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Mason, F. H.
The Forty-Second Ohio Infantry
Presentation copy of The Forty-Second Ohio Infantry by Frank H. Mason, inscribed by future president James A. Garfield to his son.
Cleveland: Cobb, Andrews & Co., Publishers, 1876. Octavo, 306pp, [errata]. Includes two tipped-in errata slips at the regimental roster. Publisher's green cloth, title stamped in gilt. Solid text block, front hinge secured with archival repair. Rubbing to cloth boards, notable wear to spine. Complete with frontispiece portrait of "J.A. Garfield," two mounted albumen photographs and a map of the "Middle Creek" battlefield. From the library of noted antiquarian collector Carroll Atwood Wilson, with his bookplate on front pastedown. Housed in custom clamshell, quarter green morocco, title in gilt on spine. (Ryan, 453) (Dornbusch I, 223) (Nevins I, 128)
This copy is inscribed on the front free endpaper: "To my Son / Harry A. GarfieldHoping that he will some day read this record, and be able to do something to preserve the country which was saved by the war for the union - I am his affectionate Father. J.A Garfield / Washington / Dec 25, 1876."
$8,500.00
To Heal and To Build Johnson, Lyndon B.
First edition of To Heal and to Build: The Programs of President Lyndon B. Johnson inscribed to future Secretary of State, Cyrus Vance.
New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1968. Octavo, xiv, 506pp. Blue cloth, title stamped in gilt and red. Stated "first edition" on copyright page, with no later printings noted. Top edge dyed yellow, faint sunning to top quarter of cloth, a near fine example. In the publisher's fine dust jacket, retail price of $8.95 on front flap, bright illustrations.
This copy is signed by the president on the dedication page: "To Cyrus Vance / Who through the years has done much more than his share to put this together. With my admiration & gratitude / Lyndon B Johnson / May 28, 1968 "
Secretary of State Cyrus Vance (1917-2002) served as the Deputy Secretary of Defense under President Lyndon B. Johnson from 1964 to 1967.
$3,800.00
The Gauer Family
Lectures In Law and Public Policy
The Gauer Distinguished Lecture Series, the complete twelve volume series from 1990 - 2002, inscribed to the Gauer Family by the lecturers, including President Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, Colin Powell, William Rehnquist and more.
Washington DC: National Legal Center for the Public Interest, 1990-2002. Octavo, [twelve volumes] Publisher's green hardcover, title stamped in gilt on cover and spine All volumes with some light shelf wear, a few bumped corners, internally all fine.
The Gauer Distinguished Lecture Series was founded in 1990 by a grant from Edward and Marion Gauer, in conjunction with the National Legal Center for the Public Interest. The National Legal Center was merged with the conservative leaning American Enterprise Institute in 2007.
Please click the photos for a full description with additional photographs and a list of signatures.
$3,200.00
The Truman Program Truman, Harry S.
The first edition of The Truman Program: Addresses and Messages by President Harry S. Truman, inscribed to his World War I comrade, Sgt. Fred J. Bowman.
Washington DC: Public Affairs Press, 1949. Octavo, x, 261pp. Green cloth, title stamped in gilt on spine and front cover. No additional printings noted. Internally clean, a fine example. In the publisher's dust jacket, $2.95 on front flap, chipping along top edge, shelf wear to panels, a solid, very good example.
Inscribed on the front free endpaper: "To Fred J. Bowman / with kindest regardsread this and you'll know why I won / Harry S Truman / 1/22/49 "
The recipient of this copy, Fred J. Bowman, whom Truman called "Fritz," served in the 129th Field Artillery Regiment, Battery D, during World War I, under the command of Captain Harry Truman. President Truman signed this book for Mr. Bowman two days after his inauguration
$3,800.00
[Reagan, Nancy]
Surgery, Gynecology, & Obstetrics
Inscribed by First Lady Nancy Reagan, a special edition of Surgery, Gynecology & Obstetrics from the library of Dr. William Longmire, Jr. This edition honors Nancy Reagan's stepfather, Dr. Loyal Davis, who edited the journal for over 40 years.
Chicago: The Franklin H. Martin Memorial Foundation, 1983. Folio, 196pp. Full navy blue morocco, title in gilt on front cover. August 1983 publication: Volume 157, Number 2. A special edition, with "Special Issue in Memoriam to Loyal Davis" in gilt on front cover. Solid text block, touch of rubbing to corners, a fine example. The personal copy of Dr. William P. Longmire, Jr., with his name stamped in gilt on front cover.
Inscribed on a White House postcard: "Dear Bill - It's a beautiful book and very meaningful to me as I'm sure you know - I'll inscribe it - by now you know our trip has been cut short! Love to you and Jean / Nancy." Additionally inscribed on the front free endpaper: "To Bill Longmire with my appreciation and affection for remembering my father in this way - Nancy Reagan."
$1,250.00
Minutes of the Council of Appointment of New York Roosevelt, Franklin D.
Minutes Of The Council of Appointment of New York, a scarce signed limited edition from President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Hyde Park, NY: Privately Printed, 1925. Octavo, [2], 97pp. Gray paper covered boards, cloth spine. Title on label affixed to front cover. Faint soiling to cloth spine, some wear to tips of boards. Originally published with brown paper dust jacket, with limitation in pencil on cover, but lacking here. Housed in custom blue quarter leather clamshell case. Includes the original sales receipt and correspondence from 1967, as this copy was purchased by Franklin Roosevelt Bookiana in Chicago (Hunt H. Unger).
In 1923, Mr. Roosevelt purchased the 148 Page manuscript of the minutes of the New York Council of Appointments. In 1925, at Roosevelt's urging, the New York Historical Society published sections of these minutes They simultaneously agreed to produce 50 copies of this limited edition collection of the historical documents. (Horowitz, 22) (Not found in Halter) This copy is hand numbered by Franklin D. Roosevelt on the colophon page, noting: "50 Copies Printed for me, January, 1925. No. 41. Franklin D. Roosevelt."
$7,500.00
Hemingway, Ernest
Green Hills of Africa
First edition, first printing of Green Hills of Africa by Ernest Hemingway, inscribed to F. Trubee Davison, the president of the American Museum of Natural History.
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1935 Octavo, [viii], 294, [2] Publisher's green cloth, facsimile signature in gilt on front cover. Title in gilt on spine. The first printing, with "Scribner's A" on copyright page. Sunning to spine, wear to gilt band. Solid text block, internally clean. In the publisher's first edition dust jacket, $2.75 retail price on front flap, shallow chipping along edges of spine, sunning to spine, light spotting to verso, a very good example. This jacket is variant B, identical to Jacket A, except for the alignment of the green print on the rear panel. (Grissom A.13.1.a) (Hanneman A.13.a) Housed in custom black leather clamshell, title in gilt over blue label on spine, internally lined with tan cloth.
This copy is inscribed on the front free endpaper: "For F. Trubee Davison / hoping (I won't bore him too much and) it will remind him a little of Africa / Ernest Hemingway."
Hemingway, Ernest
Green Hills of Africa
The recipient of this copy, F. Trubee Davison (1896–1974) was the United States Assistant Secretary of War and President of the American Museum of Natural History. During World War I, he formed the “First Yale Unit,” the first naval air reserve unit. After the war, Davison served as Assistant Secretary of War for Air from 1926-1933, when he was asked to head the American Museum of Natural History in New York. He quickly set off to Africa in 1934 to enhance the collection at the Natural History Museum, begun by Theodore Roosevelt and Carl Akeley, with four additional elephants.
While in Africa, in the company of Martin and Osa Johnson, Davison met Hemingway before an elephant hunt. Hemingway sent this copy of Green Hills to Davison in November of 1935, with Davison writing to thank Hemingway on November 15, 1935. (Ernest Hemingway Collection - JFK Library - EHPPIC06-018)
$25,000.00
Call of the Wild London, Jack
First edition, first printing of The Call of the Wild by Jack London.
New York: The Macmillan Company, 1903. Octavo, 231pp, [2pp ads]. Publisher's decorative green cloth, title in gilt with color illustrations on spine and front cover. Top edge gilt, illustrated endpapers. The first printing with "Set up, electrotyped, and published July, 1903" on copyright page and one leaf of ads at rear Solid text block, bumped corners, light soiling to cloth, some rubbing to color illustrations on cover and spine. Clean text throughout. Lacking the scarce dust jacket. Complete with ten full-page colored plates, including a frontispiece protected with tissue. (BAL 11876) (Sisson 14) Housed in a custom orange cloth chemise, title in gilt over orange and green morocco spine
“Buck
did
not
read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing...” (p. 15)
$2,800.00
Intelligent Life in the Universe Sagan, Carl
Signed first edition, first printing of Intelligent Life in the Universe by Carl Sagan, in collaboration with Iosef S. Shklovskii.
San Francisco: Holden-Day, Inc., 1966. Octavo, xiv, [2], 509pp. Full red cloth, title in black and gilt on spine. No additional printings listed on copyright page. Solid text block, a truly fine copy. In the publisher's dust jacket, no retail price listed, shelf worn, with a thin blue line to front panel. Archival tape on the verso, reinforcing chipping at the head of the spine. Housed in a custom cloth clamshell, title in gilt on black morocco spine.
Signed by Carl Sagan on the half-title page.
This book contains Shklovskii's research and analysis, additional commentary by Sagan, and original figures by Sagan. The two men collaborated entirely by mail between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
$2,800.00
Smith, William
An Historical Account of the Expedition Against the Ohio Indians
The first English edition of Bouquet's Expedition Against the Ohio Indians in 1764 by William Smith, published in London in 1766.
Philadelphia / London: T. Jefferies, 1766. Quarto, pp. [i] ii-xiii, [1] 2-71. Three quarter brown morocco, marbled boards, title in gilt over red morocco label. Silk bookmark sewn in. Complete with four copper engraved plates and fold-out map of the Ohio Territory. First signature slightly loose along bottom edge, otherwise solid text block.
The first edition of this work was published in 1765 by William Bradford in Philadelphia. An appendix was added to this first English edition. Includes two copper plates by Grignon, based on drawings by Benjamin West. (Sabin 84617) (Howes S693c) (Thomson 1066) (Field 1442) A scarce copy of this work
Smith, William
An Historical Account of the Expedition Against the Ohio Indians
"The introduction describes Bouquet's successful expedition of 1763, to relieve Fort Pitt from the siege of the Shawnees, Delawares and other Indian tribes. Because of lack of men he was unable to follow up his victory at Bushy Run, and depredations by the Indians continued. He was dispatched again by General Gage in 1764, to force them to make treaties of peace, and to release their prisoners, in both of which aims he was successful.” (Sabin 84616)
$22,500.00
Scarce fold-out frontispiece map by Thomas Hutchins.
The Fire Next Time Baldwin, James
Signed first printing of The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin.
New York: The Dial Press, 1963. Octavo, 120pp, [4]. Publisher's beige cloth, title in red on spine. The first printing, with no additional printings listed. Light red top stain. Solid text block, extraneous numbers in ball point pen on front endpaper, internally near fine. In the publisher's first state dust jacket, $3.50 retail price on front flap, small tissue repair at head and heel of spine, with black ink touchup to wear, offsetting to verso. (Blockson 2829) Housed in a custom red clamshell, title in gilt on morocco label on spine.
Signed by James Baldwin on the half-title page: "Peace. James Baldwin."
This first edition of The Fire Next Time features the first appearance in book form of Down at the Cross and My Dungeon Shook, previously serialized in The New Yorker and The Progressive.
7,800.00
The First Book of Negroes Hughes, Langston
The first printing of The First Book of Negroes by Langston Hughes.
New York: Franklin Watts, Inc., 1952. Square octavo, 69pp. Full green cloth, title in gilt on spine and front cover. Full-color pictorial endpapers. Stated "First Printing" on copyright page. Solid text block, touch of rubbing along edges of binding, a near fine example. Features numerous color and black-and-white illustrations by Ursula Koering. In the publisher's first state dust jacket, $1.75 retail price on front flap, a few chips to corners, short closed tears to top edge, small loss to rear panel. A vibrant example.
This first printing is notable for the inclusion of Josephine Baker; a dancer and actress who was the first Black woman to appear in a major motion picture (Siren of the Tropics). Baker was accused of Communist sympathies by New York columnist Walter Winchell in 1951, which led to her fleeing to France for nearly a decade These accusations led to her swift removal from all later printings of this book.
$1,850.00
Freedom's Plow Hughes, Langston
Signed first edition of Freedom's Plow by Langston Hughes, inscribed to philanthropist and NAACP member Amy Spingarn.
New York: Musette Publishers, 1943. Small octavo, 16pp. Original paper wraps, title printed in blue on front cover. Bound at center with staples, as issued. Solid text block, faint foxing to covers, a near fine example. This is the first issue, printed in blue ink with a "For Victory" war bond stamp on rear cover. (Bruccoli & Clark III, 160) Housed in a custom blue morocco clamshell, title in gilt on spine.
Inscribed by Langston Hughes on the verso of the front cover: "For Amy Springarn - With all my best, Sincerely, Lanston."
Amy Spingarn and her husband, Joe, were white philanthropists and art collectors. Amy painted numerous prominent Black cultural figures throughout her career, and spent nearly forty years on the NAACP Board of Directors.
$850.00
Hughes, Langston
Simple Stakes a Claim
Signed first edition of Simple Stakes a Claim by Langston Hughes.
New York: Rinehart and Company, 1949. Octavo, 191pp. Cream hardcover, title printed in black and green on spine. The first printing, with the publisher's "R" logo inside a circle on the copyright page. Solid text block, short split to top edge of front hinge, a near fine example. In the publisher's dust jacket, price-clipped, wear to edges, sunned spine. A few small chips to top edge of spine reinforced with tape to verso. (Blockson 6380) (Bruccoli & Clark III, 165) Housed in a custom green cloth clamshell, title in gilt over green morocco spine.
Inscribed by Hughes on the front free endpaper: "To Irene- Sincerely, Langston / Feb 16, 1959."
The recipient of this copy, Irene Liggins, and her husband Alfred were longstanding members of the NAACP Hughes often visited their house in Cleveland, his high school hometown, when hosting "poetry-to-jazz" evenings at the Karamu House to raise money for the local community center near his alma mater, Central High School.
$1,250.00
Sammy Younge, Jr.
Signed first edition of Sammy Younge, Jr.: The First Black College Student to Die in the Black Liberation Movement by James Forman. This copy is inscribed by Forman to Dr. Quentin Young, a white physician who provided care to countless activists, including Martin Luther King, Jr.
New York: Grove Press, Inc., 1968. Octavo, 282pp. Full black cloth, title in white on spine. Stated "First Printing" on copyright page. Solid text block, some spotting to covers, light bumps to corners, a near fine example. Features a double-page map and 15 pages of black-and-white photos In the publisher's dust jacket, $5 95 retail price on front flap, shelf worn, with minor peeling to laminate along spine. Housed in a custom black cloth clamshell case, title in gilt on black morocco label affixed to spine.
$1,200.00
Inscribed on the front free endpaper: "To my friend Quentin Young, In Profound admiration + friendship. James Forman 12/15/68."
An exceptional association copy, inscribed in the year of publication and just eight months after the assassination of Dr. King.
Angelou, Maya
All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes
Inscribed to playwright Arthur Miller, a limited edition printing of All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes by Maya Angelou.
morocco, gilt pattern and trim stamped to covers Four raised bands, title in gilt on spine. All edges gilt, lightly scuffed, with green silk bookmark sewn-in. Marbled endpapers. Limitation page stated this copy "has been privately printed and personally signed by Maya Angelou, exclusively for members of The Signed First Edition Society." Solid text block, appears unread.
Inscribed by Angelou on the front flyleaf: "Arthur Miller, I thank you for your great gifts to us all. Maya Angelou, Joy! 1/88." An exceptional association copy.
Arthur Miller (1915-2005) received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1949 for his work, "Death of a Salesman." Miller's writing often had political and social undertones; most notably "The Crucible" (1953), in which he used the Salem witch trials as an allegory for the McCarthyism era of the 1950s.
$2,200.00
21|AFRICANAMERICANA
Parks, Rosa
Quiet Strength
Signed first edition of Quiet Strength: The Faith, the Hope, and the Heart of a Woman Who Changed a Nation by Rosa Parks.
Grand Rapids,: ZondervanPublishingHouse, 1994. Small octavo, 93pp. Gray hardcover, title in silver on spine. Full number line listed on copyright page. Solid text block, small bump to top edge of spine, otherwise fine. In the publisher's dust jacket, $12.99 retail price on front flap, touch of wear to corners, a near fine example.
Signed and dated opposite the title page: "Rosa Parks 2/21/95."
“Despite our gains, discrimination is still very much at work in this country. The dream of which Dr. King spoke - one that should be held by all - has yet to be realized. So the movement continues.” (p. 87)
$1,200.00
Ginsburg, Ruth Bader
My Own Words
Signed first edition of My Own Words by Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
New York: Simon & Schuster, 2016. Octavo, xix, [2], 371pp. Original burnt orange hardcover, title in gilt on black cloth spine. Stated "First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition October 2016" on copyright page, with full number line listed Solid text block, small bump and dust remnants to top edge. In the publisher's dust jacket, $30.00 retail price on front flap, light wear to corners, a near fine piece.
Signed by Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the title page. Includes a certificate of authenticity from Piece of the Past, Inc., member of the UACC.
“I am optimistic... that movement toward enlistment of the talent of all who compose ‘We, the People’ will continue.” (p. xviii)
Gibran, Kahlil
The Prophet
The scarce first edition, first printing of The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, published in 1923.
New York: Alfred A Knopf, 1923 Octavo, [2], 107pp, [3] Black cloth, title stamped in gilt, with notable rubbing to gilt on spine. Title and illustration stamped in bright gilt on front cover. Black topstain. The first printing, with "Published September, 1923" on copyright page with no additional printings listed. Solid text block, sunning to spine, some rubbing to covers. Thin split to front hinge, otherwise fine internally.
Previous ownership inscription and bookseller's impression to front free endpaper. Complete with twelve full-page collotype plates, recreated from original illustrations by Gibran. Housed in a custom black cloth clamshell, title in gilt on black morocco label affixed to spine.
$6,200.00
Silent Spring Carson, Rachel
Signed first edition of Silent Spring by Rachel Carson, from the library of fellow conservationist James W. Eike, the president of the Virginia Society of Ornithology.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1962 Octavo, x, [6], 368pp Green cloth, gilt title on spine and cover. Yellow top-stain, patterned endpapers. Stated "First Printing" on copyright page. Solid text block, slight bumps to edges of spine, a near fine example. In the publisher's first state dust jacket, $5.00 retail price on front flap, chipping to spine and corners, touch of shelf wear, a vibrant example. Thin dampstain along bottom edge of rear flap, faint stain to bottom edge of text block, no impact to text or stability of jacket. Housed in a custom black morocco clamshell, title in gilt on green label over spine.
This copy belonged to Mr. and Mrs. James W. Eike, with his ownership stamp on the half-title. Inscribed by the author on the half-title: "Best Wishes / Rachel Carson." A beautiful example of a landmark work in environmental science and public health.
$7,250.00
Carnegie, Andrew
American Four-In-Hand In Britain
Presentation copy of An American Four-In-Hand in Britain by Andrew Carnegie, inscribed to the "playmate of my mother."
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1888. Octavo, viii, 338pp, [1], [4pp catalogue]. Red cloth, title stamped in gilt on spine. Light soiling to cloth, small spotting along lower edge of text block. Solid text block.
This book is dedicated to "My Favorite Heroine, My Mother," and is inscribed on the same page: "To Dear Mr. Childers / The play mate of my Mother - Andrew Carnegie."
Andrew Carnegie's mother, Margaret Morrison Carnegie (1787–1866) was born in Dunfermline, Scotland At her direction, the Carnegie family immigrated to the United States in 1848, where they settled in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Carnegie later credited much of his success to her guidance and example of dedicated work.
$1,850.00
Round the World Carnegie, Andrew
The second edition of Round The World, signed by Andrew Carnegie.
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1891. Octavo, vi, [2], 360pp, [8pp catalogue].
Publisher's red cloth, title stamped in gilt on spine, illustration on cover. Light sunning to spine, rubbing to head of spine, drip mark on front cover Solid text block, internally clean, front hinge reinforced. Housed in custom red cloth clamshell, title in gilt on label on spine.
Inscribed on the dedication page: "Telora Bryco / with best wishes of / Andrew Carnegie / New York / May 8, 1893 "
Carnegie’s travelogue focuses on his global travels in 1878-1879, in countries like India, China, Japan, and Egypt, where he discusses not only their cultural and political landscapes but also the impact of Western imperialism and industrialization
