Search Results: Authors starting with C from Whitmore Rare Books

Liverpool: Joseph A. D. Watts and Co, 1865. First edition. Fine. Original navy publisher's cloth binding with gilt to spine. Gentle bumps to corners, else in about Fine condition. Faint offsetting to pastedowns and occasional light foxing, else a pleasing, clean and unmarked copy. Collates complete: viii, 228. Laid into the front are a poem by the author In Memoriam of Alderman Herbert Campbell printed on mourning stationary and a handwritten subscriber's receipt for Miss Nicholas per L. J. Campbell. The only copy currently on the market, OCLC reports only one institutionally held copy. Compiled and sold for the benefit of the Liverpool Toxteth Park Girls' Reformatory School, which began relocating its campus in 1864 to a safer area of Liverpool under "the management of Mrs. Herbert Campbell" the editor of the present work (Children's Homes). My Portfolio acknowledges that when parents fail, it is up to the community to support the affected children. "This earth, seemingly so fair and beautiful, is… Read More

London: Hamish Hamilton, 1946. First English language edition. Near Fine/Near Fine. First UK edition, preceding the first American edition. A lovely, Near Fine copy of the book in like dust jacket. Book with a bit of foxing, mostly to the closed text block and the spine cloth a trifle faded. Dust jacket with slight wear at the crown and a very small chip at the base of the spine. Spine a bit toned and a few spots of foxing to the rear panel, but generally a fresh, bright copy. Camus' groundbreaking debut, first published in France in 1942, positioned him as one of Europe's most influential existentialist thinkers (though Camus himself would resist that label). Written in the lead up to the Nazi invasion, The Outsider follows the protagonist Meursault, a French Algerian, as he learns of his mother's death, commits a murder the same day, and is ultimately sentenced to death. Throughout the experience, Meursault eschews all of the expected human emotions; he is detached from bourgeois feelings,… Read More

New York: Random House, 1958. First edition. Fine/Fine. An exceptionally bright copy. The book is Fine, appearing unread, with sharp corners, clear titles on spine and no ownership markings. Blue top-stain a bit faded. Dust jacket about Fine, without any of the ubiquitous spine toning, but a touch of wear at the spine ends and rubbing on the rear panel. An American classic in literature, it was also the basis for the Oscar-winning film starring Audrey Hepburn in the iconic role of Holly Golightly. Capote's admitted favorite literary creation. Long before Hepburn graced the screen as Holly Golightly, Capote was observing the New York socialites around him and gathering inspiration for the character who would help define his career. "Like every fiction, Holly Golightly was a composite of multiple nonfictions. She took her dreams of society from Truman's own mother, her existential anxieties from Capote himself, but her personality, which seemed so intimately hers, would come from the tight-knit… Read More

London: Chapman and Hall, 1874. First Thus. Near Fine. Library Edition. Thirty-four octavo volumes (207 x 133 mm) uniformly bound by Morrell ca. 1930 in three-quarter crushed brown levant morocco over brown cloth ruled in gilt. Spines with five raised bands, decoratively gilt lettered and tooled in compartments. Two volumes professionally repaired at top of spines. Engraved frontispieces and plates. The Library edition, originally issued in 30 volumes 1869-71, with three additional volumes (translations from the German) added in 1871 and also a thirty-fourth volume as General Index . A near fine set. "In literature [Carlyle] was the pioneer who explored and made known the work of modern Germany. His literary judgments were penetrating, and (when he had a congenial subject) just; and on men like Voltaire, Burns, and Johnson he gave verdicts that approached finality. At a historian he is in the highest rank. Bating certain unimportant errors of detail, he illumined the past with astonishing insight… Read More

London: Chapman and Hall, 1910. First Thus. Large paper copy, limited to 150 sets, signed by the artist, this being 83. Two quarto volumes (11 x 7 1/8 in; 282 x 181 mm). Original quarter vellum over natural linen boards. Front cover and spine decoratively stamped and lettered in gilt. Top edge gilt, others uncut. Collating xii, [2], 418; xi, [1, blank], 484, with thirty-three black and white plates and 124 black and white text illustrations. A very Fine set in the original pale blue dust jackets, printed in red. "Of the three great political upheavals which have altered the face of the world - the American, French and Russian Revolutions - only the French Revolution has stimulated literary masterpieces which, in turn, have made their impact, direct and indirect, upon millions of readers... They are Carlyle's book and ... Michelet's... Carlyle wrote his French Revolution as a secular 'tract for the times' and as a warning for his compatriots of the frightful consequences of materialism,… Read More

London: Macmillan and Co, 1876. First edition. Near Fine. One of approximately 100 copies in the publisher's deluxe binding of red cloth. Full gilt illustration on the front cover, all page edges gilt, dark blue end papers, Burn bindery ticket on the rear paste-down. A Near Fine copy overall with just slight signs of use, and completely unrestored. "Although best known as the author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and Through the Looking Glass (1871), Lewis Carroll...was also an avid reader and writer of poetry. He greatly enjoyed the poems of the Victorian writers Alfred, Lord Tennyson, and Christina Rossetti. His own poems were varied -- some humorous nonsense, some filled with hidden meanings, and some serious poems about love and life...[Snark] stands out from all the other poems that Carroll wrote. It has inspired parodies, continuations, musical adaptations, and a wide variety of interpretations...Carroll originally intended it as a set of verses to be included in another of his… Read More

London: Macmillan & Co, 1872. First edition. Fine. Finely bound in three-quarter red crushed morocco over cloth boards with the Red Queen and White King stamped in gilt on the boards. All edges brightly gilt. Marbled end-papers and paste-downs. In excellent condition internally, with the first issue misprint "wade" for "wabe" on p. 21. Complete with all 50 engravings by John Tenniel. A faint contemporary gift inscription on the title page, a few spots of soiling or foxing throughout. Carroll's fantastical sequel to the classic Alice Adventures in Wonderland. Published in 1871, the book follows Alice as she enters a strange alternative world by stepping through a magical mirror. She soon encounters the nonsense poem "Jabberwocky", which Martin Gardner called "...the greatest of all nonsense poems in English", and later meets the famed Tweedledee and Tweedledum. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was a sensation when it was first published, and Through The Looking Glass received favorable reviews as… Read More

Gantt, Alabama: Whipporwill Publishers, 1973. First edition. Fine/Fine. A Fine book in like jacket, with very slight foxing to the closed textblock and a miniscule closed tear to the bottom edge of the rear jacket panel. In all, an exceptional copy of this scarce Southern novel. Josey Wales is a tale of vengeance, following the title character's transformation from peaceful midwestern farmer to rebel vigilante following the murder of his family by a gang of Unionists during the Civil War. Joining forces with Confederate outlaws sympathetic to his hatred of the Northern army, he ultimately refuses to surrender at the war's end and disappears into the South to begin a new life. The Rebel Outlaw: Josey Wales was the basis for the breakout Clint Eastwood film of the same name, for which Eastwood himself bought the rights, directed, and starred. The novel's scarcity is directly linked to its Hollywood history, in fact, as one of the conditions of sale on the movie rights dictated that the book's first… Read More

London: R. Roberts, 1700. First edition. Rebound in modern drab boards with facsimile of title page to front cover. Measuring 190 x 135mm and collating [2], 28: bound without rear blank, else complete. Discreet marginal blindstamps of Wigan Free Public Library to the first two leaves, and final leaf Small hole to outer margin of pages 1-2 not affecting text; gutters of leaves A2 and A3 archivally strengthened. A clean copy internally, with the only markings being a contemporary effacement of Charles II's initials to page 19. A scarce work institutionally and in trade, ESTC reports copies at only 9 U.S. libraries. The most recent copy to appear at auction was the present one, in 1948; prior to that, the only copies appearing in the auction record are dated 1933, 1930, and 1903. A predecessor to Daniel Defoe's infamous treatise Conjugal Lewdness: Or, Matrimonial Whoredom (1727), Castamore's Conjugium Languens tackles questions of marital infidelity that are more systemic than individual. At the time… Read More

New York: Brentano's, 1906. First Thus. Two octavo volumes (234 x 149 mm.). Contemporary full dark green morocco, covers decoratively paneled in gilt, spine decoratively tooled and lettered in gilt, top edge gilt, others uncut, decorative gilt turn-ins, marbled end-papers. Neat ink inscription on front free end-papers. Decorated title-pages and forty photogravure plates. A fine and very attractive set. The memoir of the Italian goldsmith, sculptor, draftsman, soldier and musician . Brought into English by John Aldington Symonds, it includes numerous illustrations.

Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1964. First edition. Fine/Near Fine. A Fine copy Near Fine dust jacket. Jacket with very slight wear at the extremities, retaining the original price of $5.50. This collection of Raymond Chandler short stories from the 30s and early 40s, many from the famed Black Mask magazine, was released after his death. In fact, Chandler did not want the collection published during his lifetime because he had re-used many elements of these stories in his longer novels. In addition to the titular story, the collection includes tales such as The Man Who Liked Dogs, parts of which were featured in Farewell, My Lovely, and The Curtain, which was re-purposed in The Big Sleep and The Long Goodbye. "Raymond Chandler's pulp novelettes [stand high above the rest of the season], to some extent cannibalized in his novels but still important in their own right" (Contemporary New York Times review). Fine in Near Fine dust jacket.

Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1949. First American edition. Fine/Very Good +. A Fine copy of the book in a Very Good+ dust jacket. Orange cloth still bright and fresh, clean internally. Dust jacket with a few chips and small tears at the crown and some sunning to the spine. The fifth in Chandler's gritty Philip Marlowe series, Little Sister follows the private investigator to Los Angeles. There, Marlowe wades into the scandal surrounding a Hollywood starlet and her missing brother. Blackmail, drugs, and murder aren't far behind. This particular episode in Marlowe's arc has been noted for drawing on Chandler's own experiences as a screenwriter; and many of the grittier details reflect his low opinion of the film industry and its participants. Fine in Very Good + dust jacket.

London: H. Hughes for J. Walter, 1773. First Edition. Near Fine. Contemporary speckled calf rebacked to style with gilt and morocco labels to spines. Measuring 90 x 155mm and collating vi, [1], vii, 200; [2], 230: complete, including titles for both. A square, tight copy with a touch of rubbing to the boards. Some offsetting to both titles (more noticeably to vol II) and some staining to the lower corners of pages 225-230 of volume II not affecting text; else a clean, unfoxed copy. Scarce in trade, with only three other copies selling in the modern auction record aside from the present (2016, 1976, and 1960). Presently the only example on the market. Initially released anonymously and in a small quantity, Letters on the Improvement of the Mind was written by famed Bluestocking Hester Chapone, whose name appeared in all later editions. Compiled in the volumes are Chapone's advice to her 15 year old niece, encouraging the girl's education across the fields of scripture, economy, geography,… Read More

London: Printed by H. Bynneman, 1571. First English language edition. A translation of L'histoire de Chelidonius Tigurinus sur l'institution des princes chrestiens, & origine des royaumes by Pierre Boaistuau. With the prologue, A Treatise of Peace and War and Of the Dignitie of Mariage all by Boaistuau. Small quarto (180 mm x 137 mm). [12], 199, [1, blank] pp. With large engraved initials, head and tail pieces and publisher's imprint. Title-page in an elaborate woodcut border and on the verso of the title-page is a woodcut coat of arms of Elizabeth I. Printed in black letter. Beautifully bound in full paneled calf. Boards ruled in blind and gilt. Front and back board with a gilt central device and gilt flower motif in the corners. Spine stamped and ruled in gilt. Previous owner's old ink signature on front free endpaper. Old ink notes to title-page, dedication page and a few other pages, not affecting text. minor ink stain to leaf J4. A small corner tear to leaf A3, not affecting text. A tiny… Read More

Boston: Benj. R. Tucker, 1886. First English language edition. Very Good +. A Very Good+ copy of this scarce first translation into English. Originally serialized in the journal Sovremennik between 1862 - 1863. Publisher's green cloth, stamped in brown on the front board. Some wear to the spine ends and corners, slight dampstain to the lower edge of the front board, brown stamping rubbed. Rear inner hinge just starting, but holding well. Complete and unrestored. With the penciled signature of Julian Hawthorne, Nathaniel Hawthorne's son, on the front free end paper. A few pencil annotations within the text and on the rear end paper, presumably also made by Julian Hawthorne. "[T]he first and most influential of a long succession of tendentious radical novels" in Russian literature (Mirsky p. 225). This first translation into English was undertaken and self-published by Benjamin R. Tucker, an outspoken American anarchist who defied the Boston police by selling banned literature, including Whitman's… Read More

[Massachusetts], 1821. Beautifully hand-colored manuscript on one sheet with all text to recto. Measuring 245 x 215mm. Retaining its bright colors; with chipping and loss to all edges, not affecting images or text. A unique tribute by a mother to her late daughter. The bright colors and floral arrangements of the present piece suggest that it was originally intended to document joyful family milestones. Titled "Register," its first section declares that it is of "the Family of Adolphus Draper who was born August & Married Belinda Axtell Sept. 18th 1816, who was born July 9th 1797." Below this is added less happy news, however. "Sacred to the memory of Rebeckah Draper, only child of Adolphus & Belinda Draper who was born Oct. 5th 1817 & departed this life August 26th 1821." In contrast to the piece's visual vibrancy, Belinda adds a final verse to the piece's foot: "Rebeckah, tho thou art in heaven and we on earth, May this one hope delight us, That thou will hail our second birth, When death shall… Read More

London: Longmans, Green & Co, 1900. First edition. Near Fine. Finely bound in three-quarter morocco over marbled boards, plain endpapers. A Near Fine copy with a previous owner's gift inscription on the half-title and minor foxing, illustrated and with maps throughout. An early work by the young Churchill, London to Ladysmith recounts his experiences as a soldier in the Second Boer War. These experiences would prepare Churchill to follow in the footsteps of other distinguished family members, becoming a renowned military leader and statesman best known for his role in World War II and as Prime Minister. Near Fine.

London: Cassell & Co, 1958. First edition. about Fine. Finely bound by Bayntun in three-quarter blue morocco over cloth boards, with gilt to spines, gilt top-edges, blue endpapers. A just about Fine set with a knock to the lower corner of volume three and the odd spot of foxing throughout. In all, an exceptionally pleasing set of this modern classic. "Spanning four volumes and many centuries of history, from Caesar's invasion of Britain to the start of WWI, A History of the English Speaking Peoples stands as one of Winston Churchill's most magnificent literary works. Begun during Churchill's 'wilderness years' when he was out of government, first published in 1956 after his leadership through the darkest days of WWII had cemented his place in history, and completed when Churchill was in his 80s, it remains to this day a compelling and vivid history" (Bloomsbury). about Fine.

London: Cassell & Co, 1958. First edition. Near Fine/Near Fine. All four volumes Nearly Fine, with slightly uneven sunning/dustiness to topstains. All volumes in original, unclipped Near Fine jackets, with some gentle wear to spine extremities and some toning to the spines. A pleasing set overall. "Spanning four volumes and many centuries of history, from Caesar's invasion of Britain to the start of WWI, A History of the English Speaking Peoples stands as one of Winston Churchill's most magnificent literary works. Begun during Churchill's 'wilderness years' when he was out of government, first published in 1956 after his leadership through the darkest days of WWII had cemented his place in history, and completed when Churchill was in his 80s, it remains to this day a compelling and vivid history" (Bloomsbury). Near Fine in Near Fine dust jacket.

London: Longman, Green & Co, 1900. First edition. Near Fine. Finely bound in three-quarters morocco over marbled boards. A Near Fine, complete copy, with a previous owner's name on the half-title. Churchill's only major work of fiction, Savrola is a melodramatic tale of political unrest, dictatorship, and revolution in the fictional Mediterranean state of Laurania. "To the contemporary critic, Savrola would have seemed merely one more romance that The Prisoner of Zenda had made so popular after 1894. To the modern reader, Savrola is a significant revelation of Winston Churchill in his mid-20s. It is the day-dream of a man of action...not all the artificiality of romance can deprive this book of authentic vitality when it is read with the knowledge of what one day its author would become" (International Churchill Society). Near Fine.