Lang, Fritz (director); Bradbury, Ray (author).
Twice 22: The Golden Apples of the Sun and A Medicine for Melancholy (First Edition, Inscribed to Fritz Lang).
Garden City: Doubleday, 1966. First Edition. Hardcover. First Omnibus Edition. Fine and unread in a Fine dust jacket. INSCRIBED by Bradbury to legendary film director Fritz Lang and his wife Lily Latte at the front flyleaf, in the year of publication: "Lily! Fritz! / Merry Christmas! / 1966 / From Ray Bradbury." A superb association between one of the finest science fiction writers of the 20th century, and one of that same century's greatest filmmakers. Interestingly, the inscription comes from 1966, which was Bradbury's cinematic peak as a a writer, when Francois Truffaut released his adaptation of "Fahrenheit 451" for Universal. This volume is the UK edition combining two Bradbury titles that were released separately in the US. An exceptionally difficult Bradbury title to find in the first edition, even unsigned. [Book #87392]. (read more)

Langham, James R.
Sing a Song of Homicide.
New York: Simon and Schuster, 1940. First Edition. Hardcover. First Edition, first printing. Near Fine in a bright, just about Near Fine dust jacket. Jacket shows some rubbing to the spine ends and a faint vertical crease at the rear panel, else uncommonly nice for this title. Basis for the 1942 film noir, "Night in New Orleans," starring Preston Foster and Albert Dekker. [Book #83932]. (read more)

Lee, Sharon & Steve Miller; Anne McCaffrey (introduction).
Partners in Necessity: Liaden Universe Adventures (First Edition).
Atlanta, GA: Meisha Merlin Publishing, 2000. First Edition. Hardcover. First printing of this edition, Near Fine in a Near Fine dust jacket with very slight rubbing to the extremities of the book and jacket, else Fine. The ideal introduction to the fascinating Liaden Universe, this is the first omnibus edition of the first three titles in the Lee/Miller series (Conflict of Honors, Agent of Change, and CarpeDiem). Contains a new Introduction by Anne McCaffery and a new afterword by the authors. Published simultaneously in hardcover and softcover, this being the scarce hardcover. [Book #83454]. (read more)

Levitt, Helen.
Color Photographs (First Edition).
El Cajon, CA: Grossmont College, 1980. First Edition. Softcover. First Edition, first printing. Near Fine in wrappers. Front wrapper somewhat bowed, else Fine. Published in conjunction with a gallery exhibition at Grossmont College, this book is the first significant collection of the photographer's pioneering color work, much of which was stolen in a buglary ten years earlier. Scarce. [Book #107019]. (read more)

[Lewton, Val] Siegel, Joel E.
Val Lewton: The Reality of Terror (First UK Edition, hardcover).
New York: Secker and Warburg (S&W), 1973. First Edition. Hardcover. First UK Edition, first printing. Near Fine in a Near Fine dust jacket. One of the most difficult titles in the Cinema One series (this being No. 22). The definitive review of producer Val Lewton's legendary films (which included I Walked with a Zombie and Cat People, among others), photo-illustrated throughout. [Book #109875]. (read more)

Llewellyn, Richard.
How Green was my Valley (First UK Edition).
London: Michael Joseph, 1939. First Edition. Hardcover. First UK Edition (and correct first), first printing, Near Fine in a bright, Very Good+ dust jacket. Top page edges lightly dusted; jacket is in nice condition for this title, quite colorful, with slight toning to the spine panel and light wear to the crown. Basis for the classic 1941 film directed by John Ford and starring Maureen O'Hara, Walter Pidgeon and a young Roddy McDowall. [Book #81801]. (read more)

Lurie, Alison.
Love and Friendship (First UK Edition).
London: Heinemann, 1962. First Edition. Hardcover. First UK Edition, first printing (preceding the US edition). Near Fine in a bright, Near Fine dust jacket. Jacket is lightly rubbed along the top edge of the jacket, with light soil to the white rear panel. An attractive copy of the author's first book. [Book #116217]. (read more)

MacDonald, John D.
Soft Touch (First UK Edition).
London: Hale, 1960. First Edition. Hardcover. First UK Edition and first edition in hardcover. Near Fine in a Very Good+ dust jacket. Slight lean to book with foxing to the endpapers and page edges. Small numerical ink notation to the front flyleaf. Jacket is bright and complete with a bit of rubbing at the extremities and some foxing to the jacket verso. Previous bookstore's sticker to the lower front jacket flap. A bright copy, unusual in this condition. [Book #110292]. (read more)

MacKenzie, Compton.
The Monarch of the Glen (First UK Edition).
London: Chatto and Windus, 1941. First Edition. Hardcover. First UK Edition (and correct first), first printing. Near Fine in a Near Fine dust jacket. The jacket is exceptional for this title, with a completely unfaded spine, only a short closed tear at the bottom rear panel and some foxing at the verso to note. A classic of highland literature and the basis for the well-loved BBC drama that ran from 2000-2005, and starred Richard Briers and Susan Hampshire. A splendid copy. [Book #105634]. (read more)

Mamet, David.
The Woods (First Edition).
New York: Grove, 1979. First Edition. Hardcover. First Edition, first printing. Fine and unread in a Fine dust jacket. A pristine copy. [Book #104531]. (read more)

Marsh, Ngaio.
Overture to Death (First Edition).
New York: Lee Furman, 1939. First Edition. Hardcover. First Edition, first printing. Near Fine in a bright, Very Good+ dust jacket. Some offsetting to the endpapers with a hint of shelf wear. Modest rubbing and wear to the extremities of the jacket with a couple of short closed tears. A very presentable copy of this Haycraft-Queen cornerstone and scarce in this condition. [Book #118145]. (read more)

Massie, Chris.
The Love Letters (First Edition).
New York: Random House, 1944. First Edition. Hardcover. First American Edition, first printing, preceded by the UK edition (which was published under the title, "Pity My Simplicity"). Near Fine in an about Near Fine dust jacket. Jacket is lightly toned at the spine panel, with a couple of nicks and short closed tears at the extremities. Basis for the 1945 film noir, "Love Letters," directed by William Dieterle, written for the screen by Ayn Rand, and starring Joseph Cotten and Jennifer Jones in the second of their on-screen pairings, and a film that very much predicted the similarly dreamlike "Portrait of Jennie" directed by Dieterle and also starring Cotten and Jones three years later. Rare. [Book #114894]. (read more)

Maugham, W. Somerset.
Christmas Holiday (Signed Hardcover).
Garden City: Doubleday, Doran, 1939. Hardcover. Later printing, Near Fine in a Very Good or better dust jacket. INSCRIBED by the author on the front flyleaf: "For Sue and Henry Meyer / W. Somerset Maugham." Jacket is lightly rubbed and nicked at extremities, with a touch of fading to the color portion of the spine panel. Basis for the extraordinarily strange 1944 film noir, a highlight for director Robert Siodmak, starring Deanna Durbin and Gene Kelly. [Book #79095]. (read more)

Mekas, Adolfas (director, screenplay); Kenneth Anger (director, screenplay).
Hallelujah the Hills with Scorpio Rising (Promotional broadside).
Vermont, 1963. Promotional broadside, designed to resemble an oversized postcard, for the Los Angeles premiere of Adolfas Mekas' feature film debut, "Hallelujah the Hills," along with the debut of Kenneth Anger's short film, "Scorpio Rising." Mekas was the brother of Jonas Mekas, a film critic, filmmaker, and essentially father figure of the avant-garde New American Cinema of the 1960s, which in turn spawned the underground film movement that continued into the 1970s. "Hallelujah the Hills," a surreal comedy satirizing politics, American pop culture, religion, and sexual mores, was the first feature film in that movement. 11.5 x 9.25 inches, black and white type and illustrations on brown card stock, printed on recto only. Slight toning at the edges, brief creasing to one corner, else Near Fine. The only promotional text we have ever encountered with regard to either of these films. [Book #115508]. (read more)

Minnelli, Vincente.
I Remember It Well (Signed First Edition).
Garden City: Doubleday, 1974. First Edition. First Edition, first printing. Fine in a bright, Near Fine dust jacket, INSCRIBED by the author and legendary film director on the front flyleaf, dated in the year of publication. "Compliments of Doubleday & Company" stamp to the front pastedown, indicating that this copy was signed by Minnelli for the publisher's use. Minnelli was responsible for some of the greatest entertainments in film history, including Meet Me in St. Louis, Father of the Bride, An American in Paris, The Bad and the Beautiful, Lust for Life and Gigi. A scarce signature. [Book #59584]. (read more)

Muniz, Vik (photo) Charles Ashley Stainback and Mark Alice Durant (texts).
Seeing is Believing (Signed First Edition).
Santa Fe: Arena, 1998. First Edition. Hardcover. First Edition, first printing. Quarto. SIGNED by Muniz and dated in the year of publication. Fine and unread in a Fine dust jacket. Jacket shows extremely small closed tear to bottom of front panel. A beautiful copy of this scarce book. [Book #70038]. (read more)

[Music Posters] Mouse, Stanley (artist); Cream (subject).
Original Poster for a 1968 Performance by Cream at The Fillmore West and Winterland (BG-110).
Bill Graham, No. BG-110-OP-1, 1968. First printing single poster for separate March 7 and March 8-10 performances by Cream at Bill Graham's Fillmore West and Winterland, respectively, in San Francisco. First issue, per the points in Eric King's poster guide, issued on uncoated index stock. Designer and artist Stanley Mouse made the interesting (and in the brief history of this band, unique) choice of printing the black and teal artwork against a cream-colored background. Together for only a little more than two years, Cream had at this point just released their second, defining record, "Disraeli Gears" (which included "Sunshine of Your Love," "Strange Brew," and "Tales of Brave Ulysses") and would complete "Wheels of Fire" ("White Room," "Politician") later in 1968. At the end of that year, after virtually defining the rock power trio concept, the group would make the decision to disband. Fine condition. 13-31/32 x 21-1/16 inches. A pristine example. King, The Collector's Guide to Psychedelic Rock Concert Posters, BG-110-OP-1. Grushkin, The Art of Rock, BG 110, p. 126. [Book #103350]. (read more)

O'Connor, Jack (author), Jim Rikhoff (editor).
The Last Book: Confessions of a Gun Editor (Signed Limited Edition).
Clinton, NJ: Amwell Press, 1984. Hardcover. One of 1000 copies (this being No. 575) SIGNED by both the author and the president of The National Sporting Fraternity Limited, for whom this edition was produced. Fine but for a spot of foxing to the top edge in maroon leather covered boards and no dust jacket as issued. In a Near Fine slipcase with a hint of rubbing and very minor fading to the edges. [Book #108999]. (read more)

Osborn, John Jay, Jr.
The Paper Chase (First Edition).
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1971. First Edition. Hardcover. First Edition, first printing. Fine in an about Fine dust jacket with none of the usual fading to the spine lettering, but with a little rubbing and two small closed tears. A nice copy of a remarkably difficult first edition, a novel about the quest for a Harvard Law degree. The basis for the movie and later the television series. Veteran stage director John Houseman became a "star" with his Oscar-winning portrayal of the imposing Professor Kingsfield, a role he reprised for television. A superior copy of a book known for its tendency toward fading and other condition problems. [Book #109522]. (read more)

Pelecanos, George P.
The Sweet Forever (Signed Lettered Edition, Letter B).
Tucson: Dennis McMillan, 1998. First Edition. Hardcover. First Edition, first printing. One of 52 lettered copies (this being Letter B) SIGNED by the author. Bound in morocco quarter leather and marbled paper covered boards. Fine and unread in a Fine dust jacket and slipcase as issued. Presumably the earliest copy in the lettered series that one could obtain. [Book #116674]. (read more)

Phillips, Scott.
Cottonwood (Signed Lettered Edition, Letter B).
Tucson: Dennis McMillan, 2004. First Edition. First Edition, first printing. one of 104 lettered copies (this being Letter B) bound in morocco and SIGNED by the author. Fine and unread in a Fine dust jacket and slipcase as issued. Presumably the earliest copy in the lettered series that one could obtain. [Book #82313]. (read more)

Powell, Dawn.
The Story of a Country Boy (First Edition).
New York: Farrar & Rinehart, 1934. First Edition. Hardcover. First Edition, first printing. Near Fine lacking the dust jacket. Orange cloth with bright gilt titles to the front board with those to the spine only slightly faded and blue and white decorative endpapers. Minor fading to the spine and top edge of the front board with a bit of soil to the rear board. The book is square, the binding tight, and the pages clean. A scarce title. [Book #86946]. (read more)

Powell, Michael.
A Life in Movies (Signed First Edition).
New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1987. First Edition. Hardcover. First American Edition, first printing. INSCRIBED by the author and legendary film director on the title page, in his late (and as with all his autographs from this period, typically unsteady) hand: "For Elizabeth / from Michael Powell / Dallas." Near Fine in a Near Fine dust jacket. Powell directed many of the 20th century's most enduring British film classics, including "The Red Shoes," "Peeping Tom," "The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp," "Black Narcissus," and "I Know Where I'm Going." Jacket has a faint vertical crease to the front flap, and slight toning to the rear panel. An uncommon signature. [Book #117767]. (read more)

Rauch, Earl Mac (screenplay); Martin Scorsese (director); Robert De Niro, Liza Minnelli (starring).
New York, New York (Original Screenplay, April 1976 draft).
United Artists, 1977. Revised Draft Script for the 1977 film, "New York, New York," directed by Martin Scorsese, based on the 1977 novel by Rauch (published the same year as the film). Written for the screen by Rauch and Mardik Martin, from a story by Rauch, and starring Liza Minnelli, Robert De Niro, Lionel Stander, Barry Primus, and Mary Kay Place. Martin Scorsese combined the splashy atmosphere of the old studio musical with an unromanticized marriage story in his valentine to Hollywood and the Big Band era. On V-J Day 1945, newly minted civilian saxophonist Jimmy Doyle (De Niro) meets USO singer Francine Evans (Minnelli) at a dance, but she rebuffs every advance that he makes. A day and a hotel lobby meeting later, Jimmy finally wins Francine over after she uses her pop instincts to save his too-jazzy audition at a nightclub. When she goes on tour with Frankie Harte (Georgie Auld) and his Orchestra, Jimmy tracks her down, taking a job with the orchestra to be with her. Together on stage, they make beautiful music; off stage they marry, but the struggle between two artists begins to take its toll. Unable to understand that Francine's needs and talents are just as important as his, and unwilling to compromise his music for security, Jimmy abandons Francine after their baby is born. Separately, the two succeed even more, as Francine becomes a music and movie star, while Jimmy has a top hit and opens a jazz club. When they are reunited several years later, the pair must decide if their relationship is worth another try [AllMovie Guide]. Canary yellow studio wrappers, stamped with title and the name of crew member Bill Smith on the front wrapper. Title page present, with a date of April 14, 1976, and screenwriter credit for Earl Mac Rauch. 160 pages (last two pages both numbered 159), all white. Pages and wrappers Near Fine. In a custom quarter-leather clamshell box. [Book #110587]. (read more)

Reagan, Ronald, Charles Coburn, Piper Laurie (starring); Alexander Hall (director).
Louisa (Original Screenplay).
Universal, 1950. Clothbound presentation copy of the Revised Final Screenplay (along with many other working materials) for the 1950 film, "Louisa," belonging to script supervisor Dorothy Hughes. Directed by Alexander Hall, written for the screen by Stanley Roberts, and starring Ronald Reagan, Charles Coburn, Edmund Gwenn, Piper Laurie, Spring Byington, and Martin Milner. Allmovie Guide: "Spring plays Reagan's widowed mother, who is outwardly satisfied with her lot but inwardly lonely. Enter Coburn and Gwenn, who vie for Spring's attentions. Uptight Ronnie disapproves of his mother's dalliances, and has additional problems with his spunky daughter (Piper Laurie), who has just begun dating. Spring Byington and Charles Coburn worked so well together in 'Louisa' that plans were made to star them in a weekly television series. The project never sold, but Spring would star in a similar sitcom, 'December Bride,' from 1954 through 1959." Included here are the shooting script, shooting schedule, actor profiles (with multiple black-and-white Polaroid shots of each of the principals, in costume, affixed to each page), cast list with contact information, a list of department heads, and the continuity breakdown. Every page of the shooting script is profusely annotated with the script supervisor's markings, with tabs affixed at the fore-edge to indicate the various sections of the film. Green cloth, with the film's original title and Dorothy Hughes' name both in gilt on the front board and spine. Title page present, with a holograph notation of "1950" and credits for Roberts as the screenwriter. 130 pages, white pages with a few blue revision pages throughout, dated variously between 1/30/1950 and 2/30/1950. Pages Very Good or better, cloth binding Very Good+. Nominated for both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. A deluxe working script, from the estate of Dorothy Hughes (not to be confused with the crime author) and her daughter Winnie Ray, both of whom worked for the Hollywood studios for over 40 years. [Book #111725]. (read more)

Ribalta, Francisco; Delphine Fitz Darby.
Francisco Ribalta and His School (First Edition).
Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1938. First Edition. Hardcover. First Edition, first printing. Very Good+ in red cloth boards with gilt titles, with no dust jacket, presumably as issued. Light rubbing to the extremities and to the boards with minor offsetting to the endpapers, else Fine. This study is a revised edition of a doctoral thesis presented to the faculty of Bryn Mawr College in 1929. Includes 89 black and white illustrations. 306 pages. Scarce. [Book #80248]. (read more)

Rogers, Ginger.
My Story (First Edition, inscribed by Ginger Rogers).
New York: HarperCollins [Harper Collins], 1991. Warmly and boldly INSCRIBED by Ginger Rogers on the leaf opposite the half-title: "To Judith and Warren / My very best wishes and many blessings. / Ginger Rogers / Oct 3 1991 / Ritz Carlton Hotel." The inscription was made at the publication party for this book. Fine and unread in a Fine dust jacket. [Book #107840]. (read more)

Russell, Ken.
A British Picture (First UK Edition, signed).
London: Heinemann, 1989. First Edition. Hardcover. First Edition, first printing. Boldly SIGNED by Ken Russell on the leaf opposite the title page. Binding slightly cocked, tiny stain to bottom page edges, else Near Fine in a Near Fine dust jacket, with a bit of the usual toning to the page edges. From cinema's most fearless interpreter of literary icons like D.H. Lawrence, Bram Stoker, and Aldous Huxley, a decidedly opinionated overview of a long and important directorial career that includes "Women in Love," "The Devils," "Tommy," "The Rainbow," and "Lair of the White Worm." Very uncommon to find signed. [Book #110805]. (read more)

Seaton, George (director); George and Ira Gershwin (music and lyrics); Betty Grable, Dick Haymes, Anne Revere, Gene Lockhart (starring); Ernest and Frederica Maas (screenplay).
The Shocking Miss Pilgrim [Miss Pilgrim's Progress] (Original Screenplay).
Twentieth Century Fox, 1941. Early Draft Script (preceding the film release by 6 years) for the 1947 film, "The Shocking Miss Pilgrim" (here under the working title, "Miss Pilgrim's Progress," directed by George Seaton, written for the screen by Ernest and Frederica Maas, and starring Betty Grable, Dick Haymes, Anne Revere, and Gene Lockhart. A loose adaptation of the life of Frederica Sager Maas, a woman who in the early 1920s became one of the leading screenwriters at Universal Pictures, writing the original screenplays for "The 'It' Girl" and "The Plastic Age," eventually working routinely with the likes of Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, and Eric von Stroheim. In this very light musical adaptation, set in late 19th-century Boston, Maas is portrayed as a suffragette secretary who finds her political beliefs are standing in the way of her romantic bliss with her beloved boss. Mayhem and music ensue until the boss is brought around. Some of the tunes were composed by the late George Gershwin to which lyricists Kay Swift and Ira Gershwin added new words. These songs include: "For You, for Me, for Evermore," "Aren't You Glad We Did?," "Stand up and Fight," and "Waltz Me No Waltzes" (Sandra Brennan). Green studio wrappers, stamped TEMPORARY on the front wrapper, rubber-stamped project No. 504 and copy No. 7, and dated October 1, 1941. Other studio stamps on the front wrapper, including "PERMANENT LEGAL RECORDS" and a "clock"-style "RECEIVED" stamp, showing the date and time of receipt (right down to the hour). Distribution page present, with receipt removed. Title page present, with credits for Darrell Ware and Karl Tunberg (who did not receive credit in the final film, nor presently on IMDB). 132 leaves, mimeograph, rectos only. Pages and wrapper Near Fine, bound with two gold brads. [Book #111066]. (read more)

Shaw, Joseph T. (editor); Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, Raoul Whitfield, Paul Cain, Lester Dent, Reuben Jennings Shay, Ramon Decolta, Norbert Davis, Thomas Walsh; Ed Lybeck; Roger Torrey; Theodore Tinsley (contributors).
The Hard-Boiled [Hardboiled] Omnibus: Early Stories from Black Mask (First Edition).
New York: Simon and Schuster, 1946. First Edition. First Edition, first printing. Fine and unread in a Fine dust jacket. A spectacular copy, without a trace of the usual spine fading. First appearance in book form of the short story, "Inside Job" by Raoul Whitfield, which in turn was the basis for the 1947 film noir, "High Tide," starring Lee Tracy and Argentina Brunetti. [Book #110004]. (read more)

Siegel, Don (director); Walter Wanger (producer).
Riot in Cell Block 11 (Original Screenplay, property master's copy).
Allied Artists, 1954. Final Shooting Script for the 1954 film noir, "Riot in Cell Block 11," directed by Don Siegel and produced by Walter Wanger. Producer Wanger, who had just been released from a prison term after shooting a man he believed was having an affair with his wife, wanted to make a film about the appalling conditions he saw while he was incarcerated. He got together with director Don Siegel and they came up with this film, in which several prison inmates, to protest brutal guards, substandard food, overcrowding and barely livable conditions, stage an uprising, in which most of the inmates join, and take several guards hostage. Negotiations between the inmates and prison officials are stymied, however, by politicians interfering with the prison administration, and by dissension and infighting in the inmates' own ranks [IMDB]. Shot on location at California's Folsom Prison in 1953, sixteen years before Johnny Cash would perform his legendary concert there. The legendary Sam Peckinpah's first film job was serving as a production assistant on this film, and it was the first of four 1954-56 Allied Artists efforts directed Siegel in whichPeckinpah was involved in some capacity. Peckinpah continued to work with Siegel on three more films in short order, including "Private Hell 36" (1954), "The Annapolis Story" (1955), and the classic "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (1956), which was also produced by Wanger. This copy belonged to Sam Gordon, property master on the film. Gray studio wrappers, with Gordon's name and some "doodle" embellishment in holograph ink by him, as well as some pencil doodles near the top edge in holograph pencil on the front wrapper. Credits in manual type for Wanger, Allied Artists, and a notation of "FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT" at the bottom of same. 117 pages, with blue revision pages throughout, all dated 8/13/1953. A triangular chunk (2 x 3 x 4 inches) of the front wrapper and the first thirteen pages have been torn away, small splashes at the top right corner of a few leaves, else pages are Near Fine. Wrapper is Very Good+ with some wear at the upper right corner, bound with two gold brads. The best script possible from one of the key "shot on location" prison films in the noir category, the important first joint venture between Wanger and Siegel, and an early effort for Sam Peckinpah. Selby 333, Lyons p. 181. [Book #110577]. (read more)

Smith, Patti.
Ha! Ha! Houdini! (Signed First Edition).
New York: Gotham Book Mart, 1977. First Edition. First Edition, first printing. Fine in card wrappers as issued. One of 100 copies (this being No. 40) SIGNED by the author, with lock and key attached. A few light scuffs, otherwise a Fine copy. A light, heartfelt rumination on the life and mystery of Houdini by the musician and poetess. [Book #78687]. (read more)

Springs, Elliott White.
Contact (First Edition).
New York: Sears, 1930. First Edition. Hardcover. First Edition, first printing. Near Fine lacking dust jacket. An exceptionally bright, clean copy, with only the slightest wear at a couple of corners to note. [Book #108712]. (read more)

Stone, Robert.
A Hall of Mirrors (Signed First Edition).
Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1966. First Edition. Hardcover. First Edition, first printing. Very Good+ in a Very Good+ dust jacket, SIGNED by the author on the title page. Lower corners of the boards slightly rounded and rubbed with a small dent on the lower edge of the rear board, else a crisp, clean copy. The jacket is very bright, lacking the spine color-fade normally found, and showing a few tiny closed tears and light fraying at the spine ends, with faint foxing on the verso. An attractive copy of the author's first book. [Book #99982]. (read more)

Storm, Barry.
Thunder Gods Gold (Signed Limited Edition).
Tortilla Flat, AZ: Southwest Publishing Company, 1945. First Edition. Hardcover. First Edition, first printing. One of 5000 copies (this being No. 24) SIGNED and numbered by the author on the title page. Near Fine lacking dust jacket, presumably as issued. A non-fiction book that is the basis for the 1949 western, "Lust for Gold," starring Ida Lupino, Glenn Ford and Gig Young. One of the few American westerns in the film noir cycle. [Book #108180]. (read more)

Styron, William.
Lie Down in Darkness (Signed First Edition).
New York: Bobbs-Merrill, 1951. First Edition. Hardcover. First Edition, first printing. INSCRIBED on the front flyleaf: "To Wm W. Starr / William Styron." Some fading to the board extremities, else Near Fine in a Very Good+ dust jacket. Jacket has faint tape shadows on the front flaps (from a previous owner, not a library), some offsetting from same onto the endpapers, a small chip at the bottom of the front flap, light rubbing to the corners, and a lightly toned spine panel. A very presentable copy of the author's first book. In a very attractive, blue quarter-leather clamshell box, with gilt titles and raised bands. [Book #117757]. (read more)

Thurber, James.
The Beast in Me and Other Animals (Signed First Edition).
New York: Harcourt, Brace, and Co., 1948. First Edition. Hardcover. First Edition, first printing. Near Fine in a Very Good+ dust jacket. Boldly INSCRIBED by Thurber at the front flyleaf: "Love and Kisses / to Madge [and] Jim / James Thurber." Jacket is Near Fine but for a nearly invisible 2.5-inch closed tear at the bottom rear panel. A bright, clean copy of a title not easily found with the author's signature. [Book #102218]. (read more)

Truluck, Bob.
Saw Red (Signed Lettered Edition, Letter B).
Tucson, AZ: Dennis McMillan, 2003. First Edition. First Edition, first printing. Fine in morocco boards in a Fine dust jacket and slipcase. One of 104 lettered copies (this being Letter B) SIGNED by the author on the title page. Presumably the earliest copy one could obtain from the lettered series. [Book #82326]. (read more)

Tyler, Anne.
The Tin Can Tree (First Edition).
New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1965. First Edition. First Edition, first printing. An ex-library copy, but a nicely preserved one. Tape shadows to the boards and front flyleaf excised, tiny library stamp to top page edges, evidence of professional pocket removal to the rear endpaper, but the overall condition of the book is Near Fine. Jacket has no evidence of removal whatsoever, easily Near Fine, with only some toning at the spine to note. A good candidate for a jacket upgrade. From the library of Bruce Kahn. [Book #82735]. (read more)

Vavra, Robert (photographs), Curro Camacho (essays), John Fulton (design and cover illustration).
Curro: Reflections of a Spanish Youth (Signed First Edition).
Spain: Imprenta Sevillana, 1975. First Edition. Hardcover. First Edition, first printing. One of 850 copies. SIGNED by Robert Vavra, John Fulton, and Curro Camacho. Very Good+ in cloth-covered boards without a dust jacket as issued. Fading to the spine, with some light rubbing and dusting overall. Slipcase is Very Good. Chipping around the edges of the cover illustration, soiling to the cloth top and bottom. Vavra's paean to both bullfighting and Seville, it follows the story of a young bullfighter, Camacho, being trained by Fulton, an American artist and legendary bullfighter. Camacho's poignant essays on his life and training are interspersed with Vavra's black-and-white photos. [Book #108945]. (read more)

von Stroheim, Erich (director, writer).
Signed Contract for Erich von Stroheim's first film as a director, "Blind Husbands" (story "The Pinnacle").
Universal, 1919. Film contract between Universal Pictures and Erich von Stroheim, agreeing to purchase of his story, "The Pinnacle." SIGNED by von Stroheim and dated April 14, 1919; also signed and sealed by a notary. In the same year, von Stroheim would go on to film the story as "Blind Husbands," his first of four efforts as a writer/director for the studio. "Blind Husbands" shows unusual restraint for von Stroheim, who would go on to be famous for excess with his first MGM film, "Greed" (1924). Near Fine with a couple of small tears and lightly torn hole punches at the top edge. An extremely important cinematic document, signaling the entrance of a major writer/director into the Hollywood, one whose work would have a profound influence on the many cinematic auteurs that would follow. "Blind Husbands" was recently restored and released to DVD by Kino. [Book #101617]. (read more)

Walker, J.
A Rhyming Dictionary: Answering, at the Same Time, the Purposes of Spelling and Pronouncing the English Language, on a Plan not Hitherto Attempted. .
London, 1806. First Edition. Second edition (stated). Publisher's brown leather, with black leather spine label and gilt titles. Edges worn, front board intact but with a crack at the hinge fold. Two owner names on the first blank. Pages foxed and occasionally water-stained at the edges. Good condition overall. 348 pages. [Book #113217]. (read more)

Ward, Mary Jane.
The Snake Pit (First Edition).
New York: Random House, 1946. First Edition. First Edition, first printing. Fine and unread in a Very Good+ dust jacket. Jacket has no loss, but does show a few closed tears, and minor rubbing and creasing at the spine ends and corners. Basis for the 1948 Oscar-nominated film, directed by Anatole Litvak and starring Olivia DeHavilland in an interesting turn as a woman who wakes up in a mental ward and is unable to remember how she got there. [Book #112259]. (read more)

Weidman, Jerome.
I Can Get it For You Wholesale (First Edition).
New York: Simon and Schuster, 1937. First Edition. First Edition, first printing. Small gouge at the bottom edge of the front board, else About Fine in a like dust jacket. Jacket is quite bright, with only a short closed tear at the top front panel to note. An especially fresh, clean copy of Weidman's classic story of rampant greed in 1930s New York City's garment district. Basis for the 1951 film adapted for the screen by Vera Caspary and Abraham Polonsky, and starring Susan Hayward, George Sanders, and Sam Jaffe. Extremely uncommon in the first printing or superior condition. [Book #112264]. (read more)

Werker, Alfred (director); Martin Berkeley, Eugene Ling, Albert deMond (screenplay); Vincent Price, Lynn Bari (starring).
Shock (Original Screenplay).
Twentieth Century-Fox, 1945. Final Shooting Script for the 1946 film noir, "Shock," directed by Alfred Werker, written for the screen by Eugene Ling, Martin Berkeley, and Albert deMond (with only Martin Berkeley credited here), and starring Vincent Price and Lynn Bari. In something of a reverse-perspective version of "Rear Window" (which wouldn't appear until eight years later), Vincent Price realizes that someone has witnessed him murdering his wife, and decides to cover his tracks. A snappy little second feature from the golden age of Fox noirs, shot in 19 days, and the film debut of film noir icon Colleen Gray. Brown studio wrappers, stamped SHOOTING FINAL on the front wrapper, rubber-stamped project No. 66 and copy No. 132, dated Sept. 17, 1945, and with the holograph notation "Env. 1543" at the top right corner. Distribution page present, with receipt intact. Title page present, with a credit for screenwriter Berkeley. 96 leaves, mimeograph, rectos only, with blue revision pages throughout, dated variously between 9/20/45 and 10/20/45. Pages and wrapper Near Fine, bound with two gold brads. [Book #116094]. (read more)

Willeford, Charles.
The Burnt Orange Heresy (First Edition, Signed in the year of publication).
New York: Crown, 1971. First Edition. Hardcover. First Edition, first printing. Fine and unread in a Fine dust jacket, INSCRIBED by the author in the year of publication: "To John and Wilma Norton - My favorite brother-in-law and sister-in-law. I hope you enjoy this novel. Love, Charles Willeford. Oct. 6, 1971." A touch of foxing to the fore-edge of the front board, else a lovely unread copy of this Willeford high spot, the first signed example we have encountered. [Book #72819]. (read more)

Willeford, Charles; James Lee Burke (foreword).
Cockfighter Journal (Signed Lettered Edition).
Santa Barbara, CA: Neville Publishing, 1989. First Edition. First Edition, first printing. one of 26 lettered copies SIGNED by James Lee Burke. Fine in black leather with gilt design and no dust jacket as issued. An extremely readable journal of Willeford's experiences on the set of the 1974 Monte Hellman film Cockfighter, which was based on Willeford's novel, and for which the author wrote the screenplay. Willeford played a cockfighting referee in the film, and chronicles the highs and lows of the experience in his typically gracious and understated style. The smallest limitation of this title, which also had a printing of 300 numbered copies in cloth, but no trade edition. Scarce. [Book #80320]. (read more)

Woods, Stuart.
Blue Water, Green Skipper (Signed First Edition).
New York: W.W. Norton, 1977. First Edition. Hardcover. First Edition, first printing. Near Fine Near Fine dust jacket. SIGNED by the author on the title page. Author's first book, a non-fiction account of transatlantic solo race sailing, which precedes his first mystery by four years. [Book #109585]. (read more)

Woolrich, Cornell (novel); Roy Chanslor (screenplay); Dan Duryea, June Vincent, Broderick Crawford, Peter Lorre (starring).
Black Angel (Original Screenplay).
Universal, 1946. Revised Final Shooting Script for the 1946 film noir, "Black Angel," directed by Roy William Neill, based on the 1943 novel by Cornell Woolrich, written for the screen by Roy Chanslor, and starring Dan Duryea, June Vincent, Broderick Crawford, and Peter Lorre. "Black Angel" was director Roy William Neill's last directorial effort, and one of the best and most faithful of the many Woolrich noir adaptations, pulling Dan Duryea from his usual supporting cast status into a leading role, working his way through a dark alcoholic maze of murder and mayhem. Adapted to the screen by noted Western novelist Roy Chanslor, author of "Johnny Guyitar." Stiff tan studio wrappers, marked FINAL REVISED on the front wrapper, the film title (and an alternate title, "HEARTBREAK," just below), and a date of March 8-16, 1946 (the film was released on August 2, 1946). Copy belonging to unidentified crew member K. Thomson, with his/her holograph name in pencil at the top right corner, and noted copy No. 126 in ink just above the title. Credits on the front wrapper for Chanslor and Woolrich. Title page present, with credits again for Chanslor and Woolrich. 126 leaves, onionskin stock, most ribbon copy but some original typescript, rectos only, dated variously between 3/8/46 and 3/16/46. Pages Near Fine, wrappers fragile and Very Good+, with a few small chips at the edges, bound with three gold brads. In a custom quarter-leather clamshell box. [Book #115162]. (read more)