ADE, George

Autograph Letter Signed (Als) on the Charm of Tennessee

Brook, Indiana, 26 May n.y. Letter. AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED on 8-1/2" x 11" Hazelden Farm stationery to an unknown recipient trying to recall something he had previously said. In full: "I don't believe I can do it all over again. I think I said something about like the following: I never saw the South as I had imagined it until I visited Tennessee. For the first time I found in the flavor of daily life a combination of the modern spirit with the old-time regard for polite ceremonials. The old houses spaciously set apart and each sheltering a hospitality as bountiful as it was unaffected seemed more like real American homes than any I had seen. I knew I couldn't do it. Creases from folding, otherwise Near Fine .

Charles AgventProfessional seller

Book number: 021368

Catalogue: Signed

Keywords: Signed, Tennessee, Modern Firsts, George Ade, Modern First Editions, The South Signed Modern First Editions Tennessee Literature: American

[AGEE, James] LEWIS, Sinclair

Elmer Gantry [James Agee's Copy at Phillips Exeter Academy Dated March 1927]

New York, Harcourt, Brace and Company, (1927). Hardcover. A later printing, ex-library copy with the bookplate of The Phillips Exeter Academy library on the front pastedown, stamped DISCARDED, of a book made into a film starring Burt Lancaster that won three Academy Awards. An undistinguished copy BUT for the fact that it belonged to James Agee with his SIGNATURE "J R Agee" dated March 1927 on the front free endpaper. This copy later belonged to Henry Darcy Curwen, of the Exeter English faculty, who signed his name below Agee's. In March 1927, Agee, at age 17, was in his "upper-middle" year (junior) at Exeter, an admirer of Sinclair Lewis and already committed to a literary career, submitting poems and stories to the Phillips Exeter Monthly. In one of his early letters to Father Flye (LETTERS OF JAMES AGEE TO FATHER FLYE, pages 27-28) dated Exeter 17 March 1927, Agee writes: "I've bought and read Elmer Gantry, the Lewis satire on religion. It's very disappointing, although excellent in spots. He's turning rancid." Reflecting his own psychological unease at the time, Agee soon expands this somewhat in one of his earliest published critical articles, a review of ELMER GANTRY in the Phillips Exeter Monthly 31 (May 1927): "It is one gigantic crescendo of walloping filthiness, and I have the feeling that it carried Mr. Lewis before it, and left him stranded where not even himself can work his salvation." Early signed Agee material is uncommon, and the important resonance of this copy with his beginning literary efforts can hardly be exaggerated. Good copy, lacking the dustwrapper. An Agee rarity .

Charles AgventProfessional seller

Book number: 013597

Catalogue: Signed

Keywords: Signed, Sinclair Lewis, Association Copy, Nobel Prize, Modern Firsts, Academy Award Modern First Editions James Agee Movie Fiction Literature: American

AIKEN, Conrad

Autograph Letter Signed (Als)

25 June 1917. Letter. An early four-page handwritten letter on one 6-1/4" x 9-7/8" sheet of paper folded into fours to American poet Orrick Johns, explaining his comparison of Johns to Edwin Arlington Robinson and responding to a comparison of his 1916 book of poetry, THE JIG OF FORSLIN: A SYMPHONY, to the writing of Charles Baudelaire. In part: "I was delighted to get your letter.. As to that echo of Robinson, perhaps I should have been more just if I had said similarity instead of echo: though even so I did not mean to put too much emphasis on the idea. In two or three of your things I felt something of Robinson's trick of veiled reference, inuendo, coupled with terseness of rhythm: certainly, nothing to worry about! I quite agree with you in your feeling about him. I admire rather than like him. I imagine that if I were drunk I should call him a Missing Puritan. You are the third person to link Forslin with Baudelaire. I don't know whether to be provoked or not, because all I know of Baudelaire is hearsay. I’ve never read him-- not a solitary thing. So he is what I imagine him to be,-- a decadent for decadence’s sake,-- there, I am provoked! Because I don't think I belong in that class. The decadent stream in FORSLIN is put there merely as one part of a rather complex pattern, on the assumption (certainty?) that it is an important element in the unrealistic life of homo sapiens.-- I've got three books, some antedating FORSLIN, some contemporaneous with it, some subsequent, which I expect to get out during the next two years, in the hope of destroying any idea that I am a seeker for the merely phosphorescent. I am glad to know that you may come east. If you do, and get to Boston or anywhere near it, for heaven's sake let me know. Intelligent people are rare now in Boston. Lightly creased and toned. About Fine .

Charles AgventProfessional seller

Book number: 020952

Catalogue: Signed

Keywords: Signed, Modern First Editions, Modern Firsts, Modern Poetry, Conrad Aiken Signed Modern First Editions Autograph Letters Literature: American

ALBEE, Edward; ASHBERY, John; CADMUS, Paul; CAPOTE, Truman; et. al

Autograph Guest Book for the Banfer Gallery, Inc

1967 - 1968. hardcover. Autograph Guest Book (10" x 7-5/8") in gilt-lettered red cloth maintained 1967-1968 by the Banfer Gallery, Inc. in New York City and containing autographs on 95 pages including Edward Albee, John Ashbery, Paul Cadmus (5 times), Truman Capote, Jean Charlot, Adolf Dehn, Michael Frank, Stephen Holden, Alice Neel, Charles Rain (2 times), Ned Rorem, and many others. Near Fine .

Charles AgventProfessional seller

Book number: 019782

Catalogue: Signed

Keywords: Signed, Modern Firsts, Modern Art, Autograph Album, Modern First Editions, Autographs Autographs Modern First Editions Modern Art Literature: American

ALBEE, Edward

A Delicate Balance

New York, Atheneum, 1966. First Edition. Hardcover. Pulitzer Prize winner SIGNED at a later date by the author. About Fine in a Fine dustwrapper .

Charles AgventProfessional seller

Book number: 007943

Catalogue: Signed

Keywords: Signed, Plays, Pulitzer Prize, Edward Albee, Theater, Modern Firsts, Drama, Modern First Editions Signed Pulitzer Prize Modern First Editions Literature: American

ALDINGTON, Richard

Images (1910-1915)

[London], The Poetry Bookshop, [1915]. First Edition. Softcover. Pictorial wraps featuring a hand-colored block print by John Nash. Aldington's first book, a landmark of the Imagist Movement, this copy SIGNED by the poet on the verso of the cover and dated 1917. Light soiling. Near Fine for this fragile piece .

Charles AgventProfessional seller

Book number: 019814

Catalogue: Signed

Keywords: Signed, First Book, First Books, Modern First Editions, Modern Firsts, Imagism, Modern Poetry, John Nash Signed Modern First Editions Modern Poetry Literature: English

ALGREN, Nelson

A Walk on the Wild Side

New York, Farrar, Straus and Cudahy, (1956). First Edition. Hardcover. A superb Association Copy INSCRIBED and SIGNED by the author filling the front endpaper to noted bookman and journalist Van Allen Bradley: "For Van,/Whose thoughtful/criticism has afforded/me real footing,/from a little book/about Chicago to/the present, and/in hope any books/I'm lucky enough to/do in the future will/deserve that same/consideration./Sincerely,/Nelson/Algren/May 21 56." Algren met Bradley when he interviewed Algren for a profile for the CHICAGO DAILY NEWS in 1952. Bradley had previously praised Algren's CHICAGO: CITY ON THE MAKE as a work of genius, which Algren references in his inscription. A film was made of this book in 1962 starring Jane Fonda with a script by John Fante. Minor bump at heel of spine. Near Fine in a Near Fine dustwrapper .

Charles AgventProfessional seller

Book number: 020769

Catalogue: Signed

Keywords: Signed, Association Copy, Modern First Editions, Inscribed, Modern Firsts, Movie Fiction, Van Allen Bradley, Chicago Signed Modern First Editions Association Copy Literature: American

AHEARN, Allen and Patricia

Collected Books. The Guide to Values. 1998 Edition

New York, G. P. Putnam's Sons, (1997). First Edition. Hardcover. Classic single-volume reference work describing over 15,00 first editions and their estimated retail values. SIGNED by both authors on the title page. Fine in a close to Fine dustwrapper .

Charles AgventProfessional seller

Book number: 019879

Catalogue: Signed

Keywords: Signed, Books on Books, Modern First Editions, Bibliography Book Collecting Modern First Editions Literature: American Books on Books

ALSOP, Joseph

Typed Letter Signed (Tls)

Washington DC, 18 May 1983. Letter. Two-page letter SIGNED as "Joe" on his personal stationery to journalist Richard Tobin. In part: "It did me good to hear from you again, and I am delighted you liked the FDR book. (An odd thing: the only really successful book I have ever written but turned out in a couple of months, in fact in an interval of the last lap of very much harder work on my big scholarly book on the history of art collecting [THE RARE ART TRADITIONS: THE HISTORY OF ART COLLECTING AND ITS LINKED PHENOMENA WHEREVER THESE HAVE APPEARED], which took eighteen years to complete!)." Alsop discusses the loss of both living and dead friends. "All my contemporary men friends in Washington are dead, and the biggest blow of all was the loss of my brother Stewart eight years ago." A revealing letter by an influential journalist and top insider in Washington from 1945 to the late 1960s, often in conjunction with his brother Stewart Alsop. Near Fine .

Charles AgventProfessional seller

Book number: 020835

Catalogue: Signed

Keywords: Signed, Journalism, Politics, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Signed Journalism Politics Autographs

ALVAREZ, A

The Legacy

London, Poem of the Month Club, 1972. First Edition. An 11" x 15" broadside SIGNED by the poet. Fine .

Charles AgventProfessional seller

Book number: 009358

Catalogue: Signed

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

ANDERSEN, Hans Christian

Signed Carte-de-Visite Photograph

Portland [ME], Lamson, n.d. Photograph. Wonderful SIGNED photograph (2-1/2" x 3-7/8") of Hans Christian Andersen seated at a small table and holding an open book. On the otherwise blank verso of the photograph, Andersen has written, in English, "The first moment of arrival at home is however the Bouquet of the whole voyage!" with his full SIGNATURE below: "Hans Christian Andersen." The photograph was given to George Helm Yeaman who had been appointed by President Abraham Lincoln to the post of Minister Plenipotentiary to Denmark where he served under the Grant Administration initiating conversations which eventually resulted in the purchase of the Virgin Islands. At the end of Grant's Administration, he returned to New York and it was at this time that Andersen gave him the inscribed picture. With the original description and folder of Walter Benjamin Autographs. Fine Hans Christian Andersen (1805 - 1875) was a prolific writer in many genres but is best remembered for his 156 fairy tales including "The Emperor's New Clothes," "The Little Mermaid," "The Red Shoes," "The Princess and the Pea," "The Snow Queen," "The Ugly Duckling," "The Little Match Girl," and "Thumbelina.

Charles AgventProfessional seller

Book number: 020626

Catalogue: Signed

Keywords: Signed Photograph, Fairy Tales, Children's Literature, Rare, 19th Century Danish Literature, Hans Christian Andersen, 19th Century Literature Signed Photograph 19th Century Literature 19th Century Danish Literature Children's Literature

ANDERSON, Sherwood

Dark Laughter

New York, Boni and Liveright, 1925. First Edition. Hardcover. Original vellum-backed and tipped boards, spine lettered in black, front cover lettered in red. Copy H of 20 Lettered copies (of a total edition of 370) SIGNED by the author. Obviously a scarce issue of this book, a novel that dealt with the new sexual freedom of the 1920s and that was influenced by James Joyce's ULYSSES. DARK LAUGHTER was Anderson's only best-seller during his lifetime, though today he is better known for WINESBURG, OHIO. Ernest Hemingway parodied DARK LAUGHTER in his early short work THE TORRENTS OF SPRING. Hemingway's novella mocked the pretensions of Anderson's style and characters. Gertrude Stein, Hemingway's former mentor, objected to the young writer's parody of a writer who had helped him get published, resulting in a falling-out. Owner name on front endpaper; hinges repaired. Edgewear; tears to top of spine, which is darkened, with no loss; lettering to cover rubbed. Good .

Charles AgventProfessional seller

Book number: 020414

Catalogue: Signed

Keywords: Signed, Limited, Literary Autographs, Modern First Editions, Sherwood Anderson, Modern Firsts Signed Literature: American Modern First Editions Limited

ANDERSON, Sherwood

Mid-American Chants

New York & London, John Lane, 1918. First Edition. Hardcover. Anderson's third book and first book of poetry, this copy a superb Association copy INSCRIBED simply "Miss Marietta Finley" and SIGNED "Sherwood Anderson" in green ink on the front endpaper. Anderson met unmarried, 24-year old "Babs" Finley at the Art. Institute of Chicago in the autumn of 1914. They were devoted friends and likely lovers. His correspondence of over 300 letters to her was published in the book LETTERS TO BAB: SHERWOOD ANDERSON TO MARIETTA D. FINLEY, 1916-33. Only two letters from her apparently have survived, but it seems that Finley had hoped, early on, for marriage but settled for a friendship that sometimes bordered on abusive. "The world has pretty muddy feet Bab," Anderson wrote to her in 1930. "It doesn't leave a man's house very nice. Near Fine, lacking the dustwrapper .

Charles AgventProfessional seller

Book number: 020260

Catalogue: Signed

Keywords: Signed, Association Copy, Literary Autographs, Modern First Editions, Sherwood Anderson, Modern Firsts, Modern Poetry Signed Literature: American Modern First Editions Association Copy

ANDERSON, Kent

Night Dogs

(Tucson, AZ), (Dennis McMillan), 1996. First Edition. hardcover. Author's second book and first mystery. With a three-page foreword by James Crumley who calls this book "the best cop novel I have ever read." A small first printing of 1900 copies quickly sold out. SIGNED by the author on the title page. Fine in a Fine dustwrapper .

Charles AgventProfessional seller

Book number: 009195

Catalogue: Signed

Keywords: Signed, Modern Firsts, Modern First Editions, Western Literature Signed Modern First Editions Vietnam Literature Literature: American

ANGLE, Paul M. (editor)

The Lincoln Reader

New Brunswick, Rutgers University Press, 1947. First Edition. Hardcover. SIGNED by Angle on the front endpaper: "To Joe De Caro/with the best wishes/of Paul M. Angle/April 11, 1947." In addition, laid in is a TYPED LETTER SIGNED by Angle telling the recipient to send him this book to be signed. Near Fine in a Very Good dustwrapper with light wear .

Charles AgventProfessional seller

Book number: 020867

Catalogue: Signed

Keywords: Signed, Inscribed, Abraham Lincoln, Civil War, Americana, Presidents Signed Literature: American Presidents Abraham Lincoln