Hardcover
Arthur C. Clarke: The Authorized Biography
Chicago: Contemporary Books, 1992. 430 pp. 6 x 9 1/4"; Pictorial dustjacket in fine condition; Black paper over boards with gilt lettering on spine, signed Arthur C. Clarke bookplate on front paste-down endpaper, many black and white photographs, in fine condition.
Sir Arthur Charles Clarke (1917 - 2008) was the author or more than sixty books and has received many awards for both his science fiction and his scientific non-fiction writing. This biography explores his career and personal vision though candid interviews with Clarke, his friends, family members, and colleagues. The numerous black and white photographs enhance the biography in a delightful way. Bookplate printed "Ex Libris, Arthur C. Clarke" with illustrations of the monolith from his 2001 Space Odyssey series and dolphins from his novel, Dolphin Island.
Árpádok : I. Andrástól I. Gézáig (1046-1077)
Budapest: Pátria Nyomda, 1988. 433 pp. Approximately 1 1/2 x 1 3/4". LIMITED EDITION of 400-600 copies, this being #179. Brown leather with beautifully designed and colorful enamelled metal plaque edged in gilt decoration on front cover, title in gilt on spine, gilt decoration on back cover, decorative endpapers, 7 full-color illustrations and 4 tinted one with two folding diagrams, text in Hungarian, in fine condition.
This is volume 14 of the Kings of Hungary series. Only 3 Worldcat Holdings at this time.
Bambi. A Life in the Woods.
Agoura Hills, CA: [Barbara J. Raheb] Pennyweight Press, 1997. 48 pp. Approximately 15/16 x 5/8". LIMITED EDITION of 300 copies, this being #24. Brown pyroxylin, lettering and design in gilt on cover and spine, previous owner's bookplate on front free endpaper, illustrated, signed and numbered on the colophon. A fine copy. (Bradbury, Barbara J. Raheb, 482)
Felix Salten was born Siegmund Salzmann in Pest, Austria-Hungary (1869 - 1945). He was an Austrian author and literary critic but is best known for Bambi, which was adapted into an animated feature will by Walt Disney in 1942.
Belladonna
Aurora, CO: Ravenpress, 2005. Approximately 1 3/8 x 1 3/8". LIMITED EDITION of 25 copies, this being #9. Cosmetics case, with printed foil label, slightly worn with small bits of foil missing, in very good condition; Three accordion miniature books have polymer clay covers with laser print transfer, illustrated, numbered and signed on the colophon on the back of the case by the publisher, in fine condition.
Created as part of a series using cosmetic tools and containers as structure, this piece contributes to an ongoing commentary on the harms of the cosmetic industry. Three accordion books detail various aspects of the Belladonna plant (Deadly Nightshade). This plant, although toxic, has been used medicinally and as an aid to beauty as its ingestion enlarges the pupils of the eye (a look that indicates sexual arousal and is known as 'bedroom eyes'). Alicia Bailey began publishing under the Ravenpress imprint in 1996. Ravenpress publications are held in private, public and special collections worldwide. Bailey thinks of the artists' book works she creates as interactive sculptures realized in the form of the book. She works in a wide variety of materials, including those not often associated with the book form, thus necessitating structural redesign and innovations.
Benjamin Franklin, September 17, 1787
Salisbury, CT: Lime Rock Press, 1981. 25 pp. Approx. 1 x 1". Printed with two bindings: one suede and the other cowhide. Brown leather with Franklin's signature in gilt on the cover, marbled endpapers, housed in clear plastic case, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Lime Rock 10)
From the Great American Speeches series, this little book relays the speech Franklin gave, urging his fellow delegates to join ranks in signing the new United States constitution. His speech was given a standing ovation. Lime Rock Press is the private press of Whitney North Seymour, Jr. and is run also by his wife and daughters who contribute photography, art, printing and binding.
Bernhardt Wall in Miniature
Worcester, MA: Robert C. Bradbury, 2007. 31 pp. Approximately 2 1/2 x 3". LIMITED EDITION of 45 copies. Blue cloth over boards with pictorial paper label on upper cover, marbled endpapers, letterpress, three mounted illustrations, in fine condition.
Bernhardt Wall (1872 - 1956) was an American historian and lithographic illustrator. He was known as the "Postcard King" as he designed more than 5,000 comic cards. He worked with a variety of publishers over his career and specialized in famous people and historical events. Each copy of the regular edition is illustrated with three original miniature etchings by Bernhardt Wall, at least one of which is an illustration. Special copies have thematically related illustrations and deluxe copies have additional etchings mounted in matching volumes. This little book includes bibliography/listing of miniature illustrations by Wall. Only 2 library holdings and not in the trade at the moment (5/22). Somewhat scarce.
Bible Gallery
New York: Cassell & Company, [1883]. 10 x 13 1/2". Second printing of this titled edition. Brown pebble-grain cloth with gilt and black design on the cover, gilt title on spine, tissue guard for frontispiece is intact, minor edge wear rubbing, top edge of spine is sightly more worn, all edges gilt, binding is tight and illustrations are complete and beautiful, no inscriptions or owner marks, in very good + condition.
Gustave Dore (1832 - 1883) was a french artist, sculptor, illustrator and more who worked primarily with wood engraving. Dore was a very prolific artist and his illustrations are well-known. He had many titles published using his bible illustrations, including The Child's Bible, The Bible Gallery, Bible Stories and Scenes for Young People, etc. For this book, this is the first edition/second printing, derived using the reference book by Malan. This edition is a collection of 100 engravings illustrative of the bible but made for the American market in a smaller and less costly version as well as having a briefer analysis of each design. (Malan p. 243)
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.
Bones: A Nameless Detective Mystery
New York: St. Martin's Press, 1985. 5 3/4 x 8 1/4". 196 pp. Illustrated dust jacket with some creasing and wear at the edges, in very good + condition; Black cloth over boards with silver lettering on spine, in near fine condition.
Bill Pronzini, winner of the Best Novel of 1981, awarded by the Private Eye Writers of America for his novel "Hoodwink", Pronzini lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, as does his nameless detective. Bones is a mystery about a dead man's reasons for suicide and end up involving a figid wife, a ruthless lawyer, a bitter ex-wife, and a beligerant taxidermist turned landlord (according to the dust jacket flap). Full of deceit, intrigue and murder, it's an exciting mystery.
Bradford's History "Of Plimoth Plantation." From the Original Manuscript. With a Report of the Proceedings Incident to the Return of the Manuscript to Massachusetts. (Olive Percival's Copy)
Boston: Wright & Potter Printing Co., 1901. 555 pp. Blue cloth over boards with beveled edges, crisp lettering and decoration on spine, minor wear to spine, signature and bookplate of Olive Percival on front endpapers with some browning likely due to newspaper placed there in the past, two ephemera items from within the pages: a newspaper clipping about the book (date unknown) and a blank letterhead piece of paper from the State of Connecticut Secretarys Office with official seal and note on the back dated 1905, many black and white photographs, a beautiful copy in near fine condition.
The Bradford Manuscript is a history of the Plymouth Colony from its inception to the year 1647 kept by Governor William Bradford of Massachusetts and the background history of the manuscript itself. Ownership bookplate on the front paste-down endpaper and the signature on the first free endpaper belongs to well-known suffragist Olive Percival, who was herself an author and avid book collector.