Rare books from Yamhill Book Company

Ulysses: A Critical and Synoptic Edition by James Joyce, edited by Hans Walter Gabler, Wolfhard Steppe and Claus Melchior. Garland, 1919 pp. 1984, First edition. Three volumes. Tan and blue cloth decorated in gilt. Scarce critical edition of Joyce's modern classic.
Condition Volume 1 boards lightly bowed, some rubbing to edges; foxing to top of text block edges; short gift inscription on front free endpapers; overall near fine.
About this book "German scholar Hans Walter Gabler took a controversial approach in his 1984 synoptic edition of Ulysses. He proposed to recover the "original" text from the surviving manuscripts, typescripts, corrected proofs and extant editions. Gabler believed textual variations to be a result of Joyce's glaucoma. The Joyce Estate endorsed Gabler's work, as did a group of influential Joycean scholars. The synoptic version was heralded as a major achievement, and a 1986 reading edition based on Gabler's textual criticism, Ulysses: The Corrected Text, was copyrighted by… Read More

133pp. 8 colored plates. 10" X 7 1/2. Green cloth boards. Gilt titles and illustration on the front board and spine. First Arthur Rackham Edition. With eight captioned tissue guarded full page color plates by Arthur Rackham.
Condition
A little wear at spine ends, a few small light stains on front, foxing on end papers but clean and bright on content pages.
About this book
Collected by Edmund Gosse, this edition contains Algernon Charles Swinburne's enchanting verses for children.
Algernon Charles Swinburne (5 April 1837 – 10 April 1909) was an English poet, playwright, novelist, and critic. He wrote several novels and collections of poetry such as Poems and Ballads, and contributed to the famous Eleventh Edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica. (Wikipedia)
Arthur Rackham (19 September 1867 – 6 September 1939) was an English book illustrator. He is recognized as one of the leading figures during the Golden Age of British book illustration. His work is noted for its robust pen and ink drawings,… Read More

The Letters of Pliny the Younger With Observations on each Letter; And an Essay on Pliny's Life, Addressed to Charles Lord Boyle By John Earl of Orrery. 1751, two volumes. 4to, 25x20 cm (9¾x8"). [iv], lxxxvii, 440, [16]; [iv], 509, [32] pp. Engraved allegorical title-page device by Michael Van der Gucht, twenty-three large head- & tailpieces engraved by Jacob Bonneau after designs by Samuel Wale, and numerous decorative initials. Period full calf, red leather spine labels. First Edition thus.
About this book
First Edition of this translation of the classic letters first issued between c.100 and c.109. John Boyle, fifth Earl of Cork, fifth Earl of Orrery, and second Baron Marston (1707-1762) had literary aspirations and became a friend of Jonathan Swift, Alexander Pope, and Samuel Johnson. But they had no illusions about his intellectual gifts; and Boyle took some revenge on Swift's condescension in Remarks on the Life and Writings of Jonathan Swift (London, 1751). His translation and commentary on… Read More

Abridged from Mallory's Morte D'Arthur by Alfred W. Pollard, 1917, Arthur Rackham illustrator. First American Trade edition. Small thick 4to, 215 x 173 mm, 8 1/2 x 6 3/4 inches, navy cloth, gilt illustrated and lettered on upper cover and spine, top edges golden brown, pages xxiv, 517pp including Glossary. 16 splendid color plates with captioned guards, 7 full page black and white and 63 text illustrations.
About this Book
Alfred W. Pollard, FBA (14 August 1859 – 8 March 1944) was an English bibliographer, widely credited for bringing a higher level of scholarly rigor to the study of Shakespearean texts. (Wikipedia)
Arthur Rackham (19 September 1867 – 6 September 1939 ) was an English book illustrator. He is recognized as one of the leading figures during the Golden Age of British book illustration. His work is noted for its robust pen and ink drawings, which were combined with the use of watercolor, a technique he developed due to his background as a journalistic illustrator. (Wikipedia)

2 volumes. With text by the artist. Illustrations from paintings by Tom Lea, including 35 plates (12 in color) loose in accompanying portfolio. 11x8½" & 15½x11", two-tone cloth, spines lettered in gilt, both housed in the original slipcase with paper cover labels. First Edition. Fine examples from Lea's work throughout his career. About this book Thomas Calloway "Tom" Lea III (July 11, 1907 – January 29, 2001) was an American muralist, illustrator, artist, war correspondent, novelist, and historian. The bulk of his art and literary works were about Texas, north-central Mexico, and his World War II experience in the South Pacific and Asia. Two of his most popular novels, The Brave Bulls and The Wonderful Country, are widely considered to be classics of southwestern American literature. (Wikipedia).

Report on the Birds of Pennsylvania with special reference to the food-habits, based on over three thousand stomach examinations.: Edwin K. Meyers. 1888, First edition. Hardcover. Sm. 4to, 9.25 x 6, xii, 260 pp. Original green cloth binding, gilt titles. Illustrated with 50 plates, 49 of which are in color. Green cloth, spine lettered in gilt. Handsome detailed illustrations of the birds of Pennsylvania copied from Audubon's Birds of America. BY STATE ORNITHOLOGIST B. H. WARREN. Gift inscription and compliments card of D. H. Hastings, Adjutant General of Pennsylvania tipped-in to front free endpaper. Gift inscription from a subsequent owner written on the front free endpaper under the card from D.H. Hastings.
Condition
Light soiling and shelf wear, wrinkling to portions of spine; front hinge and portions of inner spine repaired; pages 213 - 221 unskillfully glued back in. The plates are clean and intact.
About this book
Ornithologist B.H. Warren was born in West Chester and affiliated with the… Read More

Hardcover. 1971, Limited edition of 125. SIGNED by the Author. This copy is not numbered (un-numbered copies often given to those involved in the publication). Original red quarter calf, gilt titles and Dhamma wheel decoration on front board, red cloth sides, red endpapers.
Gerard Joseph Malanga (born March 20, 1943) is an American poet, photographer, filmmaker, curator and archivist. Gerard Malanga worked closely for Andy Warhol during Warhol's most creative period, from 1963 to 1970; he was considered to be one of Andy Warhol's most important associates. Malanga was involved in all phases of Warhol's creative output in silkscreen painting and filmmaking. He acted in many of the early Warhol films, including Kiss (1963), Harlot (1964), Soap Opera (1964), Couch (1964), Vinyl (1965), Camp (1965), Chelsea Girls (1966); and co-produced Bufferin (1967) in which he reads his poetry, deemed to be the longest spoken-word movie on record at 33-minutes nonstop. (Wikipedia)

6.75 x 4.5 inches, 492 pages. Introduction in English, poems in French. Pebble grain walnut leather binding by Riviere & Son. Oxford at the Clarendon Press, 1908. Beautiful small book of poetry chosen by St. John Lucas. Five raised bands to spine. All gilt edges with gilt design around inside of covers and end papers. Index of first lines.
The first poem in this beautiful leather bound Riviere & Son book was written in France sometime in the twelfth century; it dates from the epoch when french lyric poetry may fairly be said to begin. The volume ends with Sagesse by Paul Verlaine (30 March 1844 – 8 January 1896), considered one of the greatest representatives of the fin de siècle in international and French poetry.

Folio, 13.25 x 9.75, 111 pp. Publisher: Desert Magazine. Ed Ainsworth. 1960, First edition. ASSOCIATION copy. Original orange cloth, lettered in gilt. Foreword by Carl Schaefer Dentzel. Illustrations and plates throughout from drawings and paintings (some in color) by various artists, and photographs of them.
Condition
Very Good. Spine ends and top corners a bit bumped, lacks dust jacket. ASSOCIATION copy with a 8-line INSCRIPTION by Ainsworth in ink on the half-title page: "For Lindley, my pal, raconteur, wine taster, bibliophile, author and a great drinking companion -- may your footsteps be guided to the best vineyards where the juice of the grape inspires new limericks and happy memories of old friends. And I hope you like my book! Most sincerely, Ed (Ed Ainsworth).
About this book
An important work on the artists who captured the sublime beauty of the Californian and Southwestern deserts, including Maynard Dixon, Nicolai Fechin, Carl Eytel, Don Perceval, John Hilton, and others.
Edward Maddin… Read More

Life in Paris; Comprising the Rambles, Sprees, and Amours of Dick Wildfire, of Corinthian Celebrity, and his Bang-up Companions, Squire Jenkins and Captain O'Shuffleton; with the Whimsical Adventures of the Halibut Family; Including Sketches of a Variety of Other Eccentric Characters in the French Metropolis. David Carey. First edition, early issue, bound without the half-title and the "To the Binder" leaf at rear. (8vo) 23x14.5 cm (9x5¾") (iii)-xxiv, 489 pp. Additional illustrated title page and 20 hand-colored aquatint plates by George Cruikshank; twenty-two black and white woodcut text illustrations. . Later full polished brown calf, spine gilt, all edges marbled. Among the best of the imitations of Pierce Egan's Life in London, which had plates by Robert and George Cruikshank, the plates in this work are by George only (Tooley 129).
About this book
In 1821, journalist Pierce Egan published Life in London or, the Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorn, esq., and his elegant friend, Corinthian Tom,… Read More

1933, First English Trade edition. 287pp. 5 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches, 8 color illustrations on plates, with titled paper guards, and 60 b&w illustrations. Bound in full rust-colored cloth over boards, black lettering and decorations on the front and spine, light brown debossed decorations on front and spine, illustrated endpapers in sepia, colored frontis.
About this book This book includes the following stories and associated illustrations: "Hop-O'-My Thumb" (Perrault), "Dick Whittington" (Traditional English), "Jack and the Beanstalk" (ibid), "Beauty and the Beast" (Madame de Villeneuve), "Henny-Penny" (Traditional English), "The Story of Sindbad the Sailor" (The Arabian Nights), "Jack the Giant-Killer" (Traditional English), "The Ugly Duckling" (Hans Andersen), "The Princess and the Pea" (ibid), "Blue Beard" (Perrault), "The Story of Aladdin..." (The Arabian Nights), "The Sleeping Beauty" (Perrault), "The Barmecide's Feast" (The Arabian Nights), "Toads and Diamonds" (Perrault), "The Three Bears"… Read More

[12], 257 pp. Illustrated from photographs, sketches, etc.; engraved frontispiece portrait; illustrated map endpapers. 23x15 cm (9x6") period buckram lettered in gilt. Number 195 of 200 copies. First Edition. VERY SCARCE (no other copy currently available).
About this book
Signed by the author on the title page. Born in 1823, Dorsey Baker studied medicine and practiced briefly in Des Moines before crossed the plains to Oregon in 1848, invested in Portland real estate, founded a store in Walla Walla, was involved in banking and transportation, and in general, was instrumental in the progress of southeastern Washington and the surrounding areas. Smith 450.

Travel and Adventure in the Territory of Alaska, Formerly Russian America--Now Ceded to the United States--and in Various Other Parts of the North Pacific. 1869, First American edition, New York, [xviii], 353pp. Illustrated frontispiece (tissue guard missing, fold out map, wood engravings. Brown cloth binding with gilt image on front and gilt title and decorations on spine. The first five chapters contain the author's reminiscences of his B.C. travels in the 1860's. They include an account of his trip to the interior of Vancouver Island in 1864 with Robert Brown's exploring expedition, and details of the Bute Inlet massacres.
Frederick Whymper (20 July 1838 in London – 26 November 1901) was a British artist and explorer. Whymper was the eldest son of Elizabeth Whitworth Claridge and Josiah Wood Whymper, a celebrated wood-engraver and artist. His younger brother Edward Whymper was a renowned alpinist who made the first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865. In his youth, Whymper was a talented artist… Read More

Report of a military reconnaissance in Alaska, made in 1883 -- Letter from the Secretary of War, transmitting in answer to Senate resolution of April 18, 1884, the official report of Lieutenant Schwatka of his military reconnaissance of 1883 in Alaska. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1885. 1st Edition. 1p.l.,121pp. Octavo. illustrations from photos and drawings, and 20 folding maps at the end of the book. Rebound in three-quarter leather and marbled boards; marbled endpapers; the name Geo B. Fleming in gilt at the bottom of the spine.
Frederick Gustavus Schwatka (29 September 1849 – 2 November 1892) was a United States Army lieutenant with degrees in medicine and law, and was a noted explorer of northern Canada and Alaska. In 1878 he volunteered his pluck for an American Geographical Society search for relics of Sir John Franklin's Northwest Passage expedition, missing since 1845. During this 11-month, 3,251-mile dogsled journey in –60-degree weather, Schwatka hunted muskoxen and—when in… Read More

Translated from the Egyptian with an introduction and appendix by Battiscombe G. Gunn. 75, [1] + [4] ad pp. 16.5x11.8 cm (6½x4¾"), cloth. First edition, 1906. Very scarce.
About this book
Very rare printing of ancient Egyptian wisdom text, which many scholars deem to be the "oldest books in the world." The Maxims of Ptahhotep. Ptahhotep was the city administrator and vizier (first minister) during the reign of Djedkare Isesi in the 5th Dynasty (late 25th century BC and early 24th century BC). He is credited with authoring The Instruction of Ptahhotep, an early piece of Egyptian "wisdom literature" meant to instruct young men in appropriate behavior. Ptahhotep's grandson, Ptahhotep Tshefi, is traditionally credited with being the author of the collection of wise sayings known as The Maxims of Ptahhotep, whose opening lines attribute authorship to the vizier Ptahhotep: Instruction of the Mayor of the city, the Vizier Ptahhotep, under the Majesty of King lsesi. They take the form of advice and… Read More