The Hobbit, 3rd printing

First published in 1939, Tolkien’s celebrated tale of Bilbo Baggins’ adventures is a not only a charming and time-tested story, it is one of the best-selling books of all time!

We have acquired a copy of the 1942 third printing of the first edition, in lovely condition.

Tolkien, J. R. R. The Hobbit or There and Back Again. London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1942. 3rd printing of the first edition. pp. 310 [2] (ads). 8vo. Publisher’s green cloth binding with navy decoration depicting stylized Misty Mountains and Smaug, and lettering to spine. Faded topstain. Map endpapers. Colour frontispiece depicting “The Hill”, and other black-and-white illustrations by the author. Slight spine slant, edges rubbed, corners a tad curled, 1 cm split to cloth at rear joint, faint dogear to p61, ink name and address to front free endpaper; overall very good. Lacks dustjacket. $8,500.00 CAD.

Last summer, my family and I were in Australia and New Zealand: a trip centered around Melbourne Rare Book Week and the President’s Meeting of the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers. The enlightening, productive ILAB events filled a few days of our three-week trip, which also found us surfing, feeding kangaroos, tubing through cave systems, and dining on a centuries-old tall ship in Sydney Harbor … and the adventure was capped off by a trip to Hobbiton! My partner is a huge Tolkien fan, and while the ILAB events may have been the trip’s focus for me, for him, visiting Hobbiton was a dream come true (a tear may have been shed). My teenagers and I were fully on board; when they were younger I read The Hobbit to them, as my dad did to my sister and I some decades ago. Their dad read them the LOTR as well, and of course we have seen all the movies! The Hobbiton tour was charming and professional, the highlights being Bag-End, going inside a Hobbit hole, and refreshments at the Green Dragon! The relatability, humor, and enchantment of Tolkien’s characters and stories will ensure that they remain evergreen for decades – or centuries – to come.

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““Interaction of Color” offers delight and insight through mind-bending exercises, examples, and experiments, leading readers to a direct and visceral experience of color’s infinite subtlety and contextual dependence. The examples are drawn principally from Albers’s collection of student responses to his classroom prompts: with colored paper, make one color look like two, make two different colors look alike, make three colors look like two.” -Yale(dot)edu

Albers, Josef. Interaction of Color. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1963.

Large folio. Grey cloth slipcase with white embossed lettering and ribbon pull (some fraying), contains: 80-page hardcover book in uniform full cloth, “Text” (showing a few spots and some sun-fading); Portfolio in uniform cloth, containing 80 folders numbered from IV-1 to XXV-6, each opening to screenprints and retaining the guards; and a 48-page book in card covers, “Commentary”. Does not contain a justification leaflet.

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mail@bisonbooks.ca | 204-947-5931 | @bison_books

NOW IN STOCK

Hoodies!

Koi Element pouch hoodie, S-3XL, in black with our white vanitas-metal bison skull motif.

Measurements: Chest – Half Measure in inches: S: 20″; M: 22″; L: 24″; XL: 26″; XXL: 28″; XXXL: 30″.

$55

T-shirts!

Comfort Colors tshirt, XS-4XL, soft-washed, garment-dyed, in “pepper”, with vanitas-metal bison skull motif.

Measurements: Chest – in inches: XS: 32-33″; S: 34-36; M: 38-40; L:41-43; XL: 43-46; 2XL: 46-48; 3XL: 49-52; 4XL: 53-55.

$35

Tote bags!

Durable heavy cotton canvas, 14L, gusseted, in black so they don’t look gross in six months.

$20

TO ORDER: email, call, or DM.

mail@bisonbooks.ca | 204-947-5931 | @bison_books

Now In Stock, In Store:

Fan Favourite Crewneck Sweatshirts 

by Gildan. Black with white writing

Available in Adult Unisex sizes S – XXL

$50

Long-sleeve t-shirts

with a bison parade down one sleeve, in classic black-and-white, sizes M, XL, XXL.

Now on sale for $30!

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Book fair hours:

Friday          5pm-9pm

Saturday      10:30am-5:30pm

Sunday         12pm-5pm

Please note that all prices seen here are in USD.

Saville Theatre Programmes

Saville Theatre Chuck Berry Programme, signed by Berry. London. With “Peter” written in ink on the corner of the cover. Stapled Wraps. An original programme from the concert of Sunday 26th February 1967 featuring Chuck Berry, and with Hamilton and the Movement, Herbie Goins and the NIghtimers, and Rick Dane. Programme cover artwork by Simon and Marajke. (#090781) $250.00

Saville Theatre Jimi Hendrix Experience Programme Sunday 4th June 1967 Leaflet stapled to inside cover: “Notice – Orgy to be held on Picadilly Line”: a notice of the launch of the record “At the Third Stroke” by the Picadilly Line. London. Creased down the middle, and with “Pete” written in ink on the corner of the cover, in orange felt pen. Stapled Wraps. An original programme from the legendary concert, attended by Lennon and McCartney, who were blown away by Hendrix’s opening cover of “Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band”, publicly mentioning it many times thereafter. Also on the bill are Denny Laine, The Chiffons, Rick Dane, and Procol Harum, whose “A Whiter Shade of Pale” reached number one on the day of this concert. Programme cover artwork by Simon and Marajke. (#090782)    $1,250.00

Saville Theatre Bo Diddley Programme. London, 1967. With “Peter” written in ink on the corner of the cover. Stapled Wraps. An original programme from the concert of Sunday 16th April 1967 featuring Bo Diddley, and with The Bunch, The Alan Bown Set, and Ben E. King. Programme cover artwork by Simon and Marajke. (#094167)  $150.00

Saville Theatre Chuck Berry Programme. London, 1967. With “Peter” written in ink on the corner of the cover. Stapled Wraps. An original programme from the concert of Sunday 19th February 1967 featuring Chuck Berry, and with Hamilton and The Movement, and Del Shannon. Programme cover artwork by Simon and Marajke. (#094169)  $150.00

Signed Literature & Film Books

Rogers, Ginger. Ginger My Story. New York: Harper Collins, 1991. First edition. pp. 450. 8vo. Ex-Libris of Art Ronnie. Quarterbound in black cloth with gilt lettering to spine. Illustrated with duotone photographs. Light shelfwear, bookplate to ffep, author’s inscription to title page. Dustjacket protected with plastic brodart sleeve; very good+ in very good+ dustjacket. SIGNED by Rogers. Inscribed to unit publicist Art Ronnie and his wife. (#090260)  $65.00

Gish, Lillian and Ann Pinchot. The Movies, Mr. Griffith, and Me. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1969. Second Printing. pp. 388. 8vo. Blue cloth and gilt lettering to spine, tan cloth to boards. Illustrated with duotone photographs. General shelfwear, light soiling and denting to spine, author’s inscription to lightly foxed ffep. Price clipped dustjacket age toned and with nicks to edges, short tine line to bottom edge, protected in plastic brodart sleeve; very good- in very good- dustjacket. SIGNED by Gish. (#090261) $85.00

Bankhead, Tallulah. Tallulah. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1952. First edition. 8vo. Black spine over turquoise boards, with colourful lettering to spine. Black-and-white photos. Book, jacket and frontispiece show some minor scuffing to edges; very good/very good. SIGNED by Bankhead, on dedication page, which is printed “For Daddy”, to which she has added “and Kenneth / with all my love / from / Tallulah”. (#090333) $500.00

Poitier, Sidney . This Life. New York: Alfred A Knopf, 1980. pp. 374. 8vo. Black cloth spine over paper-covered boards; silver lettering. Black-and-white photos. Edgewear, spine slightly concave; dustjacket shows mild soiling and a clipped front flap. Very good/very good. SIGNED by Poitier, on half-title, sideways. (#090343)  $375.00

Ford, Ford Madox. The Good Soldier A Tale of Passion. New York: Albert & Charles Boni, 1927. Limited edition. 8vo. Periwinkle-blue spine over lime green boards. Green lettering to spine, publisher’s green topstain. Light scuffs to spine ends, spine a trifle darkened; remarkably crisp. In glassine jacket (quite tattered), and with the patterned-paper covered slipcase with pink title label (a bit grubby and showing some chipping around opening edge). Numbered 152 of 300 numbered copies, printed on Rag-laid, deckle edged paper. SIGNED by author on front free endpaper. (#082955) $1,750.00

Jacobs, Jane . Dark Age Ahead. [Canada]: Random House, 2004. pp. 241. 8vo. Edges sunned, minor shelfwear; very good in very good dustjacket showing sunned spine. SIGNED by Jacobs on title page. (#091119) $100.00

Hepburn, Katharine . Me Stories of My Life. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1991. First edition. pp. 420. 8vo. Original red cloth. With over 160 black-and-white photographs, many full page. No detectable flaws: near fine in near fine dustjacket. SIGNED by Hepburn, on front free endpaper. Inside, she “reveals the person behind the persona in a vivid, unforgettable self-portrait”. – jacket flap. (#094170) $750.00

Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid’s Tale. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart | O.W. Toad Limited, 1985. First Edition. pp. 324. 8vo. Bound in cream and maroon paper boards with cream lettering to spine, maroon endpapers. Edges rubbed, as usual. Dustjacket shows light overall rubbing; very good+ in very good+ dustjacket. SIGNED by author on half title, and inscribed “To S—- with best wishes – Margaret Atwood”. True first, Canadian, edition of this multiple-award-winning, bestselling dystopian novel, which inspired an opera, a movie, and, most recently, a tv series. (#094147) $850.00

Indigenous Studies and Linguistics Books

Laurent, Joseph [Sozap Lolo Kizitogw], Abenakis Chief (1839-1917). New Familiar Abenakis and English Dialogues The first ever published on the grammatical system. St. Francis Quebec: printed by Leger Brousseau, 1884. pp. 230. 12mo. Late 20th century red cloth binding, gilt lettering to spine reads “Dictionnaire Abenakis”. Minor shelfwear, contents show a few fingerprints, age-toned but unmarked; very good. “the first vocabulary ever published in the Abenakis language, comprising The Abenakis alphabet, the Key to the pronunciation, and many grammatical explanations, also synoptical illustrations showing the numerous modifications of the Abenakis verb, &c., to which is added the Etymology of Indian names of certain localities, rivers, lakes, &c., &c. Original Edition”. A nice copy of a rare book written by an Abenaki Chief. OCLC 753749184. (#075431)  $400.00

Wolfart, Hans Cristoph. An Outline of Plains Cree Morphology. Michigan: Ann Arbor, 1970. pp. vii, 282. 8vo. Light shelfwear, ink underlining and marginalia ending on page 105 where the binding is cracked; good. Facsimile copy. (#078634) $50.00

Masta, Henry Lorne (1853-1943). Abenaki Indian Legends, Grammar and Place Names. Victoriaville Quebec: La Voix des Bois-Francs, 1932. pp. 110. 8vo. With portraits and music. Age-toned, minor edgewear; very good. Part I: Legends and Stories; Part II: Grammar; Part III: The Meaning of Indian Names of Rivers, Lakes, etc. Masta was an Abenaki Chief, schoolmaster, writer and linguist. OCLC 464230035. Rare! (#083570) $200.00

Mackenzie, Alexander. Voyages From Montreal, on the River St. Laurence, Through the Continent of North America, to the Frozen and Pacific Oceans; in the Years 1789 and 1793. With a Preliminary Account of the Rise, Progress, and Present State of the Fur Trade of That Country. London: T. Cadell, Jun. & W. Davies, 1801. First edition. 4to. 20th century fine leather binding. Folding maps with expert repairs.  Leather Bound. Wagner-Camp notes that ‘Mackenzie discovered the river that now bears his name, and descended it to the Arctic Ocean in 1789. In 1793, he became the first European to cross the North American continent north of Mexico’. Peel 55: “After the preface there follow 132 pages on the history of the fur trade in the North West. Some authorities think this was written by his cousin, Roderick MacKenzie. According to the Dictionary of National Biography , Voyages , 1801, was compiled by William Combe from Mackenzie’s notes. Includes vocabularies of the Knisteneaux, Algonquin, Chepewyan, Nagailer, and Atnah Indian languages.” Sabin 43414 calls this the “first and finest edition”. (#079699) $6,000.00

Mason, Sophia Thomas, William Mason, and John Sinclair, trans. [Rev. Mr. Steinhauer]. Oski Testement ketipeyichikeminow mina kipimachiyiweminow Chisas Knist (New Testament in Cree). London: Printed by William Mavor Watts for the British and Foreign Bible Society, 1862. pp. 292. 8vo. Original plain brown leather binding, with Watkins bindery sticker to rear pastedown. Loss to leather over spine and along edges, endpapers glued to gutters, text block stable, contents clear and unmarked. Leather Bound. Peel 387: “Title also transliterated as Otiki tititemitot. Title and text in syllabics devised by James Evans; only imprint is in English. Cree is Western (or Plain) Cree dialect.” Printed in two columns. “Although the three works last titled have the name Rev. Wm. Mason on their respective title pages, denial has been made in a number of instances that they were translated by him…”, instead having been translated by John Sinclair and Rev Mr Steinhauer, the manuscript of their translations entrusted to Mason, who took it to England for printing. – Pilling Algonquin p. 339-340. Darlow & Moule 3129. Following the 1859 printing (which contained 612 pages). (#094229) $2,500.00

Mackay, John Alexander, ed.; William Mason, trans. Otiki Tetitimatot ketipeyichikeminow mina kipimachiyiweminow Chisas Knist (The New Testament in Plain Cree). London: British and Foreign Bible Society, 1957. pp. 453. 8vo. Bound in black cloth with gilt syllabics to spine. Multiple name stamps to endpapers and top page edge. Shelfwear, contents clean, binding sound; very good. With Key to the Cree Syllabic System and Numerals. Reprint of the 1904 edition: see Darlow & Moule 3134, and Peel 2782. (#094231)  $150.00

Riggs, Stephen Return; Thomas S. Williamson. Dakota Wowapi Wakan Kin. The New Testament, in the Dakota Language [Bound With] Wicoicage Wowapi, Mowis Owa Qa Wicoie Wakan Kin, Salomon Kaga. The Books of Genesis and Proverbs in the Dakota Language. New York: American Bible Society, 1865. pp. 408; 115. 8vo. Brown leather with gilt lettering to spine. Spine pulled, surface leather chipped away at spine, edges worn, joints tender, text block sound, contents unmarked. Leather Bound. Inscribed: “Ada M. J—y from A. [Alfred] L. Riggs Santee Agency June 1871”. OCLC 5631145. Riggs was a 19th century Christian missionary, who compiled the first Dakota dictionary, published in 1852.(#094235) $2,000.00 

Riggs, Stephen Return and John Poage Williamson, eds. Dakota Odowan. Hymns in the Dakota Language. New York: American Tract Society, 1865. pp. 162. 12mo. Brown leather with gilt lettering to spine. All edges gilt. Loss to leather over front joint, boards slightly bowed, minor spotting to contents which are otherwise clear. Leather Bound. See OCLC 1070647556 for the the 1863 printing. Inscribed: “Miss Cissie Jammy (?) from Alfred L. Riggs Santee Agency June 1871”. Riggs was a 19th century Christian missionary, who compiled the first Dakota dictionary, published in 1852. (#094239) $2,000.00 

Kalleo, Josephine. Taipsumane A Collection of Labrador Stories. Nain: Torngâsok Cultural Centre, 1984. pp. (i-ii) iii-xi, 45. Oblong 4to. Text in English, romanized Inuktitut and syllabic Inuktitut. Colour illustrations. Light general shelfwear and creasing, author’s ink signature and additional ink inscription to title page; very good. SIGNED by Kalleo. (#087894) $85.00

Isaac, Jamie; Julie Nagam. Insurgence Resurgence. Winnipeg, Manitoba: Winnipeg Art Gallery, 2017. pp. 168. 4to. Colour photographs. Signed by Nagam. Light shelfwear; near fine. Catalogue of an important, groundbreaking and beautiful 2017-2018 exhibition at the Winnipeg Art Gallery: their first exhibition featuring contemporary Indigenous artists. (#092409) $75.00

First Editions   (and a few later printings of first editions)

Bloch, Robert. Psycho. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1959. First printing. pp. 185. 8vo. Age-toned beige coated-cloth spine over black boards. Red lettering to spine. Slight spine slant, minor edgewear, text age-toned; very good. Dustjacket unclipped, showing small chips at edges, closed tear to front flap crease, some general scuffing, and moisture damage to rear panel causing partial loss to author photo and discolouration to verso. The original, classic psychological thriller, featuring the horrific Norman Bates, inspired by the real-life crimes of Ed Gein; the basis for the equally-influential Hitchcock film. (#093850)$1,000.00

Moshfegh, Ottessa. My Year of Rest and Relaxation. New York: Penguin Books, 2018. First edition. pp. 288. 8vo. Light shelfwear, light discolouration to boards, moisture rippling to pg. 209/210; very good in very good dustjacket with sunning to spine. (#094163) $65.00

Calvino, Italo [William Weaver, trans.]. If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1981. pp. 260. 8vo. Mustard-yellow cloth spine over red boards. Edges worn, a few spots to page edges, slight spine slant, a few old pencil marks to front free endpaper. Dustjacket age-toned, with chips to edges and a couple of light creases to front flap. 3rd printing of the 1st edition in English. (#094128)      $100.00

Tolkien, J. R. R.; Alan Bliss (Ed.). Finn and Hengest: The Fragment and the Episode. London: George Allen and Unwin Ltd., 1982. First edition. pp. xii, 180. 8vo. Brown cloth with gilt lettering to spine. Minor shelfwear; very good+, in unclipped dustjacket showing original price sticker, a small nick to the spine, crease across rear panel, edges rubbed and slightly curled. A collection of Tolkien’s lectures on two fifth-century poetic heroes, posthumously published (#093856)  $500.00

Murakami, Haruki; Alfred Birnbaum, trans. A Wild Sheep Chase. Tokyo: Kodansha International, 1989. First English language edition. pp. 299. 8vo. Minor shelfwear; very good, in unclipped, lightly rubbed, very good dustjacket. (#093860) $200.00

Jacobs, Jane. The Death and Life of Great American Cities. New York: Random House, 1961. First printing. pp. 458. 8vo. Gilt-lettered black cloth spine over patterned cloth boards. Publisher’s red topstain (a touch faded). One corner bumped, a few faint spots to top edge, contents unmarked, clean and bright, binding sound: very good+. Dustjacket shows sun-darkened spine, small chips to spine ends, lighter strip along bottom of spine, front and rear panels quite nice – with just a few faint smudges, corner-clipped rear flap. (#088909) $500.00

O’Connor, Flannery . Wise Blood. New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1952. First edition. pp. 232. 8vo. Yellow cloth binding. Edgewear, contents clean and unmarked, binding sound; very good. Dustjacket is price-clipped, with a one-inch square chip at the bottom of the spine, and smaller chips at head of spine, age-toning, and a couple of closed tears. The first printing of O’Connor’s first novel, which was made into a film by the same name, released in 1979 and directed by John Huston. (#087523) $1,000.00

Johnson, Denis . Angels. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1983. First edition. pp. 209. 8vo. Silver-lettered black cloth spine. Light bumps to edges, near fine in rubbed, unclipped, crisp dustjacket. The author’s first novel. (#080616) $125.00

Bukowski, Charles . Factotum. London: W. H. Allen, 1981. pp. 205. 8vo. Bound in black cloth with gilt lettering to spine. Light edgewear. Dustjacket showing light shelfwear, protected with plastic brodart sleeve; contents clean and bright. SIGNED by Bukowski. First British Edition. (#079368) $1,750.00

Murdoch, Iris. The Sea, the Sea. New York: Viking Press, 1978. First US edition. pp. 502. 8vo. Grey cloth spine over blue boards; gilt lettering to spine and decoration to front board. Light sunning/rubbing to edges, unmarked, binding sound. Dustjacket is unclipped, spine-sunned with a few small scuffs and tiny nicks to edges.  (#085946) $300.00

Wilson, Bill [Alcoholics Anonymous]. Alcoholics Anonymous The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism. New York: Works Publishing Inc., 1950. 13th printing. pp. viii, 400. 8vo. Navy cloth with gilt lettering to spine. Rear board bumped at bottom edge, surface creasing to cloth over spine, internally clean and crisp. Dustjacket shows a one-inch open tear to top edge of front panel, two closed tears, small chips to edges, some general rubbing and age-toning. 13th printing of the first edition, in original dustjacket. (#083215)  $1,500.00

Books in French

Société Littéraire et Historique de Québec. Mémoirs sur le Canada Depuis 1749 Jusqu’a 1760. En Trois Parties. Québec: T. Cary and Cie, 1838. pp. 207. 8vo. Includes maps and lithographic plants. Text in French. General shelfwear and light soiling, tidelines apparent to front cover, ink inscription and rubber stamp to cover, purple rubber stamp, ink inscription and blind stamp to title page; good+. (#087966)  $100.00

Thompson, S. D. [John Sparrow David]. Discours Sur La Question Riel Prononcé Le 22 Mars, 1886, A La Chambre Des Communes. [Quebec], 1886. pp. 54. 8vo. Sewn wraps. Engraved portraits on last two pages, of Faisan Rouge and Gros Ours. Edges a bit tattered, age-toned and a bit brittle, but complete and internally unmarked. Stapled Wraps. Peel 1550. Transcript. With the signature of Quebec politician Louis-Joseph Riopel above the title.: “L. Riopel M.P. (#088054)  $100.00

Jéhan, L. F. Botanique et Physiologie Végétale. Tours: Ad Mame et Cie, 1847. pp. 420. 8vo. Gorgeous plum leather binding, with filigree-style and other decorations in gilt and blind, to spine and both boards, and gilt titles to spine. Marbled endpapers and page edges. Engraved title page, frontispiece with tissue guard, botanical engravings of plants in the text. Old paper label to spine, some scuffing to boards and edges. Small scuff to corner of front free endpaper, first few pages discoloured at top edge, initials to verso of illus. title, ownership stamp on dedication page, otherwise generally clean, binding sound; very good. Leather Bound. Text in French. (#089320)  $85.00

Nostradamus, Michel. Les Vrayes Centuries et Propheties de Maistre Michel Nostradamus Ou l’on voit representé tout ce qui s’est passé tant en France, Espagne, Italie, Allemagne, Angleterre, qu’aux autres parties du Monde. Reveues & corrigées suyvant les premières Editions imprimées a Avignon en l’an 1556. & à Lyon en l’an 1558. Avec la vie de l’auteur, & des Observations sue les Propheties. 1667: Daniel Winkeermans, Amsterdam. pp. 186. 12mo. Contemporary brown leather with gilt lettering and decoration to spine. Title label chipped, some surface cracks to spine, ffep excised. Ink name, early ink annotations, some worming. Leather Bound. An early Dutch-published French-language edition of Nostradamus’ prophecies, which were first published in 1555. With a life of the author. (#094140)  $1,250.00

Rare Books, Limited Editions, and Charming Antiques

Cohen, Sidney. The Beyond Within The LSD Story. New York: Atheneum, 1972. New Edition with Two Additional Chapters. pp. 312. 8vo. Bound in dark red cloth with gilt lettering to spine. Light shelfwear, bowing to front board; very good+. (#090922) $75.00

Steranko, James; Philip Fry; Ted Poulos. Steranko: Graphic Narrative Story-Telling in the Comics and the Visual Novel. Winnipeg, MB: The Winnipeg Art Gallery, 1978. pp. 108. 4to. Black & white illustrations. Minor rubbing to covers, slightly age-toned, internally unmarked; very good. Catalogue of an exhibition of Steranko’s work held at the Winnipeg Art Gallery in 1978.  (#091357) $150.00

Shakespeare, William [F. T. Palgrave, ed.]. Songs and Sonnets. New York: T. Y. Crowell & Company, ND [ca. 1910]. pp. 271. 12mo. Bound in padded, textured tan suede, with gilt lettering and decoration to spine and front board. Top edge gilt. Ribbon page marker. Frontispiece illustration, “Silvia”. Negligible shelfwear, two small bored holes to foredge, faint line of discolouration to blank page at end; remarkably fresh! Leather Bound. With Notes, by Palgrave, dated 1865, and an Index to first lines. (#092137) $50.00

Salinger, J. D. The Complete Uncollected Short Stories, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 [Two volume set]. [Berkeley CA]: [John Greenberg], March 1940 [1974]. Slim 8vo. Covers rubbed, small spot of yellowing to cover of Vol. 2, contents clean, bindings sound. A pirated edition of short stories, which prompted a lawsuit and FBI investigation. “The proliferation of these slim volumes called “The Complete Uncollected Short Stories of J. D. Salinger” … caused the writer to grant his first interview since 1953. “I wrote [those stories] a long time ago,” he said, “and I never had any intention of publishing them. I wanted them to die a perfectly natural death.” ‘ – New York Times, Nov. 10, 1974. (#093918) $400.00

Austen, Jane [Hugh Thomson, ill.]. Pride and Prejudice. London: George Allen, 1894. pp. xxvii, 476. 8vo. The iconic teal cloth binding with gilt peacock designs. Rebacked. Illustrations complete as called-for.  Preface by George Saintsbury. Gift inscription to early blank: “To My dearest Ethel. Xmas 1895”. (#094161)             $2,750.00

Doré, Gustave and Blanchard Jerrold. London A Pilgrimage. London: Grant & Co., 1872. Folio. Leatherbound. Full brown leather with gilt decoration and lettering to boards and spine. Marbled endpapers. Illustrations all present as called-for. Binding repaired. Leather Bound. (#094162) $1,750.00

Parkins & Gotto. Victorian Journal Box, with lock and key. Oxford St., London: Parkins & Gotto, ca. 1850. Rosewood? box, with brass and marbled glass mounts, locking brass clasp with large convex glass mount. With key, working. Box is lined in leather, with velvet bottom panel which pops up when unlocked to present the books inside. Maker’s name engraved on inner hinge. Enclosed are the three original red leatherbound journal books. “Cash Accounts” book is blank and shows a split to head of spine; “Visits & Addresses” shows some entries; “Daily Journal” shows pencilled entry to first page only. All three spines darkened where not covered by the clasp. Leather Bound. (#094178) $650.00

Spectacular Burl Walnut and Leather Photo Album With brass mounts and clasp. . 4to. Bound in gilt-decorated green leather, with wood panel over entire front board, featuring engraved brass mounts and clasp. Page edges gilt. 15 leaves for 30 photos measuring 5.25 x 3.5″. Internal foxing. Some scuffing to leather. Leather Bound. (#094173)  $500.00

The post The 52nd Toronto Antiquarian Book Fair appeared first on BISON BOOKS.

We recently acquired a lovingly curated collection of film books, from the estate of a passionate, decades-active bibliophile.

We have selected 40 of these to include in this catalogue, many signed by the likes of Tallulah Bankhead, Sidney Poitier, Ginger Rogers, Frank Capra, and many others.

Scroll through the text below, or for a text version, view the PDF version: 40 Film Books Spring 2024

*All items are subject to prior sale; prices are in USD, postage and taxes extra.

1. Warner, Jack; Dean Jennings. My First Hundred Years in Hollywood An Autobiography. New York: Random House, 1965. pp. 331. 8vo. Quarter black cloth over red cloth boards, gilt lettering to spine. Duotone photographs. Light shelfwear. Some scuffing and nicking to price clipped dustjacket; very good+ in very good dustjacket. Hardcover. (#090237) $150.00

2. Huston, John. An Open Book. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1980. First Edition. pp. 389. 8vo. Quarterbound in tan cloth. Duotone photographs. Light shelfwear, author’s inscription to half title page. Dustjacket lightly age toned; very good+ in very good+ dustjacket. Hardcover.

SIGNED by Huston. (#090238)             $125.00

3. Ullman, S. George. Valentino as I Knew Him. New York: Macy-Masius, 1926. First edition. pp. 218. 8vo. Quarter black cloth with green lettering to spine. Duotone photographs. General scuffing and faint evidence of former moisture exposure to edge of boards. Dustjacket clipped to all corners, tidelines to edges and spine; very good in very good dustjacket. Hardcover.

Introduction by O.O. McIntyre. Scarce in dustjacket. (#090239)              $200.00

4. Astor, Mary. My Story. Garden City: Doubleday, 1959. pp. 332. 8vo. Yellow binding. Illustrated with black and whote photos. Light shelfwear, cracking to front hinge, slant to spine, author’s signature to half title page. Dustjacket slightly age toned, with some nicking and tearing to edges, repaired with clear tape, protected with plastic brodart sleeve; very good in very good dustjacket. Hardcover.

SIGNED by Astor. (#090240)               $125.00

5. Heston, Charlton. In the Arena An Autobiography. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1995. First edition. ISBN: 9780684803944. pp. 592. 8vo. Quarter cloth with gilt lettering to spine. Illustrated with duotone photographs. Light shelfwear, author’s signature to title page. Dustjacket lightly age toned; very good+ in very good+ dustjacket. Hardcover.

SIGNED by Heston. (#090241)             $50.00

6. Fury, David A. Maureen O’Sullivan “No Average Jane” Minneapolis: Artist’s Press, 2006. First edition. ISBN: 978978092455607. pp. 450. 8vo. Bound in green cloth with gilt lettering to spine. Illustrated with duotone photographs. Lightest shelfwear, author’s inscription to ffep. Dustjacket unmarred; near fine in near fine dustjacket. Hardcover.

SIGNED by Fury. (#090242)                $125.00

7. Fury, David . Johnny Weissmuller Twice the Hero. Minneapolis: Artist’s Press, 2000. First edition. ISBN: 9780924556029. pp. 360. 8vo. Bound in black cloth with gilt lettering to spine. Illustrated with duotone photographs. Contains Artist’s Press certificate guaranteeing this copy is registered as #110 of a Limited Special Edition of 500 books. Light shelfwear, author’s inscription to ffep. Dustjacket with small sticker to front flap, protected with plastic brodart sleeve; very good+ in very good+ dustjacket. Hardcover.

SIGNED by Fury. (#090243)                $100.00

8. Jewison, Norman . This Terrible Business Has Been Good to Me An Autobiography. Toronto: Key Porter Books, 2004. ISBN: 9781552632116. pp. 304. 8vo. Black binding with silver lettering to spine. Illustrated with duotone
9.  photographs. Lightest shelfwear, author’s signature to title page. Dustjacket protected with plastic brodart sleeve; near fine in near fine dustjacket. Hardcover.

SIGNED by Jewison. (#090244)                       $75.00

9. Gorcey, Jr., Leo. Me and the Dead End Kid Leo Gorcey, the Hollywood Legend – Leo Jr., His Happy Ending. Irvine: The Leo Gorcey Foundation, 2003. pp. 293. 8vo. Bound in red cloth with gilt lettering to spine. Illustrated with duotone photographs. Light shelfwear, author’s signature to ffep. Dustjacket lightly age toned; very good+ in very good+ dustjacket. Hardcover.

SIGNED by Gorcey Jr. (#090249)                    $60.00

10. Rosten, Leo C. Hollywood The Movie Colony the Movie Makers. New York: Harcourt Brace, 1941. First edition. pp. 436. 8vo. Bound in gray cloth. Light scuffing and soiling, darkening to slightly slanted spine, nameplate to front pastedown, protected with hard plastic sleeve; very good. Hardcover. (#090250) $75.00

11. Walsh, Raoul. Each Man in His Time The Life Story of a Director. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1974. First edition. pp. 385. 8vo. Bound in blue cloth with gilt lettering to spine. Illustrated with duotone photographs. Light shelfwear, binding faded to upper edge of boards. Dustjacket lightly rubbed and age toned, protected in plastic brodart sleeve; very good in very good dustjacket. Hardcover. (#090251) $65.00

12. Marx, Harper and Rowland Barber. Harpo Speaks! New York: Bernard Geis, 1961. Second Printing. pp. 475. 8vo. Quarterbound in blue cloth. Line drawings by Susan Marx. Illustrated with duotone photographs. Light shelfwear. Dustjacket somewhat age toned; very good in very good dustjacket. Hardcover. (#090252) $50.00

13. Keaton, Buster and Charles Samuels. My Wonderful World of Slapstick The Story of the Beloved Dead-Pan Comedian. Garden City: Doubleday, 1960. First edition. pp. 282. 8vo. Bound in black cloth with white lettering to spine. Illustrated with duotone photographs. Light shelfwear, front hinge cracking, small rubber stamp to ffep. Price clipped dustjacket lightly rubbed and age toned, protected in plastic brodart sleeve; very good in very good dustjacket. Hardcover. (#090253) $150.00

14. Rogers, Ginger. Ginger My Story. New York: Harper Collins, 1991. First edition. pp. 450. 8vo. Ex-Libris of Art Ronnie. Quarterbound in black cloth with gilt lettering to spine. Illustrated with duotone photographs. Light shelfwear, bookplate to ffep, author’s inscription to title page. Dustjacket protected with plastic brodart sleeve; very good+ in very good+ dustjacket. Hardcover.

SIGNED by Rogers. Inscribed to unit publicist Art Ronnie and his wife. (#090260)                      $65.00

15. Gish, Lillian and Ann Pinchot. The Movies, Mr. Griffith, and Me. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1969. Second Printing. pp. 388. 8vo. Blue cloth and gilt lettering to spine, tan cloth to boards. Illustrated with duotone photographs. General shelfwear, light soiling and denting to spine, author’s inscription to lightly foxed ffep. Price clipped dustjacket age toned and with nicks to edges, short tine line to bottom edge, protected in plastic brodart sleeve; very good- in very good- dustjacket. Hardcover.

SIGNED by Gish. (#090261)                $85.00

16. Nolan, William F. John Huston: King Rebel. Los Angeles: Sherbourne Press, 1965. First edition. pp. 247. 8vo. Bound in red cloth with gilt lettering to spine. Illustrated with duotone photographs. Light shelfwear. Dustjacket protected with plastic brodart sleeve; very good+ in very good+ dustjacket. Hardcover.

SIGNED by both HUSTON and NOLAN. Inscribed to Art Ronnie. (#090262)                  $150.00

17. Michaud, Michael Gregg . Sal Mineo A Biography. New York: Crown Publishing Group, 2010. First edition. ISBN: 9780307718686. pp. 421. 8vo. Illustrated with duotone photographs. Lightest shelfwear, author’s signature opposite title page. Dustjacket protected in plastic brodart sleeve; near fine in near fine dustjacket. Hardcover.

SIGNED by Mineo. (#090263)              $125.00

18. Blesh, Rudi. Keaton. New York: The MacMillan Company, 1966. First edition. pp. 395. 8vo. Bound in black cloth with gilt lettering to spine. Illustrated with duotone photographs. Lightly rubbed. Dustjacket price clipped with some nicking to edges, protected in plastic brodart sleeve; very good+ in very good dustjacket. Hardcover. (#090264)             $100.00

19. Sakall, S.Z.; Paul Tabori (trans.). The Story of Cuddles My Life Under the Emperor Francis, Joseph Adolph Hitler and the Warner Brothers. London: Cassell and Company, Ltd., 1954. pp. 231. 8vo. Bound in orange cloth with gilt lettering to spine. Illustrated with black and white photographs. Light shelfwear, rear hinge cracking slightly. Dustjacket clipped to bottom corners, rubbed and with some nicking to edges, protected with plastic brodart sleeve; very good in very good- dustjacket. Hardcover.

Scarce title. (#090265)              $250.00

20. Riva, Maria . Marlene Dietrich. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1993. First American edition. ISBN: 9780394586922. pp. 789. 8vo. Quarterbound in black cloth. Light shelfwear, author’s inscription to ffep. Dustjacket with some small nicks to edges, protected with plastic brodart sleeve; near fine in very good+ dustjacket. Hardcover.

SIGNED by Riva. Accompanied by a laid in commemorative stamp featuring Dietrich. (#090266)               $50.00

21. Turner, Lana. Lana The Lady, the Legend, the Truth. New York: E. P. Dutton & Co., 1982. First edition. pp. 311. 8vo. White cloth spine. Illustrated with black and white photographs. Lightest shelfwear, author’s inscription to ffep. Dustjacket protected with plastic brodart sleeve; near fine in near fine dustjacket. Hardcover.

SIGNED by Turner. (#090267)             $50.00

22. Fontaine, Joan. No Bed of Roses. New York: William Morrow, 1978. Association copy. pp. 319. 8vo. Cream cloth spine over black boards. Illustrated with duotone photographs. Light shelfwear, rippling to first few pages (likely from bookplate-affixing), text unaffected. Dustjacket lightly rubbed, crease to rear flap; very good in very good dustjacket. Hardcover.

SIGNED by Fontaine: inscription to Douglas Fairbanks on ffep, “To Douglas Fairbanks Jr. – or that was the name I dared call my first leading man in “Gunga Din” – with devotion – and awe. Joan”. Fairbanks’ bookplate to front pastedown and opposite title page. (#090269)                $250.00

23. Menjou, Adolphe and M. M. Musselman. It Took Nine Tailors. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1948. pp. 238. 8vo. Sage green cloth with blue lettering to spine. Black-and-white photos throughout. Edgewear, contents lightly age-toned; very good, in dustjacket showing long closed tears, a few small chips, and a price-clipped front flap. Bookseller’s stamp to half-title. Hardcover.

SIGNED by both authors: “To Karl Jopke One of my favorite people [Sincerely?] Adolphe Menjou 1948 Bel Air”; “M M Musselman”; and “This is for “Benny” Rivers [A Jim?]”. (#090285)                $225.00

24. Colman, Juliet Benita. Ronald Colman A Very Private Person. London: W. H. Allen, 1975. pp. 294. 8vo. Blue binding with gilt lettering to spine. Illustrated with duotone photographs. Adhesive ghost to pastedowns, ink inscription to ffep, photographic bookplate to half title page. Laminated dustjacket with a red spot to front panel; very good+ in very good dustjacket. Hardcover. (#090286) $80.00

25. Carey, Jr., Harry. Company of Heroes My Life as an Actor in the John Ford Stock Company. Metuchen: The Scarecrow Press, 1994. ISBN: 9780810828650. pp. 218. 8vo. Bound in tan cloth with blue lettering to spine. Illustrated with duotone photographs. No discernible flaws, author’s signature to ffep. Dustjacket protected in plastic brodart sleeve; near fine in near fine dustjacket. Hardcover. (#090287) $50.00

26. Henreid, Paul and Julius Fast. Ladies’ Man An Autobiography. New York: St Martins Press, 1984. First edition. ISBN: 9780312463847. pp. 269. 8vo. Quarter red cloth with gilt lettering to spine. Illustrated with duotone photographs. No discernible flaws. Dustjacket price clipped, with some minor edgewear; near fine in very good+ dustjacket. Hardcover. (#090288) $65.00

27. Green, Fitzhugh. The Film Finds Its Tongue. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1929. First Edition. pp. 316. 8vo. Bound in burgundy cloth with gilt lettering. Contains 31 photographic illustrations. General shelfwear, bookplate and press clipping pasted to front pastedown; very good. Hardcover. (#090290) $50.00

28. Rothel, David . Richard Boone A Knight without Armor in a Savage Land. Madison: Empire Publishing, 2000. Limited edition. ISBN: 9780944019290. pp. 273. 4to. Illustrated with duotone photographs. Light shelfwear, corners bumped; very good+. Hardcover.

SIGNED by Claire Boone, Peter Boone, Johnny Western and David Rothel. Includes certificate of authenticity showing this copy is Number 0151 of a limited edition of 500. Also includes in-depth interviews with family, friends and co-workers, an annotated guide to Boone’s films, episode guides to “Medic”, “Have Gun, Will Travel”, “The Richard Boone Show” and “Hec Ramsey”, as well as a Johnny Western CD featuring “The Ballad of Paladin” and “The Guns of Rio Muerto”, the only commercial recordings Boone ever made. (#090291)               $175.00

29. Skal, David J. and Elias Savada. Dark Carnival The Secret World of Tod Browning, Hollywood’s Master of the Macabre. New York: Anchor Books, 1995. First edition. ISBN: 9780385474061. pp. 359. 8vo. Quarter in black cloth. Illustrated with duotone photographs. Light shelfwear. Dustjacket with minor edgewear, protected with plastic brodart sleeve; very good+ in very good+ dustjacket. Hardcover. (#090292) $100.00

30. Vreeland, Frank. Foremost Films of 1938 A Yearbook of the American Screen. New York: Pitman Publishing, 1939. pp. 347. 8vo. Bound in blue-green cloth. Light shelfwear, bookplate to front pastedown, protected in removable hard plastic encasing; very good. Hardcover. (#090294) $90.00

31. Drinkwater, John. The Life and Adventures of Carl Laemmle. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1931. pp. 288. 8vo. Illustrated with duotone photographs. Bound in burgundy cloth with gilt lettering. General shelfwear, corners bumped, small rubber stamp to front pastedown; very good. Hardcover. (#090307) $65.00

32. Smith, Albert E. and Phil A. Koury. Two Reels and a Crank From Nickolodeon to Picture Palaces. New York: Doubleday, 1952. pp. 285. 8vo. Bound in blue cloth. Illustrated with duotone photographs. Light shelfwear, bookplate to front paste down. Price clipped dustjacket with some nicking to edges; very good+ in very good dustjacket. Hardcover. (#090308) $100.00

33. Madsen, Axel . William Wyler The Authorized Biography. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1973. First edition. ISBN: 9780690000832. pp. 456. 8vo. In silver paper covered boards. 32 pages of black-and-white photos. Minor chipping to edges, dustjacket lightly rubbed with a price-clipped flap. Overall very good/very good. Hardcover.

Presentation copy, SIGNED by Wyler and inscribed to Bob Blumofe: “To Bob Blumofe / first class friend / first class producer / affectionately / Willy”. (#090317)                  $450.00

34. Gorcey, Leo B. An Original Dead End Kid Presents Dead End Yells, Wedding Bells, Cockle Shells and Dizzy Spells. New York: Vantage Press, 1967. First edition. pp. 111. 8vo. Red binding with silver lettering to spine. Black-and-white photos. Minor edgewear, remarkably crisp. In dustjacket showing some minor scuffs and a price-clipped front flap. Hardcover.

“This is not a great book, but at no time is it dull”. (#090326)                 $325.00

35. Bankhead, Tallulah. Tallulah. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1952. First edition. 8vo. Black and turquoise boards with colourful lettering to spine. Black-and-white photos. Book and jacket and frontispiece show some minor scuffing to edges; very good/very good. Hardcover.

SIGNED by Bankhead, on dedication page, which is printed “For Daddy”, to which she has added “and Kenneth / with all my love / from / Tallulah”. (#090333)            $500.00

36. Poitier, Sidney . This Life. New York: Alfred A Knopf, 1980. ISBN: 9780394505497. pp. 374. 8vo. Black cloth spine over paper-covered boards; silver lettering. Black-and-white photos. Edgewear, spine slightly concave; dustjacket shows mild soiling and a clipped front flap. Very good/very good. Hardcover.

SIGNED by Poitier, on half-title, sideways. (#090343)               $375.00

37. Lamour, Dorothy and Dick McInnes. My Side of the Road. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1980. Reprint. ISBN: 9780132185943. pp. 244. 8vo. Black-and-white photos. Light shelfwear, very good. In age-toned dustjacket showing amateur reinforcements to verso. Hardcover.

SIGNED by Lamour: ” To Ed – Good Luck – God Bless You – and Aloha Dotty (Dorothy Lamour) P.S. It’s been great to work with you!” (#090352)                    $65.00

38. Muller, Eddie . Dark City Dames The Wicked Women of Film Noir. New York: Harpercollins, 2001. First edition. ISBN: 9780060393694. pp. 292. Square 8vo. Gilt lettering to spine, decorated endpapers, b&w photos throughout. Lightest shelfwear; near fine in near fine dustjacket. Hardcover. (#090357) $50.00

39. Flynn, Errol. My Wicked, Wicked Ways. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1959. pp. 438. 8vo. Black cloth with multi-colored lettering to spine. Light shelfwear; near fine in rubbed dustjacket showing a short tear to front panel and clipped front flap. Hardcover.

“Let us set the record straight. You may have heard incredible rumors about this man. With very few exceptions, the stories were true. In spades.” (#090358)            $60.00

40. Capra, Frank . The Name Above the Title An Autobiography. New York: Macmillan, 1971. First edition. pp. xii, 513. 8vo. Bound in bright orange cloth with gilt lettering to spine. Black-and-white photos throughout. Minor shelfwear; near fine in dustjacket showing negligible rubbing and a price-clipped front flap. Hardcover.

SIGNED by Capra on half title: “For Bob – an old friend – with pleasure- Frank”. (#090359)                  $100.00

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The first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is one of the most talked about books in the world of secondhand literature. However, there is a lot of false information out there that might leave you thinking that your copy of the first Harry Potter is worth a lot more than it actually is.

In this post we’ll share what you can look for to determine if your copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is truly a first edition.

The “true first”, and by far most valuable, printing of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was published in London, in 1997, by Bloomsbury publishers. It was published in both a hardcover and paperback format. Whether you have a hard or softcover copy, taking the following steps can help you determine if you’re dealing with a valuable book.

Step One

Look for the following on the title page: “Bloomsbury” followed by a date of 1997 (no later!)

Step Two

Turn to the copyright page. You should find a full number line, which looks like this: 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1.

If yours doesn’t run from 10 to 1, it isn’t a first printing!

Step Three

Check the back cover to see if there is an “o” missing in the word “Philosopher’s.”

So far so good? You might have something valuable on your hands! To be sure, you should talk to an expert. That’s where we come in.

Contact us at 204-947-5931 to purchase a professional appraisal or to schedule an appointment to sell your books.

The post How to Spot a First Edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone appeared first on BISON BOOKS.

About the Publishers 

Established in 1975 and based in Norwalk, Connecticut, Easton Press specializes in premium leather-bound books, including classics, religion, poetry, and art books. Easton Press has published several sought-after series like The Greatest Books Ever Written, The Library of American Presidents, Signed Modern Classics, The Masterpieces of Science Fiction, and more. 

From London’s Shad Thames, the Folio Society crafts collectible editions of beloved books, including non-fiction, children’s titles, and multi-volume sets. Founded in 1947, the company prides itself on scouring the globe to find the perfect illustrator, typeface, paper, and binding material to produce “the world’s great literature, in a format worthy of the contents, at a price within the reach of everyman.”  

The Signature Look  

Easton Press is known for its fine leather bindings with 22kt gold lettering and decoration. The spines are often well-embellished with raised bands and a glistening Easton Press stamp. While an Easton Press book looks elegant on the shelf, you’ll discover even more sophisticated accents once the book is in your hands, including gilt page edges, beautiful endpapers, colourful ribbon markers, and commissioned illustrations from prominent artists.  

The Folio Society typically opts for colourful cloth bindings, often over richly illustrated boards, with intricate lettering to the spine. Sporting vibrant colour combinations, decorated boards and endpapers, illustrated plates, and matching slipcases, these bindings are an extension of the stories they contain. Limited releases from this publisher are especially grand—folio in size with jewel-toned cloth or fully leather-bound and housed in a clamshell box.     

From Our Stock  

Left: Some recently acquired Easton Press; R: Our ever-growing collection of Folio Society

L: Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift; R: Darling Buds of May by H.E. Bates 

L: illustration by Fritz Eichenberg; R: illustration by Alice Tait

View all Folio Society books

View all Easton Press books

Looking to sell your Folio or Easton Press books?  

Both Folio and Easton Press titles are a joy for us to receive, but we still request that you follow our buying/selling protocol before stopping in with these kinds of books. We will evaluate your offer and make our selection based on condition and demand, as we do with all of our books.  

If you’d like to get in touch with our buyer, you can email us at mail@bisonbooks.ca. You can fast-track the process by attaching a photo of your books to the email!

The post Easton Press & The Folio Society: A Comparison appeared first on BISON BOOKS.

Here are just a few of the signed books we have in store:

Factotum by Charles Bukowski

London: W. H. Allen, 1981. Hardcover. pp. 205. 8vo. Bound in black cloth with gilt lettering to spine. Light edgewear. Dustjacket showing light shelfwear, protected with plastic brodart sleeve; contents clean and bright. SIGNED by Bukowski. First British Edition. (079368) $1,750.00 USD

The Orange Fish by Carol Shields

Toronto: Random House, 1989. Hardcover. pp. 199. 8vo. Lightest shelfwear, crease to rear endpaper; near fine, in near fine dustjacket. SIGNED by author on title page, with warm inscription. (065770) $30.00 USD

For My Brother Jesus by Irving Layton

Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1976. Paperback. pp. xviii, 128. 8vo. Light general shelfwear, minor edgewear to front cover, author’s inscription to fep; very good. (073387) $25.00 USD

Uncle Scrooge McDuck; His Life and Times by Carl Barks (Limited Edition Book with Signed Lithograph)

Millbrae: Celestial Arts, 1981. First edition. Hardcover. pp. 374. 4to. Leatherbound with gilt lettering to spine. Red ribbon marker. Eleven reprinted stories with upgradeed colouring, and one new story, “Go Slowly, Sands of Time” with original watercolor illustrations by Barks. Light shelfwear; very good+. “Published in honor of Carl Barks’ 80th birthday (March 27, 1981), this limited edition of 5000 numbered copies includes a separate numbered lithograph of the painting ‘Wanderers of Wonderlands’ which was hand signed by Mr. Barks. This is copy number 3544.”  (087645) $450 USD

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

London: Headline Publishing Group, 2013. Hardcover. pp. 248. 8vo. Bound in blue cloth with silver lettering and decoration, author’s signature and drawing to title page. Light shelfwear; very good+ in very good dustjacket showing new-bookstore-applied stickers to front and rear panel. (080599) $90.00 USD

The Western Lands by William S. Burroughs

New York: The Viking Press, 1988. Second printing. Hardcover. pp. 258. 8vo. Light general shelfwear, jacket price-clipped with some sunning to spine. SIGNED by Burroughs, and with a ticket to a 1988 Ridge Theatre reading laid-in; there is a video of this Vancouver reading available online. A few annotations in ink, including previous owner’s name, and a list of passages read, on a rear blank page. (081991)  $250.00 USD

A Jest of God by Margaret Laurence

Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1966. First edition, second state. Hardcover. pp. 202. 8vo (21 x 14 cms). The binding is not stitched. The book has two small dark spots from tape remains to the front free endpaper. There are few tiny nicks to the board edges, else the book is in near fine condition. The dust jacket shows the original published price. There is very modest wear, else it is in very good condition with no significant flaws. SIGNED by the author on the title page without date or inscription. This copy from the library of the late Dr. Doris Saunders, and it is signed by her. Laid-in loose is a copy of the obituary notice for Dr. Saunders, who led a distinguished academic career in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (9900044408) $300.00 USD

A Boy at the Leafs Camp by Scott Young

Boston/Toronto: Little, Brown & Co., 1963. Hardcover. pp. 256. 8vo. Bound in blue cloth. Drawings by Doug Sneyd. Light shelfwear, author’s signature to ffep. Dustjacket somewhat scuffed and creased. protected with plastic brodart sleeve; very good in very good- dustjacket. SIGNED by Young. (088843) $75.00 USD     

The Flaming Dance by George Henry Hambley

Winnipeg, Manitoba: George H. Hambley, 1976. Hardcover. pp. 395. 8vo. Bound in orange cloth with black lettering to spine. Black and white photographs. Light shelfwear, slight slant to spine, author’s inscription to ffep. Dustjacket rubbed with considerable nicking and tearing to edges, now protected with plastic brodart sleeve; very good in good- dustjacket. SIGNED by Hambley. (088845) $40.00 USD

Shop our stock. We offer local, national, and international delivery year-round!

If you have a signed book in your library that you would like to sell or have appraised, contact us today to book an appointment.

The post Signed Books: The Perfect Gift for Book Lovers appeared first on BISON BOOKS.

About the Toronto Antiquarian Book Fair 

Canada’s premier rare book fair features thousands of beautiful, fascinating, and significant books offered by leading antiquarian dealers from Canada and abroad.

Fair Hours:

Friday: 5:00pm – 9:00pm

Saturday: 10:30am – 5:30pm

Sunday: 12:00pm – 5:00pm

Directions to the Art Gallery of Ontario 

Below is a sample of what we’ll have available for sale at the fair, in no particular order!

First Edition

Lyell, Sir Charles. The Geological Evidences of The Antiquity of Man With Remarks on Theories of The Origin of Species by Variation. London: John Murray, 1863. First edition. pp. xii, 520, 32 (ads). 8vo. Embossed teal cloth with gilt lettering to spine, and gilt illustration to front board. Illustrated with figures, and woodcuts including a frontispiece and maps.

Lyell was an influential geologist, incluencing Darwin et al though initially uncomfortable with the theory of natural selection on account of his religious beliefs; herein he responds to Darwin’s theory, tentatively accepting it; Lyell was “responsible for the general acceptance of the view that all features of the Earth’s surface are produced by physical, chemical, and biological processes through long periods of geological time.” – Britannica

Cree Prayers & Language Manual

Lacombe, Albert . Katolik ayamihewimasinahigan nehiyawewinik: Livre de prières en langue crise /with/ Petit manuel pour apprendre à lire la langue crise: Small manual to learn the reading in the Cree language. Montreal [Moniyak]: C.O. Beauchemin & Fils, 1886. pp. 295, 43. 12mo. Green cloth with gilt lettering to spine and embossed decorations to boards. Red page edges, patterned endpapers. Edgewear, some spotting to covers, one-inch tear to edge of title page and p. 23 of second title, a few grubby fingerprint marks, spine sound; very good-.

An anonymously printed, undated, unrecorded according to my searches, but likely early 20th century reprint of the 1886 edition, with the same contents and pagination but a different title page and paper stock. Peel 1622 (1822 ed): “Catholic prayers and hymns, with a catechism and texts for religious instruction. Petit manuel pour apprendre à lire la langue crise (43 pages at end) has a separate title-page and was also published separately… Initial 295 pages in Cree with some French text; terminal 43 pages in Cree, French, and English. Picture captions in Ojibway and French.”

First Edition, recovery memoir

Clapp, Charles . The Big Bender. New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1938. First edition. pp. vii, 171. 8vo. Black cloth with gilt lettering to spine. With drawings by Oscar Howard. Minor scuffing to edges, ink name, offsetting to rear endpaper (from glue used in production). Lacks jacket.

In this scarce and early recovery memoir, Clapp relates his struggles with alcoholism, and his experience getting sober, which he did with the help of Bill Wilson, founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. Clapp was a member of the Oxford Group, a Christian movement and one of the sources of A. A. This book predated the publication of the Big Book and was influential in recovery circles, leading to its sustained collectability.

First Edition

Webb, Charles. The Graduate. New York: New American Library, 1963. First edition. pp. 238. 8vo. Navy cloth spine, over striped boards. Publisher’s red topstain. Spine slant, front board slightly bowed, ffep excised, scuff to half-title. Unclipped jacket shows a sunned spine and minor rubbing.

Webb “wrote the 1963 novel “The Graduate,” the basis for the hit 1967 film, and then spent decades running from its success” – NYT Obit. The sardonic, hilarious story was based on Webb’s relationship with his wife, and her mother’s disapproval of him.

Rackham Illustrations

Swinburne, Algernon Charles; Edmund Gosse. The Springtide of Life Poems of Childhood. London: William Heinemann, 1918. pp. 132. 4to. Bound in green cloth with gilt lettering and decoration to spine and front board. Decorated endpapers. Black and white Arthum Rackham illustrations and colour plates. Light shelfwear, some scuffing and spots to extremities, ink inscription to front pastedown, single instance of underlining; very good.

Signed

Vonnegut, Kurt. Bluebeard. New York: Delacorte Press, 1987. 8vo. Bound in 1/4 black cloth over blue boards with gilt lettering and decoration. Light shelfwear, slight spine slant; very good. Unclipped dustjacket shows a few faint spots, else clean and bright.

SIGNED by Vonnegut on title page.

Wilson, Bill [Alcoholics Anonymous]. Alcoholics Anonymous The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism. New York: Works Publishing Inc., 1950. 13th printing. pp. viii, 400. 8vo. Navy cloth with gilt lettering to spine. Rear board bumped at bottom edge, surface creasing to cloth over spine, internally clean and crisp. Dustjacket shows a one-inch open tear to top edge of front panel, two closed tears, small chips to edges, some general rubbing and age-toning.

13th printing of the first edition, in original dustjacket 

First Edition

O’Connor, Flannery. The Violent Bear it Away. New York: Farrar, Straus & Cudahy, 1960. First edition. 8vo. Grey spine over red boards. Corners bumped, top of spine slightly sunned; very good-. Dustjacket shows a clipped front flap, some sunning, rubbing to rear panel, a few small chips to edges.

First Edition

Greene, Graham. The Third Man and The Fallen Idol. London: William Heinemann Ltd, 1950. First edition. pp. 188. 8vo. Black cloth with silver lettering to spine. Very slight shelfwear, tiny ink dot to bottom page edge, internally clean, binding sound; remarkably crisp. Unclipped dustjacket shows rubbing, a few small chips and tears at edges, and a tide mark to verso.

Cinematic jacket shows black and white photo stills and red and white graphic lettering.

Ojibway Prayer Book

See Pilling p. 39. Sabin 4406, for the 1839 Frechette edition. OCLC 53771267. Rare in any edition. Catholic Prayer book in Ojibwa. Belcourt was a missionary, who, when first transferred from Quebec to Red River, begged to be excused. His request denied, he went, learned Chippewa, published a Sauteux Grammar in 1839; and went on to champion the cause of the Métis people. At Red River in 1846, he wrote a petition to the crown, setting out the position of the Indigenous peoples setting out their right to a say in their government. Accompanied by nearly a thousand signatures, his petition resulted in an extensive inquiry into the position of the HBC. – DCB.

Le Jeune, J. M. R. [Jean-Marie Raphael]. [Polyglott Manual, Parts 11, 1, 2, 3, & 4] Sheshel Manual or Prayers, Hymns and Catechism In the Sechel Language /with/ English Manual or Prayers and Catechism in English Typography; Prayers and Catechism in English (Phonography); Chinook Manual or Prayers, Hymns and Catechism in Chinook; Latin Manual or Hymns and Chants in Use by the Indians of British Columbian. Kamloops, BC, 1896. pp. 61-109; [1-7] 8-183. 12mo. Red cloth with gilt lettering to cover. Photoengraved. Near fine.

Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 11 of Father Le Jeune’s Polyglott manual. The twelve parts of the manual were issued separately. Each part herein begins with a separate title page; part 11 appears first, followed by 1-4 which are paginated continuously. Excepting title pages, text is in Duployan shorthand. Lowther p. 132-133. [RESERVED]

Cree Prayers & Language Manual

Lacombe, Albert . Katolik ayamihewimasinahigan nehiyawewinik: Livre de prières en langue crise /with/ Petit manuel pour apprendre à lire la langue crise: Small manual to learn the reading in the Cree language. Montreal [Moniyak]: C.O. Beauchemin & Fils, 1886. pp. 295, 43. 12mo. Green cloth with gilt lettering to spine and embossed decorations to boards. Red page edges, patterned endpapers. Edgewear, some spotting to covers, one-inch tear to edge of title page and p. 23 of second title, a few grubby fingerprint marks, spine sound; very good-.

Peel 1622: “Catholic prayers and hymns, with a catechism and texts for religious instruction. Petit manuel pour apprendre à lire la langue crise (43 pages at end) has a separate title-page and was also published separately… Initial 295 pages in Cree with some French text; terminal 43 pages in Cree, French, and English. Picture captions in Ojibway and French.” Scarce: the last copy to appear at auction sold in 1972. Pilling Algonquian p. 284.

Macrobius [Macrobii]. In Somnium Scipionis ex Ciceronis VI Libro de Rep. Eruditissima explanatio. Eiusdem Saturnaliorum VII. Censoribus De die natali, additis ex vetusto exemplari nonnullis, que desiderabantur. Venice [Venetiis]: in Aedibus aldi et Andreaz Asulani Soceri [Aldus, Aldine]

Aldus, 1528. 8vo. 157mm x 97mm. Bound in later full vellum with title and date stamped in black on the spine. Page edges stained red. Title page is a tasteful 19th century facsimile. Collated against the printer’s register and Kallendorf and Wells’s “Aldine Press Books: A Descriptive Catalogue”: accordingly believed complete but for 2 leaves-leaf: X8, from the preliminaries; and R4, the last leaf in the book: both leaves according to Kallendorf and Wells are blank. Binding tight, faint early marginalia, some staining to first and last several pages, overall very good condition.

“Macrobius was a Roman scholar who wrote a lengthy commentary on Cicero’s Somnium Scipionis in c. 400 AD. Macrobius’s commentary included an exploration of the nature of dreams based on the Greek dream-theory of Artemidorus from the second century AD … Macrobius’s commentary became the foundation of much early medieval dream-theory, although medieval writers were often more concerned with decoding dreams rather than classifying them.” -British Library

Bell, Currer [Charlotte Bronte]. Shirley. A Tale [Three Volumes] A Tale. London: Smith, Elder and Co., 1849. First edition. pp. 303; 308; 320. Bound without half-titles, and Vol. I without the ads; but including the ads at the end of Vol. III. 8vo. 1/2 vellum over waxed-paper-covered boards; bound by Holder & Son, Kirkdale, Sydenham, with label to front pastedowns. Gilt lettering to spines. Bookplate to front pastedowns, some spotting (wax drips, fingerprints, and the like, occasionally and throughout), creases from dog earing, a few pencil marks, expected age-toning. The contents show heavier use than the bindings, suggesting to me that the books were voraciously read at perhaps indiscriminate times (like breakfast), and the story loved well enough to deserve a lovely (re-)binding, ca. 1900. With bookseller’s catalogue description of a like set, taped to front pastedown of Vol. I.

Simpson, Sir George. An Overland Journey Round the World, during the years 1841 and 1842 / 2 volumes. Philadelphia: Lea and Blanchard, 1847. pp. xiv, 273; 17-230. 8vo. Gilt-lettered leather spines, over speckled boards. 20th century rebind (originally published as two parts in one volume). Edges rubbed, a few rubber stamps to each volume. First hundred pages of Vol II show moisture soiling to top margin. Contents generally clean and unmarked, bindings sound. Sabin 81344. Title page shows ownership signature of Simon James Dawson, famed Canadian engineer/explorer/politician: “S J Dawson, 4th Aug’t 1847”. Verified against the printed signature on the absurdly large folding map in Dawson’s book “Report on the Exploration of the Country…”.

l’Abbé L. Provancher. Flore Canadienne ou Description de toutes les plantes des forets, champs, jardins et eaux du Canada: 2 volumes in 1. Quebec: Joseph Darveau, 1862. pp. 842, ads. 8vo. Red cloth decorated in blind, spine gilt faded. Illustrated. Spine sunned, small worm-holoe at top of front joint, a few spots to binding, contents clean, binding sound. “ornée de plus de quatre cents gravures sur bois.’

Huxley, Aldous. The Doors of Perception. London: Chatto & Windus, 1954. Third printing. pp. 62. 12mo. Blue cloth with gilt lettering to spine. Boards quite spotted: does not extend past the cloth, and the book has no odour, so while it looks like damage from moisure exposure, the usual attendant issues are absent. Text is clean and unmarked, binding sound. Dustjacket shows some corresponding spots, chiefly to verso, as well as a few small chips at edges, and a cup ring and two tape repairs to rear panel. Not clipped.  Huxley’s famous essay about his experience with psychedelics and the implications extrapolated therefrom.

Walsh, Meeka [Ed.]. The Winnipeg Alphabestiary. Winnipeg, Manitoba: aBorderCrossingBook, 2008. pp. 101. 4to. Burgundy cloth over illustrated boards with silver lettering to spine. Colour illustrations. Olive ribbon page marker. Light shelfwear, ink inscription to title page; very good. SIGNED by Walsh. Foreword by William Wegman. The 26 works featured in this book were created for the 25th anniversary of the Winnipeg-based art publication ‘Border Crossings.’ The project was a fundraiser for a magazine that features Winnipeg artists as well as focuses on national and international culture.

Grotii, Hvgonis [Hugo Grotius]. De Ivre Belli Ac Pacis Libri Tres /with/ Commentatio in Epistolam Pavli Apostoli ad Philemonem /and/ De Mari Libero In Quibus Jus Naturae & Gentium, Item Juris Publici Praecipua Explicantur. Amstelaedami [Amsterdam]: Joannem Blaev [Johann Blaeu], 1670. Editio Nova cum Annotatis. pp. viii, 620, + Index ; 21; 28 + conts. list. 8vo. Bound in brown leather with gilt lettering and decorations, and 5 raised bands, to spine. Red speckling to page edges. Vignette title, title page in red and black, engraved portrait, Formerly the property of Queen’s College Library, Kingston, as shown by a bookplate to front pastedown and blind stamps to ffep and title page. Loss to spine ends, joints splitting, leather dry with surface cracking over spine, pink ink letters to front pastedown, gift inscription to ffep (dated 1885), ink inscriptions to title page, occasional spotting throughout. Binding still tight and sound, and contents very clean. Text in Latin, with some Greek. Includes a commentary by Grotius on Paul the Apostle’s Epistle to Philemon, as well as Grotius’ dissertation on free access to the ocean, ‘De Mari Libero’.

Carver, Jonathan. Voyage dans les Parties Intérieures de l’amérique Septentrionale, Pendant les années 1766, 1767 & 1768. Paris: Chez Pissot, 1784. 1st French edition. pp. xxviii, 451. 12mo. 1/4 leather with red title labels, over speckled boards. Folding map at rear remains remarkably crisp and clean. Woodcut head- and tail pieces. Joints tender, spine and boards partially darkened, tidy ink correction to title page. With Vocabulaires des Langues Chippewaye & Nadoessie. “The book gives a vivid picture of the rich lands and Indian inhabitants of the upper Mississippi River valley. Carver, however, did not live to enjoy any financial reward from it. He died a broken old man and was buried in a potter’s field.” – Britannica. Sabin 11188.

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If you are looking to document or increase the value of your book collection, we can help. Whether you have one book or thousands, we are pleased to examine your collection and provide an evaluation or consult on the development and curation thereof.

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In 2000, Aimee undertook the management of the newly-opened Bison Books. She became a partner in 2007 and sole owner in 2010. In 2018, Aimee purchased Greenfield Books and integrated the stock into Bison Books, with a commitment to do justice to the standards of professionalism set by her mentor.

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