IL MERLETTO NEL FOLKLORE ITALIANO (LACE IN ITALIAN FOLKLORE), by Doretta Davanzo Poli.

BURANO (ITALY): Consorzio Merletti Di Burano (Burano Lace Consortium), 1990.

Softcovers, sewn binding, 8x10.5 inches (20x26 cm), 382 pages. TEXT IN ITALIAN.

A look at folk lace designs and costumes in various regions of Italy at various times.

ILLUSTRATED throughout with color and b&w Illustrations.

From the estate of Barbara Shawcroft, a late San Francisco fabric and fashion artist, with her signature on the inside front cover. Shawcroft is mostly remembered for her 3 story high macrame piece that was hung in the San Francisco Embarcadero Bart Station in 1978 and removed in 2013.

GOOD condition, The covers are shelf rubbed, the spine has a slight slant and a vertical crease from the book being opened wide, otherwise the covers are bright and lovely. Internally, the book has a sewn binding so is holding together well; the inner pages are tight, bright, clean and unmarked. A solid, lovely book.

THE WASHINGTON AND GEORGETOWN DIRECTORY, Strangers Guide-Book for Washington, Congressional and Clerk's Record, and 100 AMERICAN CITIES (which Includes 13 FULL PAGE CITY MAPS, including one of 1852 San Francisco).

Published by ALFRED HUNTER, WASHINGTON, 1853.

Copy of A.E.L. KEESE, with his signature on the front free endpaper. A.E.L. KEESE was a resident of Washington City and is listed in the Directory under: "Keese, A.E.L., police officer and collector, office at Squire Donn's House N n, near 5 w."

Hardcover book, original paper covered boards with a rebacked calf-leather spine, 6x9 inches. Pagination: vi, 112 (1-112), 125 (1-125), 80 (1-80).

COMPLETE, this copy has been collated page by page with a copy held at the University of Michigan Rare Book Room

GOOD condition, the paper covered boards are rubbed, scraped, toned / darkened, and worn through at the edges, the covers are still held together well, and made rather attractive, with the professionally rebacked calf leather spine; internally, the endpapers are heavily foxed but otherwise there is just scattered foxing here and there throughout, the text pages have a corner crease, light stain, and a bit of edge wear here and there, but overall are complete, tight, bright, clean, clear and unmarked (except that a previous owner noted, in pencil, the name of A.E.L. Keese in the directory). All the maps are present. A wonderful, complete, very presentable copy.

The book is in several parts:

(1) The WASHINGTON and GEORGETOWN DIRECTORY lists every resident, along with their trade and address. Also notes if the resident is "Colored" with the notation (Col) beside their name (making this a rare guide to Pre-Civil War African-Americans living inWashington DC). 112 pages (1-112).

(3) The CONGRESSIONAL DIRECTORY lists all the Senators and Representatives for each of the 31 states that were part of the United States in 1853, the names and posts of the U.S. Foreign Ministers, the names and addresses of the Supreme Court Justices (there were 12 Supreme Court Justices in 1853, as there should be now!), and other information related to officers, directors and representatives of various Governmental Institutions such as the Smithsonian. 58 pages (numbered separately 1-58)

(4) The STRANGER'S GUIDE in WASHINGTON and ITS VICINITY, and Through the Public Buildings, briefly describes many of the Public Buildings in Washington City, from the Washington Monument to Washington DC Penitentiary (which in 1953 held 43 white males, 3 white females, 29 colored males and 5 colored females); and lists all Washington DC Government appointed workers, their position and their salary. 66 pages (59-125).

(5) 100 AMERICAN CITIES is a guide for those who want to travel from Washington DC to other parts of the U.S. It gives a brief description of each city, distances between it and various other cities, and railroad lines that run through the city. What makes the section quite wonderful and rare is it is ILLUSTRATED with 13 FULL PAGE COLOR MAPS, each printed in 1852 by Phelps, Fanning & Co. One of the maps is of SAN FRANCISCO, printed in 1852, just a few years after the beginning of the Gold Rush! The section also includes some b&w illustrations. 80 pages (1-80).

RARE original 1852 copy, complete with ALL ITS MAPS, made extra special with the ASSOCIATION to a POLICE OFFICER who is listed in this Directory.

RICHARD PRINCE. ART MONOGRAPH. (Phaidon Contemporary Artist Series) Text by Rosetta Brooks, Jeff Rian and Luc Santee.

SIGNED by RICHARD PRINCE on the title page.

Published by Phaidon Press, London, 2003. First edition, with the statement "First published 2003" on the copyright page with no indication of additional printings.

Large format softcover book, plain white covers with pictorial dustjacket, 10x11.5 inches, 160 pages.

Condition: FINE book in a NEAR FINE dustjacket that has some superficial shelf rubs. A lovely copy that looks and feels unused.

About Richard Prince (from Wikipedia):

******Richard Prince, b.1949, is an American painter and photographer. His image, Untitled (Cowboy), a rephotographing of a photograph by Sam Abell and appropriated from a cigarette advertisement, was the first rephotograph to be sold for more than $1 million at auction at Christie's New York in 2005. He is regarded as "one of the most revered artists of his generation" according to the New York Times.

Starting in 1977, Prince photographed four photographs which previously appeared in the New York Times. This process of rephotographing continued into 1983, when his work Spiritual America featured Garry Gross's photo of Brooke Shields at the age of ten, standing in a bathtub, as an allusion to precocious sexuality and to the Alfred Stieglitz photograph by the same name. His Jokes series (beginning 1986) concerns the sexual fantasies and sexual frustrations of white, middle-class America, using stand-up comedy and burlesque humor.

After living in New York City for 25 years, Prince moved to upstate New York. His mini museum, Second House, purchased by the Guggenheim Museum, was struck by lightning and burned down shortly after the museum purchased the House (which Prince had created for himself), having only stood for six years, from 2001 to 2007. In June 2021, the painting Runaway Nurse from 2005-06 fetched a record breaking $12,121,000 USD at Sotheby's in Hong Kong. Prince now lives and works in New York City.******

INTERNATIONAL BUYERS PLEASE NOTE: This book will require additional shipping charges. After placing your order you will be notified of the charges and be able to accept or reject them before payment is taken. Thanks!

SILVER LEAVES: A South African Collection of Good Reading. With Stories by NADINE GORDINER, and other South African writers.

SIGNED by NADINE GORDIMER above the title of her story (page 20).

Published by Silver Leaf Books, Johannesburg. South Africa, circa 1952.

GOOD condition, the covers are scraped at the spine, have some corner creases, and are lightly age toned; internally, the pages are lightly toned, otherwise tight, bright, clean, clear and unmarked. The signature of Nadine Gordimer is bright and sharp. A solid, nice, presentable copy.

Softcovers, 4.75x7.25 inches (12x18 cm), 128 pages. Nadine Gordimer's story is titled: A Present For A Good Girl. It begins on page 20 and is 9 pages long. Other contributors include: Alan Paton, Madeleine Masson, Lionel Abrahams, William Charles Scully, and many others.

An early story by the then 29 year old future Nobel Laureate.

RARE. I have never seen another copy of SILVER LEAVES that was SIGNED by Nadine Gordimer.

1870 CHICAGO CITY DIRECTORY JUST BEFORE the GREAT CHICAGO FIRE of 1871

EDWARDS' Thirteenth Annual DIRECTORY of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, and Manufacturing Establishments of the CITY OF CHICAGO embracing a Complete Business Directory for 1870.

A directory of every resident and business in CHICAGO in 1870. Everything changed after the GREAT CHICAGO FIRE of 1871.

Published by Richard Edwards Publishers, 164 South Clark Street, CHICAGO, 1870. This is the original, vintage directory.

Hardcovers, professionally rebound in black pebbled faux leather covers, gilt spine title label, 6x9 inches, thick, 1141 pages plus numerous pages of ads at the front and rear.

These directories were produced as advertising vehicles, so there are ads throughout, many with illustrations.

Originally from the collection of Charles F. Gunther. The bottom of the title page has a small blind-stamp that reads: "Charles F. Gunther / Memorial / Chicago Historical Society" which is where he donated his large library, many volumes of which have been deaccessioned over the years to make space for other items. His business was destroyed in the 1871 Chicago fire. Read a bit about him at the end of this listing

GOOD CONDITION: The rebound covers with gilt titling on the spine are sturdy and attractive; internally, there is tape repair to the first page (a page of ads) and a few other pages here and there, two leaves consisting of pages 367/368 and 369/370 were reattached with white cloth tape neatly applied to the gutter between pages 368 and 369, page 369 has a large piece of clear tape (now browned) on its face but the text is clearly legible beneath; otherwise tight, bright, clean, clear and unmarked. Clearly someone wanted to make sure this important directory stayed well bound and complete.

An original, vintage, 1870 Chicago City Directory. A treasure trove of pre-fire genealogy.

About Charles Frederick Gunther (from Find A Grave):

******Charles F. Gunther was a confectionery manufacturing magnate who created the "Cracker Jacks" confection, and is credited with introducing caramel to the American populace. A native of Germany, he founded a candy business in Chicago, Illinois that was completely destroyed by the 1871 Chicago Fire. He rebuilt the business with an even larger candy factory, which became a great success. In 1893 he introduced Cracker Jacks, a confection that combined popcorn, peanuts and molasses. He amassed great wealth from his business, which in his later years he used to collect historical and odd artifacts, many pertaining to the Civil War and the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.******

INTERNATIONAL BUYERS PLEASE NOTE: This book is heavy and will require additional shipping charges. After placing your order you will be notified of the charges and be able to accept or reject them before payment is taken. Thanks!

DOUBLE GAME by SOPHIE CALLE with Contributions by Paul Auster.

Hardcover Book, tied with ribbon, illustrated covers, no dustjacket as issued, 8x11.5 inches, 293 pages.

Published by Violette Editions, London, 1999. First edition, first printing, with the statement "First Published in 1999 by Violette Editions" and with the number line starting at 1.

VERY GOOD condition, the covers have a few small superficial indents and a bit of rubbing to their corner tips, but are bright and lovely; internally tight, bright, clean, clear and unmarked. A very nice, presentable copy.

From the Publisher:

******The first edition of Double Game, published by Violette Editions in 1999, was the first important book by Sophie Calle to be published in English and earned fervent international praise for its concept, content and design. Eye magazine judged it, "That rare thing, an artist's monograph that is actually a work of art in and of itself, a furthering of Calle's vision." The first edition quickly sold out.******

THE MENTAL MYSTERIES AND OTHER WRITINGS OF WILLIAM W LARSEN, SR. By William W. Larsen, Jr.

Published by The Genii Publishing Co., 1977. First Edition, as stated on the title page.

SIGNED, INSCRIBED and DATED by the author Bill Larsen (William Larsen, Jr.), co-founder of the Magic Castle:

"To Ed Hunter / with very best wishes. / Genii-ally, / Bill Larsen / 10-25-78".

Hardcover book, embossed gilt titling to the front cover and spine, no dustjacket as issued, 6x9 inches, vii + 221 pages.

VERY GOOD condition, slight rubbing to the spine ends, a bit of ink staining to the top and front edge of some pages here and there, otherwise tight, bright, clean and clear. A solid, nice, very presentable copy.

About William W. Larsen, Sr. (from MagicPedia):

******William W. Larsen Sr. was a Criminal Attorney from Pasadena California. But he was also an avid magician and gave up law to pursue his passion. He founded Genii, the Conjurer's Magazine. He bought the Thayer Magic Company and operated the Thayer Studio of Magic in Los Angeles. He founded the Academy of Magic Arts and Sciences. Bill Larsen Sr. died at the early age of only 48 in 1955.******

About the author Bill Larsen (from Wikipedia):

******William Larsen Jr., b.1928 d.1993, was co-founder and president of the Academy of Magical Arts, better known as Hollywood's Magic Castle, with his brother Milt Larsen and wife Irene Larsen. Larsen began his career in television at CBS, working his way up to associate producer of "Playhouse 90" and the Danny Kaye and Jonathan Winters variety shows. In 1953, after the death of his father, attorney and magician William W. Larsen Sr., he became editor and eventually publisher of Genii, The Conjurors Magazine, a publication for magicians founded by his parents in 1936. Larsen and his brother, Milt Larsen, realizing a dream of their father's, founded the Magic Castle in 1963, a private dining and performance club for magicians that now has more than 5,000 members. Bill Larson, along with his brother Milt, has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.******

THE PSALMS OF DAVID AND OTHERS. Two Volumes in Slipcase.

Published by the ARION PRESS, San Francisco, 1977. This was the fifth book printed by the Arion Press. Early and Rare.

LIMITED EDITION of only 200 copies. From the Colophon Page (the last page): "The Psalms of David and Others, translated by Arthur Golding, has been printed in an edition limited to two hundred copies by Andrew Hoyem, with the assistance of George F. Ritchie...Completed in July of 1977. This is the fifth book of the Arion Press, San Francisco."

Two Volumes, THE PSALMS OF DAVID & OTHERS and a COMPANION VOLUME, together in a slipcase. THE PSALMS is bound in hardcovers with vellum spine and corners, 9.5x14 inches, 189 pages plus some prelim pages and a Colophon page. The Companion Volume is in wrappers with a paper title label, 43 pages. Together in a cloth covered slipcase.

Condition: The paper covered boards of THE PSALMS have brown coffee-colored drop stains primarily to the edges and front margins. It appears almost as if the paper was stained before being applied to the boards (however unlikely that might be) because there is NO staining to the page edges, the endpapers, or any of the inner pages as one would normally expect. Otherwise the covers are solid and tight. Internally, all the pages are in excellent condition, tight, bright, clean, clear and unmarked. The Companion Volume is in Near Fine condition, tight, bright, clean and unmarked. The slipcase has a few small stains here and there and the spine title label is browned; otherwise the slipcase is solid and doing its job well.

Early, limited, Arion Press publication. Fine printing with the noted stained covers, still complete, presentable, and RARE.

INTERNATIONAL BUYERS PLEASE NOTE: This book is large and heavy and will require substantial additional shipping charges. After placing your order you will be notified of the additional charges and be able to accept or reject them before your payment is processed. Or you can contact us ahead of time to find out the shipping charge to your country. Thanks.

Maurice Sendak Signed Poster NEW YORK IS BOOK COUNTRY.

Poster,18.5x24 inches, signed by Sendak in the lower right corner.

One of Sendak's Wild Things monsters is reading a book while holding lots of other books in his arms and gripping a "Tenth Anniversary" banner in his teeth. The Empire State Building and other skyscrapers are in the background of the upper half of the poster, and a cluster of New York bookstores, a la 1988, are crammed into every conceivable space of the lower half of the poster. Many of those stores have signs with the store's name. The bookstores include: Dauber & Pine Books, Weiser's Books, James & Melville First Editions, Argosy Book Shop, Schulte's Bookstore, Arcadia Books, Greg's Circulating Library, and others. There is a street sign at the bottom center of the poster that reads "Fourth Ave", a street that was famous for its bookstores. Sadly, most of those stores have either shuttered or vanished into cyberspace. No more wandering through the literary wonders of New York's "Bookseller's Row".

Maurice Sendak designed this poster for the "Tenth Anniversary of the New York Public Library's Children's Services". There is a printed statement at the bottom that reads: "All net proceeds benefit Children's Services, New York Public Library.

Published through the cooperative effort of Farrar, Straus & Giroux; Harper Junior Books Group, and others. Copyright 1988 by Maurice Sendak. First Edition.

NEAR FINE condition, a couple very slight signs of handling to the edges. Simply Lovely. Would look great mounted and/or framed.

Rare, especially so signed.

Ah, New York City back when it really was book country!

Will be shipped carefully rolled in a sturdy mailing tube.

"A Jubilant Welcome for Our New President and His Family! From the Children of America, Maurice Sendak, and HarperCollins Publishers January 20, 1993".

Maurice Sendak designed this Inaugural Print for the Inauguration of President Bill Clinton. It is printed on heavy stock paper and measures 12.5x13 inches.

The Sendak artwork shows images of Bill and Hillary Clinton, their daughter Chelsea, and their cat Socks, with the Capitol Dome in the background. They are surrounded by a crowd of children straight from the pages of Sendak's books, including Mickey from "The Night Kitchen," and Rosie and one of the monster characters from "Where The Wild Things Are".

This Clinton Inaugural print is the only political art Sendak ever produced. The prints were not offered for sale, but rather were commissioned by Sendak's publisher HarperCollins to be given out at Clinton's inaugural party. Reportedly approximately 500 were printed for the inauguration, none of which were signed. Fifty "artist's copies" were sent to Sendak, some of which he signed.

Sendak signed this print in black ink in the bottom right corner, above the printed text.

FINE condition. Lovely. Would look great mounted and/or framed.

SCARCE, especially so signed. One of the more difficult to find Sendak items.

The DEBATES, RESOLUTIONS, and OTHER PROCEEDINGS, in CONVENTION, of the ADOPTION of the FEDERAL CONSTITUTION, as Recommended by the General Convention at Philadelphia, on the 17th of September, 1787: with the YEAS and NAYS on the DECISION of the Main Question. Collected and Revised, from Contemporary Publications, by Jonathan Elliot.

Volume II - CONTAINING the DEBATES in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.

This Volume II of The Federal Constitutional Adoption Debates is considered the most difficult to find. It contains important constitutional orations by JAMES MADISON, JAMES MONROE, PATRICK HENRY, and other important citizens from the commonwealth of VIRGINIA.

From the introductory pages: "The second volume of this collection - the discussions in the Virginia Convention - have been prepared with more labor and care than the two preceding states which compose the contents of the first volume. In doing this, Virginia has handed down to posterity a valuable and extensive stock of political materials in relation to revolutionary times and the revolutionary characters...Ex-Presidents Madison and Monroe, Chief Justice Marshall, Pendleton, Wythe, George Nicholas, and Patrick Henry, among other distinguished citizens of the commonwealth of Virginia, were members of this assembly...There can be no doubt that the substance of the Debates are accurately preserved...The work is, therefore, a valuable repository of the arguments by which the Federal Constitution was opposed, on one hand, and supported, on the other."

The "Index To Topics Of Debate" begins with ABUSE OF POWER (my how relevant to Trump) and includes a category titled "NEGROES Becoming Numerous" (yes, really, in a debate over whether Virgina should adopt the U.S. Constitution, unbelievable).

Published by Jonathan Elliot, Washington [D.C.} on Pennsylvania Avenue, 1828. First Edition.

Hardcovers, leather covered boards, leather spine title labels, 5x8 inches. Pagination: viii, 33-487 (fully collated with a copy from the Princeton University Library).

Condition: The leather covered boards are scratched, scraped, have shorelining / light water staining, and the spine lettering has faded; nonetheless the covers are doing their job surprisingly well and remain attractive in a Harry Potter Hogwarts Library way. Ex-library stamp on title page and a couple other library marks here and there (deaccessioned from the shuttered St. Mary's Seminary of Perryville, Missouri). The pages are toned / browned, foxed, and have water shorelining to the upper area of all pages, but the text remains legible throughout. Despite its flaws a tightly bound, complete, fully legible copy, with original covers.

ASSOCIATION to ELIAS KENT KANE, Senator from Illinois, MEMBER OF THE ILLINOIS CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION and SLAVE OWNER, with his SIGNATURE and HANDWRITTEN PRESENTATION at the top of the title page: "Presented by the Hble. E.K. Kane". (Slave Owner, honorable?)

RARE FIRST EDITION, unique with the Signature of and Association to ELIAS KENT KANE.

About Elias Kent Kane (from Wikipedia):

******Elias Kent Kane, b.1794 d.1835, was the first Illinois Secretary of State and a U.S. Senator from Illinois. He served as Senator from 1825 until his death in 1835.

Kane was a delegate to the first state constitutional convention in 1818. At the convention, the Kane faction unsuccessfully tried to add language permitting slavery in the new state. Kane led pro-slavery forces in the Illinois House of Representatives in an attempt to call another constitutional convention, but was again defeated. However, fellow legislators twice appointed Kane to the United States Senate. He served from March 4, 1825, until his death in Washington, D.C., in 1835.

In 1820 Kane owned five slaves.******

ATLAS NATIONAL DU SENEGAL.

PARIS: Institut Géographique National (National Geography Institute), 1977. TEXT IN FRENCH.

LARGE FORMAT ATLAS with 65 COLOR MAP PLATES with FACING PAGES OF DESCRIPTIVE TEXT; cloth covered boards, bound with 3 brass studs,16x21 inches (40x54.5 cm); 147 pages.

The atlas was created through the collaboration of forty French and Senegalese professors and researchers.

Condition: Lacking 3 prelim leaves (blank prelim, half-title, and title-page), otherwise complete with all 65 maps fully collated. The covers are frayed at the top of the spine, have a bit of wear to the corner tips, a very light stain to the upper front corner area, and a slight vertical crease to the front panel. Internally the pages are very nice, bright, clean, clear and unmarked.

This large Senegalese Atlas with its 65 maps is scarce.

INTERNATIONAL BUYERS PLEASE NOTE: This book is large and heavy and will require substantial additional shipping charges. After placing your order you will be notified of the additional charges and be able to accept or reject them before your payment is processed. Or you can contact us ahead of time to find out the shipping charge to your country. Thanks.

FENDI ROMA (LEGENDS). Text by Carlo Ducci.

Published by Assouline, New York, 2016. ISBN-10: 1614284725 ISBN-13: 978-161428472.

Large format hardcover book in slipcase, black cloth covered boards with white paint titling on the front cover and spine (the paint comes off very easily) and blind embossed title at the top of the front cover, 11x14 inches, 260 pages.

ILLUSTRATED THROUGHOUT with gorgeous photographs of Fendi's renowned designs.

Condition: VERY GOOD book, the white paint title on the spine has been mostly wiped away (again, the cover paint is renowned for flaking off with the touch of a finger), otherwise the book is tight, bright, clean, clear and unmarked. In a VERY GOOD slipcase that has a few minor edge and corner tip bumps. A lovely, very presentable copy.

This book has become very hard-to-find.

INTERNATIONAL BUYERS PLEASE NOTE: This book is heavy and will require substantial additional shipping charges. After placing your order you will be notified of the additional charges and be able to accept or reject them before your payment is processed. Or you can contact us ahead of time to find out the shipping charge to your country. Thanks.

ARIEL, by Sylvia Plath.

A unique copy of Sylvia Plath's second and last poetry collection, written in the final months of her life and posthumously published after her suicide.

SIGNED by ROBERT PENN WARREN on a bookplate on the front free endpaper. Robert Penn Warren was, as was Sylvia Plath, a Pulitzer Prize winning poet. HIS REVIEW is printed on the front flap of the dutjacked. A GREAT ASSOCIATION COPY.

Published by Harper & Row, Publishers, New York, copyright 1966. A later, but still early printing of the U.S. edition, with the dustjacket price of $8.95 at the top of the front flap and the code 0666 at the bottom of the front flap, and no statement of additional printings on the copyright page.

Hardcover book in dustjacket, black cloth covered boards embossed with Harper's iconic colophon embossed in blue on the front cover and blue titling embossed on the spine, 5.5x8 inches, 85 pages.

Condition: NEAR FINE book, light foxing to the top page edges (page edges of the closed book), otherwise sharp cornered, tight, bright, clean and unmarked; in a GOOD dustjacket that is toned, has a chip to the top edge of the front panel, a bit of wear to the spine ends and corner tips, and some creasing to the top edge of the rear panel. A solid, presentable copy.

"Ariel is a unique book - it scarcely seems a book at all, rather a keen, cold gust of reality as though somebody had knocked out a window pane on a brilliant night. It is a plangent, painful book, with all the pain translated into beauty, nothing less. Poem after poem seems to have been waiting there always to be recognized." - Robert Penn Warren, from his tribute on the front dj flap.

2001 A SPACE ODYSSEY, by ARTHUR C. CLARKE. This edition with a SPECIAL INTRODUCTION by the Author.

HAND SIGNED by CLARKE on a card attached to the front pastedown. The signed card is protected, and mostly covered, by the front dj flap.

Hardcover Book in Dustjacket, 5.5x8.5 inches, xviii + 236 pages. The dj retains its original price or $20.01, which is an unusual price until you realize that $20.01 is 2001, which makes it a rather clever price.

Published by New American LIbrary, a division of Penguin Putnam, New York, 1999. First thus edition (first Special Millennial Edition with the new Introduction by Clarke and the new dustjacket art), with the statement "First New American Library Printing, October 1999" and the number line starting at "1". (The first edition of the original publication was in 1968.)

Condition: FINE book, sharp, tight, bright, clean and unmarked, in a VERY GOOD dustjacket that has some shelf rubs and light signs of handling. A lovely copy. The SIGNATURE of Arthur C. Clarke is bright and clear.

LAURA RIDING JACKSON - POET LOVER OF ROBER GRAVES ATTEMPTED SUICIDE IN 1927 SAID SHE WOULD NEVER WRITE ANOTHER POEM

A POEM : HOW A POEM CAME TO BE. A Lovely BROADSIDE POEM by LAURA RIDING JACKSON.

SIGNED by LAURA RIDING JACKSON at the end of her poem, beneath her printed name.

Published by [Lord John Press, 1980]. LIMITED EDITION OF ONLY 150 COPIES, this being copy #13.

Broadside, printed on fine heavy stock paper, deckled top and bottom edges, 15x22 inches.

NEAR FINE condition, a light crease to the bottom left corner, overall bright and beautiful. Would look great mounted and/or framed.

From the Broadside: "Within a very few years of the publication of my Collected Poems (1938)... I renounced further trying the way of poetry... saying: I would write no more poems - and I wrote no more poems... (however) I wrote for (a close friend), in the 1978 Christmastime, a poem, marked as a poem for him only, giving it the title HOW A POEM CAME TO BE. I kept no copy of this privately written and given poem, and forgot the writing and the giving of it... I chanced, recently, to tell my friend of receiving a request for a poem to publish in broadside form from the Lord John Press, indicating my feeling some surprise that Mr. Yellin, the Press's director, should not have been aware that FOR FORTY YEARS there had been NO NEW POEMS of mine. But my friend reminded me that about a year ago there HAD been a new poem - the one I wrote for him; and he urged me to let him release it to me from its private status of being a poem for him only... I give here the poem, given him, to be out in the world..."

LAURA RIDING JACKSON, 1901-1991, was an iconoclastic American Poet. She left New England at the age of 25 to live with ROBERT GRAVES and his wife, Nancy Nicholson. The triangle did not suit her, and Laura Riding tried to commit suicide in 1927. Thereafter Robert Graves divorced his wife and lived together with Laura Riding in Majorca, France, England and Switzerland, and even went with her when she returned to the United States. They bitterly broke up in 1939. In 1941 Laura Riding Jackson renounced poetry, married Schuyler B. Jackson, and lived quietly with him in Wabasso, Florida, until her death in 1991. In the 60s, 70s and 80s she wrote a number of pieces explaining her reasons for renouncing poetry, but no poetry. This is apparently THE ONLY POEM written by Laura Riding Jackson since 1941.

You can read much more about LAURA RIDING on Wikipedia and elsewhere on the Internet.

This Large and Lovely BROADSIDE will be shipped carefully rolled in a sturdy mailing tube.

AN OBSCURE FAMILY : THE BUFFETTS IN AMERICA, by DORIS BUFFETT.

PRESENTATION COPY: SIGNED, INSCRIBED by WARREN BUFFETT to his CLOSE FRIEND and BRIDGE PARTNER (and bridge mentor), SHARON OSBERG, on one of his personal 3x5 inch yellow notepad sheets that is tipped-in on the title page. The notepad sheet is printed with "A NOTE FROM / W. E. BUFFETT".

The handwritten inscription by Warren Buffett reads: "Sharon - / Extra, you can keep / Warren".

The book is also SIGNED and INSCRIBED on the title page by the Author, DORIS BUFFETT, Warren's sister: "With best wishes / Doris Buffett".

Why did Warren Buffett present this Buffett genealogy to Sharon Osberg? As Osberg once said in an interview: "They've (the Buffetts) adopted me as a member of their family. I go there every Thanksgiving. We had his (Warren Buffet's) 75th birthday in Tiburon." (See the interview at the end of this listing.)

Large format hardcover book in dustjacket, 9.5x13 inches, 272 pages. Illustrated throughout.

NEAR FINE book, in a NEAR FINE dustjacket, one cover corner tip slightly bumped, otherwise looks and feels unread, sharp, tight, bright, clean and clear. A lovely, very presentable copy.

Self-published, designed and produced by "Volume 3" (volume3.net), and printed by Capital Offset Co., Concord, New Hampshire, 2012.

LIMITED EDITION of ONLY 500 COPIES.

From the book designer's website: ******AN OBSCURE FAMILY : THE BUFFETTS IN AMERICA...Pages: 272, Trim size: 9.5 x 13 in., Illustrations: 213, Inks: Four-color, Text paper: 80# Mohawk Superfine, Binding: Smyth sewn and casebound, PRINT RUN: 500 COPIES.******

From an estate sale held by Sharon Osberg when she moved from San Francisco to Tiburon, California.

About SHARON OSBERG:

From the NY Times, 2015:

******When Sequoia [a large Venture Capital firm] was seeking new independent directors 12 years ago, Mr. Buffett recommended Ms. Osberg. In a 2006 interview with The San Francisco Chronicle, she described Mr. Buffett as her best friend, and she has often spent Thanksgiving with him in Omaha. A former Wells Fargo executive, Ms. Osberg is perhaps best known as a world-class bridge player. She has won two world championships, and she and Mr. Buffett play bridge electronically four times a week.******

From the S.F. Chronicle, 2006 (a long but wonderful interview with Sharon Osberg):

****************** How did you meet Mr. Buffett?

Through bridge, 15 years ago at the Empire State Building. I was with Wells Fargo. He said, "The next time you're traveling east, stop in Omaha and we'll play bridge."

What did you say?

Where is Omaha?

How did it go?

I was scared to death to meet him. I couldn't breathe for days. I stayed in a hotel and he gave me a thrilling driving tour of Omaha, in an old Lincoln.

How did you hit it off?

Warren Buffet is my best friend. We talk every day.

Has he been to your house?

Many times. His wife, although they were separated for 35 years, lived in San Francisco. During her illness, Warren came every week. I'd pick him up at the airport. He'd come here and watch football.

Did he give you any investment advice?

No. They've adopted me as a member of their family. I go there every Thanksgiving. We had his 75th birthday in Tiburon.

Are you as friendly with Gates?

Yeah. I just went to his 50th birthday party. I was his 50th birthday present. His wife, Melinda, asked for ideas and I said "give him time to go play in a tournament." It's an international tournament and he will be my partner.

So who do you like better?

Bill and Warren are similar. They don't much care what they eat.

Do you?

Yeah, I care. ******************

About the BOOK (from the front dustjacket flap:

******An Obscure Family: The Buffetts in America is the culmination of Doris Buffett's ambitious project to trace her lineage, a project she began in 1983).******

LIBER ALEPH vel CXI THE BOOK OF WISDOM OR FOLLY in the Form of an EPISTLE OF 666, the Great Wild Beast, to his Son 777. Being the Equinox, Volume III, Number VI. By the MASTER THERION (ALEISTER CROWLEY).

NEW YORK: 93 PUBLISHING, 1991.

Hardcover Book, no dustjacket as issued, 6x9 inches, 220 pages. VERY GOOD condition, fading to the lettering on the spine, otherwise sharp, tight, bright, clean and clear.

SIGNED and INSCRIBED by BILL BREEZE (HYMENAEUS BETA) to TONY (likely TONY IANNOTTI) on the half title page as follows: "For Tony, / With deep respect / & best wishes / Bill".

William Breeze was co-owner of 93 PUBLISHING which published this book. William Breeze as Hymenaeus Beta also designed this book.

Tony Iannotti was an active member of the Ordo Templi Orientis and a friend of Bill Breeze, though the little I have researched about him leads me to believe that he and Breeze had a dust-up at some point, about Crowley, or the Caliphate, or some such matter. Don't know for sure, but it's out there in the Caliphatesphere for those who want to dig.

About WILLIAM BREEZE (from Wikipedia):

******William Breeze, also known by his neo-Gnostic bishop title of Tau Silenus (born August 12, 1955) is an American author and publisher on magick and philosophy. He is the Sovereign Patriarch, or supreme governing cleric, of Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica (E.G.C.), the liturgical arm of Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.), of which he is the current Outer Head of the Order (OHO), also known as Frater Superior, as well as caliph, the order's international leader. In this capacity he is a leading editor of the occult works of Aleister Crowley, the founder of the philosophy and religion of Thelema, who is regarded as its prophet.

Under the name Hymenaeus Beta he is the second caliph to lead the traditional, orthodox, or "Caliphate" OTO...direct successor of Grady McMurtry (Hymenaeus Alpha), who was the first of the caliphs and second of the overall leaders, directly after Crowley's immediate successor Karl Germer, to follow after Crowley in his role as leader of the order. William Breeze has served as caliph from 1986 until the present.

Breeze was co-owner of the publishing company, 93 Publishing. In 1991 Breeze (93 Publishing) published an edition of Liber Aleph vel CXI: The Book of Wisdom or Folly, which was a reissue of the 1962 edition published by Thelema Publishing Co. Liber Aleph was written in New York City at the end of the First World War and is considered one of the most important commentaries on Crowley's teachings, conceptually written as if to Crowley's magical child, in the style of books fathers used to write for their children, with hereditary spirit of medieval grimoires. The text of Liber Aleph has been described by Crowley as an extended and elaborate commentary on The Book of the Law.******

TWENTY-THREE BOOKS, BOOKLETS & PAMPHLETS by VARIOUS MAGICIANS. Most are bound with staples or plastic spirals, many are self published on copy machines and the like.

THE NIXON MANUSCRIPT IN BOOK FORM - A Collection of Magic Illusions by William J. "Doc" Nixon. 80 pages. 1987.

R.C. Buff's KNOT ON THE SQUARE - NEW MAGIC WITH ROPES with 100 Illustrations. 21 pages. 1987.

THE ILLUSTRATED MENTALIST, by S. D. Threadgill. 34 pages. 1976.

THE SMAGORAD, by Denny Laub & Gary Inglese.44 pages. 1983.

THE PSYCHIC ENCOUNTER - A meeting of the minds. A rendezvous where the unknown becomes known, by Ray Piatt. 24 pages. 1980.

THE NEW TOPS MAGAZINE. (A magazine about Magic and Magicians). 43 pages. 1988.

Peter Warlock's NEW PENTAGRAM. Two separate pamphlets, August 1985 and October 4 pages each. 1985.

LECTURE NOTES - From a Lecture-Demonstration, by Ron Wilson. 12 pages. 1978.

CREATIVE MAGIC by Harry G. Franke. First Presented at IBM Ring 6. 8 pages. 1970.

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH THIS? or IMPROV MAGIC, by Kirk Charles.15 pages. 1977.

PROMOTION IN MOTION - A Handbook of Promotional Resources for the WORKING MAGICIAN, by Hal Diamond. 70 pages. 1980.

THE HOFNER QUINTET, by John Hofner. A Supreme Magic Publication. 24 pages. 1980.

THE MULTIMIX PRINCIPLE, by Mark Weston. 12 pages. 1979.

A LIFETIME OF JOY, by Ken Brooke. - A collection of tricks...that I have used professionally for over 40 years. 16 pages. 1982.

MEMORY OF THE MIND - An Innovation in Mentalism, by Eddie Joseph. 23 pages. Circa 1980.

CABARET CARD DIVINATION, by Billy McComb and Ken de Courcy. 8 pages. 1978.

ILLUSION SHOW KNOW HOW, by Ken Griffin and Roberta.104 pages. 1972.

TABLE BOOK II - NO DRAPES! By Gene Glove. 34 pages. 1981.

THREE MIRACLE ROUTINES, by Richard Osterlind. 40 pages. 1986.

THE SILVER PASSAGE - Acclaimed Throughout The World As A Breakthrough In Coins Through The Table, featuring Gary Ouellet and Haruhito Hirata. Masters of Magic Vol. I No. 3. 25 pages. 1979.

THE GREAT BLACKSTONE - World's Greatest Magician and His Show Of 1001 Wonders, by Neil Foster. Approx. 50 pages. 1970.

BUSBY - CORN, INC. 1980 General Catalog. Busby-Corn was an Oakland then San Francisco seller of books on Magic and Magicians. Approx. 50 pages. 1980.

THE FOURTH EVENING AT THE MAGIC CIRCLE and THE SIXTH EVENING AT THE MAGIC CIRCLE, both by Arthur J. Emerson Jr. Two items, approximately 20 pages each, circa 1980.

The items are in generally GOOD condition, some a bit less so, some a bit more so, all show signs of various use but remain complete, clear, clean and unmarked.

A MAGICAL COLLECTION for that Magician in your Life or Soul!

INTERNATIONAL BUYERS PLEASE NOTE: This lot is heavy and will require substantial additional shipping charges. After placing your order you will be notified of the additional charges and be able to accept or reject them before your payment is processed. Or you can contact us ahead of time to find out the shipping charge to your country. Thanks.

THE MAN OF SIN: IS HE THE POPES? Controversial Correspondence Between The Rev. EDWARD NANGLE, of SKREEN, IRELAND and ROBERT GOVETT of NORWICH, ENGLAND.

EDWARD NANGLE was an IRISH ANGLICAN EVANGELIST.

ROBERT GOVETT was a BRITISH THEOLOGIAN / EVANGELIST, connected to the CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

Their arguments for and against the POPE (and the POPES as a group concept) being THE MAN OF SIN / THE ANTICHRIST are contained in a series of correspondence between them.

From the Preface (by Robert Govett): "It is well known that the students of prophecy are at present divided into Preterists and Futurists. With the Preterists it is a point assumed as certain, that the Popes are the Man of Sin; and out of that assumption springs the year-day theory. And then the Book of Revelation is a history of the Christian Church; and the only question is, how far have we advanced in the fulfillment of the Trumpets and Vials. But if the Popes be not the Man of Sin, the whole structure falls. Then we are free to enquire, if any portion of the prophetic part of the Apocalypse be fulfilled. Then may we be looking out for the Lord's coming without any events preceding...I am sorry that the personal element appears so much in this discussion: but there are few who will state their arguments coolly, especially after the controversy has continued for some time..."

Hardcover book, black cloth covered boards, spine lettered in gilt, 5x7 inches, iv, 364 pages.

Published by James Nisbet and Co., London, 1866.

ASSOCIATION COPY. Copy of CHARLES MORSE WARD, b.1909 d.1996, a renowned American EVANGELICAL BROADCASTER and AUTHOR. His signature and address are written at the top of the front free endpaper. Charles M. Ward was named to the National Religious Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 1993.

Condition: EX-LIBRARY, deaccessioned from the Central Bible College Pearlman Memorial Library, with associated stamps and labels on the covers, endpapers, title page, and stamped on the page edges. Ex-library aside, the book is in GOOD condition, the covers are worn through at the corner tips, cracked a bit at the spine folds, and have some light spine end wear; internally, there is some offsetting and light foxing to the endpapers, the inner pages are lightly age toned, the title page has had its upper corner torn off, otherwise the pages are tight, bright, clean, clear and unmarked.

Irish and British arguing over religion? Who knew?

About ROBERT GOVETT (from Wikipedia):

******Robert Govett, b.1813 d.1901, was a British theologian and independent pastor of Surrey Chapel, Norwich, Norfolk, England. Govett wrote many books and brochures. His best known work is: The Apocalypse: Expounded by Scripture (1861-65), which he wrote under a pen name. Wilbur M. Smith said about it: One of the profoundest expositions of the book of Revelation that I know of is the work of Robert Govett. My own opinion is that he brings to his interpretation a more thorough knowledge of the Scriptures in their bearing on the last book of the Bible than any other writer of his generation.******

About EDWARD NANGLE (from Wikipedia):

******Edward Nangle, b.1799 d.1883, was a Church of Ireland minister and the founder of the Achill Mission Colony. He established a Protestant mission on Achill Island, County Mayo, in 1834 and worked there for eighteen years with the aim of bringing Protestantism to the Native Irish Christians who were impoverished in large part due to the colonial policies of the Protestant Ascendancy. Edward Nangle was involved in evangelical attempts to convert Catholics to Protestantism. He opened a Christian school on the island where children were taught reading, writing, agricultural skills and Christianity as part of a Missionary Colony.******