London: R. and J. Dodsley, 1763. 4to, 11pp bound with final blank; 19th-century blue crushed morocco, with nicely marbled endpapers. A handsome copy of a reasonably early Dodsley edition of Gray's Elegy, one of the most popular of all English poems, first published in 1751. More
London: Printed for Benj. Tooke at the Ship in St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1684. First Edition. 4to, [4], 67ppp; modern cloth-backed boards, library binding with inner hinges reinforced with cloth. Algernon Sidney's trial was a political sensation. He was tried for treason for conspiring against Charles II on the basis of..... More
London: Jacob Tonson, 1706. First Edition. 4to, (2), (iv), 10pp; later calf-backed boards, bound without final blank. One of the few works of poetry published by the prominent playwright. More
London: Printed for W. Davis, 1687. First Edition. 8vo, [vi], 28pp; pages added at rear for bulk; later three-quarter cloth and marbled boards. Prior's first separate publication, a pamphlet satirizing John Dryden, was a popular success bringing early fame to poet who soon became a prominent diplomat as well. Published..... More
Edinburgh: Mundell & Son, 1803. Fourth Edition. 8vo, 242pp; contemporary diced calf. The first three editions of Anderson's Life of Smollett were published as prefaces to collected editions of Smollett's works. Anderson continued to expand and revise his book until this edition when it first appeared independently as a separate..... More
New York: Steppingstones Press, 1985. First Edition. 8vo, 189pp; printed wrappers. Anthology of texts for and about Baraka, edited by James B. Gwynne. This copy inscribed by Baraka: "For Max, the Master, Keep on pushin!! Amiri Baraka, 1985, and with a second inscription next to the list of contributors, which..... More
Los Angeles: Littoral Books, 1996. First Edition. 8vo, 119pp; printed wrappers. Inscribed on the half-title page: "For Max, Unity, Struggle, Victory, Amiri Baraka, 1996." There was no hardcover issue of this book. More
San Francisco: Journal of Black Poetry Press, (1969). First Edition. 4to, 60pp; printed card wrappers, stapled. An exceptional copy of Neal's first book, one of the most important publications of the Black Arts movement. The book includes a preface by LeRoi Jones. The two poets were co-editors of the anthology..... More
Fresno, California: Al Kitab Sudan, 1968. First Edition. Broadside, approx. 8-1/4 X 11 in., printed on one side only. Marvin X's first separate publication, telling the tale of black bird in a white house too afraid to leave its cage and fly free. In 1971 the poet adapted the tale..... More
Austin: University of Texas Press, (1980). First Edition. 8vo, 115pp; printed wrappers. Inscribed by Wright on the title page in 1989 for drummer Max Roach. More
New York: Corinth Books, 1971. First Edition. 8vo, 95pp; printed wrappers. One of 1500 copies in wrappers out of a total edition of 2000. More
New York: Corinth Books, 1971. First Edition. 8vo, 95pp; terracotta cloth. The poet's first book, and one of the signal intersections between the Black Arts movement and the second-generation New York School. One of 500 clothbound copies and substantially less common than the issue of 1500 in wrappers. More
New York: Ballantine Books, (1992). 8vo, 228pp; printed wrappers. A writer and actress, Vertamae Smart-Grosvenor had a unique career that spanned downtown bohemian circles, the Black Arts movement, the Broadway stage, Sun Ra's Arkestra, and regular appearances on National Public Radio. She found her voice as writer about food and..... More
Chicago: Third World Press, (1973). Third printing. 8vo, 39pp; printed wrappers, stapled. The poet's third book, first published in 1969. More
London: Paul Breman, 1972. First Edition. 8vo, 19pp in printed card wrappers, stapled. Posthumous collection by the Chicago poet, who died suddenly in 1968 at the age of thirty-five. More
London: Paul Breman, 1968. First Edition. 24pp, in printed card wrappers, stapled. Rivers died suddenly during the publication process of this book and although he was responsible for the selection of poems, he never saw the completed book. More
London: Paul Breman, 1968. First Edition. 8vo, 24pp pamphlet in printed paper wrappers, stapled. The last book that Rivers himself completed before his sudden death during its production, this is an advance copy in plain paper wrappers with only the publisher's logo, author, and title on front. Rivers death required..... More
Detroit: Broadside Press, (1969). Seventh printing. 8vo, 34pp; pictorial card wrappers, stapled. The poet's second book, here with a presentation inscription signed ("Haki R. Madhubuti") in 1975. More
Detroit: Broadside Press, 1967. First Edition. Broadside, approx. 6-1/2 X 11-1/2 in., printed on one side. Brooks's second broadside for Dudley Randall's Broadside Press celebrating the "Wall of Respect" in Chicago. Brooks read the poem at the dedication ceremony in August of 1967. A collective effort informally led by artist..... More
London: J. Hughs, 1748. First edition thus. Folio, [2], 12, 400 pp; contemporary speckled calf. With title page engraving and engraved head- and tailpieces throughout. A pleasing copy of the first folio edition of Drayton, with the bookplate of Walter T. Shirley II. More
London: Jacob Tonson, 1718. First Edition. Folio, engraved frontispiece, [6], xxv, [5, list of subscribers], double-page map, 446, 55 (notes), [1, errata]; contemporary panelled calf. A good at best copy of an uncommon folio. More
London: Jacob Tonson, 1701. First edition thus. Two vols., folios, [vi], 618; [ii], 558 pp; full contemporary panelled calf with gilt spines and six raised bands. A handsome set of the first folio edition, although without the frontispiece portrait. Macdonald 107ai. More
London: R. Dodsley, 1744, 1757. First editions. 4to, 125; [iv], 156 pp; contemporary calf, rebacked, with spine laid down. First issue of Akenside, with the footnote on p. 9 and p. 20 misnumbered as 22. All half titles present. Nice engraved vignettes to each title page. Akenside's poem was his..... More
London: Jacob Tonson, 1700. First Edition. Folio, [xlii], 646pp; later three-quarter calf and marbled boards. A nice copy of Dryden's Fables, with a distinguished provenance. Macdonald 37a. More
