers and collectors of modern mystery fiction. All issues tight and complete with very occasional yellow highlighting and notations. Binders in excellent condition. Photographs of or additional information about this item are… Read More

Faber, 1950. Hardcover. Very Good. Influential Italian architect Bruno Zevi's mid-century study of modern architecture with an emphasis on American activity, more specifically Frank Lloyd Wright's work between the two World Wars. Densely illustrated with many previously unpublished photos, detailed floor plans and renderings. First and only edition. Includes two laid-in handwritten notes and one 3 1/2" x 5" photo of the rear of a Harvey Park Clark designed house at 3900 Sandhill Road in Woodside, California. Photos of the front of this house appear on the front panel of the dust jacket and in one of the photo sections. Clark is also mentioned in the text. See images below of the notes for relevant content on the house. Scarce. 180 pp. 9" x 6". Tight, unmarked copy with minimal shelf wear. Price-clipped dust jacket in archival Brodart sleeve with small areas of loss to head and tail of spine panel and two small tears to bottom edge of front panel. A presentable copy of an important mid-century… Read More

Privately Printed, 1958. Softcover. Good. Brief history of Holden, Missouri, 1858-1958. Topics include Background of Holden, The "Old Prairie," Founding of Holden, The Civil War, Political Development and The Holden Chautauqua. Illustrated with historical photos. Extremely rare. No other copies in commerce at the time of this listing. No copies in WorldCat library database. No records of previous sales located. 20 pp. 8 3/4" x 6". Tight, unmarked copy with several areas of light erosion to front and back panels and small surface tear to front panel. Photographs of or additional information about this item are available on request. All inquiries answered promptly.

Treats! Media, 2012. Softcover. Like New. Fall 2012 issue of the acclaimed artistic erotica magazine Treats! Sessilee Lopez cover. 192 pp. 12" x 9 1/2". Tight, immaculate copy. Extremities crisp. Unmarked front to back. Tiny creasy to upper right corner of front panel. Otherwise flawless. Photographs of or additional information about this item are available on request. All inquiries answered promptly.

Privately Printed by NorthWord Press, Inc, 1988. Hardcover. Very Good. Collectible first edition, first printing of Craig Blacklock and Nadine Blacklock massive, stunning compilation of photos taken in the The Quetico-Superior Wilderness. Limited author's edition in slipcase. Copy #470 out of 750 copies issued. Signed by photographers Craig Blacklock and Nadine Blacklock and author Tom Klein on limitation page. 168 pp. 12 7/8" x 12". Tight, immaculate copy. Light bumping to two lower corners. Slipcase near flawless with tiny nick to bottom panel. Unmarked front to back. A very presentable copy of a landmark photography compilation. Photographs of or additional information about this item are available on request. All inquiries answered promptly.

Charles Scribner's Sons, 1934. Hardcover. Very Good. Collectible first edition, first printing of American critic and noted detective novelist S. S. Van Dine's The Casino Murder Case. Van Dine (a pseudonym for Willard Huntington Wright) penned 12 Philo Vance mysteries in all, this being the eighth. Per Scribner's practice of designating first editions, the Scribner's "A" and seal appear on the copyright page. Additionally, the title lists to self on page facing half title page, that is, last in list. Includes priced dust jacket in archival Brodart sleeve. Bound in dark-blue cloth with green lettering to spine panel. Complete as issued. 283 numbered pages and 7 unnumbered pages of publisher's ads in back. Basis for the 1935 film starring Paul Lukas and Alison Skipworth. 7 3/4" x 5 1/2". Tight, unmarked copy with minimal shelf wear and very light wrinkling to head and tail of spine panel. Corners crisp. Binding square and tight with sturdy hinges. Dust jacket unclipped with minimal shelf wear and… Read More

Privately Printed, 1982. Hardcover. Good. Detailed history of Newhall, Iowa, Eldorado Township, Benton County. Histories of businesses, churches, schools, many family histories and much more. Densely illustrated with historical photographs and plat maps. Full index. Includes ca. 1885 11" x 8 1/2" plat map of Eldorado Township laid in. Limited printing. 249 pp. 11 1/4" x 8 3/4". Tight copy with one bumped corner and light wrinkling to head and tail of spine panel. Area of slight discoloration to front panel and 8" x 5" rectangular stain to back panel. Odor free. Photographs of or additional information about this item are available on request. All inquiries answered promptly.

Simon and Schuster, 1951. Hardcover. Very Good. Collectible first edition, first printing of Edward Kean's Howdy Doody and Clarabell, A Little Golden Book. "A" near bottom of gutter on last page. Signed four times. Book plate mounted on front pastedown: "The Voice," writer of the Howdy Doody Show, Eddie Kean" (script writer and author). Title page: "[doodle of Clarabell] Clarabell | Lew Andrews" (Clarabell actor). Book plate mounted on front pastedown: "E. Roger Muir | Executive Producer of the 2343 NBC | Network Howdy's." Second book plate mounted on back pastedown: "Velma Dawson" (artist who built original Howdy Doody puppet). All signatures unconditionally guaranteed to pass any COA examination. Illustrated throughout by truly astounding artist Art Seiden. 28 pp. 8" x 6 5/8". Tight, unmarked copy with minimal shelf wear and light age toning to internals. A very presentable copy of an important TV collectible. Photographs of… Read More

Privately Printed, 1997. Softcover. Very Good. 1st Lieutenant William Funchess' detailed memoirs of 1,000 days spent in Korean prisoner of war camps. Illustrated with maps and photos. Inscribed and signed in black ink by Funchess to C Company friend Sergeant Marion Judson Morgan. See attached photos for table of contents. Rare. 141 pp. 9" x 6". Tight, unmarked copy with minimal shelf wear. Photographs of or additional information about this item are available on request. All inquiries answered promptly.

Pioneer Book Publishers, Inc, 1974. Hardcover. Very Good. Massive, detailed history of Reagan County, Texas. Histories of businesses, churches, schools, hundreds of family histories and much more. Densely illustrated with historical photos. Scarce. 276 pp. 10 3/4" x 8 1/2". Tight, unmarked copy with minimal shelf wear. Photographs of or additional information about this item are available on request. All inquiries answered promptly.

Highgrove Press, 2003-09-01. Hardcover. Very Good. Joan H. Hall's compilation of 70 historical residences and community buildings in Riverside, California. Each example includes a photo of the site and a 3 or 4 page history. See attached images for contents. Detailed bibliography and index. Bound in textured burgundy boards with gilt lettering to front and spine panels. 234 pp. 9 1/4" x 6 1/4". Tight, unmarked copy with minimal shelf wear.

Privately Printed, 1977. Hardcover. Like New. 0x0x0. Lavish, detailed history of the storied Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma. SHCC has hosted numerous major tournaments - multiple US Opens, PGA's, and many more - and is scheduled to host the 2023 PGA Championship in May. Course design by legendary golf architect Perry Maxwell. Limited edition. Copy #71 of 1500 copies printed. Inscribed by then SHCC President Harold C. Stuart to Hall of Fame sportscaster Chris Schenkel. His copy. Includes numerous color and black-and-white photos of notable golfers (Hogan, Palmer, Nicklaus, etc.) and celebrities (Crosby, Hope, etc.) along with one of the most famous photos ever taken at SHCC - Arnold Palmer hitting his approach shot to the 18th green, his hope of finally winning the PGA dashed. Many course views as well as a historical chronology. Errata slip laid in. 177 pp. 10 1/4" x 7 1/4". Bound in vivid olive-green cloth with bright gilt and white lettering. Tight, immaculate copy.… Read More