Search Results: Authors starting with K from Captain Ahab's Rare Books

Boise, ID: Limberlost Press, 1997. First, Limited Edition. Collection of 15 poems by the Montana author, poet, and songwriter. A compelling association copy inscribed to Hjortsberg, who like Keeler, was friends with Richard Brautigan. Both men attempted to resurrect Brautigan's legacy after his death by writing a biography, though Keeler's (Waltzing with the Captain: Remembering Richard Brautigan, 2004), preceded Hjortsberg's mammoth Jubilee Hitchhiker by eight years. One of 500 copies. Slim octavo (24.25cm); letterpress printed sheets, string-tied into dark gray printed wrappers; [28]pp. Inscribed by Keeler to fellow Montana author and screenwriter William "Gatz" Hjortsberg (1941-2017) on the title page: "For Gatz / my friend in the mirror / Your pal / Greg." A Fine copy.

London: Ward, Lock & Co., Ltd, 1948. First U.K. Edition. Originally published in 1941 by E.P. Dutton under the title The Sharkskin Book. A bibliomystery, in which "everyone who comes in contact with a sharkskin-bound volume of Chinese aphorisms titled The Way Out must deal with severe problems" (Penzler, Bibliomysteries, p.87). While there is no printed dedication in this volume, the inscription to his wife remains among the most intimate and meaningful of possibilities. Hubin, p.226. First Impression. Octavo (19cm); russet cloth, with titles stamped in black on spine; dustjacket; [6],7-192pp. Inscribed by the author in the year of publication to his wife and sometimes co-author Hazel Goodwin Keeler: "I need not tell you how much I love you. The situation is serious / [illegible] helps a little / Harry / July 14, 1948." Offsetting to endpapers, small wrinkle to cloth at crown, else a clean, very Near Fine copy. Dustjacket is unclipped (priced 8/6 net), showing modest shelfwear, and a few tiny nicks… Read More

Los Angeles: Black Sparrow Press, 1975. First Edition. Deluxe Issue, one of 15 copies specially bound and designated for the author, publisher, and members within the inner circle of the press, this one marked "Binder's Copy" and signed by the author on the colophon. Octavo (23.5cm); printed paper-covered boards and patterned cloth backstrip, with title label mounted to spine; publisher's original acetate dustjacket; [10],11-415,[5]pp. With an original holograph poem by Kelly on a tipped-in prelimniary leaf. Trivial finger-soil to lower edge of textblock, else Fine in a lightly rubbed, Near Fine dustjacket. A 400+ page epic love poem to the "Helen" cited on the dedication page. Morrow & Cooney 218c.

Santa Rosa: Black Sparrow Press, 1998. First Edition. First Printing, cloth issue, one of 200 copies. Octavo (23.5cm); decorative paper-covered boards and blue cloth backstrip, with title label mounted to spine; publisher's original acetate dustjacket; [12],13-188,[4]pp. Faint, scattered foxing to text edges, and upper and lower board edges; Near Fine in a lightly rubbed, Near Fine dustjacket. A collection of poems written between 1994-1996, some of which had been previously published in Arshile, Boxkite, Disturbed Guillotine, and others.

Santa Rosa: Black Sparrow Press, 1995. First Edition. Deluxe Issue, one of no more than a half-dozen copies specially bound and signed by the author for members within the inner circle of the press, each with an original signed poem tipped in (this one marked "Binder's Copy" on the colophon). Octavo (23.5cm); photo-pictorial paper-covered boards and patterned cloth backstrip, with title label mounted to spine; publisher's original acetate dustjacket; [14],15-398,[4]pp. Fine in a lightly rubbed, Near Fine dustjacket.

Santa Rosa: Black Sparrow Press, 1998. First Edition. Deluxe Issue, one of probably a half-dozen copies specially bound and designated for members within the inner circle of the press, this one marked "Binder's Copy" and signed by Kelly on the colophon; includes original holograph poem tipped in, following the copyright page. Octavo (23.5cm); printed paper-covered boards and red patterned cloth backstrip, with title label mounted to spine; publisher's original acetate dustjacket; [12],13-188,[4]pp. A few faint foxed spots to text edges and board edges, else clean throughout; Near Fine, in a lightly rubbed Near Fine dustjacket. A collection of poems written between 1994-1996, some of which had been previously published in Arshile, Boxkite, Disturbed Guillotine, and others.

Los Angeles: Black Sparrow Press, 1971. First Edition. Limited Issue, one of two copies specially bound and designated for the printer and binder, this one marked "Binder's Copy" and signed by the author on the colophon. Octavo (24cm); printed paper-covered boards and mustard yellow cloth backstrip, with title label mounted to spine; publisher's original acetate dustjacket; [10],11-181,[4]pp. Fine in a lightly rubbed, Near Fine dustjacket. A collection of poems composed between 1967 and 1969, some of which previously appeared in Caterpillar, Io, Tufts Literary Magazine, Kentucky Review, et al. Morrow & Cooney 106b.

Santa Barbara: Black Sparrow Press, 1978. First Edition. Deluxe Issue, one of eight copies specially bound and designated for the author, publisher, and members within the inner circle of the press, this one marked "Binder's Copy" and signed by the author on the colophon. Octavo (23.5cm); printed paper-covered boards and yellow cloth backstrip, with title label mounted to spine; publisher's original acetate dustjacket, [10],11-135,[4]pp. With an original drawing and holograph poem tipped-in on a preliminary leaf. Fine in a lightly rubbed, Near Fine, dustjacket. Collection of poems, some of which previously appeared in Sailing the Road Clear, The Virginia Quarterly Review, The American Poetry Review, et al. Morrow & Cooney 292c.

New York: Viking Press, 2011. First Edition. New. First Printing. Fine in a Fine dustjacket. This copy has been signed by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author on the half-title page.

Ithaca, NY: Cornell University, 1983. A particularly effusive letter from Kennedy, expressing both great admiration for Salter's work, as well as gratitude for a generous letter in response to reading Billy Phelan's Greatest Game. "That was one of the best letters I've ever gotten in my life -- your response to reading Billy Phelan. It is a pleasure compounded when I think of it coming from the man who wrote A Sport And A Pastime. I remember reading that book not long after it came out and wondering if I would ever publish a book and if I did would people admire it as much as I was admiring this one. So innumerable thanks for your own book and for the good will toward mine and me." He goes on to outline his summer plans, and his hopes for getting together, concluding with "may all the literary gods and goddesses smile on your next book." Typed letter on Cornell University stationary (measuring 6" x 9"); 31 lines (242 words), and signed "Very best, Bill" toward lower margin. Two old folds… Read More

Garden City, NY: Doubleday, Doran & Company, Inc, 1930. First American Edition. An early, popular work by the English novelist and playwright, a sequel to her wildly popular 1924 novel The Constant Nymph. Kennedy adapted the novel into a play in 1934, called Escape Me Never, which in turn was adapted for the screen twice: first in 1935 by Paul Czinner, and again by Peter Godfrey in 1947, starring Errol Flynn, Ida Lupino, and Eleanor Parker. First Printing. Octavo (21cm); pinkish-brown cloth, with titling and decorative elements stamped in black on spine and front cover; sandy brown topstain; pictorial endpapers; dustjacket; [x],337,[1]pp. A bit of softening to spine ends, lower corners gently tapped (though still sharp), with a thin strip of fading along the lower board edges; contents fresh; Near Fine. In a supplied dustjacket designed by Rockwell Kent; unclipped (priced $2.00), with some trivial dust-soil to rear panel, else a bright, Fine example.

New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1933. First Edition. In terms of pure condition, the best copy we've seen of this early, partial catalog raisonné of Kent's work, and the only copy we've handled with the publisher's box. A stunning copy of a book typically found well-worn. First Printing. Quarto (27.5cm); blue and white pictorial cloth; orange topstain; dustjacket; publisher's original box; [viii],64,[86]pp, with color frontispiece and more than 130 illustrations printed by the Lakeside Press. Ink publication date and a small patch of erasure to upper front endpaper, pinpoint wear to crown, else a fresh, Fine copy. Dustjacket is unclipped (priced $3.75), with some trivial wear to extremities, a few tiny tears, and two tiny nicks at crown; bright, unfaded, and Near Fine. Together with the original publisher's unprinted box - sunned, a little edgeworn, with two joints split on the lid; Very Good+.

New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1950. First Edition. The author's first novel, written between 1947-48 in Queens where he lived with his mother and father. The present copies belonged to poet Jackson Mac Low. Laid into the advance copy is a TLS from the publishers addressed to "Miss Maclow" (the painter Iris Lezak, who Mac Low would later marry), dated two months prior to publication with contents somewhat prophetic in nature: "Dear Miss Maclow: Here is your preview of THE TOWN AND THE CITY, which we shall publish on March 2. This is a big, new novel by John Kerouac--a name you have never before heard--one of the most exciting new talents to come to American readers since Thomas Wolfe." A superb, early letter, presumably sent to Mac Low for a favorable review, and a wonderful association between two of the 20th century's prominent poets. Provenance: Through the trade, from the estate of Jackson Mac Low. Charters A1a. First Printing, one of 10,500 copies. Octavo; red cloth, with titling and… Read More

London: William Heinemann Ltd, 1947. First UK Edition. One of Kersh's bleakest novels, telling the story about the hunt for the murderer of a ten year-old child in Soho, carrying the reader through the seamy underbelly of London. Inscribed to American photographer Carl Perutz, a friend and traveling companion of Kersh's who took several well-known portraits of the author. Uncommon signed. Hubin, p.230. First Impression. Octavo; black cloth, with titles stamped in silver on spine; dustjacket; 177pp, [1]. Inscribed by the author on the front endpaper: "For Carl Perutz + Lida / with friendliest regards - Gerald Kersh / July 11. '55. (This is not a well-constructed novel)." Light rubbing to base of spine, else Fine in a Very Good+ dustjacket, unclipped (priced 8s 6d net), with light wear and creasing to extremities, a few short tears, and sunning to spine.

New York: The Viking Press, 1962. First Edition. Kesey's first published novel, one of the defining works of the 1960's, set in an Oregon psychiatric ward. Basis for Miloš Forman's Oscar-winning 1975 film, starring Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher. First Printing, with the textual errors on pages 9 and 85-86. Octavo (20.75cm); emerald green cloth, with titles stamped in yellow on spine; orange topstain; dustjacket; [viii],[2],3-311,[1]pp. Gentle sunnning to spine and upper board edges, topstain a little dulled, but fresh internally; Near Fine. In the first state dustjacket, with the Kerouac quote at lower front flap; unclipped (priced $4.95), a bit spine-sunned and lightly edgeworn, with a few tiny nicks and tears to extremities, and a 1.5cm tear at base of spine neatly tape-mended on verso; Very Good+.

San Francisco: The Arion Press, 1990. First, Limited Edition. One of 400 copies. Oblong quarto (41.5cm x 26.25cm); vertically-ribbed navy blue cloth, with title labels mounted to spine and front cover; [ii],[4],5-113,[5]pp; illus. Upper right board corner imperceptibly tapped (though still sharp), trivial surface wear; Near Fine. "A history of this landscape garden and its architectural monuments, including the false ruin, La Colonne Détruite, from its origins on the eve of the French Revolution to its present restoration; with a preface by Olivier Choppin de Janvry; providing texts in English and French; illustrated with historical views of the park and related sites, a facsimile of the 26 engravings of the Désert in Jardins anglochinois à la mode of Le Rouge from 1785, and 32 photographs of the grounds and fabriques from 1988 by Michael Kenna" (from the title page). Arion No.30.

[Los Angeles]: Regents of the University of California, 1994. First Edition. Octavo; glossy, illustrated wrappers; 140pp. Light edgewear, with brief remainder dot to upper text edges; Very Good+. Contains five poems by Bukowski: 'This is an Advertisement,' 'Hey, Buddy, Let's Deal,' 'The Strange Workings of the Dark Life,' 'One More Day,' and 'Snake Eyes.' Also contains contributions by Wanda Coleman and Miguel Angel Asturias.

New York: St. Martin's Press, 1993. First Edition. Sharp copy of King's debut, winner of the Edgar Award for Best First Novel. First Printing, first state, with the Hebrew print on the dedication page printed upside down. Octavo (21.5cm); black paper-covered boards, with titles stamped in silver on spine; dustjacket; [viii],310,[2]pp. Signed by the author on the title page. Fine in a Fine, unclipped dustjacket (priced $19.95).

Los Angeles: Purring Press, 1975. First Edition. Second (of five) issues of this mimeographed poetry magazine edited by Linda King. King is a poet, playwright, and sculptor who during the early 1970's was involved in an "on again, off again" relationship with L.A. poet Charles Bukowski. PURR was primarily a vehicle for her poetry and that of other female poets from the western states, with contributions by Joan Smith, Ann Reynolds, Ann Menebroker, Nila Northsun, Margie Griffin, and Joyce Odam, et al. This issue contains "My Lucky Friend" and "It Works Like Liquid Snot Coming Out of Fire Hoses" by Charles Bukowski, with several of his drawings and poems by Lyn Lifshin, Jack Micheline, Nila Northsun, LaRae William, a.d. winans, Neeli Cherry, and others. OCLC finds 9 locations in the U.S. for any issues. Not in Clay & Phillips. Small quarto (21.5cm); pink mimeographed sheets, stapled into illustrated wrappers; [56]pp; illus. Signed by Linda King on the first page. Mild toning and wear to wrapper… Read More

West Kingston, RI: Donald M. Grant, 1984. Second Edition. The Gunslinger begins the quest by Roland, the gunslinger, to track and confront the "man in black," who knows, perhaps, the secret of the "Dark Tower." As he travels across the barren landscape of King's alternate world, sometimes alone, sometimes with a boy named Jake, Roland recalls fragments of his own past. He finally confronts the man in black, who reads his future with a Tarot deck" (Barron, Horror Literature: A Reader's Guide 4-164). Among King's most widely-read works, successfully merging elements of the spaghetti western and epic fantasy. Basis for Nikolaj Arcel's 2017 film adaptation (The Dark Tower), starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey. An association copy of the highest caliber. To the casual reader, the connection between King and John D. MacDonald (1916-1986) may not be immediately apparent, but despite a 31 year age difference, there was a strong friendship between the two men, and depth of mutual admiration. Prior… Read More