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
SONNETS AND CANZONETS
1882
First edition of the last book by the noted Transcendentalist thinker (and father of Louisa May Alcott).
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.
ICELANDIC POETRY, OR THE EDDA OF SAEMUND
1797
First edition of the first translation into English of a substantial portion of the Poetic Edda.
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.
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 FEELING BLACK TALK BLACK JUDGEMENT
1970
First printing of the celebrated poet's first book by a major publisher, the first hardcover printing of her first two books, BLACK FEELING BLACK TALK and BLACK JUDGEMENT.
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.
LIGHT METRES
(1982)
Signed limited first edition, one of only 350 numbered copies signed by Gorey and Lamport, of this collection of cheeky, punning, sesquipedalian verse, likely to appeal to fans of Lemony Snicket.
MORE CLINICAL SONNETS
1953
Signed first printing of this illustrated collection of macabre medical sonnets by the psychiatrist-poet, an early Gorey item signed by him on the title page.
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.
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.
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.
OKLAHOMA!
(1943)
First printing of the hit musical in book form, the first collaboration of the great American theater duo Rodgers and Hammerstein.
THE ODD COUPLE
(1966)
First printing of the famous Broadway play about two mismatched roommates, the basis for the 1968 film and 1970s television series.
DOCTORS OF PHILOSOPHY: A Play
1963
First printing of Spark's only play, inscribed with love to a "Howard," likely poet Howard Sergeant, with whom Spark was briefly involved in earlier years.
KISS ME KATE
1953
Lengthily inscribed first printing of the book and lyrics to the beloved musical.
OF MICE AND MEN: A Play In 3 Acts
(1937)
First edition of the play version of John Steinbeck's landmark work, following the tragedy of two migrant farm workers in the Great Depression.
FIVE PIECES OF RUNIC POETRY
1763
First edition of the earliest collection of verse from the Eddic and skaldic traditions translated into English.
ON GOLDEN POND
(1979)
Inscribed first printing of Thompson's classic play, the drama of an elderly couple, their semi-estranged daughter, and their Pond.
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
(1898)
First edition, an uncommonly bright and beautiful copy in lavender cloth of this most quotable of Wilde's plays.
OUR TOWN
(1938)
First edition of this Pulitzer Prize-winning play about small-town life.
