BAXTER, Charles

Through the Safety Net

New York, Viking, (1985). First Edition. Hardcover. Critically acclaimed author's second book, a collection of stories, SIGNED by him on the title page. About Fine in a Fine dustwrapper .

Charles AgventProfessional seller

Book number: 017212

Catalogue: Signed

Keywords: Signed, Short Stories, Modern First Editions, Modern Firsts Signed Short Stories Literature: American Modern First Editions

BEATTIE, Ann

Falling in Place

New York, Random House, (1980). First Edition. hardcover. This copy is INSCRIBED and SIGNED by the author on the front endpaper in Charlottesville in 1986. In addition, laid in is a piece of paper on which is written, "This a great novel." Beattie has responded by writing below "Yes No Maybe Other," each with a box next to it. She has checked the box "Maybe" and written "Thank you, though--/--Ann. Slight spotting to the bulked top edge of the text. Near Fine in a close to Fine dustwrapper .

Charles AgventProfessional seller

Book number: 018925

Catalogue: Signed

Keywords: Signed, Southern Literature, Modern Firsts, Modern First Editions, Anne Beattie Modern First Editions Inscribed Literature: American Women's Literature

BECKETT, Samuel

Echo's Bones and Other Precipitates

Paris, Europa Press, 1935. First Edition. wraps. Original tan wraps with front cover lettered in black. One of only 250 numbered copies, this copy unnumbered and one of Beckett's retained copies. INSCRIBED and SIGNED by the author on the title page to Richard Seaver, chief editor of Grove Press, and his wife Jeannette: "For/Dick & Jeannette/with love from Sam/Sept. 88." Seaver was one of three young publishers who created Merlin Press in the early 1950s as a vehicle to publish and promote Beckett. Outstanding Association copy. Near Fine and scarce when signed .

Charles AgventProfessional seller

Book number: 014826

Catalogue: Signed

Keywords: Signed, Association Copy, Inscribed, Modern Firsts, Samuel Beckett, Limited, Nobel Prize Modern First Editions Literature: English Irish Literature Association Copy

BECKETT, Samuel

Murphy [Publisher's Copy]

New York, Grove Press, [1957]. First American Edition. Hardcover. Cloth-backed boards. Beckett's first published novel, first published in England in 1938. Copy #22 of only 100 numbered copies SIGNED by the author and specially bound in gilt-stamped brown cloth and tan boards. Grove Press publisher Barney Rosset's copy with the following in his hand on the front endpaper: "publisher's copy/Barney Rosset - GROVE PRESS." Rosset introduced American readers to numerous significant writers, including Beckett, Ionesco, Genet, Pinter, and Stoppard. He led a successful legal battle to publish the uncensored version of D. H. Lawrence's novel LADY CHATTERLEY'S LOVER, and later was the American publisher of Henry Miller's controversial novel TROPIC OF CANCER. The right to publish and distribute Miller's novel in the United States was affirmed by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1964, in a landmark ruling for free speech and the First Amendment. Near Fine without dustwrapper, as issued .

Charles AgventProfessional seller

Book number: 014825

Catalogue: Signed

Keywords: Nobel Prize, Signed, Association Copy, Fiction, Modern Firsts, Samuel Beckett, Limited Association Copy Literature: English Irish Literature Modern First Editions

BECKETT, Samuel

The North

London, Enitharmon Press, 1972. First Edition. wraps. Folio (11-3/4" x 15") in wraps, loosely housed as issued in a paper folder, cloth chemise, and slipcase. Text printed by Will and Sebastian Carter on paper made by J. Barcham Green. Of a total of 137 numbered copies illustrated with 3 original etchings by Avigdor Arikha, each signed in pencil by the artist, this is copy #121 and is one of only 12 "Ad personam" copies. Rather than being signed on the colophon page as with the regular copies, this is INSCRIBED and SIGNED by the author on the front of the folder: "for Herbert Myron/from his friend/Sam. Beckett/Paris May/1973." The text of THE NORTH comprises the penultimate paragraph of THE LOST ONES with minor variants from the full edition in English. Ill.: Avigdor Arikha. Fine Herbert Myron, a professor of French at Boston University, was a friend who had a lengthy correspondence with Beckett. Myron introduced Beckett to Lawrence Harvey who wrote SAMUEL BECKETT: POET AND CRITIC, focusing on Beckett's least known writings.

Charles AgventProfessional seller

Book number: 018362

Catalogue: Signed

Keywords: Signed, Association Copy, Inscribed, Modern Firsts, Samuel Beckett, Limited, Nobel Prize, Avigdor Arikha Avigdor Arikha Modern First Editions Literature: English Irish Literature Limited

BEER, Patricia

Spanish Balcony

London, Poem of the Month Club, 1973. First Edition. Broadside. An 11" x 15" broadside SIGNED by the poet. Fine .

Charles AgventProfessional seller

Book number: 009352

Catalogue: Signed

Keywords: Modern Firsts Modern Poetry Broadsides 20th Century British Literature

BELAFONTE, Harry

Photograph Signed

Photograph. An 8" x 10" photo of Belafonte with his business manager, Jay Kennedy, and another man, apparently producer Sidney Buchman, Kennedy's partner, at a restaurant table from the early to mid-1950s. INSCRIBED and SIGNED by Belafonte to Kennedy: "Dad! Dad!! Dad!!! On this day we released ourselves to further pursue the course we have chosen for ourselves. To you I'm indebted to Sidney I'm grateful, and perhaps History will thank us all. Your Harry." Also INSCRIBED by Buchman: "To Jay, a gentleman, Sidney." In 1954 Belafonte replaced Jack Rollins with Jay Kennedy as his manager who, with his connections, was able to book Belafonte in more prestigious locations. Despite Belafonte's effusive inscription, he would later come to distrust Kennedy and even considered him malevolent. It was not until a decade later that Belafonte would discover that Dr Janet Alterman Kennedy, the psychotherapist he had been confiding in during the 1950s, was Jay Kennedy's wife. Ink occasionally light but still very readable. Fine Belafonte, one of the world's most popular entertainers starring not only in music but in the theater and film as well, was also the first, and for some time the only, black producer in television and the first African American to receive an Emmy award.

Charles AgventProfessional seller

Book number: 019810

Catalogue: Signed

Keywords: Signed Photograph, Inscribed, Entertainment, African-American Music, Autographs Autographs Entertainment Signed African-American Music

BELAFONTE, Harry

Typed Letter Signed

Letter. An interesting SIGNED letter from Belafonte to Brooks Atkinson, drama critic of the New York Times, dated 19 May 1955. In this letter of @250 words, the singer and actor wishes to clarify that a letter sent by him a few days before is not misunderstood. Essentially, Belafonte wants Atkinson to know that, despite an earlier report to the contrary, the contemplated closing of his show "3 For Tonight" is not related to his Las Vegas engagement. Adding to the interest are numerous pencil notes and corrections that attempt to tame the tone of the words, either by the singer or his agent, Jay Kennedy, from whose estate this letter came. Belafonte, one of the world's most popular entertainers, starring not only in music but in the theater and film as well, was also the first, and for some time the only, black producer in television. He was also very active in the civil rights struggle, bailing Martin Luther King, Jr. out of the Birmingham City Jail and a few years later helping to organize the March on Washington. About a two-inch closed tear just entering the text on the left margin; light wrinkling. Very Good .

Charles AgventProfessional seller

Book number: 010108

Catalogue: Signed

Keywords: Signed, Letters, Music, African-American Music Autographs Entertainment Singers African-American Music

BELLOW, Saul

The Last Analysis. Holograph Manuscript of Saul Bellow's Only Play

First Edition. hardcover. An undated early holograph version of Saul Bellow's only full-length play contained in a ledger-type notebook (8-1/4" x 11-3/8") with marbled paper boards and a black cloth spine. Bellow has subtitled this as "A Work in Progress." Acts I and II of this version are complete in 71 pages with 4 pages of preliminary material for an Act III, all handwritten by Bellow. The 1964 staged version was reduced to two acts. Bellow appears to have written out Acts I & II as a fair copy from previous versions and notes in preparation for completing the play with a new Act III. There are relatively few insertions and corrections in his text of the first two acts which take up about 75% of the notebook. The third act consists mostly of blank pages with 3 pages of rough notes and key speeches including what seem to be the climactic lines of his main character, the comedian Bummidge, who has been undergoing an obsessive self-analysis in the previous acts: "The world was never real for me. But now I see it's more real than I was. I never admitted that it existed. It always knew I was here (he goes around picking up objects & kissing them because they're real).. Now what is the theory. Not Momma's womb but my own empty heart?" Laid in to the notebook is a SIGNED typed 12-page fragment of an earlier version of the play, with Bellow's original title, THE CRASH PROGRAM, crossed out in ink and his new title, THE LAST ANALYSIS, written over it. Bellow manuscripts of this size and importance are seldom offered with most already housed in institutional collections. Near Fine and quite exceptional .

Charles AgventProfessional seller

Book number: 013988

Catalogue: Signed

Keywords: Signed, Theater, Plays, First Editions, Jewish Literature, Holograph Manuscript, Saul Bellow, Rare Original Manuscript Literature: American Nobel Prize Modern First Editions

BENET, Stephen Vincent

John Brown's Body

Garden City, Doubleday, 1928. First Edition. Hardcover. First Trade Edition after the printing of 201 signed deluxe copies of this popular success and Pulitzer Prize winner. INSCRIBED and SIGNED "For W. L. Thompson Jr./with the best wishes of the author,/Stephen Vincent Benet/July 25 -1942." . Near Fine in a Good only dustwrapper, missing some small pieces on the spine and split there into three pieces but still with a presentable appearance under mylar .

Charles AgventProfessional seller

Book number: 015974

Catalogue: Signed

Keywords: Signed, Modern Firsts, Pulitzer Prize, Civil War, Modern Poetry, Modern First Editions, Inscribed Modern First Editions Pulitzer Prize Literature: American Signed

[BENNETT, Arnold] ROTHENSTEIN, John

Morning Sorrow

London, Constable & Co. Ltd, (1930). First Edition. Hardcover. An Advance Review Copy with publisher's slip laid in. INSCRIBED and SIGNED by the author to writer Arnold Bennett: "For Mr Arnold Bennett,/with gratitude &/affection from John/Rothenstein./November 1930." With Bennett's bookplate on the front pastedown. The publisher's slip has pencil notes on the verso, and there are several pencil annotations in the text, all likely by Bennett. Light foxing to first few pages, printed dedication page mostly detached; small nick to spine. Very Good, lacking the dustwrapper .

Charles AgventProfessional seller

Book number: 020442

Catalogue: Signed

Keywords: Signed, Association Copy, Modern First Editions, Modern Firsts, Inscribed Signed Modern First Editions Association Copy Literature: English

BENNETT, John

Survival Song Part 1

(Ellensburg, WA), (Vagabond Press), (1985). First Edition. Softcover. Stapled wraps, 8-1/2" x 11". INSCRIBED by the author "For Annie!" and SIGNED "John" on the verso of a front blank. Near Fine .

Charles AgventProfessional seller

Book number: 019713

Catalogue: Signed

Keywords: Signed, Modern Firsts, Modern First Editions, Literary Ephemera Signed Modern First Editions Literature: American Literary Ephemera

[BENSON, Frank W.] PAFF, Adam

Etchings and Drypoints by Frank W. Benson. Volume 3 (of 4)

Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1923. First Edition. Hardcover. Folio (9" x 12-1/2") bound in linen-backed boards; xxii, 100 pages. Copy #258 of 525 numbered copies with an ORIGINAL SIGNED ETCHING by Benson bound in at the front. Illustrated with detailed information about Benson's work. In the scarce dustwrapper which other than a thumb-sized chip at the head is in very nice condition. Ill.: Frank Benson. Fine in a Near Fine dustwrapper and quite uncommon as such .

Charles AgventProfessional seller

Book number: 012409

Catalogue: Signed

Keywords: Signed, Modern Firsts, Art, Catalog Raisonee, Original Art, Frank Benson, Illustrated Books, Limited Frank Benson Signed Limited Illustrated Books Original Etchings

BERLIN, Irving

I'm Getting Tired So I Can Sleep. This Is the Army

New York & Melbourne, This Is the Army, Inc. and Allan & Co. Pty. Ltd. (1942) but later. wraps. Quarto (9" x 12") in green illustrated wraps; 4 pages including covers. Vintage sheet music with words and music by Irving Berlin. INSCRIBED and SIGNED by the composer on the front cover: "For Bernard/Rosenstein/from Irving Berlin." . Very Good .

Charles AgventProfessional seller

Book number: 020826

Catalogue: Signed

Keywords: Signed, Music Lyrics, Modern Firsts, Irving Berlin, Modern First Editions, Inscribed, Sheet Music Inscribed Modern First Editions Sheet Music Irving Berlin

BERLIN, Irving

Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning

New York, Irving Berlin Music Corporation, (1945) but later. wraps. Quarto (9" x 12") in gray and green illustrated wraps; 6 pages. Vintage sheet music with words and music by Irving Berlin. INSCRIBED and SIGNED by the composer on the front cover: "For Iris and Jeff/with love from/Irving Berlin/1979." . Near Fine .

Charles AgventProfessional seller

Book number: 019061

Catalogue: Signed

Keywords: Signed, Music Lyrics, Modern Firsts, Irving Berlin, Modern First Editions, Inscribed, Sheet Music Inscribed Modern First Editions Sheet Music Irving Berlin