Search Results: Titles starting with B from Type Punch Matrix

New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1985. First edition (stated). Fine in fine jacket.. Signed first printing, the second of the Kinsey Millhone series, in which the hard-boiled Santa Teresa private detective investigates a missing person case. Grafton hit her stride in this second book, crystallizing the traits that made A IS FOR ALIBI so good: crisply drawn characters, a steady raising of stakes, and a sense of increasing momentum towards the inevitable conclusion - all overseen by the no-nonsense Kinsey Millhone in the fictional version of Santa Barbara, California. Grafton's detective was far from the first woman to drive a popular mystery, but Kinsey Millhone's particular personality has spurred literary descendants across genres, from thrillers to urban fantasy. 8'' x 5.25''. Original quarter red cloth, grey paper boards, silver-lettered spine. In original unclipped ($14.95) red and black dust jacket with illustration by Linda M. Benson. [10], 229, [1] pages. Signed by Grafton in black felt… Read More

New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1985. Near fine in very good plus dust jacket.. Signed later printing of the second of the Kinsey Millhone series, in which the hard-boiled Santa Teresa private detective investigates a missing person case. Grafton hit her stride in this second book, crystallizing the traits that made A IS FOR ALIBI so good: crisply drawn characters, a steady raising of stakes, and a sense of increasing momentum towards the inevitable conclusion - all overseen by the no-nonsense Kinsey Millhone in the fictional version of Santa Barbara, California. Grafton's detective was far from the first woman to drive a popular mystery, but Kinsey Millhone's particular personality has spurred literary descendants across genres, from thrillers to urban fantasy. 8'' x 5.25''. Original grey boards. Original unclipped ($21.95) grey and red pictorial dust jacket. 230 pages. Signed by Grafton to title page. Jacket with a hint of edgewear and rubbing. Binding with a touch of shelfwear. Clean.

Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1985. Fine in very good plus dust jacket.. Signed first printing of this rather dark parable of civilization and greed (with a side of cannibalism), as played out by sheep after the last human disappears. David Macaulay is known for his ability to deconstruct complex structures, whether they are buildings, stories, or even the human body. With a degree in architecture from RISD and a love of machines of all kinds, it's easy to spot his inspiration for his beloved children's books. Macaulay has earned a variety of awards for his work, including a Caldecott Medal, a MacArthur Fellowship, and was twice a nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Award. 8.5'' x 6.75''. Original black cloth binding. Original unclipped ($12.95) pictorial dust jacket. Illustrated in black and white. 64 pages. Signed by Macaulay to title page. Jacket with mild edgewear, light bumping to corners and spine ends;.5" closed tear to rear. Book sharp and clean.

Poughkeepsie, New York: Artists and Writers Guild, Inc, 1935. Very good.. Authorized American edition of this early large format Père Castor book, featuring striking and stylized Art Deco color lithographs by Parain. Russian émigré artist Parain would become a major player in the Père Castor series that created clever children's books with a Modernist point of view, not only in illustrating a number of the books but in introducing the series editor to other Russian émigré artists working with avant-garde Constructivist, Dadaist, and Minimalist art philosophies. Parain illustrated the first two Père Castor books in 1831; the French edition of this book, BABA YAGA, was one of the earliest titles, from 1932. It was artists like Nathalie Parain, Alexandra Exter, Hélène Guertik, Feodor Rojankowsky, and Georges Cherkessof that gave the Père Castor books their greatest distinction and gained them long-lasting fame. 12.75'' x 11''. Original side-stapled color pictorial flexible card wrappers.… Read More

London: Methuen & Co, 1938. First English edition. Very good plus.. First UK edition of Jean de Brunhoff's penultimate Babar book, the charming story of the youngest children of the elephant family. The BABAR series has delighted generations of young children around the world. The de Brunhoffs' simple and stylish art is widely praised for being "comprehensible and entertaining even if one didn't know the language" (Bader, 547). The BABAR books set the tempo for all picture books that followed: their "large format, fine litho-printing and hand-written text" fueled the "visual triumph" (Whalley and Chester, 189) of the picture book in the 1930s. BABAR AT HOME was published as BABAR AND HIS CHILDREN in the US in the same year. This is a bright copy of this delightfully domestic entry in the BABAR series. 13.75'' x 10''. Original blue cloth-backed color pictorial boards. Color pictorial endpapers of elephants against a blue background. Illustrated in color. [40] pages. Binding with light edgewear and… Read More

New York: Random House, 1941. Very good in very good dust jacket.. First French-language edition (published during WWII in the US) of Jean de Brunhoff's final Babar title, in which Babar makes the long trip to enlist Father Christmas's help. The BABAR series has delighted generations of young children around the world. The de Brunhoffs' simple and stylish art is widely praised for being "comprehensible and entertaining even if one didn't know the language" (Bader, 547). The BABAR books set the tempo for all picture books that followed: their "large format, fine litho-printing and hand-written text" fueled the "visual triumph" (Whalley and Chester, 189) of the picture book in the 1930s. This New York-printed French edition of BABAR ET LE PÈRE NOËL was published simultaneously with the edition printed in France; it followed the US English language edition only by a year. This was Jean de Brunhoff's final BABAR title before his death - the series was continued by his son Laurent starting in 1948. A… Read More

London: Methuen & Co., Ltd, 1937. First English edition. Very good.. First UK edition of the fifth book in the Babar series, devoted to the adventures of Zephir the monkey when he goes home for summer vacation. The Babar series has delighted generations of young children around the world. The de Brunhoffs' simple and stylish art is widely praised for being "comprehensible and entertaining even if one didn't know the language" (Bader, 547). The Babar books set the tempo for all picture books that followed: their "large format, fine litho-printing and hand-written text" fueled the "visual triumph" (Whalley and Chester, 189) of the picture book in the 1930s. While most of the Babar series follows the titular elephant and his family, ZEPHIR'S HOLIDAYS focuses on his mischievous monkey companion. After a reunion with his family in Monkeyville, Zephir sets out on a quest to save the monkey princess from an island full of monsters (with the help of his new mermaid friend). A nice copy.. 14.25''… Read More

New York: Random House, Inc, 1952. Very good.. First printing of this colorful Babar story, following his family's visit to the Kingdom of the Birds. The Babar series has delighted generations of young children around the world. The de Brunhoffs' simple and stylish art is widely praised for being "comprehensible and entertaining even if one didn't know the language" (Bader, 547). The Babar books set the tempo for all picture books that followed: their "large format, fine litho-printing and hand-written text" fueled the "visual triumph" (Whalley and Chester, 189) of the picture book in the 1930s. BABAR'S VISIT TO BIRD ISLAND is Laurent de Brunhoff's third outing in the Babar series, and is a particularly vibrant example of his continuation of his father's legacy. 14.25'' x 10''. Original red cloth-backed color pictorial boards. Color pictorial endpapers of elephants against a red background. Illustrated in color. 40 pages. Small pencil gift inscription to front pastedown, dated "xmas 1952". Binding… Read More

New York: Harry Abrams, 2005. First edition. Fine.. First printing of this 21st-century Babar story, complete with the pull-out poster. 12.5'' x 9''. Original cloth backed pictorial boards. In original dust jacket. Includes one through ten code. Illustrated in color throughout.

New-York: Mahlon Day, 1836. Very good.. Early edition of this classic rhyme, published by "one of the two printers who dominated the New York City children's book publishing scene in the early 19th century" (Modero). Mahlon Day was a prolific and successful 19th-century chapbook publisher, as evidenced by the long list of other "Juvenile Books" he advertises for sale on the rear wrapper of this copy of THE BABES IN THE WOODS. Many of his publications feature short rhymes encouraging children to spend their own money on his books, rather than leaving the selection of reading material up to their parents. 4.5'' x 2.75''. Original yellow pictorial wrappers, saddle-stitched. Black-and-white pictorial title page with nine in-text woodcuts. 18 pages, ads to rear wrapper. Contemporary gift inscription to verso of front wrapper, to "Miss Mary Webster." Wrapper spine a bit tender, with small closed tear running onto front wrapper; mild edgewear. Leaves with scattered foxing. Illustrations sharp.

New York: Frederick A. Stokes & Brother, 1889. Very good plus.. First edition of this very scarce Humphrey book, magnificently illustrated of little children dressed in the national costumes of various nations from Russia to Scotland, and with one child representing Africa. 9'' x 7''. Original cloth spine, pictorial paper boards. Illustrated by Humphrey with 12 full-page chromolithographs. Printed on heavy stock, with one page of verse for each illustration, along with line illustrations. Edges and corners rubbed; light foxing to endpapers and some infrequent soil to leaves. Hinges firm.

New York: John H. Eggers Co, 1920. Overall near fine in very good box.. Scarce set of 12 miniature books about the magical adventures of humanized bear cubs, complete in original box. Grace Drayton was one of the first women cartoonists, and found great success with her comic strips and advertising art; she was also a founder of the Plastic Club, a Philadelphia art group organized and run by women. She is best known for her chubby-faced children characters, an aesthetic which can be seen in the BABY BEARS. Titles included are: 1. Baby Bears & the Wishing Rings; 2. Baby Bears & the Honey Pot; 3. Baby Bears Visit To Grandma; 4. Baby Bears & the Snow Man; 5. Baby Bears & the Valentines; 6. Baby Bears & Mad March Hare; 7. Baby Bears & April Showers; 8. Baby Bears & Christmas; 9. Baby Bears & the Robbers; 10. Baby Bears & Elly El; 11. Baby Bears & Weather Cock; 12. Baby Bears & Mrs. Kitty. 2.25'' x 3.25'' (box); 2.5'' x 2'' (books). Original side-stapled color pictorial wrappers. In original box with… Read More

London: Secker & Warburg, 1957. Near fine.. First UK edition of the script for Tennessee Williams's controversial 1956 film, which the National League of Decency attempted to ban, in beautiful blue goatskin binding by Asprey. The story of BABY DOLL took shape from a pair of Williams's 1946 one-act plays, 27 WAGONS FULL OF COTTON and THE LONG STAY CUT SHORT. Notable for its opposition by the Archbishop of New York despite its Code seal and the popularization of the "babydoll" lingerie item, the film was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Adapted Screenplay for Williams. This copy, in an appropriately blue fine binding by Asprey, is an attractive example. 7.5'' x 4.75''. Blue goatskin boards with gilt spine lettering, five raised bands; gilt Asprey stamp to front dentelle. Gilt edges. Blue marbled endpapers by Douglas Cockerell and Son. 140 pages. Front board with three shallow bumps to front edge. Leaves with scattered faint foxing. Tight.

Chicago: Laird & Lee, 1900. Scarce first edition of this clever US book playing on the mythology of nursery rhymes, featuring the adventures of Baby Goose when he slips away from Mother Goose and Father Goose. 9'' x 10.5''. Original pictorial boards. Featuring full-page color images with boxed verses (cw: some racist caricatures). Unpaginated. Small early bookplate on front pastedown. Spine worn and carefully repaired. Light staining and moderate rubbing to boards.

Franklin Center, PA: Franklin Library, 1981. Fine.. True limited first edition from the Franklin Library, preceding the trade edition, of this collection of short pieces by the author of THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE. Part of the First Edition Society series. Includes two-page message from Alfred Kazin not in other editions. Illustrated by Will Harmuth. 8.75'' x 5.75''. Original full leather with three raised spine bands and titles and decorations gilt. All edges gilt. Silk moire endpapers, ribbon marker. A very fine copy. Unread. Bright, tight and sharp. A lovely production. 305pp.

New York / Evanson / London: Harper & Row, 1964. First edition. About fine in near fine jacket.. First printing of this lovely Hoban story of a new big sister's adjustment to her new baby sister, a beautiful copy, scarce in this condition. 10'' x 8''. Original cloth backed pictorial paper boards. In original unclipped ($2.50) dust jacket. Illustrated by Lillian Hoban. [32] pages. Jacket with short closed tear to head of spine (repaired with barely visible sliver of tape to verso), light foxing to head of front panel and minor rubbing to rear panel. Book with slight foxing primarily to top edge of boards. Interior clean and bright.

London: Raphael Tuck & Sons, 1920. Very good.. First edition of this beautiful book of rhymes and simple stories for very young children, vividly illustrated in Attwell's characteristic style. 9.5'' x 7.25''. Original pictorial boards with red cloth spine. 14 full-page color illustrations and additional decorations by Attwell. Moderate chipping and rubbing to boards; light soil to rear board with occasional spotting to interior.

London: Dean, 1925. Fine.. Fine Dean Rag Book (#231), printed with charming color illustrations on cloth. 5.5'' x 4.25''. Original pictorial limp cloth. Illustrated in color throughout. Well printed and a great copy.

Garden City: Doubleday, 1971. First Edition. Very good plus in like dust jacket.. First edition of this story of a family who finds a mischievous pair of boots. 10.25'' x 7''. Original orange pictorial boards. Original unclipped ($4.95) orange pictorial dust jacket. Brown endpapers. Illustrated in brown and orange. 62 pages. Jacket with light sunning to spine, a bit of scuffing and edgewear. Binding with a touch of bumping to corners and spine ends. Bright.

London: Grant Richards, 1898. Near fine... First edition of this little collection of moral tales by Mrs. Fenwick, an early number in the DUMPY BOOK series - a beautiful copy. Contains 12 children's stories including "The Deaf and Dumb Boy," about young Jackson who is deaf and non-verbal. Jackson's relationship with animals is presented as something of a proto-George Milton nearly 40 years before Steinbeck's OF MICE AND MEN, though without the sad ending. While Jackson is depicted with a patronizing kind of pity, the main characters of the story also acknowledge Jackson's excellent penmanship and artistic skill. The DUMPY BOOK series was also the first publisher of Helen Bannerman's work. These books, naturally popular with children, rarely survive in nice condition. 5'' x 3''. Original green publisher's cloth binding. Head edge gilt, other edges machine deckle. Endpapers with black line drawing of a child by Mrs. Farmiloe. xii, 151, [1], pages. Slight rubbing to boards, with mild edgewear. Some… Read More