Octavo, 748pp. Blue cloth spine, red boards, title in gilt on spine. First edition, first printing, with number line on copyright page (1,3,5,7,9,10,8,6,4,2). Light foxing along top edge, not affecting text. Publishers first edition dust jacket, fine condition, $24.95 on front flap. Signed on front free end paper by President Ronald Reagan.
Octavo (210 x 135mm), [xii], 325pp. Contemporary half calf, marbled boards, raised bands, gilt title on spine. Rubbed boards, edges. Light dampstain on front half title and free endpapers. Marbled endpapers. The present American edition proceeds the London edition, entitled Memoirs of the Life and Travels of John Ledyard, published the same year. (Sabin 88991)
Comments: Ledyard was an American born Marine, who served onboard the Resolution on Cook’s Third Voyage. His rare Journal of Captain Cook’s Last Voyage was published in Hartford, Ct, in 1783 and was the only eyewitness account of Cook’s death. He was later arrested in Siberia by the order of the Russian Empress, who thought him a French spy. Later in life he explored the “Dark Continent” of Africa, where he disappeared in 1789.
This Crisis in American Life, an address given by former President Herbert Hoover at The Republican National Convention on June 22, 1948.
Octavo, 13pp. Pamphlet, bound with staples along spine. Fore edge of title page uncut. No additional printings listed. Light wear to covers, otherwise fine example. Signed by Herbert Hoover on the title page. A scarce example signed by the former president. (Tracey, 1121) A scarce signed work by President Hoover.
This speech by former President Herbert Hoover was delivered before the Republican Presidential Convention in 1948, in Philadelphia. Hoover argues that the nation state has failed mankind and that the march of communism must be stopped. He believes that America is the world’s last great hope against totalitarianism and the communist threat. This work appeared in Addresses Upon the American Road, 1945-1948 (no. 32), pp. 67-73.
Signed first edition of Sixty Years of American Life by Everett P. Wheeler.
Octavo, xi, 489pp. Blue cloth, title in gilt on spine and front cover. No additional printings listed. Solid text block, light wear to gilt top edge. From the University of Cincinnati Robert S. Marx Law Library, with stamps to title page. Includes frontispiece portrait with tissue guard. Signed by the author on his bookplate affixed to front pastedown, with an inscription to the Cincinnati Law Library.
First edition of The Life and Letters of Captain John Brown, the American abolitionist leader, published posthumously in 1861.
Octavo, xiv, 453pp. Original brown cloth, title in gilt on spine. Frontispiece with original albumen portrait and facsimile inscription below. Brown endpapers, binder’s label on rear pastedown endpaper, library bookplate affixed to front pastedown endpaper. Library stamp on title page, number notation near top edge of title page. Slight lean to text block, free of any notable foxing or wear. Solid text block. A very good example of this scarce work, in the publisher’s original cloth binding. Not found in Sabin or Howes.
John Brown (1800-1859) was an American abolitionist leader, who was executed for his incitement of a slave rebellion at Harpers Ferry. He was a strong advocate of the need for violence to end the American institution of slavery, since decades of peaceful opposition had failed. Brown was tried for treason against the Commonwealth of Virginia and became the first person executed for treason in the United States. His legacy is honored by some as a heroic martyr, while others have condemned his use of violence. The editor of this work, Richard D. Webb, was an Irish publisher and noted abolitionist, assisting in the publication of this book and The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.
Octavo, xx, [2], 359pp, [5pp ads]. Blue cloth, title in gilt on spine and front panel, naval academy emblem in gilt on front panel. Frontispiece portrait of “The Chapel,” tissue covered. 73 illustrations with fold-out map at rear. From the personal collection of Frederick Adams, Jr. (Halter T-143)
Comments: Ralph Earle (1874-1939) served in the United States Navy. He was involved in the Spanish-American War and World War I.
First edition of California Life Illustrated by William Taylor. Twelvemo, 348pp. [4pp ads]. Publishers original embossed cloth, title in faded gilt on spine. Frontispiece portrait of the Golden Gate park. 16 illustrated engravings. Previous ownership signature on frontispiece. (Cowan pg. 632) (Kurutz 621a)
Comments: Reverend William Taylor (1821-1902) was an American Missionary and prolific author. He describes in detail everyday life in the tent cities, gambling halls, hotels, and the social life and “moral condition” of the miners. The wood engravings include interesting views of San Francisco, Oakland and Sacramento.
Signed limited edition of The Story of My Life by Clarence Darrow.
Octavo, xiv, [2], 465pp. Gray boards over beige cloth, title in gilt on maroon leather spine label. First edition with Scribner’s “A” on copyright page. Light rubbing to title on spine, faint shelf wear to boards. Complete with tissue cover frontispiece and 18 illustrated plates.
This is the signed limited edition of The Story of My Life, being number 224 of 294 copies signed by the author. (Hunsberger, Clarence Darrow: A Bibliography 271)
Clarence Darrow (1857-1938) was an American lawyer and high-profile member of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). He entered the national stage during the Scopes “Monkey” trial and the Leopold and Loeb murder trial.
Signed limited edition of The Story of My Life by Clarence Darrow, in the publisher’s original display box.
Octavo, xiv, [2], 465pp. Gray boards over beige cloth, title in gilt on maroon leather spine label. First edition with Scribner’s “A” on copyright page. Complete with tissue cover frontispiece and 18 illustrated plates. Includes the publisher’s original display box and glassine dust jacket, both exceptionally rare. Some soiling and splitting to edges of box, dust jacket fine. This is the signed limited edition of The Story of My Life, being number 294 of 294 copies signed by the author. (Hunsberger, Clarence Darrow: A Bibliography 271)
Clarence Darrow (1857-1938) was an American lawyer and high profile member of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). He entered the national stage during the Scopes “Monkey” trial and the Leopold and Loeb murder trial.
Signed limited edition of The Story of My Life by Clarence Darrow.
Octavo, xiv, [2], 465pp. Gray boards over beige cloth, title in gilt on maroon leather spine label. First edition with Scribner’s “A” on copyright page. Light soiling to cloth spine, dust remnant to top edge of text block. Complete with tissue cover frontispiece and 18 illustrated plates. This is the signed limited edition of The Story of My Life, being number 262 of 294 copies signed by the author.
(Hunsberger, Clarence Darrow: A Bibliography 271)
Clarence Darrow (1857-1938) was an American lawyer and high profile member of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). He entered the national stage during the Scopes “Monkey” trial and the Leopold and Loeb murder trial.
Second edition of Seventeen Years’ History of the Life and Sufferings of James M’Lean, describing his time as an American under forced conscription in the British Navy.
Small octavo, 27pp, [18]. Three-quarter sheepskin, title in gilt on spine. Marbled paper over boards, with matching marbled endpapers. Stated “Second Edition” on title page. Solid text block, some soiling to covers, foxing to leaves with text printed. (Howes M153) (Sabin 43513)
M’Lean was born in Windsor, Connecticut. In 1798, while sailing in the West Indies, he was impressed into the British Navy. He saw action at the Battle of the Nile, escaped in 1799, and was again impressed and served until 1805 when he again escaped. Serving on a French letter-of-marque he was taken by the British and served in India, the Persian Gulf and in China. He escaped for the final time in 1813 and made his way back to Newport, Rhode Island.
Full title: Seventeen Years’ History of the Life and Sufferings of James M’Lean. An Impressed American Citizen & Seaman. Embracing But A Summary of What He Endured, While Detained In The British Service, During that Long and Painful Period, Written by Himself.
First edition of First Among Equals, signed by Ken Starr. Octavo, xxviii, 320pp. Blue hardcover, cloth spine. Stated “First Printing: October 2002” on copyright page. Publishers dust jacket, fine. Signed on half title: “…With all good wishes and gratitude, Ken Starr.”
Comments: Ken Starr (b. 1946) was the solicitor general for George H.W. Bush, then special council tasked with investigating President Bill Clinton.
Octavo, 526pp. Blue cloth, title in gilt on spine. Light wear at edges and toning to cloth on spine. From the personal library of Rabbi Stanley Rabinowitz and signed by him on the front free end paper.
Comments: Rabbi Stanley Rabinowitz was a spiritual leader for presidents, supreme court justices, Israeli prime ministers and the Washington DC community for three decades. As the leader of the Adas Israel Congregation in Washington, he was called upon by President Lyndon Johnson in the wake of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy to help craft the Thanksgiving Day address to the nation. A few years later, he was called upon by President Jimmy Carter to assist with the Camp David Accords. He is remembered by the Washington DC community as a teacher and advocate for social integration. He passed away in 2012.
The Life and Letters of General W.H.L. Wallace by Isabel Wallace. Octavo, [12], 231pp. Green cloth, title in gilt on spine. Fourteen full page illustrations and frontispiece portrait of Wallace. Previous ownership inscription on front free endpaper in pen. Bookplate of noted American historian and author Peter Cozzens. A fine copy.
Comments: From historian Peter Cozzens: “…the best account of the Battle of Monterey I’ve ever read – and the early days of the Civil War.” This work on the life of General W.H.L. Wallace is an important source of material on slavery, abolitionist Elijah Lovejoy and the Mexican War. Ulysses S. Grant called General Wallace one of the best generals in the Union army. He was injured at the Battle of Shiloh and died three days later.
The Lights And Shades of Missionary Life by Rev. John H. Pitezel, inscribed by the author and the 18th Governor of Ohio, Mordecai Bartley.
Octavo, 431pp, [1]. Red cloth, title in gilt on spine. All edges gilt. Rubbing to tips, general soiling to cloth and spine. Solid text block. Includes 3 of 4 illustrated plates and a table (Howes D-390) (Sabin 63039). This copy is inscribed by the author to the former Governor of Ohio, Mordecai Bartley. Additional inscription by the former governor to another recipient in pencil on the second free endpaper.
First published in 1857, this work by Rev. John H. Pitezel details the nine years he spent exploring the coastline of Lake Superior. It provides important commentary on the local Native American tribes, pioneer life and mining activities in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The recipient of this copy, Gov. Mordecai Bartley (1783-1870), was the 18th Governor of Ohio and served four consecutive terms in the House of Representatives.
