November 2012 |
Raptis Rare Books, #3
Catalogue Review: Raptis Rare Books, #3
Almost exactly one year ago I reviewed Raptis Rare Books' catalogue #1. It has been my pleasure over this past week to page through their newest release, #3. What I liked then, I still like; i.e., Raptis offers a range of amazing books, but I most enjoy the focus given to the fine books not often seen.
The inscribed first edition of Zora Neale Hurston's Jonah's Gourd Vine fits into that category ($6,000). What an amazing original jacket, too! Or a signed first American edition of Jose Saramago's The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis ($1,500). Or a signed first edition of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Angels in America by Tony Kushner ($3,750). Or a signed first edition of Tracy Kidder's The Soul of a New Machine ($400).
Then there are the heavy hitters, like an inscribed first edition of The Catcher in the Rye ($200,000). As the catalogue notes, it is "one of the true rarities of twentieth-century American literature." A near fine first edition of The Hobbit in a near fine dust jacket is further enhanced by its "brilliant custom full morocco box, with the front panel mimicking the frontispiece" ($50,000). A first edition of Evelyn Waugh's A Handful of Dust, signed by the author, in the rare dust jacket ($38,500) comes just before its prettier sister, Helena--also a signed first edition and inscribed to fellow novelist J.F. Powers ($2,500).
There are great galleys to be had in this catalogue, too, including an uncorrected proof of The World According to Garp, signed by the author ($2,250); a signed uncorrected British proof of Nadine Gordimer's The Conservationist ($1,250); and a collection of eleven signed, uncorrected proofs of Steven Millhauser's books ($3,500).
James Bond collectors should take note of an entire Fleming section. Plus, sets of fine bindings, some sci-fi, economics, and poetry. One last pick: how about an association copy of Daniel J. Boorstin's The Discoverers, signed to Caspar Weinberger and bearing his bookplate ($450) -- that's the Librarian of Congress to the Secretary of Defense. Pretty neat.
The catalogue can be downloaded here.
See also Raptis Rare Books in our Bright Young Things series.
Almost exactly one year ago I reviewed Raptis Rare Books' catalogue #1. It has been my pleasure over this past week to page through their newest release, #3. What I liked then, I still like; i.e., Raptis offers a range of amazing books, but I most enjoy the focus given to the fine books not often seen.The inscribed first edition of Zora Neale Hurston's Jonah's Gourd Vine fits into that category ($6,000). What an amazing original jacket, too! Or a signed first American edition of Jose Saramago's The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis ($1,500). Or a signed first edition of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Angels in America by Tony Kushner ($3,750). Or a signed first edition of Tracy Kidder's The Soul of a New Machine ($400).
Then there are the heavy hitters, like an inscribed first edition of The Catcher in the Rye ($200,000). As the catalogue notes, it is "one of the true rarities of twentieth-century American literature." A near fine first edition of The Hobbit in a near fine dust jacket is further enhanced by its "brilliant custom full morocco box, with the front panel mimicking the frontispiece" ($50,000). A first edition of Evelyn Waugh's A Handful of Dust, signed by the author, in the rare dust jacket ($38,500) comes just before its prettier sister, Helena--also a signed first edition and inscribed to fellow novelist J.F. Powers ($2,500).
There are great galleys to be had in this catalogue, too, including an uncorrected proof of The World According to Garp, signed by the author ($2,250); a signed uncorrected British proof of Nadine Gordimer's The Conservationist ($1,250); and a collection of eleven signed, uncorrected proofs of Steven Millhauser's books ($3,500).
James Bond collectors should take note of an entire Fleming section. Plus, sets of fine bindings, some sci-fi, economics, and poetry. One last pick: how about an association copy of Daniel J. Boorstin's The Discoverers, signed to Caspar Weinberger and bearing his bookplate ($450) -- that's the Librarian of Congress to the Secretary of Defense. Pretty neat.
The catalogue can be downloaded here.
See also Raptis Rare Books in our Bright Young Things series.
