New Arrivals
To Rule the Night
Philadelphia & New York: A. J. Holman Company, 1973. 5 3/4 x 8 1/2"; First Edition, Second Printing. Photographic dust jacket has some chips and creases, particularly at the spine extremities, a tear on the back cover which has been clumsily taped, in good condition. Black cloth over boards with gilt title on spine, gift inscription on front free endpaper and previous owner's signature on verso of half-title page which was signed by the Jim Irwin, foxing to page edges, otherwise in very good condition.
James Benson Irwin (1930 - 1991) was an American astronaut, US Air Force pilot, aeronautical engineer and test pilot who served as the Apollo 15 Lunar Module pilot. He was the eighth person to walk on the moon. This autobiographical story tells of Jim's boyhood, his marriage, his career, his voyage on Apollo 15 and his spiritual life, which is weaved throughout.
The Private Practice of Michael Shayne
New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1940. 250 pp. 5 1/4 x 7 1/2"; First Edition. Illustrated dust jacket has original price of $2.00 on front jacket flap, some chipping and loss at spine extremities, minor chipping and tears, some spots and creases, some damp stain and previous tape repairs on the inside of the jacket, otherwise in good condition; Black cloth over boards with crisp white lettering on spine, top edge stained red, some tanning throughout, a few stains on foredge, a nice copy of this scarce edition in very good + condition.
Brett Halliday is the pseudonym of Davis Dresser (1904 - 1977), an American western and mystery writer who is best known for his Michael Shayne mystery series. The series was so popular that it spawned a radio series, twelve motion pictures, a TV series, and a Michael Shayne Mystery Magazine. Dresser was also a founding member of the Mystery Writers of America. This is the second book in the Michael Shayne series and is relatively scarce.
The Well Known Family Game
Germany: n.p., (ca 1920). First edition presumed. Slipcase with chips and small loss of paper affecting two words of the instructions, glossy illustration to front cover, directions to the game on back cover, in good + condition. Twelve cards, 1 1/2 x 2 1/4", cards titled and crudely illustrated in blue, some with roughly trimmed edges (as issued), in about near fine condition.
An apparently unrecorded gambling card game, manufactured in Germany in the early 20th century from cheap materials. The cards are lettered in pairs from A to F and illustrated with members of several "families" such as George Brown, Mrs. John Smith, etc.
Blood Sport
London: Michael Joseph, 1967. Approximately 5 1/2 x 8". Illustrated dust jacket in near fine condition, designed by Broom Lynne, very little edge wear and slight creases as the top of the spine, original price of 25s intact. Blue cloth over boards with crisp gilt titles on spine, clean and tight, in fine condition.
Born Richard Stanley Francis (1920 - 2010), Dick Francis was a British crime writer whose novels were mostly centered on horse racing in England (he was a former steeplechase jockey himself). This book is Dick Francis' 7th book, with Gene Hawkins appearing for the first time as a government security agent. Edgar Award nominee. Adapted into TV film in 1989 with Ian McShane in the protagonist role of David Cleveland.
Abraham Lincoln: An Autobiographical Narrative
Evanston, IL: The Press of Ward Schori, 1992. 153 pp. Approximately 2 1/8 x 2 9/16". Second Edition. 3 Volumes. Marbled slipcase in fine condition; Red, white and blue leather over boards with gilt design on cover and spine by Hugo Grummich, marbled endpapers, photographically reproduced, illustrated, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Press of Ward Schori 72)
The three volumes (red, white, and blue) have a different focus: Vol. I, Youth; Vol. II, Lawyer-Politician; Vol. III, President. The primary material for this work came from Lincoln's writings in 1859 and 1860, as well as other sources. Ralph Geoffrey Newman (1911 - 1998) was a well-known Lincoln scholar who owned a bookstore in Chicago, fittingly called the Abraham Lincoln Book Shop.
Medea: Freely adapted from the Medea of Euripides
New York: Random House, 1946. 107 pp. Approximately 6 x 9 1/2". First Edition, first printing. Dust jacket has some darkening to the spine and sun fading on both covers, some chipped and rough edges with a missing small piece at the top of the spine, otherwise in very good condition; Orange paper over black cloth boards,copper lettering crisp on spine, Paul Elder & Co. Bookstore label on rear pastedown endpaper, first printing indicated by the missing word "least" on line 21 of p. 99, in near fine condition.
Medea is a Greek play by Euripides (first produced in 431 BC) that poet Robinson Jeffers has modernized. For instance, he replaces the Greek chorus by three women who represent women in their youth, middle age, and elder years. The play centers around a deeply flawed but strong and powerful heroine with themes of racism, sexism, political power, and justice. Robinson Jeffers (1887 - 1962) was an American poet best known for his work about the central California coast.
Stinger
New York: Pocket Books, 1987. 442 pp. 5 1/2 x 8 1/2". First Hard Cover Edition. Illustrated dust jacket with Book Club Edition on front flap, minor dark marks that are very subtle, some edge wear, otherwise in very good plus condition; Brown paper over boards with crisp golden lettering on spine, signed on the title page, slight foxing on top fore-edge, in near fine condition.
Robert McCammon (1952 - ), is a well-known fantasy/horror writer, having been a recipient of the Horror Writers of America, Inc.'s Bram Stoker Award and nominated for the 1988 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel. This novel is about two aliens arriving in a small Texas town - one is a refugee and the other is a bounty hunter, who uses replicants with silver claws for hands and razor blade teeth to help him - the stingers. This is the true first hardcover edition, which precedes the British edition, published by Kinnell.
Cheaper by the Dozen
New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Co., 1948. 237 pp. Approx. 5 1/2 x 8". Illustrated dust jacket in very good condition, darkened spine, some rubbing and small chips, some foxing to the inside of the cover along with old repair tape, original price of $3.00 intact. Orange cloth over boards with crisp black lettering on spine, foxing to page edges, SIGNED by both authors on the front free endpaper, first printing stated on copyright page, some corner bumping and wear near spine top, otherwise in near fine condition.
A semi-autobiographical novel in which the authors talk about their childhood growing up in a household of twelve children. In 1950, it was adapted into a movie starring Clifton Webb and Myrna Loy. Adapted again in 2003, the movie starred Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt. A bestselling novel that still reads remarkably well, according to Jonathan Yardley from the Washington Post.
Nansen
New York: Viking Press, 1945. 170 pp. Approximately 5 1/2 x 8 1/2". First Edition, third printing (July, 1945). Illustrated wrappers, some tears and missing sections but front cover is mostly intact, in very good condition. Blue cloth over boards with black design on cover and lettering on spine, some wear to spine top and bottom, INSCRIBED by author on the front free endpaper, beautifully illustrated in blue tones, slightly musty smell, otherwise in near-fine condition.
A beautiful book, illustrated by Boris Artzybasheff, Caldecott Honor recipient noted for his strong work and surreal designs, this is a biography about Fridtjof Nansen, a noted Norwegian scientist, explorer, and diplomat. A fascinating look at this influential and humanitarian person. Winner of a Newberry Honor award in 1941. Scarce in jacket and signed.
The Eyes of Darkness
Arlington Hts., Illinois: Dark Harvest, 1989. 257 pp. Approximately 6 x 9 1/4". Deluxe First Limited edition of 400 copies, this being #29, signed on the limitations page by Dean R. Koontz and the illustrator, Phil Parks. Illustrated jacket is in near fine condition, with only a tiny bit of edge wear, slight ripple, not price-clipped. Grey cloth over boards with crisp lettering on spine, in fine condition. Housed in grey cloth-covered slipcase with minor speckling to top edge, in near-fine condition.
First published as a paperback by Pocket Books in 1981 under his pseudonym of Leigh Nichols, this is the story of a mother who tried to find out if her son really did die over a year ago or is still alive. Full of suspense and horror and intrigue.