Rare books from Rare Collections

New York: The Limited Editions Club. New. 1998. Limited Edition. Hardcover. One of the later Livre d'Artiste editions of the club, with a specific focus on African American art, authors and poets. Elephant Folio, 54pp housed in rough purple cloth clamshell case with a gilt stamped black leather cover label. Poems for this edition was selected by Maya Angelou, with several LEC Livre d'Artiste edition of her own work as well. The book is illustrated by 6 silkscreen prints by Phoebe Beasley, who has twice been awarded the coveted Presidential Seal for her work. Her works avers a deep desire to express "the love and humor that comes from Black family life". Her work therefore captures the spirit of Langston Hughes's poetry perfectly. Langston Hughes is also perfectly described by his biographer; "To many readers of African descent he is their poet laureate, the beloved author of poems steeped in the richness of African-American culture. To many readers who love verse… Read More

Boston: American Stationers Co. Very Good. 1837. Hardcover. Nathaniel Hawthorne, Twice-Told Tales, 1st edition in exceptional condition. With the fifth story listed on the contents page as starting on p. 78, although it actually starts on p. 77: thus the first state of the first edition. This copy is exceptionally square and straight in the original binding, with the gilded printing on the spine still easy to read. Hawthorne's breakthrough book, and it is very difficult to find copies in such nice shape. Condition: some mild spotting and discoloration on the exterior cloth, as if from handling. Only very slight occasional foxing and stains, but generally remarkably well preserved. Two older collector's bookplates on inside front board. Most notably from the collection of Frank Brewer Bemis (1861 - 1935). Bemis was a Boston banker bibliophile who amassed one of the finest collections of American and British works, including all four Shakespeare folios. Very slight turning-in at the… Read More

New York: The Limited Editions Club. Very Good+. 2001. Limited Edition. Hardcover. The comic opera composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, illustrated with six multi-color woodblocks by the renowned artist Balthus. Cosi fan tutte is both Balthus's favorite opera from his favorite composer. While painting the artwork for this edition he listened to the opera over and over to complete emerge himself in Mozart's masterpiece. Included is 3 CD of the 1957 recording of the opera, conducted by Hans Rosbaud. Single volume at 19 x 18 inch and limited to 300 copies all signed by Balthus, this being #142 of 300. The solander box is in VG+ condition, with only defect some sunning and fading. The book is also VG+ or better with a small mark on the front cover, but internally clean and Fine. Laid in is the original monthly newsletter #591 and the LEC invoice for $8000. ; Halftones; Folio 13" - 23" tall; Signed by Illustrator .

New. A set of sixteen 16.5 x 23.4 inch signed and numbered limited edition prints. All 16 prints being number 4 of 100. Each archival print is produced on museum quality, cotton rag paper with the best available giclee process. The set of 16 comes with a stamped and signed certificate of provenance. Edition of 100. New, unframed and unmounted. This book qualifies for Free World-Wide Shipping (using an expedited tracked service) ; Elephant Folio 23" tall; 16 pages; Signed by Illustrator .

Juliet Press. New. 2019. Hardcover. This is the first book of insects from the 'Arthropoda iconicus’ project and the 1st edition is limited to 900 copies. It is beautifully fabric-bound with white foil detail and includes 69 full colour lates, comprising the complete collection of insects from the projects. These books have been specially signed by the artist, which is not standard for this edition. The book is NEW. ; Large 8vo 9" - 10" tall; Signed by Illustrator .

San Francisco: Black Sparrow Press. As New. 1967. Limited Edition. Hardcover. Designed and printed in December 1967 by Graham Mackintosh for the Black Sparrow Press. The edition is limited to 250 copies. Copies 1-50 bound in boards and copies 51-250 with sewn in wrappers. Signed by the author in colophon, this being copy #59. A unique copy with a drawing by the author. Copy is as new with no defects, from the estate of the late Dr Murrell Lewis. Very collectable. ; Oblong 12mo 7" - 7½" tal; Signed by Author .

New York: The Limited Editions Club. New. 1996. Hardcover. One volume (15 ¼ x 12 3/4). The book is illustrated with three watercolor woodblock prints by Henri Cartier-Bresson. Each print required between 23 - 30 woodblocks, one for each color used in the prints. The book is signed by Cartier-Bresson, with this copy being #103 of 300. The beautiful textured paper was hand-made in Japan and the book was hand-bound in the same natural linen used for the box. Arthur Rimbaud was a forerunner of the surrealist and wrote all of his extant poems before the age of twenty, incl 'Sonnet des Voyelles' - Vowels, contained in this book. The English translation by Wallace Fowlie. A very collectable copy with the original monthly letter laid in (#578) as well as the original LEC invoice at $3000. The clamshell case in NF or better condition and the book as new. This is an oversized book and additional shipping cost may apply; Watercolor; Signed by Illustrator .

New York: Random House. Near Fine in Very Good+ dust jacket. 1957. First Edition; First Printing. Hardcover. First Printing stated, with all the necessary points for a first trade edition; red cloth binding, top edge stained grey, grey end-papers with threaded gray endpapers. 5/57 date code on the front flap, unclipped with $3.95. On page 327 the 8th line is repeated in the 10th line again. Book is in NF condition, dust jacket has some edgewear with some chipping and tears at the top and bottom of spine, about VG+. DW now in a protective acetate cover. NF book in VG+ dw, a collectable copy. ; 2nd Book in Snopes Trilogy; 371 pages .

Boston: Houghton and Mifflin. Very Good. 1903. First Edition; First Printing. Hardcover. A scarce first edition, 1st state copy of the classic Wiggin children tale. Copy meets all of the first state points as listed in BAL. Page 325, line 9: "… Don't go to the side door"; Page 327, line 13: "… in the sun of that October noon." Type A binding with the publisher's name in letters 1/16 inch high. A very good or better copy, owner inscription (non-authorial) reading "…in memory of November 1st, 1903". Very small 4mm closed tear to bottom of pages on page 128 and 129 and similar to top of page 257. Top of page 276 has what could possibly be a small 2mm dot made by pen. No obvious damage to binding, boards or spine. Book now covered with a protective removable acetate cover. A very collectible copy of the 1st edition, 1st state of this popular children classic. Book conservatively rated Very Good, but likely better. ; 12mo 7" -… Read More

New York: Grove Press. Near Fine in Near Fine dust jacket. 1959. 1st US; First Printing. Hardcover. First Printing stated on the copyright page, Burroughs’s breakout book. A very nice copy, the book is close to Near Fine, with a bit of darkening to the gilding of the spine. Slight foxing on text block. Jacket has a bit of wear at the spine ends and along the joint between the spine and the front panel, especially at the top. One of only 3500 copies of the first printing. NF / NF overall and jacket now with a protective removable acetate cover. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall .

New York: Knopf. As New in As New dust jacket. 1994. First Edition; First Printing. Hardcover. A collection of Updike short stories. A very collectable set of first edition and uncorrected proof. First edition book is as new. Warmly inscribed to noted bibliophile and Updike collector; "for Albert J Raman that epic collector and exemplary Philadelphian John Updike". Dust jacket also as new, unclipped with archival protection. Uncorrected proof with white wrappers also as new. A great collectable set with a connection to a long time Updike collector. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 316 pages; Signed by Author .

Near Fine. 1840-1844. Royal Octavo Edition. Print. From the first Royal Octavo edition of Birds of America published from 1840 to 1844. Octavo (approximately 10.25 x 6.5 inches). Drawn from nature by JJ Audubon, printed and hand-colored by J. T. Bowen, Philadelphia. One edge unevenly trimmed as a result of removal from binding. Please examine the provided photo's for personal inspection of condition. Near fine print. .

New York: Random House. Near Fine. 1965. Limited Edition. Hardcover. The "concern" of the Lockwood Concern is the formation of a family dynasty. O'Hara chronicles four generations of Lockwoods, starting with Moses Lockwood who killed two men in the mid-1800's as he came to settle in Swedish Haven (based on Schuykill Haven, Pa). His son, Abraham, developed The Concern, and made it his life's work. Limited edition of 300 copies, numbered and signed by the author, this being #186 of 300. Book is near fine or better, slight fading on the spine. Internally pristine and seems unread. Now with a protective acetate jacket. Slipcase is near fine or better; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 405 pages; Signed by Author .

London: Jonathan Cape. Fine in Fine dust jacket. 1955. First Edition. Hardcover. Fine book, no names or inscriptions, un-bumped, un-faded, airforce-blue buckram boards, top block edge blue, only blemish is one v. Faint small foxing mark on front free end paper, owners light neat name stamp on rear fixed end paper under rear flyleaf. Laid in is a order card from Jonathan Cape for a copy of Now & Then, presumably from the original release. Now placed in an acid free sleeve. Fine DJ, front flyleaf price clipped by publisher leaving rear flyleaf un-price clipped (17/6) , DJ spine lightly toned. Published posthumously in 1955, it describes TE Lawrence's time in the royal Air Force. It covers a period of time after WW1, where he decided to disappear from public life and enlisted in the RAF under an assumed name, becoming 352087 Aircraftman Ross. Lawrence stated that the book should not be published until after his death, in a prefatory note by his brother AW Lawrence who edited the text… Read More

London: Century. Near Fine in Near Fine dust jacket. 1991. First English Edition; First Printing. Hardcover. Possibly Crichton's best known work and forming the basis for the hugely successful Steven Spielberg film. The 1st UK hardcover. NF or better book, square, but with some age toning of the pages, internally clean without any issues. NF or better DJ, old store price sticker on the back. Unclipped and now with a clear protective cover. This copy also comes with a custom slipcase for protection. .