New York: Charles Webster. 1885. First American edition, first issue. 8vo; 366 pages. Publisher's pictorial decorated green cloth binding, rebacked, titles to spine and front cover in gold and black. Illustrated throughout with 173 illustrations by E. W. Kemble, photogravure portrait of Clemens by Karl Gerhardt. Rebacked, with the original spine laid down. A few light edge stains or foxing spots in margins, 1.5-inch tear to lower margin of p. 155 and small tear to rear endpage, small name plate and warm gift iscription on first free endpages, dated April 14th, 1885 ("with best wishes from his Papa, for many happy returns of the day"). Overall a good copy of this classic American book. BAL 3415; Grolier, American, 87; Johnson, pp. 43–50; Kevin MacDonnell, “Huck Finn among the Issue-Mongers,” Firsts; The Book Collector’s Magazine, vol. 8, no. 9 (September 1998), pp. 28–35. Read More...
Show all available items in this catalogue matching:BookLiterature
A sensational signed photograph from the American author of such classics as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. Read More...
Typed letter, signed "John Updike" on the author's Georgetown, MA letterhead. November 25 [no year]. 1 page. Very fine. A highly interesting letter about Chapin's manuscript of poems, the art of poetry and the market for poetry. In part: "I have read here and there with pleasure and admiration, missing only perhaps the compression, the mad sudden verbal precision, that we get with the great poets, Shakespeare above all. Lines like these from 'Morning Song' -- 'Someone set it going, wound up the small fowl / to loop the airs, mad with exuberance, swaying the lovely tree-tops with their song.' -- have something of the surprisingness and momentum I mean, and that I can recognize but can produce no more easily than the next man. Poetry is a moot matter, especially nowadays, and though I can truthfully say your poems gave me more pleasure than many published volumes, this doesn't mean I can point to a sure path for their publication. I myself would not be able to bring out an occasional volume of verse, I dare say, if it were not for the hope of profit that my prose holds out to my publishers. Fine young poets like our firends Bailey have given it up entirely, I gather. You are to be admired for remaining true to this most bewitching of muses. My publisher, Knopf, would surely give your book scrutiny, but I know their own list of poetry and small-sales volums has shrunk like many another's under the new corporate focus on the bottom line (in accounting, not, alas, verse)." Read More...
Show all available items in this catalogue matching:TLSLiterature
A beautiful autograph quotation from the Irish poet and playwright recognized as one of the key figures in twentieth-century literature. AQS on an off-white 5 x 3 card. Yeats pens a quote from his 1918 poem "Tom O'Roughley": “For Wisdom is a butterfly, And not a gloomy bird of prey. W. B. Yeats, April 20, 1924.” In fine condition.
Original oil on panel painting of a woman playing the lute and looking at an open book of music. Unsigned, set in attractive wood gilt frame with the name plaque "F. van Mieris" and apparently by an early 18th century follower of the important artist. 9 x 7.75 inches, framed to 15.5 x 14.5 inches overall. Varnished and with some minor areas of restoration, but otherwise in very fine condition. Read More...
Early original cabinet card photograph of the important Italian conductor and composer, signed and inscribed. The image by G. Felici, measuring 11 x 16.5 cm. Rare. Read More...
Dunedin: Coulls Somerville Wilkie. 1931. First edition. 191, [1] pages. Green cloth boards. 12mo. (18.7 x 12.5 cm). Some leaves unopened. Includes the following poems, several with theosophical themes: Maitreya; Victors; Rebirth; Song; Robe Royal; Worship; Hyssop; Viaticum; Aborima. Inscribed on the first free endpage "To Menuhin - 'amico magis unicus' - from this, most gratefully, the writer. Dunedin, New Zealand. 31st July, 1935." Beneath this inscription, the great violinist has written: "For want of space left in custody of my dear friends James + Charles, Please bring it with you when you come to Villa Cherkess. Yehudi. Perth, Sept. 1935." Read More...
Original doubleweight 8 x 10 inch photograph of the composer rehearsing with the show's star, in advance of the opening on Broadway on October 12, 1950 at the Imperial Theatre, where it eventually ran for 644 performances. Stamps and labels on verso, overall fine condition.
A small black leather, three-ring binder, titled simply "Lyrics," containing an alphabetized collection of Merman's most popularly performed songs from "Anything Goes" to "Zing Went The Strings of My Heart." This personal song bible features typed pages with extensive autograph notations in Merman's hand including song keys, tempos, and specific instructions like holding the line "Yes I----can" in the 2nd chorus of "Anything You Can Do" for "6 bars." 9 x 7 inches, in fine condition. Read More...
Early signed 8 x10 inch doubleweight photograph from the celebrated American actress of stage and film musicals, well known for her powerful voice, often hailed by critics as "The Grande Dame of the Broadway stage." Inscribed "A Token of Sincere Friendship to Jean from Ethel Merman." Crease to upper right margin and one small margin tear, otherwise in fine condition.
Original full length photograph of one of the celebrated Italian violinist. Issued by Disderi of Paris. 6 x 10 cm, in very fine condition. Read More...
Paris: Heugel. 1949. Pocket score of Milhaud's rather marvelous "Octet for Double String Quartet which can also be perfomed separately," as printed on first page. [PN] H. 31276, 84pp. (5-1/2"x7-1/2"). The title page inscribed in blue ink by Milhaud to Igor Stravinsky, "a Igor Stravinsky, son admirateur, D.M." Wrappers somewhat faded with a few chips, overall fine. A remarkable association. Read More...
Early original photograph of the Italian tenor whose ringing voice and virile appearance earned him the nickname of the "Brass Bull of Milan." Boldly signed by the young tenor. 14.3 x 9.9 cm and in very fine condition.
Original 1928/29 Souvenir program from the touring company of the great Russian dancer. 16 pages. Decorative cord around spine lacking, otherwise fine throughout.
Rare signed photograph from the leading Diaghilev and Pavlova dancer. 8.5 x 7 inch halftone printed on heavy cardstock. Edges a bit rough, crease along upper area of image, not affecting and otherwise fine.
Original hand-inked six-panel Nancy daily comic strip, dated September 10, 1941, on a 58 x 15.5 cm piece of artist’s cardstock. The strip depicts Nancy coming from her voice lesson with a hilariously wide open mouth ("My singing teacher says I should hold my mouth in shis shape!"), she sings as such through three panels until she slips on a banana peel and in the final panel is shown sobbing, the musical notes coming from her mouth having been replaced with "Boo Hoo Hoo Boo Hoo"! In very good condition. Read More...
Signed postcard photograph of the great Brazilian pianist. 4.5 x 6.5 cm and in fine condition.
“One of the most spontaneous and poetic pianists of her generation...she was most extensively recorded by Vox in the 1950s, leaving interpretations of Chopin's F minor Concerto (with Klemperer) and Schumann's Carnaval that bear witness to an irrepressible individuality and eloquence.” (Grove Online)
New York: Metropolitan Opera Guild. 1943. 1943. Remarkable book giving fascinating photos and insights into the great opera stars at the Metropolitan Opera in New York during the War years. An incredible group of stars have signed the front endpapers: Eleanor Steber, Zinka Milanov, Edward Johnson, Bidu Sayao, Lili Djanel, Lucrezia Bori, Salvatore Baccaloni, Gladys Swarthout, Jarmila Novotna, Emanuel List, Giovanni Martinelli, John Bker, Lauritz Melchior, Arthur Carron, Frederick Jagel, Karin Branzell and Stella Roman! Spine cover perished, but holding strong and otherwise fine.
A superb original La Scala broadside, boldly signed by the great Spanish-Mexican tenor who performed the title role in Verdi's "Otello," in this historic 1987 performance under the baton of the great Carlos Kleiber. Boldly signed in black ink. 28 x 38 cm and in very fine condition. Read More...