Rare books from CraigsClassics

"Two Years Before the Mast" by Richard Henry Dana. "A Personal Narrative of Life at Sea." 1840 1st Edition, 2nd Issue (the letter "i" in the word "in" within the top line on the copyright page is lacking the dot, and with broken letter "i" within the running title at the top of page 9); Harper & Brothers ("Harpers' Family Library, No. CVI); New York.Condition:Light soiling and foxing to covers and spine; nearly the entire length of the left edge of the spine is separated from the back cover; sharp corners. Tight binding. No cracks. No loose pages. Overall the pages are in very good condition - mostly clean and white with occasional light foxing to some random pages; heavier foxing to the front and rear end papers. The front end papers have some pencil writing and a previous owner's bookplate. Overall a nice copy - would be very good if not for the tear along the left edge of the spine.

This is a complete 19 Volume set of "HOUSEHOLD WORDS" - A Weekly Journal by Charles Dickens. The volumes span the years 1850 (Volume I) to 1859 (Volume XIX). The significance of this set is that Volume IX contains the 1st appearance of the Dickens classic "HARD TIMES" (please see photos). "Hard Times was first published serially in "Household Words" in the April 1, 1854 issue (volume IX), followed shortly thereafter by the 1st edition in book form in the same year. Seldom found complete in 19 Volumes."Household Words" was an English weekly magazine edited by Charles Dickens and was published every Saturday from March 1850 to May 1859. This set contains 19 hardcover volumes which contain the complete run of individual issues. To boost slumping sales, Dickens serialized his classic novel "Hard Times" in weekly parts between April 1st and August 12th 1854. It had the desired effect, more than doubling the journal's circulation and encouraging Dickens, who remarked that he was "three parts mad, and the… Read More

This is a very rare bound volume of the 1st 66 issues of the publication "YOUTH'S TEMPERANCE ADVOCATE" from 1839 to the 1840's. The "magazine" was first published in 1839 (issues 1 and 2) and continued into the 1860's. The issues contain wonderful woodcuts throughout. In addition to the articles, the issues also include songs, cartoons and poems aimed at steering youth away from the consumption of alcohol, and pointing out the dangers and pitfalls of drinking. It is rare to find a single issue of this publication, let alone a complete run of 66 issues beginning with issue No. 1. Published monthly in New York by the American Temperance Union.Here are a few examples of article, song and poem titles:* A Plea with All Youth for Total Abstinence from Intoxicating Liquors* To the Keeper of the Grog Shop and the Bar* Death and the Wine-Bibber* The Devil and His Victim* The Ship Te-Totaler* How to Avoid Ever Being Lame* Spirits in Ireland* A True Passage from the Life of a Drunkard* Thrilling Narrative of a… Read More

This is a scarce, bound volume of POLO magazine ("The Magazine for Horsemen") that contains 8 issues from September, 1931 to April, 1932 with wonderfully illustrated color covers. "Volume VI" is printed on the spine. Red, hardcover cloth binding with gilt lettering and decorations on the spine (and the name "J.L. Lundean" in gilt at the base of the spine). Published by Quigley Publishing Company in the United States. The magazine was "obtainable by subscription only." Oversized - the volume measures 14 1/8" tall x 10 1/4" wide. "Hunting ~ Horseshows ~ Racing" - contents include general horsemanship, horse show results, sailing, steeplechase, polo and foxhunting, with many illustrations from photographs and drawings. The issues include great illustrated advertisements (some in color) for companies such as Saks-Fifth Avenue, Abercrombie & Fitch, Duesenberg, Johnston & Murphy Shoe, A.G. Spalding & Bros., Anheuser-Busch, Camel Cigarettes, and many more. The following 8 issues are included:VOLUME 6No. 4… Read More

This is a scarce, bound volume of POLO magazine ("The Magazine for Horsemen") that contains 8 issues from January to August, 1931 with wonderfully illustrated color covers. "Volume V" is printed on the spine. Red, hardcover cloth binding with gilt lettering and decorations on the spine (and the name "J.L. Lundean" in gilt at the base of the spine). Published by Quigley Publishing Company in the United States. The magazine was "obtainable by subscription only." Oversized - the volume measures 14 1/8" tall x 10 1/4" wide. "Hunting ~ Steeplechasing ~ Horseshows" - contents include general horsemanship, horse show results, sailing, steeplechase, polo and foxhunting, with many illustrations from photographs and drawings. The issues include great illustrated advertisements (some in color) for companies such as Brooks Brothers Clothing, Duesenberg, Abercrombie & Fitch, Izod, A.G. Spalding & Bros., Johnston & Murphy Shoe, Firestone, Fortune Magazine, and many more.The following 8 issues are included:VOLUME… Read More

Scarce first edition copy of "HANS ANDERSEN'S STORY BOOK" with a Memoir of Anderson by Mary Howitt. 1849 1st American edition (following the 1st English translation in the U.K. in 1846); C.S. Francis & Co.; New York. With a frontispiece engraving of Andersen and 2 full-page illustrated plates (all with tissue guards), an engraved title page and other illustrations. There is an 8-page publisher's catalog at the back of the book. There are 27 stories in all, as follows: A Picture-book without Pictures; My Boots; Scenes on the Danube; Pegasus and the Post-Horses; The Emperor's New Clothes; The Swineherd; The Real Princess (better known as "The Princess and the Pea"); The Shoes of Fortune; The Fir Tree; The Snow Queen; The Leap-Frog; The Elder-Bush; The Bell; The Old House; The Drop of Water; The Happy Family; The Story of a Mother; The False Collar; The Shadow; The Old Street Lamp; The Dream of Little Tuk; The Naughty Boy; The Two Neighboring Families; The Darning Needle; The Little Match-Girl; The Red… Read More

This is a rare, first edition copy of "THE IDIOT" by Fyodor Dostoevsky. 1913 1st American edition, 1st printing; The Macmillan Company; New York. Constance Garnett translation. Gilt top page edges.Condition:There is a light stain at the lower-inner corners of the covers, and light staining to the spine; sharp corners; 2 tiny cloth tears at the top edge of the spine. Tight binding with no cracks and no loose pages. Bookplate affixed to the front pastedown. The text pages are in terrific condition - clean with only a very light stain at the outer margin of page 66. Some light soiling to the front blank end paper. Light, pea-sized stain at the center of the inner page edges between the title page and opposing end paper. Light stain at the hinge between front and rear end papers and pastedowns. Staining to the bottom edge of the text block.

This is an exceedingly rare copy of "THE DINNER QUESTION" - or, How to Dine Well and Economically by Tabitha Tickletooth. 1860 "New Edition" (stated) - published the same year as the 1st edition; Routledge, Warne, and Routledge; London. Hardcover. "Combining the Rudiments of Cookery with Useful Hints on Dinner Giving and Serving, and Other Household Words of Advice: Garnished with Anecdotes of Eminent Cooks and Epicures, as Well as Saws in Gastronomy from the Great Masters." "Tabitha Tickletooth" was the pseudonym of Charles Selby, a 19th century English comic actor and playwright. With an Index at the back, and three pages of publisher's advertisements at both the front and back. Please see the photos for the complete list of contents. Rare in any condition."Selby/Tickletooth provides recipes appropriate for the era along with a dose of tongue-in-cheek humor. Much of it pokes fun of the gastronomical snobbery of the time. As he says, the book provided 'plain instructions for the preparation of plain… Read More

"Engravings of Ancient Cathedrals, Hotels de Ville, and Other Public Buildings of Celebrity in France, Holland, Germany, and Italy" - Drawn on the Spot and Engraved by John Coney. With illustrative descriptions for each engraving. 1842; Henry G. Bohn; London. Nicely bound in three-quarter leather with marbled covers and end papers, six raised bands and gilt decorations on the spine, and gilt page edges on all sides. The book contains a double-page frontispiece, and 32 incredibly detailed double-page engravings of historic churches, hotels, clock towers, cathedrals, etc. - please see the photos for the complete list of contents. All 32 engravings are present and are firmly attached. Oversized - the book measures 20 1/8" tall x 14" wide x 1 3/8" thick. A very nice example of this scarce work. Additional photos can be provided upon request.Largely self-taught, Coney was an important English architectural draughtsman and etcher of the early 19th century. He created and sold pencil drawings of the interior… Read More

This is a nice condition collection of seven antique doctor's account books / physician's ledgers belonging to Dr. J.L.M. Willis, M.D. who practiced on "The Old Post Road" in Eliot, Maine ("Eliot's first county doctor"). The account books range in date from 1885 to 1916. Hardbound with cloth covers, leather spines, leather corners or outer cover edges, and gilt lettering and accents. Four ledgers have raised bands on the spine. Each account book contains an alphabetical list of patients at the front, followed by details of patient visits by date (see below for interesting examples of visits). The handwriting throughout the account books is highly legible. The earliest ledger (1882 to 1895) contains an entry for a visit by the poet JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER (with "The Poet ~" written next to his name); Whittier paid $2.50, though his reason for the visit was not recorded. Whittier travelled through York County, Maine often (the county in which Dr. Willis practiced) en route to Portland, Maine, where he… Read More

This is a terrific condition, rare collection of all 52 consecutive issues of "JUDGE MAGAZINE" for the year 1926 bound in two volumes. The issues feature wonderful cover art in color, with many covers depicting the "flappers" of the era. The collection includes numerous front cover illustrations by RUTH EASTMAN. All front and back covers of all issues are present. 'Judge' was a weekly satirical magazine published from 1881 and 1947. It was launched by artists who had seceded from its rival 'Puck' magazine.The following 52 issues are included: January 2, 9, 16, 23, 30. February 6, 13, 20, 27. March 6, 13, 20, 27. April 3, 10, 17, 24. May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29. June 5, 12, 19, 26. July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31. August 7, 14, 21, 28. September 4, 11, 18, 25. October 2, 9, 16, 23, 30. November 6, 13, 20, 27. December 4, 11, 18, 25.Condition:A wonderful collection overall. Both volumes are tightly bound with no cracks and no loose pages - all issues are firmly attached. Clean covers and spines with bright gilt… Read More

This is the exceedingly scarce, legendary wrestling book "FALL GUYS - The Barnums of Bounce" by Marcus Griffin with its original dust jacket. 1937 1st edition; The Reilly & Lee Co.; Chicago. This copy is INSCRIBED by Griffin on the front end paper. "The inside story of the Wrestling Business, America's most profitable and best organized professional sport." The book is considered to be the first credible behind-the-scenes look into the world of professional wrestling, exposing the cutthroat business of fixed matches, shady promoters, and show wrestlers. Quite rare first edition copy with its original (un-clipped) dust jacket and author's inscription.Condition:Clean covers and spine. Sharp cover corners. Tight binding with no cracks and no loose pages. Nice interior - the text pages are clean and appear unread with only some light foxing on the half title page, and on the last few pages. Light tanning to the end papers. The front end paper has an inscription by Griffin written in pen dated 1937.… Read More

This is a rare issue of the publication "The Analectic Magazine and Naval Chronicle" from April, 1816. This issue features an early (possibly the 1st) published engraving of the famous American explorer MERIWETHER LEWIS (of "Lewis and Clark" fame). In addition to the engraving, the issue also includes a chapter titled "Notice of Captain M. Lewis" - from the Notice: "The portrait of captain Lewis, given in the present number, is taken from a drawing of that officer belonging to his fellow traveller, governor Clark, who considers it an excellent likeness, and prizes it highly. The gentleman who lent it to us remained here but a short time, and was obliged to take it with him: to which circumstance it is owing that our engraving from it is not executed in so good a style as we could have wished. But that engraving is a faithful copy of the original, which is believed to the the only likeness of captain Lewis now extant. The ornaments worn by him when in the costume of an Indian warrior, (as represented… Read More

This is a scarce, first edition thus copy of "THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA - A Book for All and None" by Friedrich Nietzsche. 1909 1st UK edition, thus; T.N. Foulis; Edinburgh and London. Limited edition - this copy is No. 405 of 2,000 copies printed. "The First Complete and Authorized English Translation" - translated by Thomas Common. Volume Four of "The Complete Works of Friedrich Nietzsche."Condition:There are some small, light stains on the covers. Tiny cloth tear at 2 of the cover corners. There is a split along the entire length of the right edge of the spine where it meets the front cover. Chips to the top and bottom edges of the spine with pieces missing (see photo). Tight binding with no cracks and no loose pages. The text pages are in nice condition - lightly age-toned and clean with only an occasional light smudge to random pages here and there. Six of the entries within the Contents section have a small pencil dash next to them. The Introduction section has occasional lines of text, markings,… Read More

This is a rare set of "Life-Histories of Northern Animals ~ An Account of the Mammals of Manitoba" by naturalist Ernest Thompson Seton that contains an original, signed pen & ink drawing, as well as a signed inscription by Seton. 1909 1st edition; Charles Scribner's Sons; New York. Complete set in two volumes. The set is profusely illustrated with 68 maps and 560 drawings by Seton. Gilt top page edges. Volume I - Grass-Eaters; Volume II - Flesh-Eaters. Massive set with 1,267 numbered pages in all. There are 60 mammals covered in all, including deer, moose, caribou, buffalo, chipmunk, bear, beaver, porcupine, antelope, dog, hare, bat, cattle, etc.The front end paper of volume I contains a wonderfully detailed, original pen & ink drawing of a moose by Seton. The drawing is signed, as follows: "Original sketch by Ernest Thompson Seton" with his customary "paw print" signature. The drawing was created on a separate, heavier stock of paper and has been affixed to the end paper. Below the drawing is an… Read More