Rare Books and Manuscripts. Volume Two : Books. [ Heritage Auction Galleries, auction catalogue, sale date: 4-5 June, 2008 ]

Heritage Auction Galleries, Dallas, auction catalogue for the sale held on 4th-5th June, 2008. Laminated illustrated wrappers, 4to, 27 cm,. 340 pp, colour ills. Lots 57001-57632. From the introduction: "Our auction boasts a highly-desirable copy of what is considered by many to be the most important book printed in America, and America's lasting and still-salient contribution to political theory and the world: a first edition of The Federalist from 1788. Commonly referred to as "The Federalist Papers," this collection of eighty-five articles supporting the ratification of the American Constitution, and authored by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay, can truly be credited with changing the world, and has a lasting effect around the globe that still endures. The copy at hand ..has the distinction of having as its original owner Roger Alden, who was an associate and colleague of the founding fathers, and was the Deputy Secretary of the Continental Congress. Also offered here is the H. Barry Morris Collection of Charles Dickens First Editions. This collection includes a broad array of Dickens's [ Classics and many rarities and minor works, as well as a nice group of biographical and bibliographical material. Among the highlights are an excellent copy of American Notes inscribed by Dickens to his close friend Sarjeant Talfourd; a wonderful, unsophisticated copy of A Christmas Carol in the original cloth, and Sketches by Boz, Great Expectations, and A Tale of Two Cities, all in the original publisher's cloth bindings. An excellent group of Autograph Letters Signed by Dickens round out the collection. We have other classics of literature, including legendary rarities such as Herman Melville's 1851 First English edition, the true first edition, of The Whale, which preceded the American publication of Moby Dick the same year. We also present to the collecting public inscribed or signed copies from F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway and John Steinbeck; a large one-lot collection of Edgar Rice Burroughs, composed of seventy-seven distinct titles, all in dust jackets save one, and including the first edition in jacket of Tarzan of the Apes and an inscribed and signed first edition of The Son of Tarzan. We also have a large collection of excellent Stephen King signed limited and trade first editions, most in near fine or belter condition, including what we believe to be the lowest numbered matching limited edition set of King's Dark Tower series to appear at auction. Featured in Natural History books you will find nice selections from John James Audubon, including a complete set of the first octavo edition of his monumental work, The Birds of America. There is also a rare hand-colored copy of Catlin's North American Indians, one of only twelve or so sets issued thusly by the publisher (at the special request of purchasers). We have a terrific offering of children's, illustrated and movable books, anchored by selections from the Robert and Diane Yaspan Collection, including fine examples of classic pop-ups, mechanicals, and other movable books. We offer a proof copy of the first Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the first edition of which was published in an incredibly small edition of about 500 total first edition copies (300 hardbound and 200 in wrappers). This pre-publication proof can be considered the first appearance in print of the boy wizard who changed the world of children readers, and of which very few examples would have been produced for advance readers. We also have a rare example of the very limited edition of the deluxe House at Pooh Corner in vellum, one of only twenty copies published, signed by both the author and illustrator, and a great number of other exciting and hard-to-find children's books. Our Final Session of this auction includes additional selections from both the H. Barry Morris Collection of Charles Dickens First Editions and the Robert and Diane Yaspan Collection of Children's Books, a voluminous offering of books by and about Mark Twain, an assortment of books on medicine and disease, and over 500 lots of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and mystery & detective fiction. Catalogue somewhat creased, otherwise Good.