The Seven Seas

Rudyard Kipling — D. Appleton and Company, 1898

Edition: Early American issue; gilt-stamped binding; 1904 ownership inscription.

Condition: Very Good — bright gilt to cover and spine, light age toning, tight binding, clean interior.

Description: A richly decorated 1898 Appleton edition of Kipling’s celebrated poetry collection. With its Art Nouveau gilt and early provenance, this copy exemplifies late-Victorian craftsmanship and literary heritage.

$450

Silas Marner

George Eliot — T. Nelson & Sons, Ltd., ca. early 1900s

Edition: Decorative binding edition; embossed burgundy cloth with gilt spine titling.

Condition: Very Good — firm binding, clean text block with light age toning and gentle shelfwear; gilt spine remains bright and legible.

Description: A handsome early 20th-century decorative Nelson edition of George Eliot’s classic novel. Bound in rich burgundy cloth, this collectible copy reflects the elegance of Edwardian book-crafting and makes a distinguished addition to any classic literature shelf.

$95

Being and Nothingness

Jean-Paul Sartre — Philosophical Library, 1956 (First English Translation)

Edition: First U.S. edition, first English translation; typographic dust jacket in yellow & black.

Condition: Very Good+ book / Near Fine jacket — bright, clean, tight copy with only a small reference label on lower spine from prior library ownership.

Description: The landmark of existentialist philosophy by Jean-Paul Sartre, presented here in its first English translation by Hazel E. Barnes. A striking collectible copy with vivid jacket and near-pristine internals—ideal for display, study, or serious collectors.

$325

Rod McKuen — Complete Stanyan Poetry Collection (Set of 5)

Stanyan Books / Random House, 1969 – 1971

Edition: First and early Stanyan printings (1969–1971), uniform publisher format issued jointly with Random House.

Condition: Fine to Near Fine set — bright jackets protected in Brodart archival covers; light shelf touch only; several volumes with neat personal gift inscriptions adding period charm.

Description: A beautiful five-volume set celebrating Rod McKuen’s lyrical voice at the height of his career. Includes With Love, Pastorale, New Ballads, Caught in the Quiet, and The Carols of Christmas. Issued by McKuen’s own Stanyan Books imprint, these editions capture the blend of poetry and pop culture that defined a generation.

Why Collectible: Complete Stanyan sets in uniform condition are increasingly scarce. They represent a moment when poetry crossed into mainstream music and design culture — a true snapshot of 1960s–1970s American literary aesthetics.

$225

Meet Me in the Green Glen

Robert Penn Warren — Random House, 1971

Edition: First edition, first printing (stated “First Edition” with full number line); printed and bound by Haddon Craftsmen.

Condition: Fine book; Near Fine dust jacket (price-clipped), now protected in Brodart. Clean, tight, and bright with only a trace of shelf touch.

Description: Warren’s late-career novel—by the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of All the King’s Men—issued by Random House in 1971. A handsome production and an exemplary copy for the modern-literature shelf.

Why Collectible: True first printing in exceptional condition; jacket present and unrestored. Prime copy from a major American author, increasingly scarce this sharp.

$165

La Salle and the Discovery of the Great West

Francis Parkman — Macmillan and Co., London, 1885

Edition: Twelfth Edition, Revised with Additions — Parkman’s final authoritative text in his celebrated chronicle of French exploration in North America.

Condition: Very Good — deep brown cloth with bright gilt lettering on spine; clean interior with light age toning; tight binding. No dust jacket, as issued. Protected in archival sleeve.

Description: Parkman’s La Salle and the Discovery of the Great West recounts the daring 17th-century expeditions of French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, through the Great Lakes and down the Mississippi River. Written with Parkman’s distinctive literary grace, it captures the ambition, peril, and endurance that defined early America. This elegant 1885 Macmillan edition stands as a Victorian-era artifact of historical and literary significance.

Why Collectible: An early Macmillan printing from over 135 years ago, representing the craftsmanship and scholarship of 19th-century American historiography. Parkman’s works form the cornerstone of exploration and frontier literature — this gilt-stamped volume is both a historical document and a display-worthy collectible.

$185

The Poetry of Robert Frost: The Collected Poems, Complete and Unabridged

Robert Frost — Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1979

Edition: Later Printing, Complete and Unabridged — Edited by Edward Connery Lathem, this authoritative collection gathers Frost’s poetry as he intended it to be preserved.

Condition: Very Good — tan cloth hardcover with gilt spine titles and embossed owl emblem; clean interior, tight binding; no dust jacket.

Description: A definitive hardcover edition of The Poetry of Robert Frost, collecting all of the poet’s major works from A Boy’s Will through In the Clearing. Edited by Edward Connery Lathem, Frost’s longtime associate, this complete and unabridged volume reflects the timeless beauty, clarity, and wisdom that make Frost one of America’s most cherished literary voices. The 1979 Holt printing retains the elegant design and scholarly integrity of the original edition.

Why Collectible: The standard reference for Frost’s complete works, presented in a handsome vintage cloth edition. A literary cornerstone for any collection of American poetry and a thoughtful display piece for lovers of classic verse.

$30

McAlmon and the Lost Generation: A Self-Portrait

Robert McAlmon — University of Nebraska Press, 1962

Edition: First Edition — Edited and introduced by Robert E. Knoll. A seminal account of the expatriate literary movement in 1920s Paris.

Condition: Near Fine in Near Fine jacket — clean and bright with only the slightest edge wear; unclipped original dust jacket protected in Brodart archival cover.

Description: In McAlmon and the Lost Generation, publisher and writer Robert McAlmon offers a rare insider’s view of the modernist circles that shaped twentieth-century literature. With candor and wit, he recalls his friendships with Gertrude Stein, Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, and Ezra Pound, capturing the vitality of Paris’s creative ferment. Edited by Robert E. Knoll, this 1962 University of Nebraska Press first edition remains an indispensable primary source for scholars and collectors of the Lost Generation.

Why Collectible: True 1962 first edition in excellent condition with its original unclipped jacket — an exceptional copy of one of the defining memoirs of the modernist era, preserved in Brodart for archival protection.

$95

The Complete Poetical Works of Lord Byron

Lord Byron — The Macmillan Company, 1907

Edition: Early 20th-century Macmillan printing with an introductory memoir by Sir Leslie Stephen. Gilt-stamped green cloth with facsimile signature on the cover and engraved frontispiece portrait.

Condition: Good+ to Very Good — clean, tight binding, mild edge wear, and light age toning. Includes Ramsdell Public Library (Housatonic, MA) bookplate; a few pages reinforced with archival tape for preservation.

Description: A handsome 1907 edition of The Complete Poetical Works of Lord Byron, featuring an insightful introductory memoir by literary critic Sir Leslie Stephen, father of Virginia Woolf. This Macmillan printing showcases the elegance of Edwardian bookmaking, bound in dark green cloth with gilt lettering and a stately portrait frontispiece of Byron. A beautiful example of early 20th-century craftsmanship and a testament to the enduring power of Romantic poetry.

Why Collectible: Over 115 years old and well preserved, this edition represents a bridge between the Victorian and modern literary eras. The Ramsdell Library provenance adds historical significance and regional interest, making it a fine showcase piece for any collector of classic English poetry.

$50

Twenty Years Ago

The Author of “John Halifax, Gentleman” (Dinah Maria Mulock Craik) — Harper & Brothers, c.1870s

Edition: Early American Harper & Brothers printing from the Books for Girls series. Ornate gilt-stamped brown cloth with black decorative borders; period ownership inscription dated 1873.

Condition: Very Good+ — bright gilt and clean pages; tight binding; only light wear at the base of the spine. An unusually well-preserved Victorian gift-book.

Description: A classic of Victorian moral fiction by Dinah Maria Mulock Craik, celebrated author of John Halifax, Gentleman. Issued as part of Harper’s influential Books for Girls line, this handsome edition exemplifies 19th-century gift-book craftsmanship and the era’s emphasis on character, virtue, and domestic courage for young women.

Why Collectible: Elegant gilt cloth binding, early Harper imprint, and dated 1873 provenance. A fine, display-worthy artifact at the crossroads of women’s literature, social history, and decorative book design.

$85

Animal Farm

George Orwell — Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1946

Edition: First-Year American Edition — printed by Kingsport Press, Tennessee. Black cloth with gilt spine lettering; an exceptionally well-preserved example of Orwell’s political allegory.

Condition: Near Fine — clean, tight, and square; bright gilt spine with minimal shelf wear. No dust jacket. A superior copy of this landmark 1946 Harcourt edition.

Description: George Orwell’s Animal Farm is one of the most enduring works of modern political satire—a fable of revolution betrayed and the corruption of power. This first-year American edition captures the stark simplicity of the original wartime production, its plain black binding reflecting the austerity of postwar publishing. Still striking in its minimalism, it embodies Orwell’s unflinching critique of totalitarianism and human frailty.

Why Collectible: A near fine copy of the scarce 1946 Harcourt edition, printed just after Orwell’s breakthrough success in Britain. Even without its dust jacket, this copy’s condition and provenance make it a distinguished collector’s showcase piece representing twentieth-century political literature at its finest.

$500

Little Old New York

Rida Johnson Young — Grosset & Dunlap, 1923 (Photoplay Edition)

Edition: Photoplay tie-in to the 1923 silent film starring Marion Davies; illustrated with scenes from the Cosmopolitan photoplay. Early Grosset & Dunlap movie edition.

Condition: Very Good– / Good+ — sound binding and clean interiors; light rubbing/soil to boards; period bookstore label (Pearlman’s Book Shop, Washington, D.C.); short tear at front endpaper; early pencil notes (“Gina Answers”) to pastedown. No dust jacket.

Description: A charming Broadway-to-screen romance set in 19th-century New York. This photoplay issue pairs Rida Johnson Young’s story with stills of film icon Marion Davies, capturing the golden era of silent cinema and the height of studio book tie-ins. A nice crossover piece for collectors of early Hollywood, theater, and New York history.

Why Collectible: Desirable 1920s movie tie-in with star presence, period illustrations, and original shop label—an appealing display copy that bridges film history and decorative book collecting.

$65

Fields for President

W.C. Fields — Dodd, Mead & Company, 1971 (Fourth Printing)

Edition: 1971 illustrated hardcover featuring photographs selected by Michael M. Taylor, with Taylor’s commentary providing context on Fields’ career and political satire.

Condition: Near Fine — exceptionally clean and tight; bright, unfaded dust jacket now protected in a Brodart archival sleeve. A superior vintage copy.

Description: A sharp and witty political send-up from legendary comedian W.C. Fields. Originally published during renewed cultural fascination with Fields, this edition combines his biting humor with archival images and insightful commentary. A delightful blend of classic comedy, political parody, and Hollywood history.

Why Collectible: Illustrated 1971 Dodd, Mead printing in outstanding condition, with jacket — increasingly uncommon in this state. A high-grade collectible for fans of Fields, vintage comedy, and American satire.

$50

The Assassination of President Kennedy

Warren Commission — McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1964 (First Edition)

Edition: 1964 first edition of the official Warren Commission Report, published by McGraw-Hill with original supplementary material prepared exclusively by The New York Times. Introduction by Harrison E. Salisbury.

Condition: Very Good+ — clean, tight, and bright; gilt lettering sharp. No dust jacket, as issued for many copies. Small water stain on rear board; interior unaffected. A strong, well-preserved example of this significant historical volume.

Description: This landmark report documents the federal investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. With contemporary analysis from The New York Times, this edition offers readers the closest primary-source account of the national tragedy that reshaped American politics, culture, and public trust.

Why Collectible: First editions of the Warren Report remain highly desirable as foundational documents of 20th-century American history. This copy’s clean interior, sharp gilt, and solid condition make it an excellent example for scholars, historians, and collectors of presidential or Cold War–era material.

$75

Spartacus

Howard Fast — Published by the Author, 1952 (Third Printing)

Edition: Self-published 1952 edition of Spartacus, issued by Howard Fast himself when he was blacklisted and major houses refused the book. Third printing (January 1952) in the original yellow dust jacket.

Condition: Near Fine / Like New — crisp, clean pages and tight binding; vibrant jacket with only minor age toning, now preserved in a Brodart archival cover. A premium copy of this important self-published edition.

Description: Fast’s powerful retelling of the slave revolt led by the gladiator Spartacus is both an historical novel and a parable of resistance. Written while Fast was under political scrutiny during the McCarthy era, the book’s themes of freedom, conscience, and rebellion echo the author’s own struggle against censorship and blacklisting. This self-published edition embodies that defiance, making it as historically significant as it is compelling to read.

Why Collectible: A landmark of mid-century political and literary history: a self-published bestseller born directly from the blacklist. High-grade copies in jacket are increasingly scarce, and this example—bright, sharp, and archivally protected—stands out as a showcase piece for collectors of modern literature, civil liberties history, and classic historical fiction.

$350