Biography And Autobiography from Raptis Rare Books

New York: Newsweek Books, 1979. Second edition of this incomparable biography of a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer. Oblong octavo, original half cloth, illustrated with photographic plates. Association copy, inscribed by the author opposite the half-title page, "To Chairman Colin Powell, who has been there - and back. With respect & admiration, David Hume Kennerly Wash D. C. 3/24/93." The recipient,… Read more about this item

New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1936. First edition of this complete, fully documented, and authoritative story of Herbert Hoover's four years as President. Octavo, original navy cloth, tissue-guarded frontispiece portrait of Hoover from the drawing by Clarence R. Mattei. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by Hoover on the front free endpaper, "Dear Mrs. Bent, This is not my authorship but… Read more about this item

Gloucestershire: Sutton Publishing, 2004. Limited hardback edition of this personal account of the most ground-breaking sporting achievement of the twentieth century, now with a new introduction and a substantial new chapter to mark the 50th Anniversary of the first sub-four-minute mile. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated with photographic plates. One of two hundred and thirty-nine copies signed by the author… Read more about this item

New York: Times Books, 1996. First edition of this biographical look at the life of a former United States President through a lens of faith and Scripture. Octavo, original half cloth. Association copy, inscribed by Jimmy Carter on the front free endpaper, "To Colin Powell Jimmy Carter." The recipient, General Colin Powell was an American politician, statesman, diplomat, and… Read more about this item

New York: Simon & Schuster, 1990. First edition of the 40th President of the United States' memoir. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by the author on the half-title page, "To Scott Mutryn- Win one for the Gipper! With Best Regards. Ronald Reagan Oct. 28-'93." Near fine in a near fine dust jacket, paper clip indentation… Read more about this item

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1974. First edition of the author's Pulitzer-Prize winning work on Robert Moses. Thick octavo, original black cloth, cartographic endpapers. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, "For Richard from Robert A. Caro." Also laid in is a signed card from Robert A. Caro from the East Rockaway Library Board and the… Read more about this item

New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1890. Signed limited edition of the biography of the 4th Earl of Orford. Royal octavo, original half vellum, tissue-guarded frontispiece, illustrated with several tissue-guarded engravings and tailpieces by Percy and Leon Moran. One of four hundred and twenty-five numbered copies printed on Dickinson paper and signed by American printer and typographer Theodore Low… Read more about this item

Ann Arbor, MI: Sports Media Group, 2005. First edition of this definitive biography of one of the greatest golfers of all time. Quarto, original boards, illustrated with black and white photographs. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Sam Snead was an American professional golfer who was one of the top players in the world for most of… Read more about this item

Garden City, NY: Doubleday, Doran & Company, Inc, 1928. First edition of this classic work by one of the most decorated soldiers, basis for the 1941 film directed by Howard Hawks, starring Gary Cooper. Octavo, original cloth. Edited by Tom Skeyhill. Near fine in the rare original dust jacket which is in very good condition. Name and inscription to… Read more about this item

New York: Cosmopolitan Book Corporation, 1929. Signed limited first edition of the 30th President of the United States' autobiography, one of a 1,000 signed copies. Octavo, original quarter cloth, gilt topstain. Near fine in the rare original slipcase. Uncommon in this condition. Calvin Coolidge was one of the first United States Presidents to write and publish an autobiography. Coolidge's… Read more about this item

New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1973. First edition of this oral autobiography by the former prime minister of Israel. Octavo, original black cloth. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by Honi Werner. Golda Meir was elected Prime Minister of Israel on March 17, 1969, after serving as Minister of Labour and Foreign Minister. Israel's… Read more about this item

New York: Privately Printed, 1917. First edition of this autobiographical recollection of a lawyer and American ambassador to the United Kingdom, privately printed by Caroline Sterling Choate; from the library of Philemon Tecumseh Sherman. Octavo, original half cloth, tissue-guarded frontispiece portrait of Joseph Hodges Choate at the age of seventeen, illustrated throughout with several tissue-guarded photographs, "With the Compliments… Read more about this item

New York: Random House, 1998. First edition, early printing of this landmark biography of John D. Rockefeller. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Boldly signed by Ron Chernow on the title page. Near fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket design by Gabrielle Bordwin. ''Ron Chernow's portrait of Rockefeller, an eccentric on a heroic scale as well as… Read more about this item

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2004. First edition of President Clinton's autobiography. Large octavo, original blue boards, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, "To ____ Best wishes- Bill Clinton. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Carol Devine Carson. The autobiography of President Bill Clinton, illustrated with numerous black-and-white photographs. "By… Read more about this item

New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1928. First edition of Earhart’s thrilling account of of her experience as a passenger aboard the Friendship, which made her the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean by air in 1928. Octavo, original publisher's cloth, pictorial endpapers, frontispiece and 61 illustrations. Boldly signed by Amelia Eearhart on the verso of the frontispiece.… Read more about this item

New York: Doubleday, Doran and Company, 1928. Alvin C. York's first edition copy of his autobiography, basis for the 1941 film directed by Howard Hawks, starring Gary Cooper. Octavo, original yellow cloth, frontispiece of a portrait of Alvin C. York, illustrated with eleven plates of black and white photographs. York's personal corrections penciled in throughout, including several notations on… Read more about this item

Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1990. First edition, early printing of the tenth man to walk on the moon's revealing memoir. Octavo, original red boards, illustrated with black and white photographs. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, "To Bob aim high Charlie Duke." Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by The Aslan Group.… Read more about this item

New York: Donald I. Fine, Inc, 1987. First edition of the autobiography of legendary chef Jean Vergnes, the author's personal copy. Octavo, original boards, illustrated. From the library of Jean Vergnes and thence by descent. Jean Vergnes was a classically trained and highly acclaimed French chef, best-known as the co-founder and original co-owner along with Sirio Maccion of the… Read more about this item

New York: Harcourt, Brace & Company, 1933. First edition of Woolf's fictional "stream of consciousness" tale by Flush, a dog, telling the story of his owner, Elizabeth Browning. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles to the spine in five compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt borders and facsimile signature stamped to the front panel,… Read more about this item

Buffalo: The Courier Company, 1889. Final and most complete edition of this utterly engaging autobiography. Octavo, bound in full deluxe morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in five compartments within raised bands, gilt ruled borders to the front and rear panel with facsimile signature in gilt to the front panel, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, all… Read more about this item