Item More Personal, More Unique, And, Therefore More Representative of the Experience of the Book Itself
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Q&B Quill & Brush (301) 874-3200 Fax: (301)874-0824 E-mail: [email protected] Home Page: http://www.qbbooks.com A dear friend of ours, who is herself an author, once asked, “But why do these people want me to sign their books?” I didn’t have a ready answer, but have reflected on the question ever since. Why Signed Books? Reading is pure pleasure, and we tend to develop affection for the people who bring us such pleasure. Even when we discuss books for a living, or in a book club, or with our spouses or co- workers, reading is still a very personal, solo pursuit. For most collectors, a signature in a book is one way to make a mass-produced item more personal, more unique, and, therefore more representative of the experience of the book itself. Few of us have the opportunity to meet the authors we love face-to-face, but a book signed by an author is often the next best thing—it brings us that much closer to the author, proof positive that they have held it in their own hands. Of course, for others, there is a cost analysis, a running thought-process that goes something like this: “If I’m going to invest in a book, I might as well buy a first edition, and if I’m going to invest in a first edition, I might as well buy a signed copy.” In other words we want the best possible copy—if nothing else, it is at least one way to hedge the bet that the book will go up in value, or, nowadays, retain its value. So, you’ve decided to buy a signed book. Now the question becomes, signed or inscribed? Some people prefer a book that is simply signed, without any evidence of another person’s involvement in the process. But, the few extra words in an inscription can help positively identify an author’s handwriting, making an inscription more valuable than a simple signature, especially after an author has passed on. And, an inscription can be a small narrative, even if it says simply, “To Joe.” It is much easier to picture an author pen-poised, gazing up at “Joe,” from those two simple words, than it is from his or her signature alone. On the other hand, it’s much easier to picture the book has been personally signed to you and you alone, if it has only the author’s signature, and nothing else. We hope you enjoy the catalog that follows, and find at least one book that will speak to you on a personal level, and bring you pleasure. Patricia and Allen Ahearn Beth Fisher 1137 Sugarloaf Mountain Road, Dickerson, MD 20842 All books are American or British FIRST EDITIONS, unless otherwise noted. Dustwrappers are present if stated. Returns may be made within 10 days for any reason. Post is paid if check accompanies order. We accept AMERICAN EXPRESS, MASTERCARD and VISA, if you prefer to charge, but you will be billed for postage. Reciprocal dealer courtesies extended. 1. Abdullah, Achmed. DELIVER US FROM EVIL. New and spine ends and short closed tear at spine fold. Despite York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1939. First edition. INSCRIBED these minor problems, a nice copy. $200. and SIGNED by Abdullah (the pseudonym of Alexander 10. Albee, Edward. EVERYTHING IN THE GARDEN. Romanoff). The dustwrapper has edgewear and some small New York: Atheneum, 1968. First edition. SIGNED chips and closed tears have been mended on the verso with photograph of Albee laid in. Near fine with page edges tape. Still, a nice jacket. The book itself is fine. $250. slightly soiled; in dustwrapper with spine ends nicked and 2. Achebe, Chinua. HOPES AND IMPEDIMENTS: light rubbing. $100. Selected Essays. New York: Doubleday (1989). First 11. Albee, Edward. EVERYTHING IN THE GARDEN. American edition. INSCRIBED, "For James O. ---- With all New York: Atheneum, 1968. First edition. From the play by good wishes Chinua Achebe March 3, 1990." Looks like red Giles Cooper. Generic bookplate SIGNED by Albee laid-in. wine splashed on bottom page edges and a little of covers, Fine in dustwrapper with three short creases on cover and one otherwise would be fine in dust jacket. $45. on spine, perhaps production errors, otherwise as new. $75. Achebe, Chinua. HOME AND EXILE. (New York): 3 12. (Albee, Edward). Amacher, Richard E. EDWARD Oxford University Press, 2000. First American edition. ALBEE. New York: Twayne Publ. (1969). First edition. The SIGNED by author. Looks like red wine was splashed on the author presents analysis of early Albee plays. SIGNED BY bottom edge, staining it and the verso of dust jacket. Can't see ALBEE and dated 1983 on half-title page. Fine in dustwrapper the stain from the front. Too bad as would be fine in dust with only a trace of rubbing and wear. $100. jacket. $45. COMPREHENSIVE ARCHIVE OF THIS 4. Acheson, Dean. POWER AND DIPOMACY. RELATIVELY SCARCE WORK Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1958. First edition. SIGNED by the former Secretary of State on the 13. Albee, Edward. THE WOUNDING: An Essay on free endpaper. Fine in light-mustard boards with black spine Education; Typed Manuscript with Holographic Corrections. showing only slight aging to top page edges. Matching dust [Charleson, WV: Mountain State Press, 1981]. First edition. jacket with photo is near fine with shelf wear, minor soiling, Original, uncorrected, typed manuscript of Albee's creasing, chipping and rubbing, but still bright & attractive.$60. commencement speech to the 1981 graduating class of the University of Charleston, West Virginia, along with a xerox 5. Acheson, Dean. THIS VAST EXTERNAL REALM. copy of the same, on quality typing paper with Albee's hand New York: W.W. Norton (1973). First edition, scarce, with fly corrections. Together with a brief AUTOGRAPH LETTER leaf INSCRIBED and SIGNED by the former Secretary of SIGNED by Albee, to Dr. William Plumley, the University State. Blue cloth boards, gilt stamped spine. A few bumps to professor who distributed the subsequent published work the spine ends and corners, otherwise fine in price-clipped dust through his own "Parchment Press." The book was published jacket with a hint of shelf wear and soiling, and 2 miniscule in an edition of 200 signed and numbered paperwraps copies closed tears. $125. and 50 signed and numbered hardback copies in dustwrapper. 6. Adams, Ramon F. THE OLD-TIME COWHANDS. Copy number 1 of the 50 signed hardbacks included, as well New York: Macmillan Co., 1961. First edition, limited issue. as 3 copies of the dust jacket from the Press archives. Also, Number 113 of 350 copies SIGNED by Adams and the four contemporary magazines, each inscribed on the front illustrator, Nick Eggenhofer. Linen boards stamped in dark cover to Plumley from Albee, including the April issue of New red, without dust jacket, as issued; in gray slipcase with Republic Magazine with the article referred to in the opening printed label. Slipcase shows a little sunning to the open remarks calling Albee forward to receive "the revered degree edges, and a few tiny nicks, otherwise a fine copy. $150. of Doctor of Humane Letters"--a typescript of which is included. Manuscript a little yellowed but altogether a fine, . Agee, Jon. THE INCREDIBLE PAINTING OF 7 comprehensive archive of this relatively scarce work by the FELIX CLOUSSEAU. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright. $1250. (1988). First edition. SIGNED by Jon Agee on the front endpaper with a drawing of a paintbrush next to his signature. 14. Albee, Edward. THREE AUTOGRAPH LETTERS Fine in dust jacket with small closed tear. $50. SIGNED and Autographed Photographs Charleston, WV: 1983. First edition. In September 1983, Albee spent a 2-week . Ahern, Tom (Larry McMurtry). A MOVIE STARRING 8 "Marshall Evans" residency at the University of Charleston, THE LATE CARY GRANT AND AN AS-YET during which he lectured, taught seminars on writing, acting UNSIGNED ACTRESS & Verdie- A Gorgeous Gallery of and directing, and directed two of his own plays, "The Galatial Synecdoches. (Philadelphia): Treacle Press (1976). Sandbox" and "Counting the Ways." This small archive from First paperwraps edition. Drawings by James E. Taylor. that period contains a newspaper article from the local paper SIGNED and INSCRIBED by the author to novelist Larry on Albee's arrival, an autograph note signed by Albee to Dr. McMurtry. "For Larry McMurtry from & best wishes, Tom." William Plumley of the university ("Bill -- When did we Nice association copy. Very good in paperwraps with a light schedule Evans & the student TV forum? Friday, I hope. If dampstain on top corner of a few pages, some soiling on cover today, rearrange, as I am busy 'till 9 pm today. Regards in and a phone number on back cover. $40. Christ, Edward."), and 5 x 7" black-and-white photos from the 9. Albee, Edward. TINY ALICE: A Play. New York: play rehearsals signed and dated by Albee on the verso (2 Atheneum, 1965. First edition. SIGNED by author on title images, 7 photos in all: 3 copies of one image, 4 copies of the page. Fine in dustwrapper with very minor wear on corners other, all signed and dated). In addition, there are two chatty, full-page follow-up letters to Plumley, each on Albee's 21. Albert, Neil. TANGLED JUNE: A Dave Garrett stationary and with original hand-addressed envelopes. Mystery. (New York): Dutton (1997). First edition. SIGNED October 9, 1983: "Dear Bill: Thanks for your nice letter. By by the author on the title page. Fine in dustwrapper. $35. all means: send along some poems .