Search Results: Association Copy from Royal Books, Inc.

London: Faber and Faber, 1938. First Edition. First Edition. ASSOCIATION COPY, inscribed by the author: "For Roy Plomley / who knows all about desert islands / Michael Powell / 1942." The book was inscribed on the occasion of Powell's appearance on the BBC radio program Desert Island Discs, where he was interviewed by Plomley, the show's founder. Michael Powell began making public appearances again in the 1980s and 1990s, and inscribed books from that period turn up with some regularity. We have, however, only seen one other example of a contemporary inscription on this title, Powell's first book. A diary-like account of the making of Powell's classic 1937 film, "The Edge of the World," the director's first film to be shot on his beloved Scottish Isles. The story was inspired by the evacuation of St. Kilda, and won the director an introduction to the great British producer Alexander Korda, followed, of course, by a decades-long teaming with Emeric Pressburger. Photo illustrated throughout. Near… Read More

New York: Samuel French, 1936. First Edition. First Edition. Association Copy, INSCRIBED in the year of publication on the front endpaper by the author to playwright George Middleton and his wife, activist and actress Fola La Follette: "To / George and Fola / with my love / Martin / 7/28 '36." Middleton's nephew David's ownership stamp on the front pastedown. New Jersey-born playwright, director, and producer George Middleton served as president of the Dramatists Guild of America from 1927 to 1929. He is perhaps best remembered today for his instrumental role in creating the Minimum Basic Agreement, a collective bargaining agreement that covers benefits, rights, and protections for Writers Guild of America members. Middleton was also known for his collaborations with Guy Bolton, including the successful 1917 stage comedy "Polly With a Past," basis for the 1920 film adaptation. The daughter of Senator Robert M. "Fighting Bob" La Follette and women's suffrage leader Belle Case, Flora Dodge "Fola"… Read More

Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1968. First Edition. First Edition. Copy belonging to director Joseph Losey, with his name and home address written in manuscript ink on the first leaf: "Joseph Losey / Hanover, NH / '70." Additional underlining and bracketing throughout, in the same fountain pen ink as the inscription, mostly to the opening chapters of the text. The McCarthy / HUAC witch hunt saw Losey hounded out of the United States in the 1950s and, to his great regret, he never made another film in his home country. Professionally, though, it was the making of him as a director: in collaboration with Harold Pinter, Losey made a trilogy of legendary British films of the 1960s: "The Servant," "Accident," and "The Go-Between." Pinter and Losey also worked closely together on an adaptation of Proust's "In Search of Lost Time," but although the script was later published the film remained unmade. Losey shared both a political philosophy and a cinema aesthetic with Alain Resnais, and Losey's 1978 film… Read More

London: Macmillan and Co, 1934. Later UK edition. Illustrated by John Tenniel. Copy belonging to "Watership Down" author Richard Adams, with Adams' rabbit bookplate on the front pastedown. Very Good plus in a Very Good plus dust jacket. Slight lean, lightly bowed front board, and light taps at the bottom corners of the front and rear boards. Jacket has a few small chips on the spine ends and flap folds. A presentable copy.

San Francisco: City Lights Books, 1984. First Edition. First Edition. Hardcover and wrappered edition. Hardcover edition INSCRIBED by the author to director Tony Bill on the page opposite the half-title page: "Tony / With love and respect to a truly wonderful man! / Always / Ron Kovic." Wrappered edition INSCRIBED on the inside front wrapper verso: "Tony / Thank you for everything you have done to help on our film / Always / Ron Kovic / 1-14-87," and the author has scribbled a caricature on the front flyleaf. The book was set to become a documentary on Kovic, directed by Loretta Smith, but the project dragged on due to friction between Kovic and Smith, and the film was never made. Tony Bill, with the help of Max Gail and Oliver Stone, helped raise money to fund the project. From the collection of Oscar-winning director, actor, and producer Tony Bill, whose work includes "The Sting" (1973), "Soldier in the Rain" (1963), "Shampoo" (1975), and "Five Corners" (1987). Light foxing to the page edges… Read More

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1956. First Edition. First Edition. INSCRIBED by the author to noted book dealer, editor, and publisher Otto Penzler on the front endpaper: "Santa Barbara, Calif. / Sep. 8 1977 / To Otto Penzler / whose interest in this and other books of mine is a source of keen pleasure to me / Warmest regards / Ken Millar / Ross Macdonald." An attractive copy of the sixth Lew Archer novel. Near Fine in a Very Good plus dust jacket. Jacket is bright, but with soil on the rear panel and light edgewear. In a custom mustard cloth slipcase.

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1966. First Edition. First Edition. Dedication Copy, INSCRIBED by the author to the book's dedicatee, writer and environmental activist Robert Easton, on the dedication page a month prior to publication: "King Kondor! / and a man I consider myself fortunate to know / Ken / Santa Barbara / December 1965." Easton and Kenneth Millar were longtime friends and Santa Barbara residents. Millar's inscription refers to their shared efforts in the mid-1960s to save the California condor, a species native to the Santa Barbara mountains that was nearing extinction in 1964. Millar would write the foreword to Easton's 1972 book "Black Tide," an exposé of the consequences of oil drilling on the California coastline. The thirteenth Lew Archer novel. Fine in an about Near Fine dust jacket. Jacket lightly rubbed at the corners and on the spine ends. An attractive association copy.

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1966. First Edition. First Edition. Presentation copy, INSCRIBED by the author to Marshall McLuhan and his wife Corinne on the front endpaper: "Santa Barbara / Xmas 1965 / For Marshall and Corinne / with love and admiration / Ken." Marshall McLuhan was a guest teacher in the 1950s at the University of Santa Barbara, where he and Kenneth Millar met and became lifelong friends. Fine in a Near Fine dust jacket. A bright copy of the thirteenth Lew Archer novel.

Boston: Little, Brown, 2002. First Edition. First Edition. INSCRIBED by the author to Mel Gussow on the title page: "For Mel Gussow / All admiration / Best / Rick Moody." Gussow was a theatre critic and cultural writer for The New York Times from 1969 until his death in 2005. He authored 8 books, served as editor for many others, and his reviews and interviews (with the likes of Arthur Miller, Samuel Beckett, Harold Pinter, and Tom Stoppard) became staples of students and fans of theatre for decades. His first published review was Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" in 1962, leading to a lifelong relationship with the playwright that resulted in a biography of Albee by Gussow, published in 1999. Moody also wrote for The New York Times. Fine and unread in a Fine dust jacket. An attractive copy, and a nice association.

Boston: Little, Brown, 2002. First Edition. First Edition. Association copy, warmly INSCRIBED by Moody to fellow author Chris Offutt on the title page: "For Chris / Whose memoirs are an inspiration for this / Rick Moody." From the collection of Chris Offutt. Offutt is the author of "Kentucky Straight" and other short story collections, novels, nonfiction, and memoirs, and, in 1996, was named one of the twenty Best Young American Novelists by "Granta" magazine. He has also written for popular television shows and national publications, has been visiting faculty at numerous institutions including the Iowa Writer's Workshop, and has received awards from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and others. Fine in a Fine dust jacket.

Chicago: The Goodlion, 1972. First Edition. First Edition. Inscribed by the author to publisher Barney Rosset on the front endpaper: "Dear Barney / In thanks for all you've given, made possible: / Thanks, / Stan Brakhage." Barney Rosset was the founder of the Grove Press, which, in addition to its obvious importance, helped usher Brakhage's work into institutions in the 1970s by "publishing" select short films by the artist on tiny reels that were sold to libraries and the publisher's readership. In this volume, Brakhage investigates four of the principal architects of cinema, including Sergei Eisenstein. A wonderful association, and an important collection by one of the most important cinematic artists of the 1970s. Very Good plus in paper-covered card wrappers as issued, with moderate rubbing and a bit of light wear at the extremities.

New York: Jean Wick, 1915. First Edition. First Edition. Review Copy, with publisher's review slip laid in. Association Copy, lengthily INSCRIBED on the front endpaper by author Marshall Kelly to Senator Robert M. "Fighting Bob" La Follette Sr. Additionally SIGNED by La Follette on the front endpaper. In 1917, while most American politicians supported US intervention in World War I, La Follette became one of the few politicians advocating neutrality. In a fiery speech before the Senate on April 2, 1917, La Follette argued that American involvement in the war would line the pockets of already wealthy munitions industrialists but would lead to the deaths of countless working class Americans, and draw attention from important domestic reform measures. Although his opposition led to him being widely branded a traitor, La Follette held firm, opposing the military draft and Espionage Act-correctly predicting that the latter would be used to suppress free speech-and pushing for the war to be funded… Read More

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1964. First Edition. First Edition. INSCRIBED by the author to noted magazine editor and music critic Paul Nelson on the front endpaper: "New York / Apr. 27, 1976 / For Paul Nelson / in friendship / Ken." Paul Nelson worked as a music critic, magazine editor, and record executive for over five decades. He is best remembered for his work for "Rolling Stone" and "The Village Voice." Near Fine in an about Near Fine, lightly rubbed dust jacket.

New York: The Disinformation Company, 2007. First Edition. First Edition. INSCRIBED by Randy Jurgensen to film producer Philip D'Antoni on the front endpaper: "To my friend / What else can I say except I love you / your friend / Randy." With Jurgensen's business card laid in. D'Antoni was a major figure in 1970s New Hollywood Cinema, as the producer of "Bullitt" (1968), "The French Connection" (1972), and "The Seven-Ups" (1973). A nonfiction book that addresses the pursuit and capture of New York's most notorious cop killer, surrounding the killing of a white police officer at the Harlem Mosque in New York City in 1972. Author Jurgensen was a New York City police officer deeply involved in the case. A fictionalized version of the story, "Murder at the Harlem Mosque," was published in 1977. Near Fine in an about Fine dust jacket.

New York: Rob Weisbach Books / William Morrow, 1999. First Edition. First Edition. Warmly INSCRIBED by Davis on the half-title page to fellow author "for the chief hu(man) Mr. O, aka dude with all best wishes and buckets of admiration...XX Amanda HOPE TO SEE YOU IN CANADA" and further SIGNED and dated on the title page: "Amanda Davis Wesleyan Writers Conference Summer 2000." The late author's first and only book, a collection of stories. Offutt is the author of "Kentucky Straight" and other short story collections, novels, nonfiction, and memoirs, and, in 1996, was named one of the twenty Best Young American Novelists by "Granta" magazine. He has also written for popular television shows and national publications, has been visiting faculty at numerous institutions including the Iowa Writer's Workshop, and has received awards from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and others. Fine in a Fine dust jacket.

New York: W.W. Norton, 1995. First Edition. UNCORRECTED PROOF, preceding the First Edition. Warmly INSCRIBED by the author to fellow writer Chris Offutt on the half-title page: "Aug '95 / Dear Chris / Thanks for the astute, though aborted quote. May it bring you good karma with your next one. / Just remember, Clinton is the Anti-Christ! / Tom / Compadre in ART. " From the collection of Chris Offutt. Offutt is the author of "Kentucky Straight" and other short story collections, novels, nonfiction, and memoirs, and, in 1996, was named one of the twenty Best Young American Novelists by "Granta" magazine. He has also written for popular television shows and national publications, has been visiting faculty at numerous institutions including the Iowa Writer's Workshop, and has received awards from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and others. Fine and unread in green trade size wrappers (softcover), with cover illustration mockup stapled on the front wrapper.

New York: Ticknor and Fields, 1988. First Edition. First Edition. Association copy, INSCRIBED by Joanna Scott to fellow author Chris Offutt on the title page: "For Chris, Rita, and the boys / With gratitutde for your songs and kindness. / Joanna." From the collection of Chris Offutt. Offutt is the author of "Kentucky Straight" and other short story collections, novels, nonfiction, and memoirs, and, in 1996, was named one of the twenty Best Young American Novelists by "Granta" magazine. He has also writte n for popular television shows and national publications, has been visiting faculty at numerous institutions including the Iowa Writer's Workshop, and has received awards from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and others. Fine in a Fine dust jacket.

New York: William Morrow, 1940. First Edition. First Edition. Warmly INSCRIBED by the author on the front endpaper: "To Noni / Who wrote the damn thing leaving me only with the job of dictating it / Yours / Erle Stanley Gardner. According to Dorothy Hughes' biography of Gardner, Noni Bibler was one of Gardner's early assistants, and clearly took down much of this novel from dictation. Dampstain to the bottom right corner of the front board, endpapers toned, else Near Fine in an about Very Good dust jacket with small chips at the extremities and some of the usual color-fading to the pink spine title. The fourth Doug Selby US.

New York: William Morrow, 1938. First Edition. First Edition. Warmly INSCRIBED by the author on the front endpaper: "To Noni / Who wrote the stuff word by word from the 'Boss' / Erle Stanley Gardner." According to Dorothy Hughes' biography of Gardner, Noni Bibler was one of Gardner's early assistants, and as the inscription indicates, took down much of this novel from dictation. Very slightly cocked, else Very Good plus in a Very Good dust jacket with small chips at the extremities and some of the usual color-fading to the pink spine title.

New York: Atheneum, 1987. First Edition. First Edition. Association copy, nicely INSCRIBED by Doig to fellow author Chris Offutt on the title page: "To Chris Offutt / A dancer with words / Ivan Doig." From the collection of Chris Offutt. Offutt is the author of "Kentucky Straight" and other short story collections, novels, nonfiction, and memoirs, and, in 1996, was named one of the twenty Best Young American Novelists by "Granta" magazine. He has also written for popular television shows and national publications, has been visiting faculty at numerous institutions including the Iowa Writer's Workshop, and has received awards from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and others. Fine in a Near Fine, slightly spine-faded dust jacket.