Search Results: Authors starting with D from B & B Rare Books, Ltd., ABAA

London: Jonathan Cape, 1980 Illustrated by Quentin Blake. First edition, first printing. Inscribed by Dahl on front free endpaper: "To / Amanda / Love / Roald Dahl / 1980 / [flourish]". Publisher's original red cloth with titles in gilt to spine; original cream-colored dust jacket with Blake illustrations to front and rear panels, lettered in red and black. Two light creases to front board, else fine book; about fine unclipped dust jacket, with just some light fading to spine. Overall, a lovely copy. The Twits is a darkly humorous children's story that centers around a horrid married couple. The two, Mr. and Mrs. Twit, despise each other and engage in a series of abusive pranks against one another involving a glass eye, worms, and balloons. The two get their comeuppance when a group of monkeys called Muggle-Wumps glue the Twits' furniture to the ceiling, making them think that they are upside down. The Twits is a Roald Dahl classic, featuring two of his nastiest villains. The… Read More

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1964 Illustrated by Joseph Schindelman. First edition, second state, with five-line colophon. Publisher's red cloth, with the title in blind to the front board, spine lettered in gilt, black topstain; in the original first issue dust jacket designed by Schindelman, lacking the ISBN number to the rear panel, with illustration of a chocolate candy bar, Charlie, and Willy Wonka to the front panel, and illustration of Wonka dancing in front of billboards to the rear panel. Near fine, with mild dimming to gilt, some toning to foot of spine, a small nick to cloth at foot of spine, and a hint of soiling to front and rear free endpapers; good or better unclipped dust jacket, with light toning to spine and edges, 1 ½" loss to foot of spine ("Factory" missing), shallow chipping to head of spine, light soiling to front panel and front spine fold, a couple of creases to bottom of front panel, lightly nicked corners, and a few small chips to flap folds. Overall,… Read More

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1960 First edition, “first and second printings before publication.” Inscribed by Dahl on front free endpaper: “For Erik Graham with best / wishes from / Roald Dahl.” Publisher’s lavender cloth, pink designs outlined in black to front board and spine, titles in pink and black, deckled fore edge of text block; original dust jacket designed by Charles E. Skaggs with blue and red hearts to front panel and spine, titles lettered in white, photo of Dahl and his wife taken by Eli Wallach to rear panel. Very good book with light toning to spine and edges, a bit of spotting to edges, and a small spot of light dampstaining to rear board; near fine unclipped dust jacket with light toning to spine, a 1” closed tear and a closed tear with a tiny nick to top edge of front panel, and 1” closed tear to top of rear flap hinge. Overall, a very attractive copy, scarce as inscribed by the author. Kiss Kiss brings together eleven of Roald Dahl’s… Read More

New York: Doubleday & Company, 1948 Translated by John Addington Symonds. Illustrated by Salvador Dalí with full-page color plates and black-and-white drawings. First trade edition. Signed by Dalí with an original drawing of a horse on verso of half-title page. Publisher's red cloth, with horse illustration in gilt to front board, and black label lettered in gilt to spine. Very good, with some fading to spine, some rubbing to spine label and dimming to spine gilt, front board gilt bright, and a hint of offsetting to endpapers. Overall, an attractive copy, scarce signed. The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini was written by the Italian sculptor and draftsman in the sixteenth century, although it was not published until 1728. This work, detailing the personal life of a well-known artist, has become perhaps the most important autobiography of the Italian Renaissance, giving readers a glimpse into the lives of historical figures like Michelangelo and the Medici family. In his… Read More

London: John Murray, 1868 Two volumes. First edition, first issue. One of 1500 copies. Bound in three-quarter contemporary brown calf over red marbled boards, spines lettered and decorated in gilt, all edges marbled, marbled endpapers. A very good set with some wear and rubbing along edges and spines, former owner bookplate to front pastedowns, some foxing to the first few leaves, otherwise clean. Freeman 878.. First Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good.

London: John Murray, 1860 Second edition, second issue (with "fifth thousand" on title page), one of only 3000 copies and yet the largest printing of any edition or issue in Darwin's lifetime, and the last English edition to contain the whale-bear story. Folding lithographed plate, 32pp. of publisher's advertisements at rear. Original publisher's green cloth, covers stamped in blind, gilt spine. About near fine, with just a touch of wear to spine ends, rear hinge faintly cracked but secure, binding slightly shaken at signatures in rear but sturdy overall, cloth bright and clean, interior with a bit of spotting but generally very clean and fresh, table at pp. 116-7 with a tear at fold. Overall, a superb copy in original cloth. Freeman 376. Darwin's On the Origin of Species is the basis for all of evolutionary biology. It includes evidence from Darwin's journey aboard the HMS Beagle, including data on the famous finches from the Galapagos Islands. First published in… Read More

London: John Murray, 1872 First edition, second issue with "htat" misprint on the first line of page 208. One of 7000 copies. Publisher's green cloth with decorative borders in blind to front and rear boards, titles and decorations in gilt to spine, green endpapers, seven Heliotype Plates numbered in Arabic. Very good or better with light wear to spine hinges and corners, a bit of toning to spine, some spotting to the plates on pages 180 and 264, a few small notes in pencil to a couple pages, and a touch of soiling to bottom edge of text block. Overall, a solid copy of Darwin's "forgotten masterpiece," with very well-preserved plates. Freeman 1142. The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals expands on Darwin's theories raised in On the Origin of Species (1859) and The Descent of Man (1871), arguing that there is an evolutionary explanation for the human expression of emotions. The book was originally intended by Darwin to be a chapter in The Descent of Man, but… Read More

Paris: Galerie de Goupil et Cie, [1918] Illustrated by Césare Bonanomi, Edith Fry, Jeka Kemp, Henri Lejeune, René Quillivic, and Alic Whyte, among others. First edition. Publisher's white paper wrappers, lettered in blue. Near fine, with some light soiling to the wrappers, light rusting to the staple binding, a few faint spots to the otherwise clean pages. A lovely copy. This illustrated pamphlet is the catalog for the second exposition of the Arc-en-Ciel group of French, English, and American artists held in Paris at the gallery of Goupil et Cie. The text lists the titles of the exposition's 308 works of art as well as the names and addresses of the contributing artists. As de Waleffe explains in his introduction, the name l'Arc-en-Ciel ("the rainbow") refers to the beauty and joy that arts brought to France after so many years of the "storm" of World War I.. First Edition. Hard Cover. Near Fine.

London: Printed By W. Bowyer and J. Nichols, 1774 Presentation copy, inscribed by the author to noted British astronomer and mathematician Thomas Hornsby to front pastedown: "Pour Mons. Hornsby de la part d l'Auteur". Small 4to. [2], 57, [1] pp. First separate edition, originally published in the periodical Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society in the previous year. Containing one engraved fold-out plate by James Basire. Contemporary marbled paper wrappers. A very good copy with rubbing and toning to wrappers, a few tears and creases to extremities, front hinge starting, small sticker hand-labeled "1" to front wrapper, some spotting and toning internally but text block overall very clean. ESTC T114477. Housed in a custom folding box. Account of a New Hygrometer was first published in 1773 in Philosophical Transactions, a scientific journal issued periodically by the Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge. Known as the first scientific journal in the… Read More

Amsterdam: Ludovicum & Danielem Elzevirios, 1656 Third edition. Contemporary brown calf with sides ruled in blind, four raised bands to spine, and red leather label lettered in gilt to spine. Very good, with light wear and chipping to calf on joints and edges, rebacked, 19th century inscriptions to front fly leaf and half-title page, biographical clippings affixed to front endpapers, light dampstaining to page margins, some tears to lower margins of introductory pages, some pencil annotations to "Methode" section of Specimina Philosophiae (pp. 1-48), and library card pocket to rear pastedown. Overall, a sturdy and attractive copy. Opera Philosophica contains some of the French philosopher René Descartes' most influential works. Specimina Philosophiae includes three Descartes essays published in 1637 - "Methode," "La Dioptrique," and "Meteores." In "Methode," Descartes outlines his skepticism-based method for understanding the natural… Read More

London: Chapman & Hall, 1837 Illustrated by R. Seymour and Hablot K. Browne (“Phiz”). First edition, first printing with “hodling” for “holding” on pg. 260 line 29, “S. Veller” uncorrected on pg. 342 line 5, and “F” in OF” imperfect on the headline of 432. Contemporary three-quarter brown calf with marbled boards, five raised bands to spine, titles and decorations in gilt to spine, green and red leather labels, all edges marbled, marbled endpapers. Very good with light edgewear, mild rubbing to boards, edges and spine lightly faded, tiny bump to fore edge of rear board, bit of fading to marbled edges, some spotting to pages, previous owner’s bookplate and tiny bookseller’s stamp to front pastedown. Overall, a pleasing copy. Smith 1, 3. The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club was originally published serially in twenty numbers, bound in nineteen monthly installments from April 1836 - November 1837. This first edition was… Read More

London: Chapman & Hall, 1839 Illustrations by Hablot K. Browne ("Phiz"). First edition, mixed state with "sister" and "letter" in the corrected state, many other points first state and uncorrected. Bound in contemporary three-quarter green calf, with five raised bands ruled in gilt, spine lettered in gilt, marbled paper-covered boards, and red sprinkled edges. Very good, with light marks to calf, some wear to paper-covered edges, bookseller's sticker to front pastedown, 19th century bookplate to front pastedown, light offsetting to front free endpaper from bookplate, moderate spotting and offsetting to plates, pages quite clean otherwise without nicks or tears. Overall, a handsomely bound and sturdy copy. Smith, I, 5; Hatton & Cleaver, p. 131. Nicholas Nickleby is Dickens's third novel, which he began writing while Oliver Twist was still in progress. Characteristic of Dickens's work, Nicholas Nickleby is a whirlwind of social satire with a complex… Read More

New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1989 Two volumes. Compiled and edited by Richard Whittingham. Introduction and commentaries by Joe DiMaggio. First edition, first printing. Signed by DiMaggio on title page of Vol. I. Publisher's blue cloth with titles in gilt to spines, red, white, and blue marbled endpapers, set designed by Susan Kinealy; housed in original red slipcase with DiMaggio photo to front cover, and front cover and spine lettered in gilt. Fine set; near fine slipcase, with a small tear to top of spine. Overall, a superb set. The DiMaggio Albums traces DiMaggio's life from the minor leagues to his major league retirement with a variety of unique archival materials, including news clippings, photos, posters, and more. DiMaggio played all thirteen seasons of his career with the New York Yankees and was selected as an All-Star thirteen times. With his exemplary hitting and fielding (he was nicknamed "The Yankee Clipper" because of how he sailed around the outfield) he… Read More

1936 9" x 7" Type 1 black and white photo. Photo of New York Yankees' batting lineup, featuring (L to R) Joe DiMaggio, Frank Crosetti, Tony Lazzeri, Bill Dickey, Lou Gehrig, Jake Powell, and George Selkirk. Near fine photo, with some light rippling to bottom edge, and light toning to verso of photo. Overall, a great photo, featuring DiMaggio in his rookie season. The caption on the verso of this photo states: "These heavy-hitting fence-busters are expected to send many a cocky opposition pitcher to the showers during the coming World Series." This proved prophetic, as the team defeated the New York Giants in the 1936 World Series in 6 games. Joe DiMaggio had an exceptional rookie season with the Yankees, hitting a then-franchise record for a rookie of 29 home runs (Aaron Judge broke the record in 2017, with 52 home runs). DiMaggio played all thirteen seasons of his career with the New York Yankees and was selected as an All-Star thirteen times. With his exemplary hitting and… Read More

New York: Random House, 1938 First American edition, first printing. Publisher's rust-colored cloth over black spine, stamped in gilt with gilt illustration of a flamingo to front board, top edge stained green; in the original pictorial dust jacket with an illustration of a dense jungle scene. Near fine book, with very light rubbing to spine ends, gilt very bright, light offsetting, and a crease to p. 341; very good unclipped dust jacket, with light toning to spine, light chipping to spine ends, a few light marks to spine, a couple of shallow chips to top of front panel, a touch of staining to rear panel and spine, and a small 1 ½" section of loss to rear flap fold. Overall, an attractive and sturdy copy. Out of Africa is the memoir of Baroness Karen von Blixen-Finecke, a Danish author who published many of her works under the pseudonym Isak Dinesen, and is based on the author's experience living in Kenya when it was controlled by the British Empire. It offers a unique glimpse… Read More

[Burbank, CA]: [Walt Disney Studios], [1951]., 1951 9" x 9", within a 15" x 15" frame. Gouache on celluloid drawing of the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, holding a flamingo mallet, colored in green, yellow, black, red, and white, with a gray background, in a glossy black frame. Fine. Overall, a bright and exemplary cel from the classic 1951 Disney film. Walt Disney's animated film Alice in Wonderland (1951) is based on Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and its sequel, Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There (1872). Walt Disney was inspired by Carroll's books from a young age, and his early silent "Alice Comedies" in the 1920s showed the imaginative author's influence on him. Disney purchased the rights to Tenniel's Alice illustrations in 1931 with the idea of turning the books into a film, but it wasn't until 1951 that the project was finally completed. Featuring the voices of Kathryn Beaumont,… Read More

London: Neville Spearman, 1956 First UK edition (and first hardcover edition), first printing. Publisher's blue cloth, with spine lettered in black; in its original blue pictorial dust jacket, with black and orange illustration of a lounging Sebastian Dangerfield, lettered in orange. Fine, with just a touch of toning to foot of spine, and a tiny bump to right edge of front board; fine unclipped dust jacket, with a hint of fading to spine. Overall, a pristine copy. The titular "ginger man" of J. P. Donleavy's classic debut novel is Sebastian Dangerfield, a young and charismatic man studying law at Dublin University, who lives with his wife and infant in an eerie, ramshackle house on a cliff. The book follows Sebastian on his comic misadventures, as he engages in messy affairs and drinks himself into oblivion. The book is told in a picaresque style, in the vein of Henry Fielding's Tom Jones (1749) and Laurence Stern's Tristram Shandy (1759), with stream-of-conscious prose… Read More

New York and Auburn: Miller, Orton & Mulligan, 1855 Introduction by Dr. James McCune Smith. First edition, first printing. Original publisher’s brown cloth, with decoration in blind to boards, titles in gilt to spine, three engraved plates including frontispiece portrait of Douglass engraved by John Chester Buttre. Minor rubbing to cloth, spine lightly faded, touch of fraying to foot of spine, a bit of offsetting to endpapers, and pages lightly spotted. Overall, a very handsome copy, free of repairs or restoration. Extremely uncommon in this condition. Housed in a fine custom quarter-leather folding box. In My Bondage and My Freedom, Frederick Douglass gives an account of his life as an enslaved person in Maryland and his eventual escape to the North. Almost three times the length of his first autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (1845), My Bondage provides considerably more detail about Douglass’ time enslaved and updates his story to include some of the major… Read More