Rare books from Intangible Books

This is the real thing: the true first edition of Pictures of the Gone World by Lawrence Ferlinghetti. City Lights Pocket Poets #1.
Meets all first edition, first printing points according to "The City Lights Pocket Poets Series: A Descriptive Bibliography" by Ralph T. Cook: Saddle-stitched with two staples; stiff black paper wrapper printed in yellow, with a yellow hand-pasted wraparound paper label printed in black. This hand-pasted wraparound label is present only on the first printing.
Published in 1955, at 65 cents. Only 500 copies printed letterpress by David Ruff. No printing notice, meaning first printing.
Condition is a solid VG for this title. Only flaws are slightly soiled wrappers and somewhat rusted staples — but the pages are completely intact and not loose at all. (Even so, you'll want to be careful when turning pages of this historic book.) Wraparound is in excellent shape, firmly glued with no peeling or chipping. Kept in fresh plastic sleeve for archival storage.
Please review… Read More

Here is the incredibly rare, first edition of "Waiting for Nothing" by Tom Kromer, the classic hardboiled narrative of being on the "bum" during the Great Depression.
This is the notorious British edition, first state, with Chapter Four excised and replaced by a five-page apology from the publisher, Constable & Company. It seems that the reference to homosexuality in 1935 was too much of a risk in the publisher's view. (Casciato and West, in their Afterward to "Waiting for Nothing and Other Writings" by University of Georgia Press in 1986, say that Constable later issued an unexpurgated version of the same edition, with Chapter Four included. So this copy is the true first.)
Also featured are an Introduction by Theodore Dreiser, a frontispiece photograph of Kromer (with a classic tissue separator to prevent offsetting), a five-page autobiography by the author, and advertising for other books including Nelson Algren's first novel "Somebody in Boots." None of these features are in the American edition… Read More

Here is the notorious original 1927 pamphlet that set the Pacific Northwest literary establishment on its ear. Status Rerum. A Manifesto, Upon The Present Condition Of Northwestern Literature, Containing Several Near-Libelous Utterances Upon Persons In The Public Eye. By James Stevens of Washington, H.L. Davis of Oregon. Privately Printed For The Craft. The Dalles, Ore. Small octavo. 8 pages with cover. Limited to 200 numbered copies privately printed in 1927. This is #73.
Only ten copies in libraries, according to WorldCat databases. When published, the pamphlet was sent to newspapers and magazines across the Pacific Northwest and probably a few select places in California and the East Coast; most were likely tossed into the proverbial round file. It has since taken its place in Pacific Northwest history, being reprinted in the six-volume Oregon Literature Series anthologies done by Oregon State University Press in the 1990s, and still considered controversial today. Most interested parties will… Read More

Here is the rare, first edition hardcover of "Earth House Hold," signed by Gary Snyder. Only 2500 copies published in 1969 by New Directions (Item A 22 in the Gary Snyder Bibliography by Katherine McNeil). No dust jacket.
Signed on the title page by Snyder directly beneath and partially over his printed name, in his calligraphy script style.
Although one of Snyder's better-known books, signed copies are rare, especially in hardcover.
Condition is VG to VG- with some foxing and soiling, and light fraying to front corners of spine tips. Very mild bow to front board, shows only if you hold the book flat in your hand like a platter and hold it up to the light. (Most sellers wouldn't even mention it.)
All in all, a solid signed copy of this important title in the Snyder canon.

First edition, first printing, hardcover with dust jacket. Inscribed by Snyder on title page. See pics.
VG+ condition. Book itself is NF, clean and straight, corners sharp, pages tight. Only flaw is what initially appears to be sunning along the top and bottom margins of the panels. But on closer investigation, you can see that the very light patterns on the front and back covers match perfectly the design on the dust jacket. So the discoloring is actually a reaction to the dj ink, and not "sunning" at all, and perhaps could be expected on copies that have retained the dj over the life of the book. So the seeming flaw becomes an interesting printing anomaly.
Dust jacket condition VG- with some staining spots on bottom, and slight curling on edges that are ameliorated by the mylar cover.
This title is rare enough in hardcover, even more so signed.

Single limited edition of 150 copies, numbered 119 and signed by Wendell Berry. Illustrated with 9 wood engravings by John DePol from photographs of Wendell Berry's farm in Port Royal, Kentucky. Hand-set in spectrum type by Juanita Bishop and printed by Barnard Taylor on Rives Lightweight mould-made paper. Green cloth spine with paper label. Paper-covered boards, flower pattern designed by DePol and hand-bound by Don and Pam Rash. Contains the title essay and two sections of poetry selected by the author. (Freedman: Wendell Berry: A Bibliography, A70a.) Not to be confused with the later trade edition done by North Point Press in 1989.
Condition is Fine, essentially As New. Issued without a dust jacket. This copy protected by clear mylar wrap.
Arguably the most beautiful of all Wendell Berry's books. Rarely appears and is quickly snapped up.

First printing, "Facsimile Anniversary Edition" issued twenty years after first edition. This edition identical in every way, with an added ten-page Afterward by the author providing full context and background of the book's writing and publication.
This copy also includes an affectionate inscription to a friend of the author, dated February 18, 1994, which is surely close to the publication date.
Condition is Near Fine (NF), dust jacket NOT price-clipped, slight sunning to dj spine, a couple tiny spots on rear panel. See photos for details, and feel free to inquire further.
A lovely signed anniversary copy of this important 20th-century novel.

First Edition, 4th printing (as shown by the letter "D" on copyright page, according to Harcourt, Brace statement in Zempel, Verkler: First Editions Guide to Identification). Inscribed by author on FEP, signature probably contemporary, as it shows the early style of the last name's "B" with the downward stroke.
Condition is VG- with the binding a bit shaken although still fully intact and slight bowing of front board; rest of book otherwise VG. Dust jacket is solid VG, not price-clipped. See photos for details and feel free to inquire further.
A nice signed copy of an early Berry novel.

First edition, only hardcover printing, review copy, signed by author on title page. Review slip with date stamp laid in; we are confident it belongs with this copy, as there is the slightest ghosting on the top middle of the half-title page that corresponds exactly in size with the slip. (Check the photo of the half-title to see.)
Signed by Wendell Berry on title page; no other writing. "First printing w" slug on copyright page, as per Freedman A16. Only 4000 copies printed, no later hc printings. (Neither Freedman nor Zempel & Verkler offer explanation for the added "w" in the edition slug, but there are other examples of this during these years; it may refer to where the book was printed.)
Condtion is NF with only flaw being paper-clip marks at top of pgs. 62-65, no ghosting or other marks. Dust jacket is NF, not price-clipped, slight wrinking at top of back panel and rear flap. (Again see photos.)
One of the rarest of Mr. Berry's books, more so signed, much less a review copy. This one is all three.

"First American Edition published 1980 by Harmony Books" with full number line at bottom of copyright page. This is the true first, as described by the Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Condition is NF, unread, with binding still tight so that the boards have never been fully opened flat. Boards are square and sharp. Dust jacket also VG, original price of $6.95 intact, minor rubbing, protected by mylar wrap. See photos for details and feel free to inquire further.
A lovely unread copy of this groundbreaking foray into absurdist fiction.