New York: John Lane Company, 1916. Hardcover first edition - A small volume of his witty and sardonic aphorisms - many so apt and pithy that it is difficult to refrain from quoting one or more. 79 pp plus 1 page of advertisement for his two earlier books.

New York: Stonesong Press / Crown Publishers, Inc., (1981) dj. Hardcover first edition - "Science Faces God in The Book of Genesis." Asimov, who has written many books on the Bible, compares the biblical description of creation with the latest scientific theories in a line-by-line annotation of the first eleven chapters of Genesis, pointing out where they are similar and where they are different, although he concludes by noting that human knowledge does increase and if the writers of Genesis were writing it now, it would be very different. Index. 234 pp. ISBN: 0-517543362.

New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, (1992) dj. SIGNED hardcover first edition - His first non-fiction book, an account not only of events in Afghanistan in 1982, but also of his coming to terms with himself and his limitations. SIGNED on the title page by the author. Illustrated with drawings and maps by the author. While Vollmann, one of the most fascinating and interesting of modern writers, had long been a cult favorite, in 2005 he received the prestigious National Book Award for fiction. 268 pp. ISBN: 0-374-101051.

San Francisco: The Recorder Press, 1937. SIGNED hardcover first edition - Uncommon collection of poems written by this Contra Costa rancher, born in Ireland, who came to California in 1851 during the gold rush. Collected and arranged and with a biographical introduction by his daughter, Margaret C Dowling. Some of the poems had appeared in San Francisco newspapers, others are published her for the first time. The second section includes a series of poems on Puss and Boots and other folk tales. A presentation copy, INSCRIBED on the first page Charles M. Dowling, the author's son. 146 pp.

New York: Seven Stories Press, 1998. SIGNED first edition - The second novel in the Earthseed series by this winner of the MacArthur "genius" award. Set in California in the near future. INSCRIBED on the title page "with best wishes". Winner of the 1999 Nebula Award for Best Novel. 365 pp. ISBN: 1-888363-819.

Chicago: Time Inc, 1952. First edition - A complete issue of this large format vintage magazine. The front cover has a photograph of Hemingway by Alfred Eisenstaedt and an orange banner in the upper corner which states "Ernest Hemingway. An extra dividend in this issue: 'The Old Man And The Sea' by Hemingway, A Complete New Book / First Publication." The true first edition of this important short novel, a week before publication in book form. One of Hemingway's most important and beloved books, awarded the Pulitzer Prize. The novella is illustrated with drawings by Noel Sickles, although the magazine includes the usual photographs and ads, many in full color. 88 pp.

New York: Harcourt Brace & Company, [1923.]. Hardcover first edition - Her third novel. No publisher's ads at the back of the book, but otherwise meets all the points in Kirkpatrick, A6b. 303 pp.

New York: Hyperion, (2004) dj. SIGNED hardcover - When a man comes back to life at his funeral, the stitches which re-attached his severed head still clearly visible, he becomes a source of embarrassment to his daughter, an object of morbid curiosity to the press, a prized specimen for scientists, and Satan incarnate to an obscure religious cult. A wildly funny and satirical novel by this African American writer. SIGNED on the title page. A novel written long before he finally had his well-deserved breakthrough with the award-winning film "American Fiction" based on 'Erasure' and the best-selling 'James' winner of the National Book Award, the Pulitzer Prize and more. 291 pp. ISBN: 0-7868-69178.

New York: The Viking Press, 1929. dj. Hardcover first edition - Her third novel, a retelling of the myth of Cupid (Eros - Eric) and Psyche (Sukey) set in 1873 Victorian England. A fairy tale in many ways, but one with wit and humor and insight into human foibles, including a wonderful scene of Sukey take refuge in a "disorderly house." A darker background to the this story - which deals with loving a man classed as an 'idiot' because he has fits - is the 1920s fascination with eugenics and limitations on the right to 'breed.' A more appealing edition than the original UK one with lavender boards, illustrated endpapers and illustrated dust jacket. 297 pp.

Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1975. SIGNED first edition - Highly praised African American poet's hard to find second collection. One review described his poems thus: "The quiet fierceness . .. terrifies as it comes out from a controlled if unconventional verse form." SIGNED on the title page. 84 pp. ISBN: 0-8229-52637.

New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press, 1953. dj. Hardcover first edition - Preface and Notes by Virgil Thomson. Volume Three of the Yale Edition of the Unpublished Writings of Gertrude Stein (series editor Carl van Vechten). Association copy with the name of the Hollywood actor and Los Angeles poet "Bob Crosson" on front endpaper and date of 5-5-57. Crosson's first book "Geographies" included a sequence on Gertrude Stein. xii. 294 pp.

London: Crime Club / Collins, (1958) dj. Hardcover first edition - Classic crime novel of a family who found that they were living with murder - one of the best of Christie's later novels. Basis for the 1984 film starring Donald Sutherland, Christopher Plummer and Sarah Miles. Small bookseller sticker on front pastedown. 256 pp.

New York: Vanguard, (1954) dj. Hardcover first edition - The author's hard to find first novel, set in California, a story told by the youngest of the Griffin family but focusing on his older sister and ally in their revolt against meaningless conformity - a story which spans 20 years from the early 1930s to the beginning of the 1950s. Finalist for the National Book Award. Rooney received a Guggenheim fellowship in 1956 for fiction, and his prize winning short story "The Cyclist's Raid" was the basis for the classic 1953 film "The Wild One" starring Marlon Brando. 507 pp.

Minneapolis: Rain Taxi, (2002). First edition - Although an earlier version of these poems was published in 1972, this is a very attractive production and it includes a brief new introduction by Auster - an introduction which resonates today as he refers to the on campus tumult at Columbia University in 1968, which resulted in 700 students being arrested, including himself. Translates poems by Rene Char, Tristan Tzara, Antonin Artaud, Paul Eluard, Andre Breton, Benjamin Peret, Phillippe Soupault, Louis Aragon, and Robert Desnos. One of only 300 copies, designed by Kelly Everding. 35 pp. plus colophon.

London / Melbourne / Toronto: Macmillan, 1966. dj. Hardcover first edition - Novel set at in the early years of the twentieth century, based on actual events which helped pave the way for Lenin to rise to power in Russia. Told from the point of a view of a young girl, half-English, and the granddaughter of an exiled Russian aristocrat living in Paris. A book which combines the elements of a spy thriller with a thoughtful probing into human motives. INSCRIBED on the front endpaper "With all my love to Dear, Dear Jimmy" and dated in the year of publication. 435 pp.

New York: The Limited Editions Club, 1956. SIGNED hardcover first edition - Includes an introduction by J.C. Furnas, Stevenson's biographer in which he comments that Stevenson wanted this to be "the first realistic South Seas story" - and he succeeded. Illustrated by Millard Sheets. #1352 out of 1500 numbered copies signed by Sheets on the limitation page. Designed and printed by The Ward Ritchie Press in Los Angeles. Quarto. xviii, 113 pp plus colophon.

Los Angeles: Black Accent L.A. Press, 1996 (c 1992) dj. SIGNED hardcover - A comprehensive look at the Southern California music history over a period of five decades. Illustrated with over 400 archival black and white photographs of the Black musicians, Band leaders, night club owners and others involved in the L. A. music scene during those 50 years. Bibliography. SIGNED on the front endpaper with the words "The music lives. . . the culture defines. Enjoy!" and dated in 1999. Large format (quarto), printed on heavy glossy stock throughout. Laid in is the author's business card and a card indicating "Compliments of the National Academy Recording Arts and Sciences." 478 pp. ISBN: 0-96329086x.

Keller, TX: Purple House Press, 2000. SIGNED hardcover first edition - One of only 250 numbered signed copies of the 50th anniversary facsimile re-issue of this much-loved children's book. Includes a new foreword by Gary Larson who calls it 'the greatest little story in the world' and a new afterword by the author. SIGNED by the Morrell Gipson on the limitation page, and additionally SIGNED by the publisher, Jill Morgan, on the half title page with the comment "What a pleasure to bring back Mr. Bear." Small square format, unpaginated. ISBN: 1-930900-04x.

Evanston: Northwestern University Press, (1968.). SIGNED hardcover first edition - The first appearance of this novella, Number 45 out of 100 numbered, cloth bound copies signed by the author (of a total edition of 400). A tour de force interior monologue printed in an equally innovative format (using blue, mustard, red and glossy white papers) designed by Lawrence Levy, illustrated with photography by Burton J. Rudman. Triquarterly supplement #2. Unpaginated.

New York: Harper & Brothers, 1929. SIGNED hardcover first edition - The second of what is sometimes referred to as her Texas trilogy - three novels focused on the crushing difficulty of the life of tenant cotton farmers in Texas and the plight of the farmer in general by this Texas-born folklorist and novelist. A significant association copy INSCRIBED by the author on the title page 'For Mr. Alexander Legge, with appreciation of his services to the American farmer" and dated July 29, New York City. Legge was President of International Harvester from 1922 until his death in 1933, chairman of the Federal Farm Board under President Hoover, and one of the founders and principal contributors to the Farm Foundation in 1933.

Brooklyn: Hanging Loose Press, (1996) dj. SIGNED hardcover first edition - The fourth collection of poetry by this award-winning author, an enrolled Spokane/Coeur d'Alene Indian. SIGNED on the title page. 139 pp. ISBN: 1-882413-342.

Bolinas, CA: Grey Fox Press, (1979.). SIGNED - Snyder's thesis from Reed College, on a myth from the Haida Tribe of British Columbia about a chief's son who marries a supernatural ghostwoman, looses her and then finds her again. Frontis illustration of a photgraph of Gary Snyder at work on this thesis in 1951. SIGNED by Snyder on the title page, and scarce thus in any printing. Foreword by Gary Snyder. Preface by Nathaniel Tarn. Notes. Bibliography. . xix, 133 pp. ISBN: 0-912516-380.

New York: Simon & Schuster, (2007.). SIGNED hardcover first edition - A wonderfully inventive and artistic pop-up book for all ages, both a work of art in unfolding paper sculpture and a fun counting book. Each double-page spread, from the 'white grasses tip-tapping' to the three-dimensional Mondrian tribute, to the stack of variously opening "doors" that lead to a surprising depth illusion, and the two seven-level, tassel-topped towers that can flip together or in opposite directions, brings a new pleasure and suprise. And on each design, there are black dots, from one to more than 200. INSCRIBED on the first page by the author. Large square format, unpaginated. ISBN: 9781416940920.

Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1954 dj. Hardcover first edition - A satirical "novel of Washington Square" - the story of the habitues of the Cafe Julien in Greenwich Village, which becomes in her hands a symbol of the vanishing era of genuine artistic pursuit as it portrays a younger, more ambitious, and cynical generation taking over. All are mocked - would-be New Yorkers, the ambitious, the lazy, lovers and failures, failed artists, journalists and more. Considered to be one of the best novels by the writer whom Gore Vidal called "one of our most brilliant - certainly most witty - novelists, whose literary reputation continues to grow long after her death; we are catching up to her." 306 pp. Wraparound dust jacket by Reginald Marsh.

San Marino, CA: The Huntington Library, 1977. dj. Hardcover first edition - Includes more than 100 astronomical and mythical diagrams and charts from books printed before 1700 - drawing from astronomy and religion, but also from mathematics, alchemy, music and magic - the full range of renaissance lore. Large format. Notes, index. 117 figures. xx, 209 pp. ISBN: 0-87328-0709.

By the author, n.d, 1967. SIGNED first edition - An unpublished, unproduced screenplay for an 8-hour television mini-series based on his 1967 book of the same title, which is Volume I of his The Winning of America series. The manuscript is a professional screenplay presentation which includes the first two chapters (one hour's length each) of the proposed mini-series -- 52 manuscript pages for Chapter One, plus 5 pages of front-matter, including a map, and 56 pages for Chapter Two, plus 3 pages of front-matter -- plus a concluding 7-page synopsis of the remaining 6 hours of the proposed mini-series. The entire manuscript is bound in a heavy softcover binder in presentation form by Eckert's film agents, ICM (International Creative Management). INSCRIBED by Eckert on the first page of the screenplay.

Navarro, CA: Wild Trees Press, 1987. First edition - A jazz musician whom Nancy Cunard met in Paris, Crowder was the dedicatee of (and inspiration for) Cunard's massive anthology 'Negro.' This is his frank perspective on their relationship, on the times, and on the production of the book 'Negro.' Fascinating reading - and one of the hardest to find titles produced by Alice Walker's and Robert Allen's small press. Very uncommon and interesting. Photo of Crowder and Cunard at the Hours Trees Press on front cover - 201 pp. cover price 9.95. ISBN: 0-931125-057.

Berkeley, CA: University of California Benefits Program, 1986. First edition - A very uncommon but typically beautiful Ansel Adams item - this large pamphlet contains 14 stunning examples of his photography, 13 of them from the collection of the University of California. Adams was commissioned by the university to create a pictorial archive in honor of its' centennial in 1968. Some of these photographs were included in the commenorative volume 'Fiat Lux', but others have never been published. This is the first time that these photographs have been printed in laser-scanned tritones. The prints in this brochure were produced from the original negatives by Adam's assistant for several years, Alan Ross. Printed on glossy stock throughout, measures 11 5/8 by 8 1/2 inches, 24 pages in stiff glossy wrappers, stapled.