Search Results: Authors starting with B from Quercus Rare Books

New York: Criterion Books, 1955. An acknowledged master of Twentieth Century Russian lterature, Isaac Babel (1894-1940) was a protoge of Gorky, who published his first stories. Here is a selection of Babel's "Odessa Stories" and his "Red Cavalry" stories - based upon his service during the 1920 war with Poland, in the unusual situation of a Jew in a Cossack regiment. Babel did not survive Stalin; he died in prison, his realism resulting in political enemies. This is a Near Fine copy of the First Edition. An uncommon title. Translated and Edited by Walter Morrison; Introduction by Lionel Trilling. Orange cloth binding with titling in gilt on the spine. Clean text; 381 pages. Previous-owner signature on the FFEP; Title Page reinforced with archival tape. The dustjacket is price-clipped; the spine has faded, but all remains clear and bright in its own way. Chipped around the margins. In an archival plastic protector.. First Edition. Hard Cover. Near Fine/Very Good. 8vo - over… Read More

Garden City: Doubleday Doran & Company, Inc. For The Crime Club, Inc., 1933. This short story collection b Henry Christopher Bailey (1878-1961) features his series charcter Reggie Fortune, a medically qualified detective. This is a Near Fine copy of the First Edition [stated]. Hubin, p. 19. An uncommon title. Black cloth binding with a striking ilustration in red on the front cover. Clean text; xii, 324 pages; red topstain. Decorative endpapers and eight illustrations printed on red paper by Frederic Dorr Steele. Bump to one corner; else a Fine copy lacking a dustjacket. In an archival plastic protector.. First Edition. Hard Cover. Near Fine/No Jacket. Illus. by Frederic Dorr Steele. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

New York: Norton, 2004. Author's first novel, nominated for an Orange Prize. Fine in a Fine, unclipped DJ. Plastic protective cover. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. First Edition.. Hard Cover. Fine/Fine.

New York: R. Worthington, 1878. George Baker (1849-1906) wrote this cute treatise on the etiquette of New York, with a sort of anti-Mrs Grundy take. Originally published in 1875, it was reprinted several times by various publishers, but remains scarce on the market. This is a Very Good Plus copy. Blue cloth binding with a fancy stamped design on the front cover. Clean text; 173 pages. The spine and the front cover fore-edge have darkened, but the book remains attractive. Size: 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. Reprint.. Decorative Cloth. Very Good Plus/No Jacket.

Philadelphia: John E. Potter and Company, 1874. "Comprising the Author's Introduction to the Leading Men at Washington, with the Origin and Organization of the Detective Police, and a Graphic History of his Rich Experiences, North and South, His Perilous Adventures, Hairbreadth Escapes and Valuable Services, Etc., Etc." Indeed. Baker (1826-1868) packed a lot into a short life. America's foremost espionage agent, he had a distressing habit of also spying on his bosses, and went in and out of favor. His mysterious death has provided fodder to conspiracy buffs from 1868 until this day. This is a Very Good Plus copy of the First Edition, published posthumously and quite rare (cf. WorldCat). Maroon cloth binding, now more of a reddish-brown, with blindstamped title and design on the boards, gilt lettering on the spine. Corners are moderately bumped and there is wear to the head and foot of the spine. Many illustrations, frontis portrait of General Baker. Clean text, very bright. No… Read More

New York: Random House, 1991. Baker's meditation on his relationship, real or imagined, with John Updike. SIGNED by Baker on FFEP. Unclipped DJ has s tiny smudge on the "U" - else Fine. In plastic protector. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Signed by Author. First Edition.. Hard Cover. Fine/Near Fine.

New York: Grove Weidenfeld, 1990. Bakers second book, neatly SIGNED on Title Page. Appears to be just a tiny bit of sunfade at the edges of the blue boards. Unclipped DJ; in plastic protector. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Signed by Author. First Edition.. Hard Cover. Near Fine/Fine.

New York: Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1875. Alan Moorehead considered (in "The White Nile") Sir Samuel Baker (1821-1893) to have written here the best narrative of the 19th-Century British explorations in Central Africa. This is a Near Fine copy of the First American Edition, in an attractive modern rebind. Maroon cloth with gilt titling and ruling on the spine. Clean text; 542 pages; appendix and index. Frontis portrait and two other illustrations. The fold-out map at page 236 is present; a bit wrinkled at the edges and with wear at some of the folds. Bookbinder label on the front paste-down. The text is unfoxed; quite clear and bright, easily enjoyed today. A few small scuffs at the margins, else Fine. A solid copy of this famous work.. First American Edition.. Hard Cover. Near Fine/No Jacket. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

Philadelphia: Porter & Coates, 1867. Scottish writer Robert Michael Ballantyne (1825-1894) wrote over 100 books, many of them for the juvenile-adventure market, set in different areas of the world. Extremely popular in their day, they are rather scarce today. This is a Very Good copy of a Later Printing. There is no date indication; however, although the book was initially issued in 1863, it has to date from no earlier than 1867 when "Porter & Coates" became the publisher's official name. Tan cloth binding with floral decorations on the front cover in black; designated the "Alta Edition" on the front cover; titling and decorations in black on the spine, with a gilt panel.Clean text; 419 pages, with a 12-page catalog in the rear. Frontis illustration. Cheap paper textblock is tanned. Bumped, with rubbing to head and foot of the spine; rear cover has some mottling. . Later Printing. Decorative Cloth. Very Good/No Jacket. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall.

New York: Farrar, Strauss & Giroux, 1991. Sequel to Ballard's autobiographical "Empire of the Sun." This is a Fine copy of the First American Edition (stated) in an unclipped dustjacket (small wrinkle on rear panel, else Fine. In a plastic protector. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. First American Edition.. Hard Cover. Fine/Near Fine.

New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 1989. A very dystopian murder mystery. This is a Near Fine copy of the First American Edition. Gray paper-covered boards embossed with the title; black cloth spine with titling in orange. Clean text; 104 pages. Remainder mark on the bottom edge; else Fine. The dustjacket is Very Good. Unclipped; it has a large chip on the rear panel, else it would be Fine. In an archival plastic protector.. First American Edition.. Hard Cover. Near Fine/Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

New York: Farrar, Strauss & Giroux, 1966. Ballard, originally thought a science-fiction writer, is now regarded as a critically important figure in the late 20th Century avant-garde. This is a later printing of the Fist Edition of this famous novel. Slight lean, minor soiling. The evocative DJ has been clipped. In an archival plastic protector. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Later Printing.. Hard Cover. Very Good/Near Fine.

New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1966. This is a Fine copy of the Book Club Edition of one of Ballard's signature early works. Black cloth binding with a crystal in white on the front cover; white lettering on the spine. Clean text; 210 pages. The dustjacket is unclipped; shows just a tiny hintof wear at the foot of the spine. For the collector, an admirable place-holder. In an archival plastic protector.. Book Club (BCE/BOMC). Decorative Cloth. Fine/Near Fine. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall.

New York: Carroll & Graf, 1988. One hesitates to pigeonhole the late great English writer within the confines of "science fiction," but there he is. "Speculative" would be a better description.This is a Fine copy of the First American Edition, a rather "wicked satire" on America.. Gray paper boards with a blue cloth spine and titling in silver on the spine. Clean text; 224 pages.The dustjacket is unclipped; it has a faint rub mark on the rear panel, and touches of wear at the tips; else Fine. In an archival plastic protector.. First American Edition.. Hard Cover. Fine/Near Fine. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

New York: Farrar, Strauss & Giroux, 1991. A story collection by the avant-garde English author. This is a Near Fine copy of the First American Edition (stated). Red clay-colored paper boards; tan linen spine with black lettering. There is evidence of a sticker removal on the FFEP, else Fine.The dustjacket is unclipped, also Fine. In a plastic protector. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. First American Edition.. Hard Cover. Near Fine/Fine.

New York: Farrar, Strauss & Giroux, 1989. A dark novella of suspense, typically disturbing, by one of the major writers of the late 20th Century.This is a Near Fine copy of the First American Edition (stated). Gray paper boards, blindstamped, with a black cloth spine, red lettering. 104 pages; clean and fresh text; just a hint of bump to one corner, else Fine. The dustjacket is unclipped; slight wrinkle on front flap, and some of the lamination appears to be weak. In a plastic protector. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. First American Edition.. Hard Cover. Near Fine/Very Good.

New York: Picador, 1995. Ballard has emerged from science fiction to become a major force in the XXth Century avant-garde. Fine copy of the First American Edition (stated) in a Fine, unclipped DJ. In an archival plastic protector. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. First American Edition.. Hard Cover. Fine/Fine.

San Francisco: RE/SEARCH Publications, 1990. Although not scarce, usually found in later printings, this is a Fine copy of the First Edition Thus of the Trade Edition (full number line), reprinted with Ballard's notations, including four new stories. "Revised, expanded, annotated, illustrated edition." Large softcover; in an archival plastic protector. Size: 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. First Thus.. Soft Cover. Fine/No Jacket.

New York: Picador USA, 1996. Essays and reviews by the influential avant-garde English writer. This is a Fine copy of the First American Edition (stated). Sky blue paper boards with a gray linen spine; gilt lettering. The dustjacket is unclipped, also Fine. In an archival plastic protector. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. First American Edition.. Hard Cover. Fine/Fine.

London: HarperCollins, 1991. Ballard is most\known for his speculative fiction, which has been very influential on modern experimental authors. Here is the sequel to "Empire of the Sun," his award-winning autobiographical novel of World War II. This is a Fine copy of the First English Edition. Red cloth binding with gilt titling on the spine. Clean text; 286 pages. This copy has been SIGNED by Ballard on the Title Page. The dustwrapper is unclipped; in an archival plastic protector.. First UK Edition.. Hard Cover. Fine/Fine. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.