Baldwin, James
The Fire Next Time
New York: The Dial Press: 1963
- $300
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.
More from B & B Rare Books, Ltd.
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."Collected Shorter Plays of Samuel Beckett
First edition thus. Presentation copy, inscribed by Beckett to Mel Gussow on title page: "For Mel / from his friend / Sam / Paris / July 1985." Publisher's original green, white, and gray patterned wrappers, with illustration of Beckett by Sue Linney to front wrapper, lettered in black and green. Near fine, with a few light marks and creases to edges of wrappers, very mild toning to spine, and edges of pages lightly toned. Overall, a lovely presentation copy. This copy comes from Mel Gussow's personal library. This volume contains twenty-nine of Beckett's shorter plays, including classics like All That Fall, Krapp's Last Tape, Embers, Acts Without Words, and Catastrophe. These shorter works are exemplary of Beckett's signature minimalism. According to Britannica, "Beckett's later works tended toward extreme concentration and brevity . Such brevity is merely an expression of Beckett's determination to pare his writing to essentials, to waste no words on trivia." Unquestionably one of the greatest playwrights of the 20th century, Beckett's other notable works include The Trilogy (Molloy; Malone Dies; The Unnamable), Endgame, and his most celebrated work, Waiting for Godot. He received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1969.Waiting for Godot: A Tragicomedy in Two Acts
Later edition. Presentation copy, signed and inscribed by Beckett on title page: "For Mel / With all good wishes / from Sam / Paris / 29.8.84." Publisher's white wrappers, with a drawing of a tree and hand by Sidney Nolan on front wrapper, printed in black. About fine, with just a hint of soiling to wrappers, and light toning to margins of pages. Overall, an excellent inscribed copy of Beckett's greatest work. This copy comes from the personal library of Mel Gussow. Waiting for Godot - originally written in French, under the title En attendant Godot - is an absurdist play about two main characters, Vladimir and Estragon, who converse in witty and amusing banter while they wait for Godot, who ultimately never arrives. The play premiered in Paris at the Théâtre de Babylone in January 1953. A theatrical masterpiece, Godot was voted the "most significant English-language play of the 20th century" in a poll of 800 playwrights, actors, directors and journalists conducted by the British Royal National Theatre.Proust
First American edition. One of 250 copies signed and numbered by Beckett on the limitation page, this being number 76. Publisher's brown cloth-backed white patterned paper-covered boards, with front board and spine lettered in gilt. Near fine, with light toning to spine and upper edges of boards, and just a hint of spotting to rear board. Overall, a beautiful copy, seemingly unread. From the personal library of American theater critic and friend of Beckett, Mel Gussow. Proust, Beckett's second published book, is a dense study of the French author Marcel Proust, which gives insight into Beckett's own burgeoning ideas on writing. Beckett wrote the essay in 1930 as a commission for Chatto & Windus' Dolphin Books series. In all, fourteen titles were published in the series, which only ran from 1930 to 1932. Beckett went on to write classic works like The Trilogy (Molloy; Malone Dies; The Unnamable) (1951-1953), Endgame (1957), and his most celebrated piece, Waiting for Godot (1953). He received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1969.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."Compagnie
Beckett, Samuel Translated from the original English by the author. First French trade 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 / Paris / July 1982." Publisher's original white wrappers, front wrapper and spine lettered in blue and black. Near fine, with light toning to spine and edges, and a small patch of light surface damage to rear wrapper. Overall, a fresh and clean copy. This copy comes from Mel Gussow's personal library. Compagnie (Company) is a semi-autobiographical prose piece that tells the story of an older man lying on his back in the dark as an ethereal, unidentified voice narrates an extended third person monologue. As with many of the author's prose and dramatic works, Compagnie is lauded for its deconstructive form. Beckett, an Irish author and native English speaker, moved to France and subsequently transitioned from writing in English to French. Beckett first wrote this story in English and published it as Company in 1979 before translating it into French for this edition.- $900
- $900
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Rowling, J. K. Illustrated by Jason Cockcroft. First edition, first printing. Publisher's pictorial boards with Harry and Dumbledore surrounded by fire, lettered in blue, green, and white; in its matching pictorial dust jacket. Near fine book, with a very tiny bump to bottom edge of front board, a touch of creasing, and an almost imperceptible streak of yellow staining to fore edge of text block; near fine unclipped dust jacket, with light fading to spine, and light wear to head of spine. Overall, an excellent copy. Errington A13(a). Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the penultimate novel in the Harry Potter series and accordingly addresses many of the mysteries of the wizarding world that enshrouded the first five novels. Specifically, the novel explores how the orphaned Tom Riddle transformed into the Dark Lord and how Voldemort was able to survive despite being struck by his own death spell. In his sixth year at Hogwarts, Harry works with Professor Dumbledore to prepare for his final showdown with Voldemort - a battle of good versus evil that will determine the fate of the wizarding and muggle worlds alike. Notably, The Half-Blood Prince is significantly darker than the series' preceding novels and sets the stage for its final installment Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.- $275
- $275
En attendant Godot
Beckett, Samuel Later edition. Presentation copy, signed and inscribed by Beckett on title page: "For / Mel Gussow / very cordially / Sam Beckett." Publisher's white wrappers, with image of Vladimir and Estragon to front wrapper, printed in black and blue. About fine, with just a hint of toning and soiling to wrappers. Overall, a lovely association copy. This copy comes from the personal library of Mel Gussow. Waiting for Godot - originally written in French, under the title En attendant Godot - is an absurdist play about two main characters, Vladimir and Estragon, who converse in witty and amusing banter while they wait for Godot, who ultimately never arrives. The play premiered in Paris at the Théâtre de Babylone in January 1953. A theatrical masterpiece, Godot was voted the "most significant English-language play of the 20th century" in a poll of 800 playwrights, actors, directors and journalists conducted by the British Royal National Theatre.- $1,500
- $1,500
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.Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Rowling, J. K. 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.- $175
- $175
Profiles in Courage
Kennedy, John F. Cardinal edition, 15th printing (February 1961). Signed by Kennedy on verso of front wrapper. From the Robert L. White collection. Publisher's gold wrappers, printed in red, white, blue, and black, with 35c price to rear wrapper. Very good, with a tiny bit of flaking to spine (lettering unaffected), very light soiling to wrappers, a touch of wear to spine ends, a tiny crease to bottom right corner of front wrapper, light remainder mark to top edge of text block, and some toning to pages. Overall, a tight and pleasing copy. 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.- $2,500
- $2,500
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
- $900
The Pale Horse
Christie, Agatha First edition, first printing. Publisher's red cloth, spine stamped in black; in its original black dust jacket, with red horizontal lines design, lettered in white and blue. Near fine book, with light toning to head of spine, a couple of small bumps to board edges, lightly bumped corners, and contemporary gift inscription to front free endpaper; very good clipped dust jacket, with light toning to spine, a touch of wear to spine ends, a small closed tear to top edge of front panel, and light soiling to rear panel. Overall, an attractive copy. In The Pale Horse, a priest is murdered, and a note is found in his shoe with a list of names, suspected to be the killer's targets. The book's protagonist, Mark Easterbrook, gets involved in the case, which leads him to an old inn called "The Pale Horse," run by three modern day witches. The Pale Horse is one of Agatha Christie's few books that centers around witchcraft, and features some characters from other books of hers, most notably crime novelist Ariadne Oliver. Interestingly, the book is credited with saving some people's lives, as it brought the symptoms of thallium poisoning to the attention of readers. In 2020, the book was adapted into a BBC One two-part series starring Mark Sewell as Easterbrook.- $200
- $200
Samhain: An Occasional Review
Yeats, W. B. (William Butler) [Editor] 7 volumes. Volumes 3 - 7 illustrated with frontispieces. Publisher's brown wrappers, printed in black. Near fine set, with some small closed tears and creasing to edges of wrappers, light chipping to spine ends of Vol. 1, "The City College" bookplate to insides of front wrappers, and uncut pages. Overall, a clean and complete set of the influential periodical. Housed in a custom blue folding chemise. In 1899, W. B. Yeats, Lady Gregory, and Edward Martyn - with a shared vision of establishing a national theater for Ireland - founded the Irish Literary Theatre. The theater closed in 1901, but from its ashes rose the Abbey Theatre in 1904. As part of their theatrical mission, Yeats and his friends created the short-lived periodical Beltaine (1899 - 1900), followed by Samhain, which ran from 1901 - 1908. In the first issue of Samhain, Yeats writes, "I have called this little collection of writings Samhain, the old name for the beginning of winter, because our plays this year are in October, and because our Theatre is coming to an end in its present shape." Samhain included reviews, essays on Irish theater, and excerpts from Irish language plays, with contributions by Yeats, Lady Gregory, Martyn, Douglas Hyde, and J. M. Synge.- $1,750
- $1,750
Lolita
Nabokov, Vladimir Two volumes. First edition, fourth printing. Publisher's stained-glass designed wrappers, lettered in white. Near fine set, internally clean, with light wear to spine ends, light rubbing to edges and spine folds, and a hint of fading to spines. Overall, a very charming set. A controversial novel due to its racy subject matter, Lolita tells the story of Humbert Humbert, a professor of literature with a penchant for pre-teen "nymphets." Specifically, Nabokov chronicles the unstable narrator's romantic interest in Dolores Haze, the daughter of his landlord and wife, whom he privately nicknames "Lolita." Lolita was first published in 1955 as part of The Olympia Press' The Traveller's Companion series, which included other literary classics like Henry Miller's Quiet Days in Clichy (1956) and William S. Burroughs' The Naked Lunch (1959), among others. The Olympia Press was well known for its liberal selection of literature; many English-speaking authors published their books with Olympia in Paris after being rejected by other publishing houses. Notably, in 1962, Lolita was adapted into a film by Stanley Kubrick starring Sue Lyon and James Mason.- $300
- $300
Star Wars Comic Book Issue #1
Thomas, Roy [Writer]; Chaykin, Howard [Artist]. Publishers pictorial wrappers, with colorful illustration of heroes in front of Darth Vader and the Death Star by Howard Chaykin and Tom Palmer to front panel, Spalding advertisement to rear panel. With CGC grade of 9.8. Fine, with the CGCs only note being "off-white to white pages." Overall, a bright and beautiful copy of the first issue of Marvel Comics Star Wars series. Star Wars #1 is the first issue of a six-part adaptation of Star Wars (later retitled Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope), the first film in the original Star Wars trilogy. This issue recreates the beginning of the film, up until Luke Skywalker, tracking down R2D2, is attacked by a band of Sand People. George Lucas approached Marvel in 1975 with the idea of a comic book adaptation to help promote the upcoming film, and after some initial hesitation Stan Lee greenlit the project. In total, Marvel Comics published 108 Star Wars issues and 3 annuals from 1977 to 1986. The comics were very successful and helped Marvel Comics stay afloat financially during a difficult period for the company near the end of the 1970s. Notably, this first issue was released more than a month before the film - the comic was published on April 12, 1977 and Star Wars debuted in theaters on May 25, 1977.- $6,000
- $6,000
The Life You Imagine, Life Lessons for Achieving Your Dreams
Jeter, Derek; Curry, Jack Illustrated with photographs. First edition, first printing. Signed by Jeter in black marker on title page. Publisher's blue cloth, with spine lettered in silver foil; in its original blue dust jacket, with photo of Jeter taken by Tom DiPace to front panel, lettered in white, black, and yellow. Fine book; about fine unclipped dust jacket, with a touch of curling to panel edges, and "autographed copy" sticker to front panel. With fine 2000 World Series, Game 2 (Yankees vs. Mets), ticket laid in. Also with Barnes & Noble book signing ticket laid in. Overall, a crisp signed copy. The Life You Imagine is "an inspiring, information-packed look at how Derek was able to go from dreaming about World Series victories to living them" (front flap). New York Yankees shortstop and captain, Derek Jeter is the Yankees all-time career leader in hits, doubles, games played, plate appearances and at bats. He's a 14-time All-Star, AL Rookie of the Year, winner of 5 Gold Gloves and 5 Silver Slugger Awards, 2 AL Hank Aaron Awards, a Roberto Clemente Award and the 2000 World Series MVP. Jeter played a critical role to lead the Yankees to five World Series Championships in his 20-year career with the Yankees from 1995-2014. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020 (first ballot) and most recently is CEO and part owner of the Miami Marlins.- $400
- $400
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
- $850
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
The Red Badge of Courage
Second edition, first printing. Publisher's tan buckram, front board and spine lettered and decorated in red and black, initial "T" on front board set in a gilt panel, and brown endpapers. Very good, with light soiling to cloth, a touch of rubbing to spine ends and corners, and clean interior. Overall, a sturdy copy, without any nicks or tears. The Red Badge of Courage, Crane's second novel, is widely considered the author's masterpiece and is the work that propelled him to literary acclaim. An American Civil War novel, it features the fictional Union Army private Henry Fleming who dreams of achieving glory through combat only to become disillusioned with war after his enlistment. After deserting his regiment, Fleming longs for a "red badge of courage," or a battle wound that would assuage his shame at his own cowardice. Notably, although Crane was born several years after the Civil War, The Red Badge of Courage is lauded for its uncanny ability to evoke the feel of a battlefield.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.The Lorax
Illustrated by Dr. Seuss. First edition, first printing. Publisher's pictorial paper-covered boards with an illustration of the Lorax standing on a stump to front board. Very good or better book, with some toning to boards and spine, light wear to edges, tiny dent to top edge of rear board, and a tiny spot of soiling to bottom left of front board. Overall, an excellent copy of Dr. Seuss's classic environmental book, very clean internally. In The Lorax, a boy in a heavily polluted town meets the Once-ler, who tells the boy about a time in the past when the valley was beautiful and filled with Truffula trees. The Once-ler discovered that he could convert Truffula trees into garments called Thneeds and created a booming industry in the area. A short gruff creature called the Lorax warned the Once-ler of the environmental impact of his business, but the Once-ler ignored him, until at last all the trees were gone. At the end of the book, the Once-ler, now remorseful, gives the boy a single Truffula seed. The Lorax is one of Dr. Seuss's most famous works and is recognized as an important contribution to the environmental movement. The story, written at a time of growing environmental awareness (Earth Day was established in 1970) was partially based on the sadness that Geisel felt regarding the destruction of eucalyptus trees in his La Jolla, CA neighborhood.Signed Photograph of Willie Mays and Al Kaline
[No date]. 8" x 10" photo. Signed by Mays and Kaline in blue marker. Black and white photo of Mays and Kaline in their Giants and Tigers uniforms respectively. Fine, with Beckett authentication sticker to bottom right corner. Overall, an excellent photo signed by two Hall of Famers. Nicknamed the "Say Hey Kid", Mays was one of greatest all around players baseball has ever seen. He won 12 Gold Glove Awards, two NL MVP awards, led the league 4 times in both home runs and stolen bases, and recorded over 3000 career hits and 500 home runs (660 total home runs, sixth all-time). Al Kaline, nicknamed "Mr. Tiger," spent his entire 22-year playing career with the Detroit Tigers (1953-1974), and continued to work within the organization until his death in 2020. During his time in the league, Kaline won 10 Gold Glove Awards and earned a spot on eighteen All-Star teams. Both Mays and Kaline were inducted into the Hall of Fame in their first years of eligibility, Mays in 1979, and Kaline the following year in 1980.Poem
Limited first edition. One of 100 numbered copies signed by Bishop (an additional 26 copies lettered A-Z, not for sale, were printed), this being number 28. Original string-tied marbled wrappers, with white label to front wrapper, printed in black. Fine. Overall, a charming and scarce publication. Bishop's "Poem" was first published in the New Yorker in 1972 and later appeared in her acclaimed poetry collection, Geography III (1976). In the semi-autobiographical poem, the narrator finds an old painting of a Nova Scotian town that had "spent 70 years as a minor family relic handed along collaterally to owners who looked at it sometimes, or didn't bother to." The narrator recognizes the town from her youth and reflects on her connection with the painter. Regarded as one of the greatest American poets of the 20th century, Bishop won the 1956 Pulitzer Prize for her second volume of poetry, Poems: North & South/A Cold Spring (1955), and the 1970 National Book Award for The Complete Poems (1969).The Fire Next Time: https://rarebookinsider.com/rare-books/the-fire-next-time/