Rare books from Rare Collections

London: MacDonald. Very Good+ in Near Fine dust jacket. 1969. Hardcover. A VG+ book with some staining on the top edge. Internally clean. Near Fine unclipped dust jacket, with some minor edgewear. Jacket now in a removable protective acetate cover. VG+ in NF . ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall .

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 .

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 .

Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill. Very Good+ in Very Good+ dust jacket. 1951. First Edition; First Printing. Hardcover. 1st Edition stated, Authors first book and the precursor to his 1968 Pulitzer prize winning book “Confessions of Nat Turner”. A VG+ book in a VG+ dust jacket. Jacket has small stain on front cover (just above the title) and some edgewear to the jacket, jacket currently with removable archival protection. Also included is the signed Franklin Library Edition. One of the sixty books in the series of Author Signed Leather Limited Editions published by Franklin Library from 1977 through to 1982. Beautifully bound in dark brown leather with gilt letter and design in 22kt gold and printed on archival paper with gilt edges. The end sheets are of moire silk fabric with a red silk marker sewn in, still in its original position. The book is in mint condition, unread with tight binding. Excellent collectable book, ; 400 pages; Signed by Author .

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: 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: Doubleday. Fine in Fine dust jacket. 1976. First Edition. Hardcover. A fine book with tight binding likely unread. Housed in a Fine dustjacket, with a small closed tear at the top of the back cover, otherwise without any other obvious defects and minimal wear, a fine collectable copy. First edition, later issue. The book is also signed and inscribed to Elizabeth Taylor Ellis, the grandaughter of J Will Taylor (Member of the House of Representatives from Tennessee 2nd district, serving from March 4th 1919 - Nove 14 1939). The inscription reads, "Oct 9 1988 To Elizabeth Taylor Ellis, granddaughter of J Will Taylor, A Tennessee statesman - Alex Haley". Signature was obtained during a meeting at the Appalachia Museum in Andersonville in 1988. ROOTS is a saga of dislocation and strength in the face of brutality, reckoning with the complexities of ancestry in the African diaspora caused by the transatlantic slave trade. It begins in 1750 on the coast of The Gambia, West… Read More

New York: Knopf. Fine+ in Fine+ dust jacket. 1988. First Edition; First Printing. Hardcover. John Updike's 13th novel. The story of S. Concerns Sarah Worth, a latterday Hester Prynne who has become enamored of a Hindu religious leader called the Arhat. A collectable set of the first printing and uncorrected proof. The book is in very fine condition. Inscribed to noted bibliophile and Updike collector Albert Raman; "For Albert Raman best wishes John Updike". Dust jacket is also very fine with no issues, unclipped. Now with archival cover for protection. A fine uncorrected proof, with some dust staining on the spine, also with archival cover. Tight and unread with a flier from Knopf laid in. Collectable set. Provenance, from the Library of notable bibliophile and Updike collector Albert J Raman. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 279 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 or better print. .

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: Gollancz. Very Good in Very Good dust jacket. 1963. First English Edition. Hardcover. The scarce UK first edition. A very good or better book, slight lean with a dealer sticker on inside front board. Otherwise internally in fine condition. Unclipped jacket with usual dust staining to spine. Chipping at the top and bottom of spine and at top and bottom of front flap and some general edgewear. Now in a protective acetate cover. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 192 pages .

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. .