HAREM ISLAND
(1961)
First edition of this sleaze exposé of polygamous Mormon prophet Jesse James Strang, his beautiful cross-dressing wife Elvira, and his leadership of the Strangites as Revelator and King of Michigan's Beaver Island.
US American
TOWNIE
(2011)
Signed, slipcased first edition of the acclaimed novelist's memoir of his youth in 1970s Massachussetts, issued as part of the Powell's Books INDIESPENSABLE series.
CLOSE TO THE KNIVES: A Memoir of Disintegration
(1991)
Uncorrected proof of this stream-of-consciousness memoir of the influential multimedia artist and AIDS activist, published only a year before his death.
GIANTS, PIGMIES AND OTHER ADVERTISING PEOPLE
(1974)
Scarce first edition of the memoir of advertising legend Draper Daniels, real-life inspiration for MAD MEN's Donald Draper.
HOLIDAYS ON ICE
(1997)
First printing and first state of this collection of Sedaris's best Xmas stories, including "Santaland Diaries" — the piece that made him famous.
A SENSE OF WHERE YOU ARE
(1965)
Inscribed first printing of this profile of "the greatest [basketball] player in the history of the Ivy League" (jacket) – who would later become a US Senator – John McPhee's first book.
SONDHEIM & CO.
(1974)
Inscribed first printing of this oral history following the life of the late, great Stephen Sondheim, reflecting on his work from his first high school production to the state of Broadway and his career in the 1970s.
UP FROM SLAVERY: An Autobiography
1901
First edition of Washington's autobiography, detailing his rise from a life born into slavery to becoming the esteemed leader of the Tuskegee Institute.
LOOK WHO'S TALKING!
(1940)
First printing of Perelman's fourth book, a sparkling collection of twenty-four comic sketches including "The Future of Vertigo," a glimpse into the delirium that was Diana Vreeland's Harper's Bazaar, and "Yoo-Hoo, Mr. Ectoplasm," on the delights of the Psychic Stores catalogue.
MY LIFE
2004
Signed first printing, first state ("failure"), of this best-selling memoir from the former President.
WALKS AND TALKS OF AN AMERICAN FARMER IN ENGLAND
1852
First edition of these travel writings by the father of American landscape architecture, with his impressions of England's inns, interiors, pastries, ports, prostitutes, and public gardens, with particular attention to Birkinhead Park, which impressed him greatly.
WENDELL PHILLIPS: The Agitator
1890
First edition of this biography of the influential abolitionist and advocate for Native American and women's rights.
BE MY GUEST
(1958)
Scarce inscribed second printing of the autobiography of one of the 20th century's greatest hoteliers.
SERPICO
(1997)
First HarperPaperbacks edition of this profile of the legendary NYPD whistleblower, adapted into the Oscar-nominated Al Pacino film — inscribed by subject Frank Serpico.
MY LIFE IN THE NEGRO LEAGUES
(1992)
Inscribed first printing of the autobiography of the Negro League great, an exciting story of baseball in the US, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Venezuela, and Canada.
OFF THE COURT
(1981)
Inscribed first printing of tennis icon Arthur Ashe's memoir, an association copy presented to NAL Books marketing exec Maryann Palumbo.
CLOSE TO THE KNIVES: A Memoir of Disintegration
(1991)
Scarce first printing of this stream-of-consciousness memoir of the influential multimedia artist and AIDS activist, published only a year before his death.
A HEARTBREAKING WORK OF STAGGERING GENIUS
(2000)
Signed first printing of this Pulitzer Prize finalist, the equally comedic and dramatic story of the deaths of Eggers's parents and assuming the guardianship of his young brother.
ALWAYS THE YOUNG STRANGERS
(1953)
Signed later printing of Sandburg's autobiographical account of his childhood in Galesburg, IL, inscribed to two booksellers.
SUMMER DOORWAYS
(2005)
First edition of Merwin's memoir of his early life, after graduating from Princeton and before winning the Yale Younger Poets Award in 1952.
THE LIFE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON
1804, 1805, 1807
First edition of this classic biography of the first president of the United States, including the scarce atlas volume.
APPETITE FOR LIFE: THE BIOGRAPHY OF JULIA CHILD
(1997)
Galley proof of the biography of the iconic chef and educator, published when she was 85 years old.
WORDS, WEATHER AND WOLFMEN: Conversations With Tony Hillerman
1989
Signed limited first edition of this intimate reflection on Tony Hillerman's life and writing in the form of an interview with historian Ernie Bulow, featuring illustrations by Navajo artist Ernest Franklin.
CONVERSATIONS WITH NELSON ALGREN
(1964)
First printing of this series of interviews with National Book Award-winning author Nelson Algren – with postcard from Algren to his friend, publisher William Targ.
JOE LOUIS, MAN AND SUPER-FIGHTER
1936
Signed first edition of biography of heavyweight champion boxer JOE LOUIS, "The Brown Bomber" who fought racism and Nazism with athletic skill.
