Search Results: Titles starting with P from Whitmore Rare Books

Madison, Maine, 1919. Pair of diaries, totaling 752 pages in a single hand, both from Madison, Maine resident and teacher Ruth Marden. Standard Diary and Daily Reminder (1909): First diary comprised of 371 pages in a single hand, with the ownership signature of Ruth Marden to header of title page. In addition to 365 detailed entries for the year, she includes an additional 6 pages of gifts recorded, addresses, and birthdays to the rear. Red cloth with gilt to spine and front board; all edges gilt. 1909-1910 calendar endpapers. Measuring 4.5 x 5.75 inches. Documenting her domestic and family life in her eighteenth year, with information on her education and entry into a teaching career. Lest We Forget: Being a Book for Ladies' Use (1919) Second diary comprised of 381 pages in Ruth's more mature hand, documenting the year leading up to suffrage. In addition to densely packing all 365 entries for the year 1919, she keeps an additional 16 pages listing gifts, expenses, visits, addresses, pamphlets… Read More

New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1962. First edition. Fine/Near Fine. A Fine copy of the book in very Nearly Fine jacket. Red topstain bright and unfaded, book clean and fresh, appearing unread and unused. Jacket showing very minimal age toning to the spine, one small piece of tape at the verso of the spine. A lovely copy of a difficult book to find in collectible condition. "On first read, Pale Fire is a book that appears to be a different book entirely. It takes the form of a long biographical poem written by the eminent and recently deceased poet John Shade, followed by several hundred pages of annotations by Shade's friend and fellow professor Charles Kinbote. Very quickly, an astute reader becomes aware of three things: 1) Kinbote is unstable. 2) Kinbote is convinced that Shade's poem 'Pale Fire' is not about Shade at all but about Kinbote's own delusional history as the exiled king of the (possibly fictional) country of Zembla. 3) Kinbote's 'interpretation' of the poem takes over the book and,… Read More

Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1971. First edition. Near Fine. An "Advance Uncorrected Proof" copy in blue paper wraps with a Houghton Mifflin label tipped on the front cover with the expected publication details. Additional notes in pencil and pen that appear to have been made by someone on the editorial staff. A Near Fine copy of the book with a small crease on the front corner and wraps slightly toned, otherwise in excellent condition. Pages numbered 1 - 165 (trade edition ends on page 181), with variations in layout and preliminary pages, and possibly other changes too. In the third year of Harvard Law School, John Jay Osborn, Jr. crafted this novel based on his own experiences within the pressured environment of Harvard Law. The main character, Hart, is an aspiring lawyer from Minnesota who becomes obsessed with the work of his professor, Charles W. Kingsfield. Not only is the book good, but as The New York Times noted, "the astonishing thing is that he was able to do it at all." The Paper… Read More

London: Printed by J. M. for John Starkey at the Mitre in Fleetstree, near Temple Bar, 1671. First edition. Near Fine. A Near Fine copy overall, bound in early 20th century full crushed morocco with simple blind-rules and small gilt fleurons in the corners. Decorative gilt turn-ins and all edges gilt, plain end papers. Leaves measure 175 x 111 mm. Complete with the original license leaf and the errata leaf: [4], 111, [1], 101, [3]. First issue with the misprint on page 67 with "loah" later corrected to "loth." An excellent copy internally, clean and unmarked, but with a handful of short marginal tears and some leaves trimmed a bit tight (no loss to text). One small chip at the crown and slight fading to the spine, otherwise binding in excellent shape. Samson Agonistes with a separate dated title page and new page numbering, but continuous register. A more hopeful conclusion following the devastation depicted in his epic Paradise Lost, the pairing of Paradise Regain'd and Samson Agonistes offered… Read More

London: Printed by Miles Flesher for Jacob Tonson [and] by R.E for Randal Taylor, 1688. Fourth edition of Paradise Lost (3rd of Regain'd), first illustrated and first folio edition. Two volumes bound in one, a large paper copy. Folio (pages measure: 375 x 234 mm), collating: [4], 343, [7]; [2], 66. Complete with a frontispiece portrait of Milton and 12 plates, mainly by J B Medina in Paradise Lost. No plates produced for Paradise Regain'd, bound without Samson Agonistes (despite mention of it on the title page to the second volume). Contemporary English speckled calf; rebacked with original morocco spine label preserved. Original plain end papers. A small ownership stamp on the title page, otherwise without writing or marks. A few faint marginal dampstains and areas of soiling or foxing, but on the whole an excellent copy internally. The first illustrated edition of Paradise Lost with a full page engraving at the beginning of each of the twelve books. The 1688 Milton was also one of the earliest… Read More

1880. 18 inch Parian bust atop 3 1/2 inch socle, previously joined by brass nut and bolt (now detached and in need of repair). Faint hairline fissure from upper button of shirt across shoulder and around to rear. Mild soiling typical of Parian, otherwise an exceptional example notable for its exquisite detail and translucence. This superb Parian bust of the Bard of Avon is exact in almost all aspects to that from Robinson & Leadbeater pictured in the key reference, The Parian Phenomenon, differing only in size, the slight tilt of Shakespeare's head and subtle facial features. The blouse, buttons, tassels, collar, drape of the cloak, lapel, and sleeve at the left shoulder are identical in all detail to the ten and a half inch Shakespeare bust produced by Robinson & Leadbeater c. 1880. Further, though the smaller sizes for R&L busts were modeled with integral socles, the larger sizes possessed separate socles, as here. Most significant, however, is that Robinson & Leadbeater's designs were original… Read More

London: George G. Harrap & Co., Ltd, 1936. First edition thus, Publishers Special Morocco Binding. Quarto (9 3/4 x 7 1/4 in; 248 x 183 mm). Collating 255, [1]. Publisher's full dark green morocco with gilt fillets and gilt-stamped design and lettering. Top edge gilt, others trimmed. Early ink signature on verso of front endpaper. Twelve color plates with captioned tissue guards and numerous black and white text drawings as head- and tailpieces, and devices. Housed in a later blue cloth slipcase. A Near Fine copy. "His drawings for Peer Gynt [are] remarkably fresh and interesting" (Hudson 140). Ibsen's highly regarded and influential play about Peer Gynt, a loafer who undertakes a transcontinental adventure. Gettings 181. Hudson 182. Latimore and Haskell 74. Riall 192.

Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Co, 1936. Publisher's salesperson's sample copy (preceding the first edition). Large octavo (9 13/16 x 7 7/16 inches; 249 x 189 mm.). Complete. Original printed color pictorial dust jacket (with "Harrap" on the spine) with a neatly repaired tear on front near spine. Original gilt decorated brown cloth. Original pictorial endpapers. Title-page printed in green and black. Two full-page color plates with descriptive tissue guards and two half-page black and white illustrations. A Fine copy in a Near Fine dust jacket. A great rarity. These were obviously produced in minimal quantity for the publisher's salespeople to solicit advance orders from bookshops. The 'list' of illustrations leaf states "[There will be Twelve Plates in Colour]" The vignettes on the half-title and title-page in the published edition are printed in a much lighter and brighter green. The list of books Illustrated by Arthur Rackham on the verso of the half-title is very different from the published… Read More

London: Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green, 1830. First edition. Near Fine. Contemporary straight grain morocco with griffin embossed in gilt to boards; rebacked to style with gilt to spine. All edges marbled. Some light scuffing near joints. Signed by the author on a bound-in presentation page and addressed to Mrs. Ed. Hawkins. Measures 127 x 203mm and collates complete: ix, [1, blank], 244, including both half and full title, frontis, and three plates. Light scattered foxing throughout, largely confined to the margins; else a clean and neat text. Fairly scarce at institutions, this is presently the only first edition on the market. An infamous Bluestocking and companion to writers Hannah More and Maria Edgeworth, Henrietta Maria Bowdler was invested in women's education at the same time that she was influenced by her family's more conservative religious views. This tension is apparent in Pen Tamar, which "gives a mixed message: ostensibly defending both virtue and single women [while] it excuses… Read More

New York: Harper and Brothers, 1886. First edition. Publishers tan cloth pictorially decorated in red and black. A very Fine copy. Howard Pyle (March 5, 1853 - November 9, 1911) was an American illustrator and author, primarily of books for young people. In Pepper & Salt, Howard Pyle writes in a "Court-Jesterish" manner - meaning for them to be read out loud... and the superb black and white illustrations will keep the children amazed (and the adults too!) BAL 16381.

London: Bradbury & Evans, 1850. First Edition. Near Fine. Early 20th century three quarters blue crushed morocco over marbled boards with gilt to spine. Top edge gilt. Marbled endpapers. Bookplates of Jeffrey Stern and Christopher Clark Geest to front pastedown. Original wrappers for parts IV and VII at front (laid in and bound in, respectively). Spine gently sunned and light rubbing to extremities. Generally clean internally with only a few spots of foxing to a handful of plates. A handsome copy of one of Dickens' best, and his most autobiographical novel. Early issue without the misprint: "screamed" for "screwed" on page 132 line 20 (often lacking from first edition copies); but with the other issue points, including: Chapter XXVII is on page 282 rather than page 283 as listed in the table of contents; 16: 1 and 225: 22 both read "recal" rather than "recall"; 19: 39 reads "cha pter ; ut"; 387: 45 reads "coroboration" rather than "corroboration"; 472: 37 has no closing of the quotation marks; and… Read More

London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1910. Seventh Edition. Very Good. Publisher's red cloth binding stamped in gilt. All edges stained. Brown endpapers. Measuring 245 x 180mm and illustrated throughout. Some staining and rubbing to cloth; front signature professionally strengthened. Contemporary gift inscription to front endpaper: "Evelyn Demy. Xmas 1910." Internally pleasing and clean. Laid in is an early photographic image of the author with some notations to the verso. Arthur Rackham was one of the great illustrators of the early 20th century, a period which is referred to as the "golden age" in British book design. His works were produced in both limited and mass market editions as there was a large market for ornately illustrated books before the First World War. Rackham used a unique style, thought to mix European and East Asian influences, that involved both pen and India Ink as well as watercolor. His work was displayed all over Europe - and received awards at International Exhibitions in Milan and… Read More

London: R. Burleigh [false imprint for E. Curll], 1716. First edition. Bound to style in quarter calf over marbled boards with gilt to spine. All edges marbled. Measuring 185 x 112mm and collating complete including half title: [4], iii, [1, blank], 39, [1, blank]. With catchword 'behold' on page 27 and floral ornament above 'Finis' on page 39 as called for. A Fine example, unmarked and fresh. A scarce piece of erotic satire, ESTC records copies at 11 U.S. institutions. It last sold at auction in 1929, and the present is the only first edition on the market. "Begin my Muse and sing in Epick train The Petticoat; Nor shall thou sing in vain, The Petticoat will sure reward thy pain!" So opens a satire composed under the pseudonym Mr. Gay (used by several of those hacks in Edmund Curll's employ), which traces how the amorous adventures of Thyrsis and Chloe were made possible by the latter's fashionable hooped skirt. Finding both humor and seriousness in women's fashion, The Petticoat points out how some… Read More

London: Dean and Son, [N.D.]. First edition. Original publisher's cloth binding stamped in gilt and blind. Measuring 210 x 170mm and complete in 68 pages with 15 hand-colored plates throughout. Some sunning to spine and boards, but gilt remaining bright. Recased with endpapers renewed. Internally a pleasing example, with occasional light foxing. An uncommon illustrated children's book, which OCLC records at only one library (University of Liverpool); it does not appear in the modern auction record, and the present is the only copy in trade. "Educated at hom and in Quaker schools, Mary Howitt wrote poetry from a very early age"; and following her marriage to William Howitt, she was further encouraged to pursue her creative endeavors on a professional level (Cengage). Howitt's successful writing career brought her into circles that included Charles Dickens, Elizabeth Gaskell and the Brownings. Like these famed writers, her work often interlaced observations on the natural world with poetry and… Read More

London/New York: Ernest Nister/E.P. Dutton, 1894. First edition. Quarter blue cloth over chromolithographed pictorial glazed boards. Neat gift inscription dated 1895. A stunning copy with only the slightest hint of wear at corners. Chromolithograph and black and white illustrations throughout. Printed in Bavaria. Ernest Nister (1842-1909) "produced more than five hundred mostly undated illustrated books for children, but from the 1890s the firm's production was almost exclusively toy or movable books and Nister introduced many new mechanical techniques... The illustrations in Nister's books—typically featuring affluent, well- dressed, cheerful children at play—were produced by many different artists. The artist's name, however, was often either dropped or missing, while the signature of Nister, as lithographer, was usually found somewhere on the work—thus leading to confusion about attribution. Nister frequently reused illustrations, occasionally adding picture elements that were not in the… Read More

London: Bradbury & Evans, 1860. First edition. Thirteen parts bound in twelve. Octavo (8 3/4 x 5 11/16 inches; 223 x 145 mm.). Publisher's original red-brown pictorial wrappers. With the bookplates of H. Bradley Martin and Fitz Eugene Dixon. Hand-colored etched vignette title and twelve hand-colored plates. Black and white wood engravings throughout. Bound without the 12-page catalogue at end of the thirteenth part. Chemised and housed in a red cloth clamshell case with black leather spine label lettered in gilt. First and final parts with small losses at spine foot, color plate in part five with light crease, still a very good set. One of the great pleasures of Plain or Ringlets? is the interpretation of its events by the artist John Leech. He was introduced to Surtees by William Thackeray, a great friend and admirer of Surtees' work. The first novel Leech illustrated for Surtees was Mr. Sponge's Sporting Tour. Surtees had originally asked Thackeray to illustrate this work, but Thackeray declined… Read More

Derby: J. Drewry, 1797. First edition. Contemporary quarter calf over marbled boards; spine ruled in gilt with red morocco label; all edges dyed yellow. Boards and spine rubbed; some chipping along edges. Original stab holes visible in gutter margins. Previous owner's bookplate on front pastedown; ink signature of Mary Wolley to front free endpaper; light foxing. Quarto collates complete, with half title and engraved frontispiece: viii, [9]-128. Bound after Fosbrooke, T.D. The Economy of Monastic Life. Glocester: Printed by R. Raikes, [1792]. First edition, dedicated to Edward Jenner who is also listed as a subscriber. Internally a copy in excellent condition. The grandfather of the illustrious Charles Darwin, Erasmus Darwin wrote this treatise on the education of young women to support his own daughters' school at Ashbourne. Darwin's treatise takes a comprehensive view of women's education, suggesting that it should reach beyond social skills such as the "perpetual appearance of attention," polite… Read More

Santa Barbara: Black Sparrow Press, 1979. First edition. Near Fine/Near Fine. Number 44 of 305 copies signed on the limitation page. Very nearly Fine in nearly Fine publisher's acetate. Bound in mustard boards with black and white piano imagery and textured red fabric backstrip maintaining brown paper title to spine. Publisher's acetate with expected scuffing. Spot of discoloration to bottom closed text block and dutiness to the top-edge, very slight toning at gutter from glue on the blue pastedowns and fly leaves; rest of the interior appears clean and unread. Even the title of this collection, featuring Bukowski's poetry from the 1970s, reads like one of his lyrics—poignant, graphic, drunken, visceral, and clever. An entertaining offering in the poet's established authorial voice. A great example of a Black Sparrow Press book—run by John Martin the avant-garde press was responsible for supporting and publishing Bukowski's work throughout his prolific career. Krumhansl 68. Near Fine in Near… Read More

Santa Barbara: Black Sparrow Press, 1979. First edition. Fine/Near Fine. Number 39 of 100 [c.120] copies signed by the author with a doodle on the limitation page and with an original silkscreened image also signed by the author bound in after the title page. Fine in nearly Fine publisher's acetate. Bound in mustard boards with black and white piano imagery and red fabric backstrip (with black and pink details) maintaining brown paper title to spine. Publisher's acetate with expected scuffing. Slight toning at gutter from glue on the blue pastedowns and fly leaves; rest of the interior appears clean and unread. The most limited of this edition. Even the title of this collection, featuring Bukowski's poetry from the 1970s, reads like one of his lyrics—poignant, graphic, drunken, visceral, and clever. An entertaining offering in the poet's established authorial voice, with the added desirability of a sketch and original illustration to accompany the text. A great example of a Black Sparrow Press… Read More

New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1952. First edition. Very Good +/Near Fine. A Very Good+ copy in Near Fine dust jacket. Book with some tape-ghosts to the boards and end papers. Dust jacket a bit faded at the spine and extremities and with a short, closed tear at the top of the front panel (no loss). Vonnegut's first novel, Player Piano, is a satire set in dystopian machine-dominated America, which cautions against blindly embracing technology. Inspired by his time at General Electric, Vonnegut imagines a future where automatization has replaced most industries, relegating society to meaningless toil. The story follows engineer Dr. Paul Proteus, one of the privileged few, as he becomes disillusioned. Vonnegut's prophetic sci-fi tale offers "an uncommon and honest theme for our days—that a society that outsources all labor to technology may inadvertently drain out too much humanity" (Bosphorus Review of Books). Very Good + in Near Fine dust jacket.