Rare books from Antic Hay Books

The Rowfant Club, 1943. STEINBECK, John. HOW EDITH MCGILLCUDDY MET R.L.S. Cleveland, Ohio: The Rowfant Club, 1943. Quarto (about 11.5 by 8.5 inches), black & patterned cloth with leather title labels on front cover & spine, in original turquoise-colored dust jacket; housed in a specially-made slipcase. Limited Edition of 152 numbered copies, of which this #142. [Goldstone & Payne A20a]. Privately printed for members of The Rowfant Club. A very nice copy! Near fine condition (very minor edgewear; contents clean and tight); some fading edges (spine more heavily faded; few short tears & a few very tiny chips) d/j. "142" in crayon on the front cover of the d/j- issued thus. Copies of this title are around but copies in nice, original dust jackets are not. I believe I purchased this copy for a customer of mine from the famous Bradford Morrow John Steinbeck collection offered for sale in 1980.

1940. LANDERY, Charles. MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON. Adapted From Frank Capra's Columbia Picture. Story by Lewis R. Foster. Screenplay by Sidney Buchman. London: J.M. Dent and Sons Limited, [1940]. 8vo., cloth in dust jacket. First English Edition- released to coincide with the British release of the classic film, starring James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Claude Rains, Edward Arnold, Harry Carey and Thomas Mitchell. There is no similar U.S. version. Illustrated with 32 photographs from the movie. Scarce! Signed presentation from Landery on the front endpaper: "To Jimmie Edmunds, the British James Stewart. With best wishes from his pal Charlie Landery." Edmunds has also penned a presentation on the same page: "My dear Vivienne, Remember me always, Jim." The film received nine Academy Award nominations. Very Good (some soil covers with moderate foxing endpapers); edgewear (small chips & tears with several internal repairs with tape) d/j. Enclosed in a custom-designed, leather… Read More

1965. CAPOTE, Truman. IN COLD BLOOD. A True Account Of A Multiple Murder And Its Consequences. NY: Random House, [1965]. 8vo., maroon cloth in dust jacket. First Trade Edition, top-edge stained, in the earliest dust jacket- with "1/66" on the front flap and with "Publishers Of The American College Dictionary And The Modern Library" at the bottom of the rear flap. With an interesting signed presentation from Capote on the half-title page: "For Peter Bell with all good wishes, Truman Capote." What makes this presentation interesting is that Peter Bell was one of the protagonists in Capote's earliest book "Summer Crossing." Capote began writing the novel in 1944, when he was 19 years old. A draft of the novel was later discovered in a basement apartment in Brooklyn after Capote left it behind. It was not dicovered or published until about 2004. Peter Bell is a sexually ambiguous, preppy friend of the main protagonist in the novel. Was there a "real"… Read More

1920. BOK, Edward. THE AMERICANIZATION OF EDWARD BOK. NY: Charles Scribner's, 1920. Small quarto, green cloth with paper title label. Limited Edition of 50 numbered copies for presentation by the author, of which this is copy number 36. Signed presentation from Bok on the front endpaper: "My dear `Judge,' As an old friend, thought you might like a copy of this personal edition. Read it for what it is: the simple record of a struggle in which a boy played a poor hand as well as he could. Yours sincerely, Edward W. Bok. For William J. Conlen, September 20, 1920." "The Americanization of Edward Bok" won the Pulitzer Prize for best autobiography and the Gold Medal of the Academy of Political and Social Sciences. Bok was born in the Netherlands but came to the United States when he was six years old. He worked for both the Henry Holt and Charles Scriber's publishing houses and was editor of the "Brooklyn Magazine." In 1886 he founded the Book Syndicate Press and… Read More

1884. COOPER, Sidney W. RAMBLES IN SWEDEN: A SERIES OF LETTERS FROM SWEDEN TO A NEWSPAPER IN AMERICA. Gothenburg, [Sweden]: [1884]. 12mo., decorative red cloth stamped in gilt & black; 204 pages. First Edition. A rare book, a series of letters sent to the "Chicago Daily News," written by the American consul-general at Gothenburg. I have been unable to locate any other copies for sale. Signed inscription by Cooper on the front endpaper: "With the compliments of Sidney W. Cooper, Gothenburg, Feb. 4/85." Very Good (some wear but mostly bright covers with little fading spine, very tiny hole front endpaper; contents clean & tight). Try to find another! $2,500.00.

1990. O'BRIEN, John. LEAVING LAS VEGAS. Wichita: Kansas: Watermark Press, [1990]. 8vo., printed orange wraps. Advanced Reading Copy. Signed by John O'Brien on the title page and dated by him "June 15, 1991." Very few copies of the advance reading copy appear in the market and signed copies are scarce since O'Brien committed suicide shortly before production began on the 1995 film, starring Nicolas Caige and Elisabeth Shue. Caige won an Academy Award for his performance and Shue was nominated for Best Actress. Fine condition. Enclosed in a custom-designed, leather and cloth clam-shell box, with a gilt-worked spine and a depiction- all in cloth & leather- of a man drinking with a woman's legs stretched out across his lap. Bookplate inside front cover of box. Quite an unusual presentation of a scarce item. $2750.00.

1957. BRAINE, John. ROOM AT THE TOP. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1957. Small 8vo., green cloth in dust jacket. First English Edition. Signed presentation from Braine on the front endpaper: "John Braine. With my best wishes to Harold Downs." Downs is a teacher whose students spotted a grammatical error in the text. With a typed letter signed from Braine to Downs laid in: "It is very flattering to have one's work discussed- I should have dearly loved to have listened in- though rather frightening. For, no matter how much care one takes, errors creep in. Often I've spotted errors in others work myself, and each time have vowed that I would never be so careless. Alas, I have sinned. Not once, but several times. Some of the errors have been corrected in later editions; but I didn't even know about this one. Your students are right; it should be SELLER's.... Congratulations to your students on being so hawk-eyed; but if any of them write a novel, warn them that I shall go… Read More

1947. MOTLEY, Willard. KNOCK ON ANY DOOR. NY: Appleton-Century-Crofts, [1947]. 8vo., gray cloth in dust jacket. First Edition, ninth printing. Signed inscription by Humphrey Bogart on the front endpaper: "Best Wishes, Humphrey Bogart." Bogart financed and starred in the hard-hitting noir adaptation of the novel by Nicholas Ray, in which Bogart plays an attorney trying to keep a young, embittered criminal (John Derek in his debut) from the electric chair. Near fine in lightly used dust jacket. Enclosed in a custom-designed, leather and cloth clam-shell box, with an actual wooden door with a brass-type door knocker on the spine and duplicating the dust jacket cover on the front cover of the box. Very nice! $2,750.00.

SHERWOOD, Robert. THE PETRIFIED FOREST. NY: Scribner's, 1935. 8vo., cloth in dust jacket. First Edition. Signed presentation from Sherwood to actor Tom Fadden, who played Ruby in the original Broadway production. "To Tom Fadden, Who played a cop in "This Is New York" and a gangster in this one- and if I ever have a play with the part of a Pope in it, he can give a fine performance of that, too. With grateful regards from his friend, Robert M. Sherwood. New York, January, 1936." Also laid-in is an original black-and-white photograph of Fadden, and signed by him, on stage with actor Leslie Howard, who played Alan Squier. Humphrey Bogart played Duke Mantee in the same play and is pictured pouring himself a drink in the lower left-hand corner of the photograph. Also laid-in is an autograph postcard signed from Sherwood to Fadden, discussing the New York theatre scene. A wonderful association copy. Very Good (light dampstaining across exterior lower edge of covers, some… Read More

1913. ROSENSTIEHL, M.A. TRAITE DE LA COULEUR, AU POINT DE VEU, PHYSIQUE, PHYSIOLOGIQUE ET ESTHETIQUE. COMPRENANT L'EXPOSE DE L'ETAT ACTUEL DE LA QUESTION DE L'HARMONIE DES COULEURS. Avec 56 Figures et 14 Planches Coloriees. Paris: H. Dunod Et. E. Pinat, 1913. Small 4to., olive quarter-calf leather & black boards, stamped in gilt. First Edition. All plates and samples present. Rare! The book was written to correct the commonly-held theory that red, yellow & blue were primary colrs. Rosenthiehl studies Maxwell's Color Disks- the adjustable color disks that form a single color when spun at high speeds. The book was also published at the height of the Cubism movement and it was an inspiration in Julie Beaudeneau's color system, which was, in turn, used by Jacques Villon. Very Good (text & contents nice, some edgewear & scuffing covers). $2,500.00.

1955. WIBBERLEY, Leonard. THE MOUSE THAT ROARED. Boston: Little, Brown, [1955]. 8vo., cloth & boards in dust jacket. First Edition. Signed presentation from Wibberley on the front endpaper: "To Armand Feichtmeir, with all good wishes. Sincerely, Leonard Wibberley." Basis for the 1959 film adaptation with Peter Sellers portraying three different characters. Near fine; moderate edgewear (few light creases & minor soil) d/j. Enclosed in a custom-made leather & cloth clam-shell box, with tooled spine and a portrayal of a mouse roaring with gold coming out of his mouth on the front cover. Unusual & unique! $1750.00.

1879. CAMPBELL, Robert Allen. PHILOSOPHIC CHIROMANCY. MYSTERIES OF THE HAND REVEALED AND EXPLAINED. Illustrated. Saint Louis: J.W. Campbell & Co., 1879. 12mo., green cloth, stamped in gilt with title & large hand on the front cover; 293 pages. First Edition. A very rare book on palmistry by an author who was a favorite among the Illuminati and Freemasons. Campbell's works are referenced in various Illuminati and occultist studies, particularly his book "Phallic Worship," published in 1887- a study of the phallic idea on religious creeds, ceremonies, customs and symbolisms. Another one of his popular books among the Illuminati is "Our Flag: The Evolution of the Stars And Stripes"- citing the mysterious origins of our nation's first flag. Campbell was involved in the founding of the Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor and made many contributions to the Materialistic School of Palmistry, while dismissing Astral Theory Palmistry. A rare title! Signed presentation from… Read More

1959. ROOSEVELT, James. [With Sidney Shalett]. AFFECTIONATELY, F.D.R.: A SON'S STORY OF A LONELY MAN. NY: Harcourt, Brace & Company, [1959]. 8vo., green cloth in dust jacket. First Edition. James Roosevelt's informal and untouched portrait of his father, containing much previously unknown material about F.D.R. Signed presentation from Eleanor Roosevelt on the half-title page, to her personal secretary: "To Maureen, With love and every good wish for a happy Xmas. E.R. 1959." Maureen Corr of Eleanor's personal secretary from 1953 until Eleanor's death in 1962, when Corr helped with the funeral arrangements. She then worked for the Eleanor Roosevelt Memorial Foundation, the Asia Society, and the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. She died in 2009 and this book is from her Manhattan estate. A great association copy and probably rare to find Eleanor's presentation in this particular title! Very Good (minor edgewear; contents clean & tight); moderate soil (couple of… Read More

1910. PHALIPPOU, Charles. LES CYCLOPES: ETUDE SCIENTIFIQUE LITTERAIRE. Illustrated. Paris: J.B. Bailliere et Fils Editeurs, 1910. Small quarto, printed wraps; 223 pages. First Edition. A rare study on the cyclops condition among infants, or one large eye on the face rather than two eyes. The condition is apparently caused by a chromosomal defect and the infants rarely live for more than one week although, in one documented case, the child lived for 10 years. This book discusses the medical condition and the history and legend of the cyclops. Signed presentation from Dr. Phalippou on the half-title page, in French: [Translation] "To Dr. Palanque, in memory of our memorable work on `monsters' and in all cordiality. Dr. Ch. Phalippou, Toulouse 15 May, 1910." An extremely rare medical study of a most unusual birth defect. Several sheets of notes by Dr. Raymond Groc, also from Toulouse, laid in but apparently not associated with the cyclops condition. Very Good (little wear wraps with… Read More

NY: G.W. Dillingham Co ., 1900. Rare First Edition. A novel "from the pen of a Southerner" focusing on the evils of lynchings, Lynch Law, and dealing with the issue. "It is not too much to prophesy that Matthew Doyle will leave as indelible an impression on the subject of the day, as did "Uncle Tom's Cabin" on slavery"- from Publisher's Notice. G.W. Dillingham was a small-time publisher popular during the beginning of the 20th century. The company also published dime novels. A rare book, I have been unable to find any copies for sale in the marketplace. In "American Fiction 1774-1900," complier Lyle H. Wright notes only the Library of Congress copy [Wright 3; 2126). Small 8vo., light green cloth, stamped in dark-green, gilt & white; 282 pages. Very Good (minor rubbing; contents clean & tight with gift presentation on front endpaper, dated 1900.