Rare books from Nudelman Rare Books

4 pp. Cambridge, Apr. 29, 1880. 12mo. Neatly written letter from Longfellow to Charles Kent (1823-1902), well-known English poet, biographer and journalist, concerning a book written by Kent ("Corona Catholica), and others sent to Longfellow for which Kent had never heard back concerning Longfellow's receipt of the books. He writes: "My Dear Mr. Kent, I hasten wit all speed to thank you for your kind letter and for the "Corona Catholica," both of which reached me safely and are very welcome. But I am troubled by what you say of the other books sent so long ago, your collected Poems, and "Charles Dickens as Reader." They were both received and I wrote to you at the time a letter full of thanks, particularly for the Poems and among the Poems, more particularly for the beautiful lines addressed to me, which I always deeply feel." He goes on to say that he is truly grieved that his letter never reached Kent, with the only consolation being this letter. He also thanks Kent for the "Corona" but states that… Read More

Berlin: Max Herzig, 1904. First edition. First edition. Huge thick folio size weighing 25 lbs, 418pp, (18 x15 x 4 inches) In original publisher's full mottled green cloth with central imbedded panel which has a bold gilt stamped design of a cathedral. This immense volume of German history and remembrances is illustrated with monumental full-page color illustrations by (among others) HEINRICH LEFLER AND JOSEPH URBAN, who also designed the borders in red-orange which are present on nearly every page of the book. Printed on thick card paper with superb full-page tissue-guarded and captioned steel engravings throughout. Corners slightly rubbed, a little wear to calf. A COMPLETELY FINE AND ALTOGETHER IMMACULATE COPY. Represents an historical high-point on many levels, German book production, art, history, Jugendstil decoration. If not now, this book will become one of the great classics of the period. Book weighs over 7 lbs, so allow for postage!

New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1928. First edition. First edition. Original First State Dust Wrapper (without "Smoky" on rear), price $2.50 clipped. First issue of book without ad for Smoky in rear. Book near fine with very slight damp-stain on spine, wrapper in near fine condition with slight rubbing to spine, some very small chips and edge-wear. Color pictorial title-page, endpapers and 14 full-page color plates by N.C. Wyeth.

Berlin: B. Cassirer, 1908. First Edition. First Edition. Oblong quarto. Color pictorial paper covered boards, color decorated endpapers, 16 superb full-page pochoir colored illustrations by K. F. E. von Freyhold. Celebrated for its depth of feeling and delicate coloration and composition, these series of illustrations by Freyhold are among the finest to be found in any Jugendstil books of the period. A book seldom found without repairs, this copy is completely unsophisticated with all plates clean and bright. The spine has some slight fraying on top and bottom, corners slightly chipped and hinges only starting to weaken with some separation. Covers show some wear and soiling, yet a very nice copy indeed, in its original state of a book many consider to be among the finest representation of Jugendstil art.

London: Emily Faithfull, 1863. Second edition. Second edition. Original publisher's pebbled green cloth, thick gilt border and crown device in center on both covers, spine gilt with design. Gift inscription in front, a few signatures slightly pulled, else very good.

Edinburgh: Printed for William Creech and T Cadell, and W. Davies, 1797. First edition. First edition. Original gray paper covered boards, white paper spine. Excessively rare first edition of of the first and most elaborate treatise aimed at exposing the excesses and scandals of Free Masons, especially laying claim to the workings of the Illuminati, the most feared of all secret societies in the 18th Century. John Robison (1739-1805) was a noted Scottish physicist and mathematician and professor of philosophy at the University of Edinburgh who in his later years became enamored with promulgating various worldwide conspiracy theories. This work, his chief 'scholarly' output was purported to stem from valid research though chiefly from the testimonies of one man, a 'secret monk' whose name was Alexander Horn. The work was extremely popular and went through many editions including a stated Second Edition in the same year, Third and Fourth Editions in 1798, etc. It was translated into French, German and… Read More

New York: Frederick Warne & Co, 1908. First American edition. First American edition. Original maroon cloth over beveled boards, color cover insert, gilt and green lettering on cover. Full-page color plates and black and white illustrations by Potter. Potter's first large format book. A very nice, tight and clean copy.

Boston: Houghton Mifflin and Company, 1943. First edition. First edition. Square 4to. In original color pictorial dust wrapper. Original light blue cloth with white stamped design and lettering in negative space on cover, bold blue illustrated endpapers with red tractor. Color illustrations throughout by Burton. Price-clipped, four yellowed tape repairs on recto across spine panel to front and rear panels, the uppermost extending almost the length of the rear panel, 1 1/2-inch wide chip at bottom of spine and rear panels, edge creasing and rubbing; contemporary gift inscription on front flyleaf. The rare first edition in scarce dust jacket. Few copies have survived in original dust wrapper or make it to the marketplace.

New York: Harper & Brothers, 1952. First edition. First edition. A fine copy in near fine dust jacket. The finest copy we have seen of this enduring classic. . The first issue book and wrapper (stated "First Edition/ 1-B" on copyright page, unclipped price on from wrapper fly). Wrapper with very minor tears to top and bottom of spine, faint crease at bottom of spine, usually toning, else near fine. Book fine, with very bump to lower right corner. Former owner inscription on half-title, "J. Luce." Very scarce thus.

Philadelphia: C. W. Beck, Jr., The Beck Engraving Co., From the Art Press of S. H. Burbank & Co, 1902. First and Only Edition. First and Only Edition. Elephant folio, 14 x 20 inches. The enormously scarce and arguably the finest children's calendar ever printed with comparable color images in the U.S. in the 20th Century. Printed on fine coated paper by the the eminent Charles W. Beck, the finest color printer of his day in the US, who only five years later was the first to make four-color plates which became the industry standard. These renowned illustrations, three by Jessie Willcox Smith and four by Elizabeth Shippen Green (including the cover), along with twelve smaller color drawings as panels, by each artist, are among the most decorative and interpretive ever rendered by an American illustrator. The full-page illustrations form the images for "The Book of the Child," which was published by Stokes in 1903. Both were issued very nearly the same time, and records do not clearly indicate which… Read More

London: Smith, Elder & Co, 1858. First edition. First edition. 8vo. 323pp. Original blind-stamped olive green cloth. The first edition of George MacDonald's first story to be published in book form. A fine copy in its original state, finely blind-stamped olive cloth with diamond shaped central blossoms and petal motif, elaborate borders on both covers, spine with gilt stamped leaf emblem and lettering, original yellow endpapers. MacDonald's faerie romance was aimed at an adult audience. The similarities between MacDonald and Lewis Carroll, who published Alice in Wonderland eight years later abound, culminating with Carroll asking MacDonald and his wife to read the draft of Alice. About as fine a copy as ever seen by this enduring and important classic. The copy of Sir Charles Oman (inscribed) ,noted military historian, and later, John Sparrow, English academic and book collector, both bookplates appear at front. In superb custom made chemise and green morocco-backed slipcase.

London: H.G. Clarke and Co, 1844. Two volumes bound in one. Bound in contemporary or early dark green cloth, smooth spine, lettered in gilt between gilt double fillets, glazed yellow endleaves, sprinkled edges. The first separate edition of "Sense and Sensibility" to be published after the expiration of the copyright in 1839. With the half-title. Small chip to blank head of title-page and first page of text. A fine copy. Ink signature of Alice Vernon Harcourt (1845-1919) on front endleaf and book label of John Jordan (no.22). Scarce.

Chicago: A. C. McClurg & Co, 1887. Two Volumes: Expanded into Extra-Illustrated volumes (see below). Superbly bound by the Monastery Hill Bindery (unsigned, but documented, per below, and through descent provenance) in full maroon curshed morocco with rectilinear design motif, shields, stylized bird, etc on both covers, wide inner dentelles with elaborate gilt ruling. The book has been personally assembled by Ernst Hertzberg, the original founder and prinicipal first binder of the firm in 1902, of the Monastery Hill Binder. From "Exhibit of Bookbinding," St. Louis, Ringer & Hertzberg, 1904, this important documentation explaining the incredible origination of this extra-illustrated volume: "This work wa especially gotten up by Ernst Hertzberg for the Universal Exposition of 1904, to show the art of Bookbinding in this line in America. Provenance: Through descent through Hertzberg family and Monastery Hill Bindery. Exta-illustrated with "many Copper and Steel Plates, Etchings and Photogravures,… Read More

East Aurora: Roycroft Press, 1905. First edition. First edition. Bound in the publisher's scarce full modeled calf binding with striking design motifs on both covers, the front with bold stylized leaf patterns and ruling, and the rear with stippled and battered design, highly stylized petal devices, etc. Spine with modeled lettering. Probably 50 copies only, though McKenna neglects to describe this particular binding issue, even though he present the photograph of the "Modeled Leather Binding done in the leather shop," on page [53] in the center photograph groupings. The modeled leather process involves cutting, molding and hammering the leather to raise a the design, or a part of the design, in relief. The process dates back to 7th or 8th Century examples, and circa 10th Century Coptic bindings, but not taken up again until late 19th Century British bookbinding. Margin of front spine with wear, a remarkably well-preserved example of this fascinating and attractive binding process.

London: Printed by A[lexander] M[ilbourn] for E[benezer] Tracy, at the Three Bibles, on London-Bridge, 1697. First edition thus. First edition thus. Paper size: 5 x 7 1/8 inches, 181, [3] pages. Bound in full rich crushed morocco by RiviËre & Son, (stamp-signed in gilt on front turn-in), raised bands, gilt decorated dentelles. A fabulous late 17th Century rare edition of this classic French prose romance, in near fine condition. With half-page woodcut illustration on title-page, and half-page woodcut sharing frontispiece, and fourteen wonderful half-page woodcut illustrations throughout text. AEG. With initial advertisement leaf and three final contents pages; advertisement at foot of Z4. In this edition, the text is in roman letter. Endpapers slightly browned around the edges from turn-ins, neat paper repairs with a few letters supplied, half-inch tear to lower margin pages 63/64, small piece torn from upper edge (paper flaw) pages 37/38 and a few very faint stains or fox marks. A beautiful copy,… Read More