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.
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).
ICELANDIC POETRY, OR THE EDDA OF SAEMUND
1797
First edition of the first translation into English of a substantial portion of the Poetic Edda.
MÉMOIRES
(1959)
Rare first edition of the confrontational and abrasive collaboration between two founding members of the Situationist International.
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.
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.
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.
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.
WEST SIDE STORY
1958
Stated first edition, first printing of the Arthur Laurents-penned book of the Tony-award winning musical, a US American ROMEO AND JULIET.
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.
