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What gift could be more personal than a favorite book that has been loved throughout one’s life? Especially a copy of that book with significant value—a copy that is rare, original and, in some cases, unique? We offer books in a wide range of subjects and price ranges. Our staff will be delighted to answer your questions and to help you find a book that matches the interests of the recipient.

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Found 25 books(s). Showing results 1 thru 25.

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LITHOGRAPHS OF CHAGALL, WITH 28 ORIGINAL PRINTS

(CHAGALL, Marc) CAIN, Julien and SORLIER, Charles. Lithographs of Marc Chagall. Monte Carlo, New York, Boston, 1960-86. Six volumes.

First editions in English of the six-volume catalogue raisonné of Chagall’s lithographs, richly illustrated with 28 original lithographs (including the dust jackets). $11,500.

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“PROFITS ALWAYS TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES, BUT LOSSES NEVER DO”

LIVERMORE, Jesse L. How to Trade in Stocks. New York, 1940.

Rare first trade edition of the only book by Jesse Livermore, one of Wall Street’s most flamboyant stock traders, this scarce work featuring the first in-depth explanation of the famed Livermore Formula, his highly successful trading method still in use today, and containing 16 full color charts. $7000.

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“SO WE BEAT ON, BOATS AGAINST THE CURRENT, BORNE BACK CEASELESSLY INTO THE PAST”

FITZGERALD, F. Scott. Great Gatsby. New York, 1925. First edition of this landmark of 20th-century fiction, Fitzgerald's haunting tale of "empty elegance and impossible love" in the Jazz Age (Julie Bosman) and one of America's greatest novels. $6800.

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SIGNED BY FUTURE PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA

OBAMA, Barack. Audacity of Hope. New York, 2006.

First edition, first printing, boldly signed on the title page one month before the election by future President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. $6500.

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“A WOMAN MUST HAVE MONEY AND A ROOM OF HER OWN IF SHE IS TO WRITE FICTION”

WOOLF, Virginia. Room of One's Own. London, 1929.

First trade edition, printed by the Woolfs’ Hogarth Press, in the scarce original dust jacket designed by Vanessa Bell. $6300.

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INSCRIBED BY CLARENCE DARROW

DARROW, Clarence. Story of My Life. New York, 1932.

First trade edition of Darrow's autobiography, a presentation copy inscribed by him on the half title, "To Mr. and Mrs. W.S. Noble, With best wishes from Clarence Darrow Feby 1st, 1935," in original dust jacket. $4000.

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“NOTHING SHORT OF THE LOSS OF MY LIFE SHALL PREVENT ME FROM BECOMING THEIR HISTORIAN”

CATLIN, George. North American Indians. Edinburgh, 1926. Two volumes.

Later edition of Catlin’s monumental history, with 309 chromolithographs on 180 plates and three color-printed maps (one folding). $3500.

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SLOANE’S ILLUSTRATED LIFE OF NAPOLEON, HANDSOMELY BOUND

SLOANE, William Milligan. Life of Napoleon Bonaparte. New York, 1906. Four volumes.

Early edition of Sloane’s monumental account of Napoleon’s personal and military life, with over 300 illustrations, portraits and maps, many in color. $3000.

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"WITH THE AUTHOR'S AFFECTION"

ROOSEVELT, Eleanor. This Is My Story. New York and London, 1937.

First edition, presentation copy, of Eleanor Roosevelt's autobiography, inscribed on the half title to FDR's cousin, Morgan Library Director Frederick Baldwin Adams, Jr.: "For Fred & Ruth with the author's affection. Eleanor Roosevelt." $2800.

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24 FINE PHOTOGRAVURES OF OFFICIAL PRESIDENTIAL PORTRAITS

(UNITED STATES PRESIDENTS). White House Gallery of Official Portraits of the Presidents. New York, 1901.

Limited “McKinley Memorial” edition of this collection of 24 striking photogravures of American Presidential portraits from Washington to McKinley, number 320 of an unspecified limitation, in original three-quarter morocco. $2800.

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“DREAMY, MYSTICAL, SERENE”

(DORÉ, Gustave, illustrator) TENNYSON, Alfred. Vivien. BOUND WITH: Guinevere. London, 1867.

First edition of Doré’s haunting and dramatic illustrations, on 18 steel-engraved plates, for two of Tennyson’s “Idylls of the King,” in original cloth. $2600.

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“A MODEL OF WHAT MILITARY HISTORY CAN BE”

FOOTE, Shelby. The Civil War. A Narrative. Fort Sumter to Perryville. New York, (1958).

Scarce first edition of the complete first volume of Foote's authoritative and engrossing history, inscribed in the year of publication: "Fred Guyton, Jr—Shelby Foote. Memphis, Nov. '58," in original dust jacket. $2600.

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“CHILDLIKE WONDER REVERBERATING WITH MYSTERIOUS INTENSITY”

VAN ALLSBURG, Chris. Polar Express. Boston, 1985.

First edition of Van Allsburg’s lushly illustrated, enchanting tale of childlike wonder and hope, winner of the 1986 Caldecott Medal, signed by the author-illustrator. $2500.

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“THE GREATEST THEOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE OF OUR AGE AND COUNTRY”

BIBLE. Holy Bible. Glasgow, Edinburgh and London, circa 1880. Two volumes. Later edition of Scott’s copiously annotated Bible, illustrated with 5 maps and 41 engraved plates, handsomely bound. $2500.

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WONDERFULLY INSCRIBED WITH ORIGINAL CARTOONS BY SEVEN ICONIC MAGAZINE CARTOONISTS

FISHER, Edwin, GERBERG, Mort and WOLIN, Ron, eds. The Art in Cartooning. New York, 1975. First edition of this celebration of American cartooning, seldom found inscribed with original sketches by its contributors. This copy boasts large, satirical original art by notable magazine cartoonists Whitney Darrow, Jr., Gahan Wilson, Marvin Tannenberg, S. Gross, Lou Myers, Donald Reilly and Rowland B. Wilson. Additionally inscribed on the title page by one of the editors, "Enjoy! Ron Wolin." $2000.

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SIGNED BY CORMAC MCCARTHY

MCCARTHY, Cormac. All the Pretty Horses. New York, 1992.

Special publisher's advance review copy—in original wrappers and sleeve—of the first edition of the first novel in McCarthy’s acclaimed “Border Trilogy,” winner of the National Book Award, signed by the author. $1800.

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"THE MOST ORIGINAL CHARACTER IN CRIME FICTION SINCE PATRICIA HIGHSMITH'S RIPLEY"

LARSSON, Stieg. Trilogy: Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. London, 2008-9. Three volumes.

First editions in English of Larsson's posthumously published trilogy, preceding the American editions, a splendid set in original dust jackets. $1650.

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“IF ANYONE CAN BRING IT OFF, YOU CAN. CARE TO HAVE A TRY, JAMES?”

FLEMING, Ian. You Only Live Twice. London, 1964.

First edition, first state, of the 12th James Bond novel—the last published in Fleming's lifetime—set in Japan and featuring the further plots of veteran Bond villain Ernst Blofeld. $1500.

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60 FULL-PAGE ENGRAVED VIEWS OF ROME

(ROME). Li Monumenti Più Celebri di Roma Antica e Moderna. Roma, 1850.

First edition of this wonderful pictorial “guide-book” to the Eternal City, with vignette title page and 60 engraved plates of the best tourist attractions in Rome and environs. $1200.

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SNOW WHITE, WITH EIGHT DOUBLE-PAGE POP-UPS

KUBASTA, Vojtech. Snow White. London, 1961.

Early edition of this beloved fairy tale, featuring the traditional story and eight wonderful, double-page, folio pop-ups. $950.

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FEATURING EIGHT DOUBLE-PAGE POP-UPS DEPICTING SCENES FROM THE CLASSIC FAIRY TALE

KUBASTA, Vojtech. Sleeping Beauty. London, 1961.

First edition of this beloved fairy tale, featuring the traditional story and eight wonderful, double-page, folio pop-ups, a lovely copy. $950.

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INSCRIBED BY ALEX HALEY, FIRST EDITION OF ROOTS

HALEY, Alex. Roots. Garden City, 1976.

First trade edition of Haley's acclaimed historical novel, inscribed and signed by him in the year of publication, "10/19/76 W— K— Very best wishes! Alex Haley." $950.

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“OOOOOOOOOOOOO! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE CHRISTMAS”

THOMPSON, Kay. Eloise at Christmastime. New York, 1958.

First edition of the third book in the wonderfully illustrated series of Eloise stories. $900.

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"WHERE CHIVALRY MEETS THE FRONTIER": FIRST EDITION OF TRUE GRIT

PORTIS, Charles. True Grit. New York, 1968.

First edition of Portis' best-known novel, basis for the the 1969 John Wayne film and the Oscar-nominated 2010 Coen Brothers film starring Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon. $800.

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INSCRIBED BY MICHAEL CHABON IN THE YEAR OF PUBLICATION

CHABON, Michael. Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. New York, 2000.

First edition of Chabon’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel evoking the Golden Age of comic books, boldly inscribed on the title page in the year of publication: "10.19.00 To Herb—Michael Chabon," with his characteristic drawing of a key. $550.

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Aquatint Copperplate process by which the plate is “bitten” by exposure to acid. By changing the areas of the plate that are exposed and the length of time the plate is submerged in the acid bath, the engraver can obtain fine and varying shades of gray that closely resemble watercolor washes. Although the name contains the word “tint”, this is a black-and-white printing process; aquatint plates can often be hand colored, however.
Armorial Used to describe a binding bearing the coat of arms of the original owner, or with bookplates incorporating the owner’s arms.
Association Copy copy that belonged to someone connected with the author or the contents of a book.
Boards Hard front and rear covers of a bound book which are covered in cloth, leather or paper. “Original boards” refers to cardboard-like front and back boards, from about 1700 to 1840, used as temporary protection for books before their purchasers would have them bound. Of particular value to collectors as evidence of a very early form of the book.
Book-Plate Label, generally affixed to the front pastedown, identifying a book’s owner.
Broadside Sheet printed on one side, typically for public display, usually larger than folio size (a folio being a broadside-size sheet printed on both sides and folded once, to make four pages).
Calf Binding material made from cowhide—versatile, durable, usually tan or brown in color, of smooth texture with no or little apparent grain. Readily marbled (“tree calf”), mottled, diced, colored, polished, tooled in gilt or blind, even scented (known as “russia”). Reverse calf, with a distinctive suede-like texture, is occasionally used.
Chromolithograph Lithograph printed in colors, typically three or more.
Collation Process by which the contents of a book are inspected for completeness, checking against internal evidence, the table of contents and/or plate list, and reference works. Also a shorthand bibliographical description of a book’s composition by its leaves and signatures, rather than its pages. A-C, for example, would indicate a quarto volume composed of three signatures or gatherings of eight pages each for a total of 24 pages.
Colophon Printed note at the end of a text containing information about the printing of the book.
Doublure Pastedowns made not of paper but of leather, for decorative purposes.
Duodecimo (12MO) Smaller than an octavo, typically less than six inches tall; smaller formats, such as 24mo and 32mo, are uncommon.
Edition Print-run from a single setting of type without substantial change. Depending on demand, any number of printings can be made from a setting of type For example, a first printing might consist of 1000 copies, followed by a second printing of 2500 copies; in which case the book would have a first edition, first printing of 1000 copies, and a first edition, second printing of 2500 copies.
Endpapers Extra leaves—plain, colored or decorated—with which a bookbinder covers the insides of the book’s boards, therefore not part of the actual text block. The part of the leaf pasted to the inside of the front board is the front “pastedown,” while the other part of the leaf that forms the first page of the book is the “front free endpaper”; the same applies to the rear pastedown and rear free endpaper.
Engraving Illustration produced by carving lines into a metal plate. This is an intaglio process, in which ink is poured over the plate, then wiped from the surface, leaving ink only in the recesses made by the engraver’s tools. The image is then transferred by pressing thick dampened paper against the metal plate with great force—requiring engravings to be printed on a separate stock and separate press from any text.
Errata List of mistakes and corrections noted after printing, often compiled on a separate sheet or slip and inserted into the text block.
Flyleaves Additional blank leaves following or preceding the endpapers.
Folio Book composed of sheets that are folded once and printed on both sides, making two leaves and four pages. Typically above 14 inches tall. Oblong folios are produced the same way but bound at the short edge, producing a book typically more than 14 inches deep.
Fore-Edge Edge of the book furthest from the spine. Occasionally the text of a book will be put into a specialized book press and painted, often with a scene from the book or a landscape, so that the painting is invisible when the book is closed but visible when somebody bends the text and fans the pages—known as a fore-edge painting.
Foxing Light brown spots that naturally appear on some papers due to oxidation as they age.
Frontispiece An illustration facing the title page of a book.
Gathering Single sheet of paper that has been printed and folded to form the pages required by the book’s format. A single gathering of a quarto book, then, would be a sheet folded twice, containing four leaves, eight pages of text.. Gatherings are identified by a letter, symbol or number in the lower margin of the first page (the “signature”) to make it easy for the printer to stack them in proper order for sewing.
Gilt Edges The three exposed edges of a book have been smoothed and gilded.
Half Title Leaf preceding the title page that bears the book’s title, originally used to identify the unbound text block. The book’s binder would often remove and discard the half title at the time of binding. Remaining half-titles are therefore of interest to collectors.
Illuminated Decorated by hand. Typically early printed books and especially manuscripts.
Imprint Satement of place, publisher and date of publication on a book’s title page.
Incunable From the cradle of printing, i.e., any book printed before 1501.
Issue A group of books issued by the publisher as a discrete unit. At times, issue refers to timing, such as the “first issue” being offered to the public at an earlier date than the “second issue.” At other times, it refers to specially planned different batches, such as the “trade issue” (widely available) in opposition to a “signed limited issue” (limited to a small amount of copies differing somehow from the trade issue and not widely available).
Japanese Vellum Expensive handmade paper often used in deluxe editions.
Lithograph Illustration produced by transferring an image drawn on a carefully prepared stone to paper. The process allowed illustrations to more closely resemble the original drawings, paintings or sketches, as it gave the lithographer a freedom of line impossible to achieve in earlier intaglio and relief processes. It does not require the same sort of pressure as an engraving to transfer the image, but still has to be printed on separate stock from the text
Marginalia Handwritten notes made in the margins by a previous owner.
Mispaginated Printer’s error in pagination, typically skipping, transposing or repeating page numbers. Not uncommon in older, larger books, it is not considered a defect, so long as all integral leaves are present.
Modern Recently accomplished, when used to describe a book’s binding that is not the original casing. Some books bound recently are bound using techniques, tools and styles of the period of the book’s original issue; when done well this is called a period-style binding, a term that implies “modern” as well.
Morocco Binding material made from goatskin—versatile, durable, with a distinctive pebbled texture and visible grain. Readily stretched (“straight-grain”), crushed (flattened smooth), tooled in gilt or blind, inlaid with leathers of different colors. So-called because much of the raw material originally came from the tanneries of North Africa (other types of goatskin bindings denoting regions of origin include levant, turkey, niger).
Offset The unintended transfer of ink from one printed page to an adjacent page.
Period-Style binding executed with materials, tools and techniques to approximate the look of a contemporary binding from the period of the book’s publication. The term implies that the binding is modern, or recent, unless otherwise specified.
Plate Full-page illustration printed separately from but bound with the text.
Point Variation in text, illustration, design or format that allows a bibliographer to distinguish between different editions and different printings of the same edition, or between different states or issues of the same printing.
Presentation Copy Book given as a gift by its author, illustrator or publisher. Sometimes refers to a volume given by a notable donor.
Provenance History of a particular copy of a book.
Raised Bands Horizontal protruding strips found on the spine of a book.
Reback To supply a worn binding with a new spine, usually made of the same material as the rest of the binding and decorated to match. When feasible the binder may preserve the original spine and affix it to the new material, described as “rebacked with the original spine laid down.”
Recase To reattach a text block to its binding when it has become loose from its covers.
Recto The front side of a leaf. The back side is known as the “verso.”
Trade Edition Printing or printings of a book made available for purchase by the general public on publication day (as opposed to a limited edition, often available only by subscription).
Uncut When the edges of the text block (most apparent at the fore and lower edges) have not been trimmed to a uniform size, and are therefore characterized by a ragged or deckle edge. A book may be uncut but opened—i.e., with a paper-knife—but all unopened books (see below) are by nature uncut as well.
Unopened When the folds of the sheets of paper making up the text block have not been trimmed away or opened with a paper-knife. While this makes it impossible to read all of the pages, it also indicates a probability that the text block has not been altered since leaving the printer.
Vellum Binding material made from specially treated calfskin—durable, with a distinctive ivory color and smooth appearance. Can be tooled in gilt or blind. So-called Japan vellum (or Japon) is a type of thick paper that has been polished smooth and given a glossy finish to resemble vellum.
Verso The back or reverse side of a leaf or page. (See “recto.”)
Woodcut Illustration or textual decoration made by cutting away from the surface of a block of wood until the reverse of the image is left in relief; this is then inked and pressed to the paper to leave the image. The woodblock, or multiple blocks, can be fit into the page along with the type, allowing text and illustrations to be printed in the same print run and share the same page (not possible with engravings, which require thicker, damp paper and much more force; nor with lithographs, which require a different printing process altogether). Woodcuts preceded moveable type and are the earliest known printing technology.
Wood-Engraving Engraving made with the graver or burin on the cross-section of a piece of boxwood; the harder wood and finer tools allow for more delicate, finely detailed images, while the block can still be set in the page alongside text and printed on the same stock as the text. While much older, wood engravings enjoyed an important renaissance in the late eighteenth century through Thomas Bewick and continued in popularity thorugh the nineteenth century.
Wormhole Tiny pinhole-sized trails left by bookworms as they eat through a text block. Much more common in older books printed on handmade papers with a high rag content than in books printed on manufactured papers made from wood pulp with a higher acidic content.
Wrappers Paper coverings—plain, marbled or printed—attached by stitches, staples or glue to a text block to identify it and afford it some protection (though much more fragile than a binding in plain, cloth or leather-covered boards). More typical of slim and/or inexpensive volumes such as pamphlets. “Self wrappers” are leaves, blank or printed, that are integral to the text block, conjugate with other leaves and from the same stock. “Original wrappers,” those attached at the time of issue, are scarce and extremely desirable to most collectors.