1920s Books

A smart early edition of one of Ernest Hemingway's best known novels, a brilliant leather bound example of the great American novel. An early printing, published the year following ...

The first edition of this novel with a lovely association, signed by the author and her mother to the politician Alfred Milner. The first edition, first impression. A presentation ...

AUTHOR: CASANOVA (Arthur Machen - translator). TITLE: The Memoirs Of Giocomo Casanova Di Seingalt. PUBLISHER: London: Privately Printed for The Casanova Society, 1922. DESCRIPTIO...

Fitzgerald, F. Scott, The Great Gatsby. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1925. First edition, first printing. Rebound in full blue morocco leather with gilt tooling, raised bands a...

Le Pavillon De La Societe de L'Art Applique Aux Metiers a L'Eposition Internationale Des Arts Decoratifs Et Industriels Modernes preface by Yvanhoe Rambasson. Rare complete publicati...

Hemingway, Ernest. A Farewell to Arms. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1929. First trade edition, first issue. In the original first-state dust jacket and publisher’s black cloth boards. Presented in a new archival ¼ leather and cloth clamshell case, with raised bands, gilt tooling, and titles to the spine. Presented is a first trade edition, first issue of Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms. The book was published by Charles Scribner’s Sons in New York, in September of 1929. This first printing is presented with its original first issue dust jacket. The dust jacket, as designed by Cleonike Damianakes Wilkins, is considered by many to be one of the greatest of the 20th century and rivals even The Great Gatsby in its collectibility. Set during World War I, A Farewell to Arms tells the story of a young American Lieutenant serving as an ambulance driver in Italy struggling through love and war. The story is told through first person narration detailing many aspects of war that would have been very familiar to readers at the time, as the book was published only 11 years after the 1918 armistice. The simple, direct tone his character uses when giving his unromanticized account of the war later defined Hemingway’s writing style. A Farewell to Arms is loosely based on Hemingway’s own experiences. The author briefly served overseas as an ambulance driver in the Italian Army, sustained injuries, and met a nurse who he eventually proposed marriage to but was declined. The novel’s post-war disillusionist subject assigned Hemingway to the “Lost Generation” of Modernist artists. A Farewell to Arms was Hemingway’s most successful publishing venture to date. Charles Scribner's Sons issued seven impressions of the novel in the short time between September and December of 1929, with over 100,000 volumes sold. The novel secured Hemingway’s place as a popular American author and became his first bestselling book. Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) was an American author and journalist. His distinctive writing style, characterized by economy of words and dry understatement, strongly influenced 20th-century fiction, as did his life of adventure and his public image. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the mid-1950s, winning the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954. Hemingway published seven novels, six short story collections, and two non-fiction works during his lifetime; a further three novels, four collections of short stories, and three non-fiction works were published posthumously. Many of his works are now considered classics of American literature. The book’s striking dust jacket design was illustrated by the artist Cleonike Damianakes Wilkins, who worked under the pen name of Cleon. Wilkins was known for her distinctive fusion of Art Deco and Hellenistic styles. She designed the dust jackets for Hemingway’s earlier The Sun Also Rises in 1926 and his later publication In Our Time in 1930, as well as Conrad Aiken’s Great Circle, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s All the Sad Young Men,and Zelda Fitzgerald’s Save Me the Waltz. Wilkins was chosen by Hemingway’s celebrated editor at Scribner’s, Maxwell Perkins. In order to differentiate Hemingway’s tale from other, competing WWI novels on the bookshop shelves, Perkins sought to widen its appeal through the dust jacket. The resulting design was Wilkins’ interpretation of Sandro Botticelli’s epic oil painting “Venus...

Industrial Art and the Museum by Charles R. Richards. 1st Ed hardcover published by The Macmillan Company, 1927. Including: Industrial Art Museums of Germany (München, Hess. Landesmu...

Check List of Early American Bottles And Flasks by Stephen Van Rensselaer. Privately printed, New York, 1921. Original first edition softcover. ...

A beautifully bound edition of these charming short tales by Oscar Wilde, illustrated with colour plates from Charles Robinson. This charming collection of five short stories by Osc...

AUTHOR: BRONTE, Charlotte, Emily and Anne. TITLE: The Novels of The Sisters Bronte - with - The Life of Charlotte Bronte by E.C. Gaskell. PUBLISHER: Edinburgh: John Grant, 1924. ...

An exceptional first edition of this canonical work of colonial era fiction, presented in an excellent example of the original unclipped dust wrapper. An Important Work, First Editi...

A scarce, first edition copy of this important work on television. This was the first book in English on television, and Dinsdale discusses the timeline and technical challenges of t...

The World's 50 Best Short Novels Set of 10 Red Cover 1929 Funk and Wagnalls. All together they measure 6 in. x 4 in. x 8 in. Unique and rare complete collection of 10 editions from 1...

Milne, A.A. (Alan Alexander: 1882–1956). The House at Pooh Corner. London: Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1928. First Edition. Crown 8vo, 7 1/2 x 5 in (192 x 127 mm), pp. 178, full-page and...

AUTHOR: CLARKE, Joseph Clayton (KYD) (Charles Dickens). TITLE: John Browdie (from Nicholas Nickleby) PUBLISHER: England, [c. 1920] DESCRIPTION: ORIGINAL INK AND WATERCOLOR SKETCH...

AUTHOR: CLARKE, Joseph Clayton (KYD) (Charles Dickens). TITLE: Barbara (from The Old Curiosity Shop) PUBLISHER: England, [c. 1920] DESCRIPTION: ORIGINAL INK AND WATERCOLOR SKETCH...

AUTHOR: CLARKE, Joseph Clayton (KYD) (Charles Dickens). TITLE: Silas Wegg (from Our Mutual Friend) PUBLISHER: England, [c. 1920] DESCRIPTION: ORIGINAL INK AND WATERCOLOR SKETCH. ...

AUTHOR: SHELLEY, Percy Bysshe. TITLE: The Complete Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley. PUBLISHER: London: Oxford University Press, 1925. DESCRIPTION: 1 vol., 912pp., 7-1/4" x...

AUTHOR: CLARKE, Joseph Clayton (KYD) (Charles Dickens). TITLE: Will Fern (from The Chimes) PUBLISHER: England, [c. 1920] DESCRIPTION: ORIGINAL INK AND WATERCOLOR SKETCH. 1 leaf, ...

AUTHOR: CLARKE, Joseph Clayton (KYD) (Charles Dickens). TITLE: Mr. Snawley (from Nicholas Nickleby) PUBLISHER: England, [c. 1920] DESCRIPTION: ORIGINAL INK AND WATERCOLOR SKETCH....

AUTHOR: CLARKE, Joseph Clayton (KYD) (Charles Dickens). TITLE: Dennis (from Barnaby Rudge) PUBLISHER: England, [c. 1920] DESCRIPTION: ORIGINAL INK AND WATERCOLOR SKETCH. 1 leaf, ...

AUTHOR: CLARKE, Joseph Clayton (KYD) (Charles Dickens). TITLE: Simon Tappertit (from Barnaby Rudge) PUBLISHER: England, [c. 1920] DESCRIPTION: ORIGINAL INK AND WATERCOLOR SKETCH....

Stroker, Bram. Dracula. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, [1927]. First Grosset & Dunlap Edition. 8ov. Presented in original orange cloth boards, stamped in black, and the original pictorial dust jacket. With a new archival ¼ leather and cloth clamshell case. Presented is the first Grosset & Dunlay edition of Bram Stroker’s Dracula, published in 1927. The book is presented in its original orange cloth boards, stamped in black, and the original pictorial dust jacket. The book has a new archival quarter leather and cloth clamshell case, with raised bands, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, and an inlay of the dust jacket design on the front. Dracula is a gothic horror novel written by Irish author Bram Stoker. The story follows the efforts of Professor Abraham Van Helsing and others to defeat the vampire Count...

AUTHOR: CLARKE, Joseph Clayton (KYD) (Charles Dickens). TITLE: Mr. Pecksniff (from Martin Chuzzlewit) PUBLISHER: England, [c. 1920] DESCRIPTION: ORIGINAL INK AND WATERCOLOR SKETC...

Leroux, Gaston. The Phantom of the Opera. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, [1925]. Illustrated by Andre Castaigne. Signed by actress Carla Laemmle. 8vo. Rebound in black 1/.4 leather and cloth boards, with raised bands, gilt stamps, and gilt titles to spine. New matching archival slipcase. Presented is a photoplay edition of Gaston Leroux’s best-known novel, The Phantom of the Opera. This printing was published by Grosset & Dunlap, in New York, in 1925, to accompany the 1925 Universal Pictures film adaptation starring Lon Channey. It is illustrated throughout with scenes from that production, as well as with illustrations by Andre Castaigne. Additionally, the book is signed on the full title page by actress and prima ballerina Carla Leammle. The book has been beautifully rebound in handsome ¼ black leather and black cloth boards, with raised bands and gilt stamps and tiles to the spine, and a matching black archival slipcase. Partly inspired by historical, nineteenth century events that took place at the famous Paris Opera, the novel chronicles the masked Phantom’s obsessive love for a young chorus girl named Christine. The Phantom of the Opera was first published as a serial in the French Magazine Le Gaulois from September 1909 to January 1910. It was released in volume form in late March 1910 by Pierre Lafitte & Cie. The first American edition was published by Bobbs-Merrill in 1911. Due to its popularity, The Phantom of the Opera became the source for numerous adaptations, including the 1925 Universal Pictures film starring Lon Chaney and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Tony Award-winning 1986 musical. Alexander Grosset and George T. Dunlap first met while working for the American Publishers Corporation. In 1898, Grosset & Dunlap formed a new partnership with the goal to shift the focus of the publishing industry from expensive books for the few to inexpensive books for the masses. In order to avoid paying royalties and other publishing fees, Grosset & Dunlap started reprinting books that were already in print. With these profits, the partners purchased paperbound books in bulk to rebind them in cloth and resell. As the company grew, Grosset & Dunlap were able to purchase reprint rights from publishers before publication, including reprint rights from Edward Stratemeyer for the Hardy Boys...

AUTHOR: BARRIE, J. M. TITLE: Peter Pan Or The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up. PUBLISHER: London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1928. DESCRIPTION: FIRST PLAY EDITION PRESENTATION COPY. 1 vol., 7-3/8" x 5", inscribed on the front blank endleaf "To my dear Jane Pan from her loving admirer and uncle and servant J. M. Barrie. Aug 31, 1930, Stanway", bound in the publisher's deluxe blue limp leather binding with circular gilt JMB device on front cover, gilt decorated spine, top edge gilt. CONDITION: Inner and outer hinges fine, head and foot of spine fine, very minor foxing to first and last leaves otherwise internally clean and bright, A VERY GOOD COPY. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: An important presentation/association copy of this classic children's fantasy play with a superb inscription. "Jane" was the lifelong nickname given to Sylvia Jocelyn Llewellyn Davies, the daughter of Jack Lewellyn Davies, one of the principal inspirations for Peter Pan and the Lost Boys...

AUTHOR: CLARKE, Joseph Clayton (KYD) (Charles Dickens). TITLE: Tim Linkinwater (from Nicholas Nickleby) PUBLISHER: England, [c. 1920] DESCRIPTION: ORIGINAL INK AND WATERCOLOR SKE...

AUTHOR: CLARKE, Joseph Clayton (KYD) (Charles Dickens). TITLE: The Half-Pay Captain (from Sketches By Boz). PUBLISHER: England, [c. 1920] DESCRIPTI...

AUTHOR: CLARKE, Joseph Clayton (KYD) (Charles Dickens). TITLE: Mr. George Sampson (from Our Mutual Friend) PUBLISHER: England, [c. 1920] DESCRIPTION: ORIGINAL INK AND WATERCOLOR ...

AUTHOR: CLARKE, Joseph Clayton (KYD) (Charles Dickens). TITLE: The Pavement Artist (from Somebody's Luggage). PUBLISHER: England, [c. 1920] DESCRIPTION: ORIGINAL INK AND WATERCOL...

This is an vintage Baedeker's Guide to the Tyrol and the Dolomites. A German, bound travel book of 612 pages, published in English, dating to the early 20th century, circa 1927. Bae...

Catlin, George. North American Indians: Being Letters and Notes on Their Manners, Customs, and Conditions, Written During Eight Years' Travel Amongst the Wildest Tribes of Indians in...

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Beautiful and the Damned. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1922. First edition, first state. Rebound in ¼ leather and cloth boards, with raised bands, gil...

An exceptionally scarce Limited Edition of Machiavelli's sixteenth century political treatise, limited to only ten copies printed on vellum leaves. Number ten of ten copies printed ...

A wonderful copy of Virginia Woolf's breakout story collection 'Monday or Tuesday'. Being one of a small 1,000 copy print run. Illustrated, with four woodcuts by Vanessa Bell, Woolf's elder sister. Bell designed a number of dust jackets for books published by the Hogarth Press...

A beautifully bound first edition copy of A A Milne's noted story collection 'House at Pooh Corner'. A wonderful copy of this beloved work, housed in a custo...

This edition, enriched by Cara Tice's racy and whimsical illustrations, is an "Exact reprint of the earliest English text" and was printed in Holland by the Johann Ecnchedé en Zonen ...

Henry, O. (William Sydney Porter). Published by Doubleday, Doran & Company, Inc. Thirteen volumes, small octavo, blue three-quarter morocco and cloth boards, raised bands, gilt toole...

AUTHOR: SYMONDS, John Addington - translator. TITLE: The Life Of Benvenuto Cellini Written By Himself. PUBLISHER: NY: Brentano's, 1929. DESCRIPTION: 2 vols, 9-1/16" x 6-1/8", num...

AUTHOR: CHURCHILL, Winston. TITLE: The World Crisis. 1911-1918 / The Aftermath / The Eastern Front. PUBLISHER: London: Thornton Butterworth, Ltd., 1923-1931. DESCRIPTION: ALL FIR...

AUTHOR: MILNE, A. A.. TITLE: Winnie The Pooh. PUBLISHER: London: Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1926. DESCRIPTION: SPECIMEN PAGE. 1 page folded, 7-1/8" x 4-5/8", printed in red and bl...

Collection of Leather Bound Art Deco Photo Albums of European Travel, the actual albums are probably French, circa 1920's. They document fabulous trips throughout Europe in the 1920'...

AUTHOR: BRONTE, Charlotte, Emily and Anne. TITLE: The Novels of Charlotte, Emily, & Anne Bronte. PUBLISHER: London: J. M. Dent & Sons, Ltd., 1922. DESCRIPT...

Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence. Published by Privately Printed , Florence., Italy., 1928 An early pirated edition now quite scarce. Original ...

The Works of William Shakespeare - The Definitive Text, With Notes and Glossary, The Mayfair Edition, New York Three small octavo volu...

Milne, A.A. (Alan Alexander: 1882–1956). NOW WE ARE SIX. London: Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1927. First Edition. Crown 8vo, 7 1/2 x 5 in (191 x 125 mm), pp. xi + 103 + colophon. With its...

Kingsley, Charles. Westward Ho! or, the Voyages and Adventures of Sir Amyas Leigh, Knight, of Burrough, in the County of Devon, In the Reign of Her Most Glorious Majesty Queen Elizab...

Antique Japanese epic novel book Edo period, circa 1827 Woodblack print book Book dimensions: 225 mm x 157 mm There are damages because it is antique item as we show on the ph...

LEON BAKST, Inedited Works of Bakst; Essays on Bakst by Louis Reau, Denis Roche, V. Svietlov and A. Tessier. New York: Brentano's, 1927. FIRST, LIMITED EDITION Folio, 12 3/8 x 9 3/4 inches (315 x 248 mm); pp. 127, [2]; THIS IS NO. 59 of 600 COPIES PRINTED; Alternative title page: The art of Bakst / by V. Svietlov; half-title: Bakst; in variant contemporary pebbled blue library...

Monograph on the work of Andre Lurcat, important French modernist architect, designer, urban planner, and younger brother of the textile artist Jean. ...

Armorial Porcelain of the Eighteenth Century by Sir Algernon Tudor-Craig. First Edition, signed by the author and numbered 950/1000, original gilt lettered dark blue cloth. Century H...

Evans, C.S. (editor). Rackham, Arthur (illustrator). The Sleeping Beauty. London and Philadelphia: William Heinemann & J.B. Lippincott Co., 1920. F...

‘Encyclopedie des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes’ (Encyclopedia of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in the twentieth century) complete set of 12 original books...

The Beggar's Opera. Written by Mr. Gay, to Which Is Prefixed the Overture in Score: And the Musick to Each Song, by John Gay. Published by Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Co. 19...

Author: Timlin, William M. Title: The Ship That Sailed To Mars. Publisher: London: George G. Harrap & Co., Ltd., 1923. Description: First edition of the author's only book. ...

AUTHOR: VERINEAU, Alexandre de, (Louis Perceau), (Gerda Wegener - illustrator). TITLE: Douze Sonnets Lascifs: pour accompagner la suite d'aquarelles int...

United States Historical Society, 1921. One of an edition of unspecified limitation. Hardcover. Good/o jacket issued. New York: United States Historical Society, 1921. Introduction by Stephen Morrell Newman. One of an edition of unspecified limitation with 24 original etchings by Robert Shaw...

La Tapisserie Gothique, par Manufacture Nationale des Gobelins, by E. Planès, Directeur de la Manufacture Nationale des Gobelins. Published by Albert Morancé...