“THE HORROR! THE HORROR!”

CONRAD, Joseph. Youth. Edinburgh and London, 1902.

Very rare presentation-association first edition, first issue, containing the first appearance in book form of Heart of Darkness—"one of the most powerful short novels in the English language" (Farrow, 14), inscribed by Conrad on the front free endpaper to his friend and adviser: "To Marguerite Poradowska, with the author's dear love. 20th Nov 1902." $95,000.

EXTRAORDINARILY RARE AND IMPORTANT DOCUMENT IN THE HISTORY OF LIBERTY AND THE UNITED STATES: ONE OF THE EARLIEST PRINTINGS OF THE 1789 BILL OF RIGHTS, ONE OF ONLY 700 COPIES PRINTED

(BILL OF RIGHTS) UNITED STATES SENATE. Journal of the First Session of the Senate. New-York, 1789.

The exceptionally rare and important first edition of the 1789 Journal of the Senate, the record of the crucial start of our new government under the Constitution, containing one of the earliest official printings of the proposed Bill of Rights—the original twelve amendments to the Constitution proposed by Congress, of which only ten were later ratified by the states. This is the official account of the daily proceedings of the first session of the United States Senate from March 4, 1789 to September 27, 1789, one of only 700 copies printed for members of government—an uncut copy. $95,000.

"ONE OF THE MOST DURABLE WORKS IN AMERICAN LITERATURE"

TWAIN, Mark. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Hartford, 1876.

First American edition, first state of one of the great masterpieces of American literature and a true touchstone of American childhood, in the exceptionally rare publisher's morocco binding. An essential addition to any Mark Twain collection. Only 200 copies were issued in the publisher's three-quarter morocco binding. $69,000.

"THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST BOOK EVER WRITTEN ABOUT AMERICA"

TOCQUEVILLE, Alexis de. Democracy in America. London, 1835, 1840. Four volumes.

First editions in English of both parts of Tocqueville's important and influential analysis of American democracy, one of the most outstanding intellectual achievements of the 19th century—"one of the most important texts in political literature" (PMM)—with very scarce folding map colored in outline, handsomely housed in half morocco clamshell boxes. $60,000.

"READER, I MARRIED HIM"

(BRONTE, Charlotte) BELL, Currer. Jane Eyre. London, 1847. Three volumes.

Rare first edition of one of the greatest and most popular novels in English literature in lovely contemporary calf-gilt. $60,000.

SIGNED BY OSCAR WILDE: “WHEN I WAS ALIVE AND HAD A HUMAN HEART,I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TEARS WERE”—THE SIGNED LIMITED FIRST EDITIONOF THE HAPPY PRINCE, ONE OF ONLY 75 LARGE-PAPER COPIES

WILDE, Oscar. The Happy Prince and Other Tales. London, 1888. Large-paper limited first edition, number 21 of only 75 copies on handmade paper, signed by Oscar Wilde and the publisher David Nutt. Extraordinarily rare. $48,500.

"ONE OF THE GREAT NOVELS OF WORLD LITERATURE"

TOLSTOY, Leo. Voina i Mir (War and Peace). Moscow, 1868-69. Six volumes bound in three.

Rare first edition of Tolstoy’s War and Peace, one of the greatest novels ever written, in the original Russian. Handsomely bound, with the original printed paper front wrappers of parts 2-5 bound in. $48,500.

AN EXTRAORDINARY PRESENTATION/ASSOCIATION COPY:INSCRIBED BY GERSHWIN TO HIS LOVER AND COLLABORATORIN THIS PIECE, KAY SWIFT, IN THE YEAR OF PUBLICATION PORGY AND BESS, SIGNED LIMITED FIRST EDITION,ALSO SIGNED BY GEORGE AND IRA GERSHWIN AND DUBOSE HEYWARD

GERSHWIN, George. Porgy and Bess. New York, 1935.

Deluxe limited edition of the piano-vocal score of Porgy and Bess, number 103 of only 250 copies signed by George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, DuBose Heyward, and director Rouben Mamoulian, additionally inscribed by Gershwin to his lover Kay Swift, who was intimately involved in the composition of the piece: “For Kay —/ Best —/ George / Nov. 1 1935.” According to Ohl, “best,” their code word for “love,” allowed them to be discreet. $48,500.

"THE MOST INFLUENTIAL AFRICAN AMERICAN OF THE 19TH CENTURY"

DOUGLASS, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave. Boston, 1845.

First edition of Douglass' powerful autobiography, published only seven years after his escape from slavery, with engraved portrait of Douglass, an excellent copy in original cloth. $38,000.

SIGNED BY BOTH JOYCE AND MATISSE:FINE COPY OF THE FIRST ILLUSTRATED EDITION OF ULYSSES

JOYCE, James. Ulysses. New York, 1935. First illustrated edition of Joyce’s landmark Ulysses, one of only 250 copies signed by both James Joyce and Henri Matisse, from a total edition of 1500 copies. $35,000.

INSCRIBED BY GEORGE GERSHWIN

GERSHWIN, George. American in Paris. New York, 1929.

First edition of the piano score (preceding the full score), inscribed by Gershwin on the title page: “Sincerely—George Gershwin / Oct. 10, 1929 / New York City.” $35,000.

"FROM F. SCOTT FITZGERALD, THE WELL-KNOWN AUTHOR"

FITZGERALD, F. Scott. Tales of the Jazz Age. New York, 1922.

First edition, presentation copy inscribed on the front flyleaf, "For Jeannette Baker, from F. Scott Fitzgerald, the well-known author." $35,000.

PRESENTATION COPY WARMLY INSCRIBED BY BEATRIX POTTER

POTTER, Beatrix. The Tailor of Gloucester. London, 1902.

True first edition, one of only 500 privately printed copies of Potter’s second book, which she called “my own favorite amongst my little books,” with frontispiece and 15 illustrations in color, three of which do not appear in the first trade edition of October, 1903, inscribed just a month after publication to a tenant in her rental cottage: “For Miss Murray MacGregor from Beatrix Potter. Jan. 16th 03.” $32,000.

"NIELSEN'S MOST SPECTACULAR AND CELEBRATED BOOK"

NIELSEN, Kay. East of the Sun and West of the Moon. London, 1914.

Signed limited first edition of this classic collection of Norwegian folk tales, illustrated with 25 superb mounted color plates and decorative in-text line cuts by famed artist Kay Nielsen, number 68 of only 500 copies numbered and signed by him. A scarce and magnificent masterpiece in excellent condition, with original silk ties present. $29,000.

FIRST COLLECTED AND FIRST ILLUSTRATED EDITION OF THE NOVELS OF JANE AUSTEN, 1833

AUSTEN, Jane. Novels. London, 1833. Five volumes.

Important first collected and first illustrated edition of the novels of Jane Austen, "mother of the English 19th-century novel" (Kunitz & Haycraft), printed from the plates of Bentley's "Standard Novel" editions of 1833, each volume with engraved frontispiece illustration and vignette title page, finely bound. "Very rare in any state" (Gilson). $28,000.

WARMLY INSCRIBED BY JFK AS PRESIDENT AND SIGNED BY JACKIE

(KENNEDY, John F.) (KENNEDY, Jacqueline). The White House: An Historic Guide. Washington, 1962.

Limited second edition of this guide to the White House, the second of two limited editions, number 41a of only 75 presentation copies specially bound in full morocco, warmly inscribed on the limitation page by President Kennedy to his personal physician at the White House: "For Dr. Travell—with warm personal regards, John Kennedy," and signed beneath this inscription by the First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. With laid-in printed White House presentation card from "The President and Mrs. Kennedy." $28,000.

“HIS SOUL SWOONED SLOWLY AS HE HEARD THE SNOW FALLING FAINTLY THROUGH THE UNIVERSE AND FAINTLY FALLING, LIKE THE DESCENT OF THEIR LAST END, UPON ALL THE LIVING AND THE DEAD”

JOYCE, James. Dubliners. London, 1914.

Rare first edition of Joyce's first prose work, his great collection of short stories. One of only 1250 copies printed (499 of which were sunk en route to America). A most exceptional copy. $28,000.

"FROM PERCY BYSHE SHELLEY… WITH THE BLESSINGS OF F. SCOTT FITZGERALD"

FITZGERALD, F. Scott. This Side of Paradise. New York, 1920.

First edition, eighth printing of Fitzgerald’s first novel—issued within five months of the first printing—inscribed by Fitzgerald on the front free endpaper: "From Percy Byshe [sic] Shelley to Mrs. Humphrey Ward with the blessings of F. Scott Fitzgerald." $27,500.

“MAN STILL BEARS… THE INDELIBLE STAMP OF HIS LOWLY ORIGIN”

DARWIN, Charles. Descent of Man. London, 1871. Two volumes.

First edition, first issue, of Darwin’s landmark treatise, in which the word “evolution” is used to describe his theory for the first time in any of his works, an exceptionally fine copy in original cloth. $25,000.

"THE ONLY THING WE HAVE TO FEAR IS FEAR ITSELF"

ROOSEVELT, Franklin D. Inaugural Addresses. Washington, D.C. 1943.

Limited edition, number 69 of only 100 copies, an exceedingly rare presentation/association copy, warmly inscribed by FDR to his trusted White House Press Secretary, "For Jonathan Daniels with the affectionate regards of President Roosevelt, Christmas 1943." This is one of FDR's famed Christmas Books, privately printed at his own expense, a flawless copy in the original slipcase. $25,000.

"SOJOURNER TRUTH STRIDES THROUGH AMERICAN HISTORY LARGER THAN LIFE"

(SLAVERY) (GILBERT, Olive) TRUTH, Sojourner. Narrative of Sojourner Truth, A Northern Slave. No place, 1875.

Rare 1875 edition of Sojourner Truth's powerful account, which inspired a nation with the bold "evangelic fervor and plain wit" that characterized her moving struggle for freedom and women's rights. This exceptional edition is the first to display her favorite and "most famous" portrait from a carte-de-visite photograph taken circa 1864, personally chosen by her to be featured in the original cloth and as its engraved frontispiece portrait. $25,000.

INSCRIBED BY WALT DISNEY

(DISNEY, Walt). Dumbo. Garden City, 1941.

First edition of this storybook adapting Disney’s beloved tale of the flying elephant, which Disney himself said was his personal favorite, generously illustrated from the film cels in color and black-and-white, inscribed on the half title: “To Susan with best wishes, Walt Disney.” $23,500.

PRESENTATION/ASSOCIATION COPY INSCRIBED BY FREUD TO AUSTRIAN NOVELIST ARTHUR SCHNITZLER, WHOM HE REGARDED AS "MY DOPPELGANGER"

FREUD, Sigmund. Das Unbehagen in der Kultur. Wien, 1930.

First edition, in cloth, of Freud's "most ambitious, and influential" work, inscribed by Freud to the famous Austrian novelist and dramatist Arthur Schnitzler on the front free endpaper: "mit freundfasse grüss, der verf[asser]" (with kind regards of the author). In a 1922 letter to Schnitzler, Freud wrote that he considered Schnitzler his "doppelganger," noting "the impression has been borne in on me that you know through intuition… everything that I have discovered in other people by laborious work." $22,500.

"ONCE UPON A TIME…"

GRIMM, Jacob and Wilhelm. (CRUIKSHANK, George, illustrator) . German Popular Stories. London, 1823, 1826. Two volumes.

First editions in English (first issue of Volume I; first printing of Volume II) of Grimms' famous fairy tales, including "Snow White," "Cinderella" and "Sleeping Beauty," illustrated with two engraved title pages and 20 full-page etchings by George Cruikshank ("perhaps his best work"), handsomely bound in full morocco by Bayntun-Riviere. $22,000.

MONUMENTAL 1802 BOYDELL ILLUSTRATED SHAKESPEARE

SHAKESPEARE, William. Dramatic Works of Shakespeare. London, 1802. Nine volumes.

The monumental 1802 Boydell-Steevens edition of Shakespeare's Works, complete with two engraved frontispieces and the full complement of 94 fine full-page copper engravings after paintings by the leading English artists of the time. Edited by Boydell and revised by renowned 18th-century Shakespearean scholar George Steevens. Sumptuously bound in full contemporary morocco-gilt. $21,000.

INSCRIBED BY DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

KING Jr., Martin Luther. Strength to Love. New York, Evanston, and London, 1963.

First edition of an especially memorable presentation/association copy, inscribed by Dr. King to a famous operatic singer and former classmate of Coretta Scott King's: "To McHenry Boatwright, whose beautiful voice has satisfied the musical thirst of thousands. Martin Luther King Jr.," in original dust jacket, housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. $19,000.

SIGNED BY THE BAMBINO

RUTH, Babe and CONSIDINE, Bob. The Babe Ruth Story. WITH: The first paperbound edition. New York, 1948. Two volumes.

First edition of Babe Ruth’s autobiography, illustrated with 49 photographs, signed by Ruth on the half title in the year of publication. Accompanied by a copy of the “paper-bound illustrated edition,” as advertised on the rear flap of the hardbound dust jacket. $18,500.

“FOR NEVER WAS A STORY OF MORE WOE THAN THIS OF JULIET AND HER ROMEO”

SHAKESPEARE. The Tragedie of Romeo and Juliet. London, 1664.

The complete text of Shakespeare's first tragedy and one of his greatest plays, Romeo and Juliet, from the rare and important Third Folio, on 13 original leaves. Splendidly bound in elaborately gilt-decorated period-style morocco. $18,500.

“THIS BOOK IS FOR CHILDREN OVER SIX. YOU QUALIFY—JUST”

DAHL, Roald. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. New York, 1964.

First edition, first issue, boldly inscribed in red crayon by Dahl and his wife, actress Patricia Neal, the inscription likely in Neal’s hand, the signature in Dahl’s: “Dear Anette and Gerald, This book is for children over six. You qualify—just. With love from Pat and Roald. Christmas 1964.” With numerous in-text illustrations by Joseph Schindelman. $18,000.

“MEN… GO MAD IN HERDS”

MACKAY, Charles. Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions. London, 1841. Three volumes.

First edition of this highly entertaining and exceptionally influential early study of crowd behavior, a long-standing and classic guide to both popular psychology and the stock market. $18,000.

“THE LITTLE HOUSE WAS CURIOUS ABOUT THE CITY AND WONDERED WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO LIVE THERE…”

BURTON, Virginia Lee. The Little House. Boston, 1942.

Rare first edition of Burton’s Caldecott-winning classic, in original dust jacket. $17,500.

DALÍ’S LARGE FOLIO ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND, SIGNED BY HIM, WITH AN ORIGINAL ETCHING AND 12 FULL-PAGE COLOR PHOTOGRAVURES

(DALÍ, Salvador). CARROLL, Lewis. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. New York, 1969.

Beautifully printed limited edition of the brilliant and beloved children's classic, number 27 of 2500 copies signed by Salvador Dalí on the title page, with an original etching and 12 full-page color photogravures after his paintings—as breathtakingly imaginative as the text they illustrate. $17,500.

INSCRIBED BY EISENHOWER

EISENHOWER, Dwight D. Crusade in Europe. Garden City, 1948.

Signed limited first edition, number 468 of 1426 copies signed by Eisenhower at the bottom of his D-Day message to Allied troops; this copy additionally inscribed by him on the recto of the limitation leaf to his lead nurse at Fitzsimons Army Hospital in 1955, after suffering a heart attack: "For: Lieut. Lorraine Knox—with lasting appreciation of devoted and competent service at Fitzsimons Hospital in the autumn of 1955;—and with kindest regard and best wishes from her friend, Dwight D. Eisenhower." An exceptional inscribed association copy. $15,000.

"THE MOST FAMOUS AMERICAN BOOK OF COLONIAL TIMES AND THE INDISPENSABLE SOURCE FOR COLONIAL SOCIAL HISTORY"

MATHER, Cotton. Magnalia Christi Americana. London, 1702.

The exceptionally rare and exceedingly significant first edition of Cotton Mather's salvation history of colonial Massachusetts, the "most important 18th-century American book" (Howes M391), including the earliest 18th-century general map of New England (often not present). $15,000.

“HOW DO I LOVE THEE? LET ME COUNT THE WAYS”

BROWNING, Elizabeth Barrett. Poems. London, 1850. Two volumes.

Important and preferred second edition of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Poems, containing the first appearance of her famous love poems to her husband, Sonnets from the Portuguese, which did not appear in the 1844 first edition of Poems. A lovely copy in fine contemporary calf-gilt. $15,000.

ROALD DAHL'S RARE FIRST BOOK, TWICE INSCRIBED

DAHL, Roald. The Gremlins. New York, 1943.

Presentation first edition of Dahl's rare first book, with 14 vibrant full-page illustrations by Walt Disney Productions, twice inscribed by him: on the half title, "To Joe and Steve with love from Roald Dahl 10/5/47," and opposite the half title, "One by one a cow came by/ Howling around for the moon/ They asked me where the hell it was/ I said it's gone you dopes—you're much too soon. R." An exceptionally elusive and desirable Dahl first edition in any condition, particularly in the original dust jacket and inscribed by him. $13,500.

"LET ALL NEW ENGLAND RISE AND CRUSH BURGOYNE" (WASHINGTON)

(AMERICAN REVOLUTION) BURGOYNE, John. State of the Expedition from Canada. London, 1780.

First edition of British officer Burgoyne's dramatic justification of his 1777 defeat by American Revolutionary forces at Saratoga. Intended to win the war for the British, it became "the turning point" in the war that "brought France openly into the struggle. And it led to a change in the British command and a fundamental alteration in strategy" (Wood, American Revolution), containing six large engraved folding maps and plans with handcolored details, two with hinged overslips illustrating changes in troop positions and movements, handsomely bound. $13,500.

"THE MOST AUTHORITATIVE SPOKESPERSON FOR JUDAISM"

(HEBREW BIBLE). Five Books of Moses. London, 1787. Five volumes.

1787 Hebrew Bible, containing parallel pages of the English and Hebrew text as translated by respected Jewish scholar David Levi, with notes and engraved frontispiece plates by printer Lion Soesmans in each volume. $13,000.

"EMOTION RECOLLECTED IN TRANQUILITY"

WORDSWORTH, William and COLERIDGE, Samuel Taylor. Lyrical Ballads. London, 1800. Two volumes.

Second, definitive, and first complete edition of this touchstone of English Romanticism, containing the first appearance of Wordsworth’s landmark Preface, defining his revolutionary theory of poetry, "his revolt against 18th-century artificiality" (PMM), attractively bound by Zaehnsdorf. $12,500.

CHURCHILL’S IMPORTANT SECOND BOOK, THE RIVER WAR

CHURCHILL, Winston. The River War. London, 1899. Two volumes.

First edition, first printing, of Churchill's rare second book, one of only 2000 copies printed, in original cloth. $11,500.

"THE FINEST SERIES OF ARCTIC VIEWS THEN PUBLISHED"

(ARCTIC) ROSS, John. A Voyage of Discovery. London, 1819.

First edition, illustrated with 32 engraved plates, charts and maps (13 folding), including 15 magnificent hand-colored aquatints by Havell & Son (four folding) depicting icebergs, a "bear plunging into the sea" and the ship's "passage through the ice" among other dramatic images. $11,500.

INSCRIBED BY DAVID FOSTER WALLACE

WALLACE, David Foster. Infinite Jest. Boston, 1996.

First edition of Wallace's epic postmodern satire—"jubilantly anecdotal, winkingly sardonic" (New York Times)—inscribed in the year of publication on the title page by him with his printed name crossed over: "For Ralph—In friendship, so long as you KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF MY SPOUSE. David Foster Wallace," with an original sketch of a frowning face, in scarce first-issue dust jacket. $3900.