More "special" books

Disclaimer: I am not well versed in the special descriptive terms of the rare book world, but will be glad to elaborate where needed, and/or send photos.


1. THE DECAMERON by Boccaccio, small book, india paper, publ. "at the Sign of the Caryatid", no date, except engraving in front, of the author is from 1922. Front cover is  starting to detach at bottom for an inch and a half.

2. THE POETICAL WORKS OF GEOFFREY CHAUCER, a new text by Thomas Wright, Esq., published in 1880 by John Wurtele Lovell. Covers in fair shape, but frontispiece and engraving page have become detached.

3. A CHORUS OF FAITH, with intro by Jenkin Lloyd Jones, is a book reporting on a "Parliament of Religions", a conference held by seven major religions,  pub. 1893 in Chicago by the Unity Publishing Co.  inscribed "Mr. Clarence C. Knight"  xmas 1894. Has some wear on top & bottom of  spine.

4.  BALLADS AND OTHER VERSES Publ. by Henry Altemus, Philadelphia. The Kipling Society page online says it was printed in 1897.. some wear at top & bottom of spine, covers show some wear.

5. ANACREON, limited ed. of 500 on handmade paper, this one marked "207" , publ. 1899 by Merrill & Baker, NY.  Illus. by J.E. Weguelin.  Condition good, except front cover split from 1st page.

6. THE RHINEGOLD & THE VALKYRIE, The Ring of the Niblung,  The Rhinegold is First Day of the Trilogy. Illus. by Arthur Rackham in color. Transl. by Margaret Armour, Garden City Publ.1939. condition structurally sound, spine has slight feathering top & bottom.

7. WILLIAM BLAKE'S ILLUMINATED BOOKS: A CENSUS, compiled by Geoffrey Keynes and Edwin Wolf,  Publ. 1953 by The Grolier Club of New York.very good condition

MORE BOOKS-These are very old; some are weird AND old

Note: I can take send digital photos of any book you are interested in...

1. "The Greatest of Expositions", the Official View of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. b/w photos of the exhibits, printed in 1904. This book's spine is detached, but all pages are intact. Fascinating historical pictures. Could be repaired. .

2. "A Book of Unusual Soups", Mary Chambers, 1930, a New Jersey library discard. What a gift for a cookbook collector! Hardbound, 5x7+, good cond, some wear on spine.

3. "Stories from Shakespeare", Boston, 1890, hardback, some discoloration on front, inscribed in ink from a teacher to a student in 1895. spine partially loose.

4. "Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow" by Jerome K. Jerome, printed in NY in 1898, first ed. Hardback, spine faded, sturdy cond.

5. "A Dead President Makes Answer to the President's Daughter", by Anton Shrewsbury Jenks, pub. by The Golden Hind Press NY 1928. It seems to be a refutation of an earlier book "The President's Daughter". Strange. Worn edges, nice paper in lining.

6. "Flight of a Tartar Tribe" by DeQuincey. by Wauchope. Small hardback, fair condition

7. "Ben King's Verse", ed. by Nixon Waterman. 1905, 2nd ed. ...this is verse, mostly old-fashioned, folksy dialect. ..a real curiosity.

8. "The Works of Honore DeBalzac"..The Rise and Fall of Cesar Birotteau and the Middle Classes in one book, printed in 1901. Worn. Part of limited edition of 1000.

9. "Ain't Love Gland?", by Kate Townsend, a Physiological Guide to Mating, illus. w/drawings by Dorothea Parrot. 1936 1st. ed., ....fascinating descriptions off characteristics of people according to their supposed glandular excesses or shortages....

BOOKS FOR SALE: all are special in some way...

1. "Spindizzies", by Eric Zausner- -a large (11x17) book about gas-powered model racers/ color photos. Often listed for about $700 elsewhere. This is a withdrawn library book, in good condition, no dust jacket. Don't know current value

2. "The Europeans", photographs by Henri Cartier-Bresson, cover by Joan Miro. Simon & Shuster. about 11x14. No dust jacket. Slight separation of spine near top of book, otherwise in good shape.

3. "The Muppet Show Book", pub. 1978

4. new..."We are all in the Dumps", by Maurice Sendak,

5. special Heritage Club edition of "The Bridge of San Luis Rey" -1962, with 16 four-color lithographs by the French artist Jean Charlot. Has slipcase,

6. a 1931, Hogarth Press ed. of "Moll Flanders" with illustrations by Alexander King (I remember seeing him on the Johnny Carson show about 40 years ago!) -shows wear,

7. first printing, 1962 of "The Rievers" by Wm Faulkner, has dust jacket

8. "A treasury of Gilbert & Sullivan"-the words and music of 102 songs from Eleven Operettas, with illustrations. a large book, good cond.spine faded, Simon & Shuster, 1941. Great gift for music lover-

9. a Heritage Club edition (1942) of "A Woman's Life", illustrations by Edy Legrand. printed in London by Nonesuch Press. Has slipcase.

10. "The American Mercury Reader", 1944, short stories by writers who are now classic "famous authors"....

11. hardback "pocket edition", 1944 of D.H. Laurence's "Sons & Lovers" .