Search Results: Titles starting with P from Rural Hours

Grey Fox Press, 1983. 1st Edition. Soft cover. Near Fine. Inscribed on the title page: "For James MacElderry, Gary Snyder." Uncommon signed in any Grey Fox edition. This is the first paperback printing. A near fine book in remarkably good shape--seemingly unread--except for a sunned spine, faded toward yellow, which is typical for this title, and very minor wear/bumping to head and tail of spine. The cover and rear cover are flawless. Perhaps the best signed example of this paperback edition we've seen. // Wood River Books specializes in place-based and environmental literature, with a special passion for association copies and notable inscriptions.

Grey Fox, San Francisco, 1983. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Fine. Signed by Snyder on the title page. One of only 200 copies issued in hardcover (the scarcity of the hardcover editions of this book and Grey Fox's He Who Hunted Birds in His Father s Village is seldom recognized). Beige cloth with gold lettering on spine, with no dust jacket as issued. This copy is fine, unread, its page block still crisp. An account of his travels through India with Ginsberg, Orlovsky, and Kyger (his wife at the time), based on diaries and first begun as a letter to his sister. With black and white photos by Snyder.

Grey Fox Press, San Francisco, 1983. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Fine. One of only 200 copies issued in hardcover (the scarcity of the hardcover editions of this book and Grey Fox's He Who Hunted Birds in His Father's Village is seldom recognized). Beige cloth with gold lettering on spine, with no dust jacket as issued. This copy is fine, unread, its page block still crisp. An account of his travels through India with Ginsberg, Orlovsky, and Kyger (his wife at the time), based on diaries and first begun as a letter to his sister. With black and white photos by Snyder. // Wood (+) River (=) Books specializes in place-based and environmental literature, with a special passion for association copies and notable inscriptions.

NY: Museum of Modern Art, 1987. First edition. Hardcover. Very good/Very good. Heavy quarto in white cloth with colored plates. Ownership signature at top of front free endpaper. Two spots of staining/rubbing to board edges only, otherwise fine. In a very good dust jacket with some tape repair to upper spine, creasing, one short tear to rear upper edge, and some wear to corners.

The Globe Pequot Press, 1990. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Fine/Near Fine. Inscribed in the year of publication on the half-title page: "For Bill, a small contribution to your Concord collection. With warmest regards, from Paul, October 1990." Brooks was editor-in-chief of Houghton-Mifflin, and in that capacity alone was a great champion of environmental writing. As Rachel Carson's editor, he suggested the title Silent Spring, and he later wrote a book about her. But Brooks was also a great student of environmental writing and accomplished naturalist writer himself and was the winner of the John Burroughs Medal for nature writing. Here he takes on his native ground, having in grown up in Lincoln, MA, which neighbors Concord. The book is focused especially on the year 1846, when Thoreau was living at Walden and drafting his masterpiece, and it further explores literary Transcendentalism with chapters on "The Literary Scene" and "What They Were Reading." A fine book in a very near fine jacket with a touch… Read More

Madison: Wisconsin UP, 1969. First edition. Hardcover. Near fine/Very good. A significant association copy, inscribed at length in the year of publication on the first blank by Hickey, the editor, in a tidy script: "For Durward L. Allen, The mighty atom from Indiana. He picked up a Wisconsin education (via Leopold) without even going there. Thought up the Leopold Medal and then--as Joe Wuduska  [sp?] would put [it] -- won it 'fair and square.' Tackled the job of educating the American Public and is making some progress, which you can recognize whenever you hear someone use words like 'biopolitics.' I could go on, but he's already saying 'aw schute!' Affectionately, Joe Hickey. Sept. 10, '69." Also signed by Hickey on the title page. With Allen's ownerships signature on the front free endpaper, as well, along with an inscription, in a separate pen and hand,  that reads, "Gift from the Library of the Welder Wildlife Foundation, Texas - 4.93."  On the rear free endpaper is stamped "Ron Sauey… Read More

W.W. Norton, 1997. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine/Near Fine. First edition, inscribed on the front free endpaper in the year of publication in Boston, with the original newsletter announcement (and signing line guidelines) from a Borders bookstore laid in. Notable also because it has Junger's authentic early full signature, before it became a perfunctory bestseller Sharpie squiggle. Hard to find. These were the early days of the Perfect Storm, pre-movie. The inscription reads: "To Mark, Best, Sebastian Junger.

1956. No Binding. Fine. A photograph of Robinson Jeffers taken in 1956, six years before the poet's death. Leigh Wiener, a notable Hollywood and celebrity photographer then at the beginning of his career, knocked on Jeffers door one day and, three days later, came away with 300 remarkable photos, more portraits than he would do of any other subject. For more, see "'A Revelation': Leigh Wiener's Portraits of Robinson Jeffers" published in California History in January 2010. This portrait depicts Jeffers inside the three-story Hawk Tower, which he built in honor of his wife Una from beach stones he wheelbarrowed up from the shore. He is sitting in a rocking chair, one of his grandsons in the background. Photo is 8 x 12", frame is approx. 12.5 x 16.5". Photo not examined outside of frame, but appears fine. Signed by Weiner on the white matte, which is also fine. Simple silver frame has a few light scratches, but not distracting. Cardboard backing. // Wood (+) River (=) Books specializes in place-based… Read More

1956. No Binding. Fine. A photograph of Robinson Jeffers taken in 1956, six years before the poet's death. Leigh Wiener, a notable Hollywood and celebrity photographer then at the beginning of his career, knocked on Jeffers door one day and, three days later, came away with 300 remarkable photos, more portraits than he would do of any other subject. This one is inscribed by Wiener to the collector Mel Smith in 1989. For more, see "'A Revelation': Leigh Wiener's Portraits of Robinson Jeffers" published in California History in January 2010. Photo is 10 x 13", frame is approx. 16.5 x 20.5". Photo not examined outside of frame, but appears fine. Simple silver frame has light, sporadic scratching. Cardboard backing. Very faint foxing to white matte; not distracting, but it also could be easily replaced. Signature is ink on the photo paper itself (not matte). // Wood (+) River (=) Books specializes in place-based and environmental literature, with a special passion for association copies and notable… Read More

Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1969. Soft cover. Very Good. Inscribed on the half title to Douglas Calhoun, the editor of Anthanor journal, which devoted a special issue to Creeley: "For Doug, with love, Bob." Very good plus a faded spine (hardly noticeable) and a very lightly creased upper corner of front wrap.

Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1969. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine/Near Fine. Inscribed on the title page to Douglas Calhoun, the editor of Anthanor journal, which published a special issued devoted entirely to Creeley: "for Doug, with love, Bob." Fine book, yellow buckram boards with red endpapers; in near fine orange and yellow jacket with one small quarter-inch loss on rear panel along the spine. Very handsome.

Scribner, 1984. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Fine/Near Fine. Association copy, inscribed on the front end free paper to Ezekiel ("Zeke") and Katherine ("Kay") Dumke, prominent Utah philanthropists who gave to institutions including the University of Utah, Westminster College, Weber State University, and Red Butte Garden (the state arboretum on the University of Utah campus). Zeke Dumke was also for a time the president of the Utah Museum of Natural History, where Terry Tempest Williams was a curator at the time of this book's publication (later she became its naturalist-in-residence). In the 1960s, Zeke additionally helped establish the boundaries for Canyonlands National Park; conservation and connecting people with the outdoors were part of the Dumkes' philosophy. The full-page inscription reads in Williamss elegant script: "January 10, 1985, Dearest Zeke & Kay, This book comes to you with all the love in the world. I feel as though we are family. You know this country of red rock and ravens. You know… Read More

Scribner, 1984. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. Signed on title page. Very good book with some mild foxing to cloth backing, and a streak of foxing to title page, but the rest of the pages are clean and bright. In a very good jacket with wear to corners and top of spine.

Scribner, 1984. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine/Very Good. Association copy. From the library of Gary Paul Nabhan, but a curiosity, because it's inscribed on the half title page on behalf of Colorado natural history writer Ann Zwinger as a gift to give to friends: "June 12, 198. For Dustin & Laura Rose: This book comes to you through the goodness of Ann Zwinger. These stories speak of redrock and ravens. May they encourage you to tell your own. Fondly, Terry Tempest Williams." So it's a book with a twisting provenance, one thats been in the hands of three standout environmental writers. Additionally signed by Williams with a different pen on the title page. Near fine first edition hardcover in very good jacket with wear to edges and corners and fraying to the top of the jacket's spine. Price sticker on front flap. The author's first book for adults. With illustrations by Clifford Brycelea. Please inquire for photos.

Harper's Magazine Press, 1974. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good/Near Fine. First printing, inscribed in the year of publication on the half title page: "For Len, whom I so fondly adore, Annie Dillard, April 24, 1974." The book was released on March 13, 1974, thus this signature comes just over a month after its pub date. An uncommonly affectionate inscription for Dillard, and her genuine signature, which is rare aside her perfunctory, post-fame bookstore squiggle. This book won the Pulitzer Prize in General Nonfiction fiction in 1975. A book that should probably be graded very good because the boards are ever so slightly bowed (from some Long Island air), but otherwise near fine and presents very well; in a near fine price-clipped jacket with light edge wear, a few unobtrusive pencil lines to front panel, and small nicks to corners of spine tail. // Wood (+) River (=) Books specializes in ecology, natural history, nature writing, the environment, and environmental literature, with a special passion… Read More

Harper's Magazine Press, 1974. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. First edition, Book Club edition (no number line), very good plus in a very good jacket. Inscribed on an index card pasted to the front end free paper: "For Nat Gross, with all good wishes to Susie Burnett s father, and therefore a great man in his own right Cheers, Annie Dillard, Dec. 1976." With her actual signature rather than her usual perfunctory squiggle. Likely the card was originally laid in; because it s now pasted, the FFEP is stiffened and ever so slightly bowed. The book is in near fine condition otherwise, with only bumping to corners. The jacket has general wear, a few short tears at corners (one closed), and a few scattered, minor stains, most noticeably to the spine. But a rare copy with Dillard s non-commercial signature. Please inquire for photos.

NY: FSG, 1968. First edition. Hardcover. Very good/Very good. Seventh printing, 1978. Signed on the title page: "For the Fairhaven Library, John McPhee." His fourth book, a classic. McPhee enjoys signing books to libraries and one could build a nice collection of them in time. Green cloth, ex-library, of course, with a pocket to rear free endpaper (last checked out in 2001). The jacket is in mylar and about fine, but it's affixed to the boards, with a call number on its spine. Otherwise in very good shape with a slight slant to spine and a little rubbing to bottom of boards.

Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1968. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good/Near Fine. Graves, James. Sixth printing (1975). Association copy, charmingly inscribed on the title page to neighbors in Princeton: "For the Westoffs, from their own personal pine planter, of Drake's Corner Road, best, John, 9/18/75." Thats McPhee's street. One can imagine him standing in this planter with pen in hand and glancing up at the trees. Charles Westoff was professor of demography and sociology at Princeton, and so McPhee's colleague. Leslie Westoff was a firebrand feminist author who published four books as well as pieces in The New York Times and New York Magazine among other places. She and Charles co-authored From Now to Zero, a book about population growth. Another book was about remarrying: The Second Time Around. Her first marriage was to John Aldridge, a notable literary critic who also taught at Princeton in the 50s before ending up at the University of Michigan. The book is in very good condition only because of… Read More

W W Norton & Co Inc, 1993. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Fine/Near Fine. Signed on the front free endpaper by the editor, Robert Finch, and four contributors: Stanley Kunitz, Mark Doty, Mary Lou Weisman, and E.J. Kahn Jr. A nice collection of signatures. Kunitz and Doty are both winners of the National Book Award (Kunitz won a Pulitzer, too). Also includes excerpts from authors like Conrad Aiken, Henry David Thoreau, William Bradford, Melville, Emerson, John Hay, Howard Nemerov, Edmund Wilson, Marge Piercy, Alan Dugan, Mary Oliver, Thomas Merton, Helen Keller, Annie Dillard, Richard Wilbur, Adam Gopnik, Lewis Thomas, and many others. Makes a strong case for the significance of Cape Cod and its environment in American literature. A fine book in a very near fine jacket with faint creasing to spine ends and one minuscule scratch to edge of rear flap fold. // Wood (+) River (=) Books specializes in ecology, natural history, nature writing, the environment, and environmental literature, with a special passion… Read More

Counterpoint, 1995. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Fine. Inscribed on the half title page in black calligraphic script: "For Bill, at Marin Academy, 2 days of poesy, Gary Snyder, 9 : II : 96." Snyder was a visiting writer at the prep school Marin Academy in the Bay Area, and this copy is probably inscribed to a teacher. A nice inscription, more voluble that Snyder's usual. Fine book in fine jacket. // Wood (+) River (=) Books specializes in place-based and environmental literature, with a special passion for association copies and notable inscriptions.