Rare books from Dale Steffey Books, ABAA

1946-1998: Various Publishers An important collection of 14 separately titled items, 7 books and 7 offprints, spanning the years 1946-1998, all SIGNED AND INSCRIBED by Robert K. Merton (RKM) to his former student, friend, colleague and noted sociologist Thomas Gieryn. Robert K. Merton is considered to be a founding father of modern sociology and the founder of the sociology of science. In 1994 he became the first sociologist awarded the National Medal of Science. His contributions to the field include such ideas as focus groups, role models, self-fulfilling and self-defeating prophecy, reference groups, and unintended consequences. He was himself a role model, inspirational teacher,mentor and friend to a whole generation of sociologists, as evidenced by these 14 inscriptions. Thomas Gieryn, Rudy Professor of Sociology Emeritus at Indiana University, studied under RKM at Columbia University. He is known for his concept of "boundary work" which has been cited more than 6300 times since its… Read More

London: Printed for R. Scholey ... Vernor, Hood, and Sharpe ... B. Crosby & Co. ... London ; and J. Ballantyne & Co. Edinburgh, 1810. 1810-1811. Printer named in colophon ; v. 1-2, 5-6 printed by Ballantyne, v. 3-4 by Thomas Davison, London. V. 3-4 have different titlepage including the information "from Thurston's designs."(Worldcat). Scholey's large-type edition, large paper Russia extra, with engravings on copper and wood. A RARE edition, finely bound in contemporary diced calf, the backs with two ornate gilt cross decorations and two polished calf labels gilt, the covers with double gilt rules bordering blindtooled arabesques, that bordering intricate gilt stamped floral decorations, and four blindtooled floral decorations in corners marbled end papers and edges. Overall Near Fine, small rubs at corners and spine tips, some toning associated mainly with plates and at end pages, the interiors lovely and clean. A quite readable set, delightfully bound. A heavy set, please… Read More

Berlin: im Deutschen Verlag,, 1937. SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY AUTHOR at half-title page - " Arthur Kiekebusch su wiedersehen 1937 herrlich (?) Leni Riefenstahl". Arthur Kiekebusch was a German production manager and director, best known for the 1920 silent film "The Woman in the Dolphin" starring Bela Lugosi. He was the assistant production manager, with responsibility for all cameras and lenses, on Riefenstahl's film "Olympia" from which the photographs in this book were taken. He also worked with Leni on her 1935 film "Triumph of the Will" as unit manager and head cameraman. The First Edition book is Very Good Minus, boards bowed, cloth rubbed at corners and spine ends, prior owner name and US address front end page, hinges starting, lacking the dust jacket . Regardless, given their close working relationship, an important and historic association copy in German film making.. SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY AUTHOR. First Edition. Cloth. Very Good Minus/No Jacket.… Read More

London: Strand Magazine, 1901. The true First Printing of the third and arguably best Sherlock Holmes mystery, one which had avid readers queuing up across England with the publication of every new issue. With numerous illustrations by Sidney Paget. Nine complete Strand Magazines, bound without the wrappers, in contemporary brown cloth with red morocco label, gilt rules and lettering, Very Good, cloth sunned at spine, light soiling with small bumps and rubs at corners, light toning at end pages only, interior clean and bright. One section of the novel was published each month for nine months, beginning August 1901 and running to April, 1902, The book edition did not appear until 25 March 1902, towards the end of this serial publication. SCARCE with the complete magazines in contemporary binding. . First Edition. Cloth. Very Good/No Jacket, As Issued. Thick 8vo.

New York: Viking Press, 1963. SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY AUTHOR on half-title page - " For Dana Ericson - best wishes Ezra Jack Keats". Stated Second printing February, 1963, with Caldecott Award medal front panel, $3.00 price with Caldecott mention front flap and lovely snowflake decorated end papers. Near Fine, slight bow to front board, in a Near Fine dust jacket, hint of a crease and trace of wear at head of spine. SIGNED copies of this groundbreaking and award winning children's book are RARE in any printing, and particularly so in such lovely condition. . SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY AUTHOR. Second Printing. Decorative Cloth. Near Fine/Near Fine. Oblong 8vo.

Berlin: Verlag von Ernst Wasmuth, 1889. SCARCE with both volumes present and complete. A two volume set, Vol. I published 1889, Volume II, 1896. In original publisher's quarter cloth spine over paper covered boards, complete with ribbon ties. The portfolios Very Good, Vol. I boards soiling and showing some wear Vol. II small tears with small holes to cloth at spine, light wear to edges of boards, some plates with dampstain bottom margins not affecting plate images,. Complete with 12 pages text Vol. I and 15 pages of text Vol. II, with 160 chromolithograph plates total, 80 per volume. Internally quite lovely, the plates with brown tissue guards, a few tissue guards missing or creased. A stunning set of plates. . First Edition. Portfolio. Very Good/No Jacket, As Issued. Elephant Folio - over 15" - 23" tall.

Los Angeles: Zeitlin & Ver Brugge Booksellers,, 1974. #105 of 120 copies printed by Saul & Lillian Marks at The Plantin Press, Los Angeles, completed April 1974. "The entire edition subscribed for by Jacob Israel Zeitlin & Josephine ver Brugge Zeitlin." Association Copy, SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY PUBLISHER at colophon page "for Gary, Jake". From the collection of Gary Steigerwald, at the time of publication a young bookseller working for Jake Zeitlin. In lovely Max J. Adjarian binding (his small label to upper left corner of front pastedown) of quarter brown morocco over patterned paper boards.and complementary custom clamshell case of quarter brown morocco over grey buckram boards with beige felt lining stamp-signed "Frank Burton". Both are Fine. SCARCE Association Copy.. SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY PUBLISHER. Limited and Numbered First Edition. Quarter Morocco. Fine. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Association Copy.

New York and London: McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1934. First Edition, Sixth Impression, 1934, stated at title page. Bound in original red cloth with black label and gilt lettering, Very Good. light wear at edges, faint traces of bookplate removal front paste dowm. Interior clean, fresh and unmarked. Known as the investors bible, and inarguably the most influential work on the stock market to date. . Sixth Impression . Cloth. Very Good/No Jacket. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

Teramachi Nijo, Kyoto, Japan : Yamada Unsodo (37) pages held together with 2 brads top end. 35 pages with tissue guards over multiple lovely woodblock prints, either 96 or 102 depending on how one repeated image is counted. With an additional full page black and silver woodblock print on rice paper (9" x 12 1/2") laid in. No date (in English) , circa 1902-1905. Laid into original folio black paper covered boards printed in silver Art Deco design, with title, artist and publisher printed in English front and back. Front and back pages printed in Japanese. Very Good, cloth at spine torn at top and bottom edges, rubbing to boards at edges. Some tissue guards creased or torn, the woodblock prints are all bright and Fine. Kamisaka Sekka (1866-1942) was aan important early 20th c. Japanese artist, known as the father of modern Japanese design and the last great master of the Rinpa traditional school of art. RARE, one copy found in current commerce ( lacking the additional woodblock print) and 8… Read More

Louisville, KY: Courier-Journal Job Printing Company , 1903. Broadside poster printed in black type of different sizes, 28" h x 10 1/4" wide, 6 horizontal folds, Very Good, two 1" tears at right edge, soiling at verso of bottom folded section. The printed admission price of 25 and 35c has been marked out in black ink with a reduced price of 10 - 15c written in. A broadside for the itinerant showman Samuel Gillock, Exhibitor. "Given under the Auspices and for the Benefit of The Choir At Centenary M. E. Church Friday Evening March 20". Likely the Centenary M. E. Church in downtown New Albany, Indiana, located across the river from Louisville where the broadside was printed. No year date, but Edison invented the concert phonograph in 1899, producing newer versions until 1906, and the first Friday, March 20 following 1899 was in 1903. "In the largest churches or halls. Everybody delighted with Mr. Edison's new improved Concert Phonograph. By means of a large microphone… Read More

Cummington, Mass. : The Cummington Pres, 1947. # XLVII (47) of 52 numbered copies with hand-colored initials SIGNED BY AUTHOR Wallace Stevens at colophon page (out of a total edition of 246). Printed from Blado & Poliphilus types and from initial letters cut in wood by Wightman Williams on Crown & Sceptre paper. In original quarter cloth over marbled paper boards. Near Fine, small rubs at corners, a faint stain line top corner rear cover. . SIGNED BY AUTHOR. Limited and Numbered Signed 1st Edition. Handmade Paper Covered Boards. Near Fine/No Jacket, As Issued. Limited Edition.

Torino (Turin, Italy) 1903-1907: Impresa Allegri & Co., 1907. Collection of 29 original photographs, ( two - 8 3/4" x 6" and 27- 6 1/4" x 4 1/2") applied on 15 thick card leaves, titles written in white ink directly under photos, one blank leaf each front and back. The photographs detailing the construction of the Umberto I Bridge over the Po River at Turin, 1903-1907 ( the bridge was completed with the addition of the statue groups by Rubino and Reduzzi in 1911). Bound in oblong leather folio, 13" h x 16 1/2" w, with presentation in gilt front cover -"Al Marchese Francesco Medici Deputato al Parlamento" - followed by title and publisher in gilt. front cover with gilt decorations, ornate 1" wide gilt turn-ins, all edges gilt. Very Good Minus, missing 2/3 of the leather at spine, boards rubbed, soiling and staining to end pages, the leaves darkened at edges, the photographs all in Very Good condition with some rubbing. Designed by the Florentine… Read More

1862. A large Civil War archive dated 1862-1865 featuring a Company Morning Reports ledger for Company B, 52nd Regiment of Indiana Volunteers (with reports dated January 1862 to September, 1863), and 22 separate documents, including two discharge papers, orders to conduct an investigation into missing medical supplies, medical inventory lists, travel documents, orders establishing an ambulance corps, manuscript letters, sick and wounded reports, a list of soldier's names, a period newspaper clipping and an envelope. The documents Very Good Plus to Near Fine, the Morning Reports book about Very Good, a 2" hole to leather at spine, loss of leather at spine ends and corners, and hinges broken with 2 loose pages. "The 52nd Indiana Infantry was organized at Rushville and Indianapolis, Indiana and mustered in for a three-year enlistment on February 1, 1862. The regiment was attached to 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, Army of the Tennessee, to March 1862. Garrison Forts Henry and Donelson,… Read More

New York: Harper & Row, 1963. First Printing, with Library of Congress catalog card number: 63-21253 and 1963 copyright printed on the title page. SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY AUTHOR at half-title page -"April '65 For Myra - Maurice Sendak". Good, lacking the dust jacket and the decorative front end paper, boards soiled and worn at edges, rear hinge cracked. Uncommon as an unsophisticated copy of this enduring Sendak classic, SIGNED AND INSCRIBED directly in the book to a child who obviously adored the book and read it countless times, much like a well-worn blanket or stuffed animal. Basis for the 2009 film directed by Spike Jonze, a 1984 TV movie, and several short films. . SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY AUTHOR. First Edition. Pictorial Paper Covered Boards. Good/No Jacket. Oblong 4to.

London: Printed By S. Richardson: And Sold By A. Millar...John Rivington...And, R. and J. Dodsley , 1758. Recently professionally rebacked in closely matching leather with red leather label in gilt, retaining the original leather covers while restoring the edges and corners. Internally clean and bright. With the armorial bookplates of Granville Leveson Gower, 1st Marquis of Stafford (1721-1803), and Bridgewater Library, Charles William Sherborn (English, 1831-1912). A quite handsome copy of Carter's desirable First Edition of the First Translation into English, considered her finest work. xlii, 505, (11, Index and Appendix) pp. Lowndes 745 . First Edition of the First English Tran. Leather. Near Fine. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall.