Early 19th Century Manuscript Commonplace Book
1829-1836
Delightful commonplace book of poetry compiled by several women and men, full of original and copied poetry on various topics.
Plays & Poetry
WAITING FOR GODOT
1954
First edition in English of Beckett's influential and enigmatic "tragicomedy in two acts."
THE ELDER OR POETIC EDDA
1908
First edition illustrated by W.G. Collingwood of the POETIC EDDA, the single most important source for our understanding of Norse mythology.
Theatre broadside announcement for THE FEMALE DETECTIVE
1869
Ephemeral program for the Boston Theatre's April 9-10 showings of THE FEMALE DETECTIVE, played by American "Golden Girl" Lotta Crabtree.
THE SPICE-BOX OF EARTH
(1965)
First US edition of the Canadian singer-songwriter's second book of poetry, which "established [his] reputation as a lyric poet" (Scobie).
WHEN MALINDY SINGS
1903
First edition of this collection including one of Dunbar's most popular poems, the title poem, a tribute to his mother – in a pictorial cloth binding designed by Margaret Armstrong.
OLD POSSUM'S BOOK OF PRACTICAL CATS
(1939)
First edition of one of Eliot's most beloved works, a collection of nonsense rhymes that became the basis for the multiple Tony-award-winning Broadway musical CATS.
A TOUTE ÉPREUVE
1984
Luxurious re-issue of the original 1958 livre d'artiste — housed in the original shipping carton.
Original Carbon Typescript for Part I of "Howl"
[1955/6]
Previously unknown original carbon typescript of the most important postwar American poem: Allen Ginsberg's "Howl." Almost certainly the only surviving draft version of this iconic poem remaining in private hands, and the only one to ever be separately offered for sale.
BLACK JUDGEMENT
(1968)
First printing of this second collection of verse from Giovanni, followup from the same year to her debut, BLACK FEELING BLACK TALK.
THE WOMEN AND THE MEN
1975
Inscribed first edition of this collection by "one of America's foremost poets" (POETRY FOUNDATION).
THE SALT HERRING
1971
Signed limited first edition thus, an out of sequence copy not signed or numbered on the limitation page, but instead signed by Gorey on the title page.
THE LOLLIPOP TROLLOPS
(1992)
Handsome limited first edition of Theroux's poetry, signed by both Gorey and Theroux.
KALEIDOSCOPE
(1976)
First edition of this anthology of three centuries of Black American poets, edited by the first Black Poet Laureate of America.
VICTORIA REGINA: A DRAMATIC BIOGRAPHY
[circa 1937]
Beautiful book edition of Housman's play about Queen Victoria, illustrated in black and white by famed Pooh illustrator E.H. Shepard.
GREEN ARRAS
1896
Bright and beautiful first printing of Housman's poetry, with his illustrations and in a binding of his own design.
THE SEVEN-LEAGUE CRUTCHES
(1951)
Stated first edition of this multifaceted poetry collection, with topics ranging from reflections on World War II to musings about fairy tales.
INHERIT THE WIND
(1955)
First printing of one of the best-known American plays of the 20th century, tackling freedom of thought with the contemporary threat of McCarthyism as underlying subtext.
OUR DEAD BEHIND US
(1986)
Stated first edition of this poetry collection from Audre Lorde, the self-described "black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet" – uncommon in hardcover (POETRY FOUNDATION).
ROBOTS ON THEIR BATTLEFIELDS
(1940)
Signed first edition of this eccentric series of poetic odes to the 1939 New York World's Fair "World of Tomorrow," including its iconic robot "Elektro."
DEATH OF A SALESMAN
1949
Attention must be paid to this handsome first printing of the classic play by a giant of the American theater.
POEMAS DE LA IZQUIERDA EROTICA
(1973)
First printing of the great Guatemalan intellectual's first book of poetry, with her personal inscription.
OKLAHOMA!
(1943)
First printing of the hit musical in book form, the first collaboration of the great American theater duo Rodgers and Hammerstein.
EQUUS AND SHRIVINGS: Two Plays
1974
First edition thus, a handsome edition of the two plays, with production notes about the first performance of EQUUS.
THE WORKS OF SHAKESPEARE
(1881)
Finely bound Gilded Age library set of Shakespeare's plays and poetry, sharply illustrated with full-page plates throughout.
