Recent Arrivals from Raptis Rare Books

New York: The Modern Library, 1934. First Modern Library edition of this classic collection of short stories. Octavo, original cloth, patterned endpapers. Boldly signed by the author on the half-title page, "Isak Dinesen 8.3.1959." From the library of Bruce Gould and Beatrice Blackmar Gould were co-editors of the Ladies' Home Journal for almost 27 years, from 1935 through 1962,… Read more about this item

Rare autograph from Charles Darwin, boldly signed, "With M. Darwin's Best Compliments." Matted and framed with a portrait of Darwin. The entire piece measures 11.9 inches by 9 inches. An exceptional presentation. Charles Darwin was an English naturalist, geologist and biologist, best known for his contributions to the science of evolution. He established that all species of life have… Read more about this item

New York: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1980. First edition of the memoir of one of the great novelists of our time. Octavo, original orange cloth. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Irving Bogen. Author photograph by Eric Bachmann. In the early 1960s, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, released from Gulag and from exile, published 'One Day in… Read more about this item

Hutchinson: London, 2010. First edition of this personal portrait of the twentieth century. Octavo, original black boards. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Author portrait by Catrina Bovill. Composed of over two hundred written portraits and humorous analyses, 'Brief Lives' is a uniquely insightful look into recent history through an intimately personal lens.

Rhode Island, U.S.A.: Hasbro, Inc./Lucasfilm Ltd., 1996. The Star Wars film franchise, spanning multiple trilogies and spin-offs, is a cultural phenomenon renowned for its groundbreaking special effects, epic storytelling, and iconic characters like Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. It revolutionized cinema and storytelling with its timeless themes of good versus evil, heroism, and redemption, resonating across generations and inspiring… Read more about this item

Boston: Ticknor, Reed, and Fields, 1853. First edition of this collection of essays by renowned writer and literary critic Thomas De Quincey. Octavo, two volumes, original publisher's cloth elaborately stamped in blind with gilt titles to the spine, blind stamped triple rule frame with floral ornamental corners enclosing central floral quatrefoil device, pale yellow endpapers. In very good condition… Read more about this item

Boston: Dana Estes and Company, 1901. The Edition De Luxe of The New Century Shakespeare, limited to only one thousand copies. Octavo, 24 volumes bound in three quarter period crushed levant morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in four compartments within raised gilt bands, top edge gilt, illustrated with engraved plates, each with… Read more about this item

London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1981. First edition of this work by Dayan. Octavo, original brown cloth, illustrated with twenty-four black and white photographs and six maps. Boldly signed by Moshe Dayan on the half-title page. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. "As foreign minister in Menachem Begin's government, Moshe Dayan, Israel's foremost military leader, pursued peace relentlessly,… Read more about this item

New York: Random House, 1987.

London: Macmillan London Limited, 1984. First edition of the British politician's collected diaries from the Second World War. Octavo, original red cloth, illustrated with maps and photographs. Boldly signed by Harold Macmillan on the title page as "Stockton," his title in the House of Lords. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket with a small closed tear to… Read more about this item

New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1900. First editions of Roosevelt's monumental work. Octavo, 4 volumes, original brown cloth, gilt titles to the spine, gilt topstain, illustrated with plates from old engravings, paintings, drawings, and other sources; folding maps. Boldly signed by the author while in The White House on the front free endpaper, "with the regards of Theodore Roosevelt… Read more about this item

London: Methuen and Co, 1960. First edition of this work on Einstein. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket. Preface by Bertrand Russell. "Einstein was not only the ablest man of science of his generation, he was also a wise man, which is something different. If statesmen had listened to him, the course of… Read more about this item

New York: Viking, 1991. First edition of this beautiful piece of children's literature. Super octavo, original half cloth, lavender endpapers, fully illustrated by Neil Waldman. Boldly signed and dated by the author in gold felt tip on the front free endpaper, "Ken Kesey 1992." Fine in a fine dust jacket. An exceptionally written and illustrated children's book by the… Read more about this item

New York: George H. Doran Company, 1925. The Making of a Stockbroker was published by George H. Doran Company in 1924. Lefevre dedicated his book to John Wing Prentiss, a new breed of stockbroker of that era. This fictionalized account follows a brokerage firm from its founding through 1924, and the author explains how the stockbroker can work from… Read more about this item

New York: The Century Company, 1900. First edition of "the finest single-handed adventure story yet written" (Seafarer). Octavo, original blue cloth, pictorially stamped in silver and green, top edge gilt. Boldly signed by the author in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, "Spray New London July 10th 1900 Joshua Slocum." In very good condition. Illustrated by… Read more about this item

Photographic print of Winston S. Churchill, Joseph Stalin, Averell Harriman, inscribed by Averell Harriman. Black and white photographic print of Winston S. Churchill, Joseph Stalin, Averell Harriman. Inscribed by Averell Harriman in the margin beneath the image, "To Cheray & Peter with my love, Averell Dec 1965." The recipient, Peter Duchin, was a professional pianist and bandleader, whom Harriman… Read more about this item

New York: Simon and Schuster, 1979. First edition of this classic collection of short stories. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by Joan Didion on the front free endpaper. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with a touch of shelfwear. Jacket design by Robert Anthony. An exceptional example.

New York: Signet/Penguin/Viking. Combined promotion and advertising campaign poster for Stephen King's best-selling horror novels The Dark Half and Four Past Midnight. One page, the poster features a full color image of Stephen King with both books. Boldly signed by Stephen King in black felt pen. The poster measures 22 inches by 16.75 inches. In fine condition. Stephen King… Read more about this item

New York: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1974. "The poems, ranging from serious to silly, from philosophical to ridiculous, allow the reader or listener— the rhyme and rhythm of these nonsensical poems make them perfect for reading aloud— to discover Silverstein’s greatest gift: his ability to understand the fears and wishes and silliness of children" (Silvey, 602).

London: William Heinemann Ltd, 1948.