Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Rare Book Insider
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Rowling, J. K.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

London: Bloomsbury: 2007
  • $175
First edition, first printing. Publisher's pictorial paper-covered boards; in the matching pictorial dust jacket illustrated by Jason Cockcroft with an image of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. About fine book, with just a touch of creasing to spine ends; a hint of creasing to head of spine, else fine unclipped jacket. Errington A14(a). The seventh and final book in the popular series by J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows brings the adventures of Harry Potter and his companions to a dramatic end. After several brushes with death at the hands of Lord Voldemort, Harry and the rest of the trio fight alongside their friends and family in the Battle of Hogwarts to determine the fate of the school and the wizarding world. The story deepens Rowling's exploration of good versus evil as various characters are revealed to have more complex motivations behind their actions, testing the sympathy of both their enemies and the reader. At its release, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows broke the record for fastest-selling book ever, with 15 million copies sold within 24 hours.
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Catastrophe et autres dramaticules (Cette fois, Solo, Berceuse, Impromptu d’Ohio)

First edition, first printing. Presentation copy, signed and inscribed by Beckett to Mel Gussow on title page: "For Mel Gussow / With all good wishes / Sam Beckett / 24.6.83." Publisher's original white wrappers, front wrapper and spine lettered in blue and black. About fine, with just some light toning to spine and edges. Overall, an excellent association copy, from Mel Gussow's personal library. In Catastrophe, an imperious director and his assistant prepare a man, who stands on an 18" black block with his eyes looking down, for the last scene of a dramatic performance. After making dehumanizing adjustments to the man's appearance, like stripping him down to his pajamas, they do a run through of the scene, which ends with the director exclaiming "There's our catastrophe! In the bag." They do one more run through, but this time the man raises his eyes defiantly to the crowd. Catastrophe, often interpreted as a commentary on totalitarianism, was dedicated by Beckett to imprisoned Czech playwright, Václav Havel. The play was filmed as part of the Beckett on Film project (2002), directed by David Mamet and starring Harold Pinter as the Director. Mel Gussow (1933 - 2005) was an American theater and movie critic who contributed more than 4,000 articles and reviews to the New York Times over a span of 35 years. Gussow first met Beckett in 1978, and the two continued to meet and converse informally on life and art about once a year for the next 10 years until Beckett's death in 1989 (their final meeting was at Beckett's French nursing home where he later passed away). Gussow drew from these meetings to write his book, Conversations with and about Beckett (1996) - one in a series of four "Conversation" books, the others featuring conversations with playwrights Arthur Miller, Harold Pinter, and Tom Stoppard. Gussow's Beckett book is particularly illuminating given that the enigmatic playwright famously declined to do interviews for most of his lifetime. Gussow also wrote Beckett's NYT obituary in 1989, titled "Samuel Beckett is Dead at 83; His 'Godot' Changed Theater."
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Worstward Ho

First edition, first printing. Presentation copy, signed and inscribed by Beckett to American theater critic Mel Gussow on title page: "For / Mel Gussow / With all best wishes / Sam Beckett / Paris / 24.6.83." Publisher's green cloth, with titles in gilt to spine; in its original white and green dust jacket, printed in black and green, with photo of Beckett to rear panel attributed to Jerry Bauer. Fine in an about fine unclipped dust jacket, with a tiny crease to top of rear panel, a light crease to top corner of rear flap, and a hint of toning to extremities. Overall, a beautiful copy with an excellent association. This copy comes from the personal library of Mel Gussow. Worstward Ho is Samuel Beckett's penultimate novella. From the jacket's description: "As so often before, Mr. Beckett has created magic, transforming the emptiest of voids and insubstantiality of material into a whole unforgettable world that will live with the reader and become part of his own world of experience." Notably, the work contains one of Beckett's most famous quotes: "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." Mel Gussow (1933 - 2005) was an American theater and movie critic who contributed more than 4,000 articles and reviews to the New York Times over a span of 35 years. Gussow first met Beckett in 1978, and the two continued to meet and converse informally on life and art about once a year for the next 10 years until Beckett's death in 1989 (their final meeting was at Beckett's French nursing home where he later passed away). Gussow drew from these meetings to write his book, Conversations with and about Beckett (1996) - one in a series of four "Conversation" books, the others featuring conversations with playwrights Arthur Miller, Harold Pinter, and Tom Stoppard. Gussow's Beckett book is particularly illuminating given that the enigmatic playwright famously declined to do interviews for most of his lifetime. Gussow also wrote Beckett's NYT obituary in 1989, titled "Samuel Beckett is Dead at 83; His 'Godot' Changed Theater."
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Profiles in Courage, Decisive Moments in the Lives of Celebrated Americans

First edition, early printing (no first edition statement on copyright page, with Harper code "c-g" that corresponds to March 1957). Signed and inscribed by Kennedy on front free endpaper. From the Robert L. White collection. Publisher's black cloth-backed blue paper-covered boards, with spine lettered in gilt; in its original red, white, and blue dust jacket with $3.50 price, designed by Phil Grushkin. Good book, with a circular spot of staining to bottom left of front board, some light soiling to spine, bright gilt, a few light marks to rear board, some rubbing to edges of boards, corners worn to boards, and a light bump to fore edge of front board; very good unclipped dust jacket, with some fading to spine, very bright front panel, shallow chipping to spine ends, a few small closed tears to panel edges, some very light spotting to panels, and a tiny area of light staining to rear fold of spine. Overall, a solid, internally clean copy, inscribed by the 35th president of the United States. Profiles in Courage is a collection of short biographical sketches of "decisive moments in the lives of celebrated Americans" and the winner of the 1957 Pulitzer Prize for Biography. In this text, Kennedy, then a Senator of Massachusetts, provides a history of Senators who defied the opinions of their political parties during moments of important historical decision. Specifically, he discusses Quincy Adams' departure from the Federalist Party, Daniel Webster's support of the Compromise of 1850, and Sam Houston's denouncement of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, among others.
The Life and Exploits of the Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote De La Mancha

The Life and Exploits of the Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote De La Mancha

Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel De Four volumes. Illustrated with 19 b/w engraved plates, frontispiece plate to Vol. I, and a fold-out map of Spain to Vol. I. Translated from the original Spanish by Charles Jervas (incorrectly printed in editions of Don Quixote as "Jarvis"). First edition thus. Finely bound by Brentano's in full red morocco, with boards double-ruled in gilt, five raised bands to spines, two black leather labels to spines, spines lettered, ruled, and elaborately decorated in gilt, gilt turn-ins, all edges gilt, and light blue endpapers. A very good set, with light wear to spines, some rubbing to joints, light toning to spines and rear board of Vol. II, light scuffing to boards, some corners worn to boards, "Edmond L. Wise" bookplates to front pastedowns, plates and fold-out map clean and intact, and light offsetting to pages facing plates. Overall, a handsome and clean set, with very sturdy hinges. First published in two volumes in 1605 and 1615, Don Quixote is widely considered one of the most influential works in the history of Spanish literature and an important part of the foundation of Western literature. The story tells of the fictional nobleman Alonso Quijano, an avid reader who sets out on a delusional journey to revive the antiquated notions of chivalry that were idealized in Medieval literature. Labeling himself a knight-errant and going by the name of Don Quixote de la Mancha, Alonso employs the help of a local farmer-turned-squire and travels through the countryside in a series of misguided attempts to save the innocent from harm. This edition contains Charles Jervas' translation, which was first published posthumously in 1742 and has been praised as being "close in spirit to the original" (ODNB). Jervas (1675 - 1739) was an accomplished portrait painter, and part of an impressive London literary circle that included Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift.
  • $900
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The Fire Next Time

Baldwin, James First edition, first printing. Publisher's cream cloth, lettered in red; in its original black dust jacket designed by Paul Bacon, lettered in red and orange, with photograph of Baldwin by Mottke Weissman to the rear panel. Near fine book, with light toning to spine, faint spot of thumbsoiling to p. 73; very good unclipped dust jacket, with light wear to spine ends, some light rubbing and creasing to edges, small closed tear to bottom of rear panel, and some light marks to panels and spine. Overall, a solid copy. This influential work by American writer and activist James Baldwin contains two essays, "My Dungeon Shook - Letter to my Nephew on the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Emancipation" and "Down at the Cross - Letter from a Region of My Mind." Written during the height of the civil rights movement of the 1950's and 60's, these two essays put forth Baldwin's perspective on the struggle for Black liberation in the United States. In "My Dungeon Shook," Baldwin addresses his nephew, James, and implores him to defy the expectations and limits set for him by white oppressors. Baldwin writes, "Please try to remember that what [white people] believe, as well as what they do and cause you to endure, does not testify to your inferiority but to their inhumanity and fear." In the longer of the two essays, "Down at the Cross," Baldwin recounts his experiences growing up in Harlem and in the Church, chronicling the daily realities faced by himself and other young Black people in what amounts to one of the most important treatises on race relations ever published. The Fire Next Time continues to be referenced by modern civil rights leaders and activists and is an important anti-racism text.
  • $300
Autograph Manuscript Signed

Autograph Manuscript Signed

Tuckerman, Henry T. One leaf (two pp.), 52-line poem titled "Memory," written on plain paper. Signed and dated by Tuckerman at end of poem, on verso. Near fine, with just some light spotting. Overall, a lovely manuscript, without any nicks or tears. Memory When the cares of present being, Wake a tumult in the breast, To the Past the spirit fleeing, Lulls its anxious fears to rest. Herbal, book or faded letter Murmurs of departed years, Fancy freed from Custom's teller, Smiles serenely through her tears. Roaming then the hallowed places Where we quaffed love's fountain new, When Hope's young and winning graces Pure enchantment round us threw; With the primal transport glowing, Tossed upon the sea of Youth; Life's pale star its course retraces, Back the tides of feeling roll, And the dear remembered faces Rise again before the soul. Eyes where fond rays long have perished Make the languid pulses start, Tones whose echo love has cherished Fall again upon the heart. Hands that smoothed an infants' tresses, The worn brow benignly seek, Lips that hailed a child's caresses, Press again the pallid cheek. Up Time's current meekly stealing, Wafted to a distant land, Mark we with ecstatic feeling, Well-known haunts along the Strand. Streams long mute with charm subduing Greet us in the balmy air, Vistas green o'er senses cooing, Lure us down the winding stair. Forms that long won our devotion Thread again familiar ways, Smiles that wake divine emotion, Beam as in more happy days. At old altars then renewing Vows that fate forbade to keep, Bygone paths of bliss pursuing, Pearls we draw from Sorrow's Deep. Musing thus upon the vanished, Blended grow life's varied hues, And the darker shades are banished Or made bright with early dews. Calmly thus we see things fading In the twilight of the past, To the heart its griefs upbraiding, - Whispering that they cannot last. Henry T. Tuckerman (1813 - 1871) was a Boston-born writer who published acclaimed essays, biographies, poems, and sketches. He was an important part of the New York literary world after 1845, and was friends with major authors like Herman Melville, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Washington Irving. Interestingly, he received an order from the King of Italy "in recognition of his labors on behalf of Italian exiles in the United States." Tuckerman's cousin was Frederick Goddard Tuckerman, a highly respected yet reclusive 19th century poet, who only published one collection, Poems (1860), in his lifetime. It was received favorably by such writers as Hawthorne and Lord Alfred Tennyson.
  • $850
1919 White Sox team ("Black Sox Scandal") photo.

1919 White Sox team (“Black Sox Scandal”) photo.

[Jackson, Joe] 1919. 8 ½ " x 10 ½ " Type 1 black and white photo. Original photo of 1919 Chicago White Sox team in uniforms, seated in front of the bleachers, with Joe Jackson at far left. Very good photo, with a small closed tear to top edge, some writing in black marker to bottom of photo, and some trimming to edges. Overall, a scarce original photo of a team that features prominently in baseball lore. In the Black Sox Scandal, eight Chicago White Sox players - Arnold "Chick" Gandil, Eddie Cicotte, Oscar "Happy" Felsch, "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, Fred McMullin, Charles "Swede" Risberg, George "Buck" Weaver, and Claude "Lefty" Williams - were accused of fixing the 1919 World Series (the White Sox lost the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds five games to three in a best-of-nine series). In response to the scandal, the autocratic former federal judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis was appointed as Commissioner of the league in 1920. Kenesaw banned the eight accused White Sox players from the league for life, and they were also banned from Hall of Fame consideration. There is a lot of controversy regarding Joe Jackson's Hall of Fame ban, stemming from unanswered questions about the extent of his participation in the fix (he accepted a bribe, yet performed extremely well in the series, with a .375 batting average and a then-record 12 base hits). Regardless, he was one of the all-time great professional baseball players, boasting a .356 lifetime batting average. Interestingly, Babe Ruth copied Jackson's batting technique, specifically his "feet-together batting stance and his power stride into the pitch" (Britannica). In 1982, W. P. Kinsella published the book Shoeless Joe, which was later adapted into the classic film, Field of Dreams (1989).
  • $3,500
  • $3,500
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Across the River and Into the Trees

First American edition, first printing, in a first state dust jacket with black and yellow lettering to spine (later states have orange lettering on spine). Publisher's black cloth, author's signature stamped in gilt to front board, titles in gilt to spine; in the original first state dust jacket designed by Adriana Ivancich, with an illustration of Venice to the front panel, and photograph of Hemingway by Paul Radkai to rear panel. Near fine book, with light rubbing to gilt on spine, bottom corners of boards lightly bumped, a touch of offsetting to endpapers, and a postage stamp with Hemingway illustration affixed to title page; very good unclipped dust jacket, with light chipping and wear to head of spine, light edgewear with a couple of small closed tears, corners lightly nicked, and a bit of creasing to front flap. Overall, a handsome book in an unfaded example of its earliest state dust jacket. Hanneman A23. Originally published serially in Cosmopolitan from February - June 1950, Across the River and Into the Trees tells the story of American Colonel Richard Cantwell during the last day of his life as he recalls his experiences in war and love as a younger man in Venice. Hemingway took the title of this novel from the last words of General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, quoted on page 307: "Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees." Like much of his writing, this novel is highly autobiographical. Also in typical Hemingway fashion, Across the River utilizes the Iceberg Theory, in which the true essence of the story is not expressly said in the plot but rather is meant to be inferred. Adriana Ivancich, who designed this edition's dust jacket, made Hemingway's acquaintance while the author was visiting Venice in 1949 and subsequently became his muse. This first American edition, published on September 7, 1950, was preceded by the British edition, which was released only 3 days prior on September 4th.