[Rarebooks] FS: Part II: Books about War including books and letters signed by George Bernard Shaw & Kurt Vonnegut

[Charles Agvent]

9. RUKEYSER, Muriel. WAKE ISLAND. Garden City: Doubleday, Doran & Co.,
Inc.  1942.  First  Edition. Printed rose wraps, the second  and  much
more  common  binding.  This copy has laid into it a letter  from  the
publisher  dated  7  August 1942 announcing the  publication  of  this
volume  and  presenting it to the recipient. In part: "In WAKE  ISLAND
may  be found the hopes and aspirations of a militant youth who  fight
to  make men free." An early if not the first book of American  poetry
published whose primary subject matter is World War II. Fine   $150.00

10.  RUKEYSER,  Muriel. WAKE ISLAND. Garden City:  Doubleday,  Doran &
Co.,  Inc.  1942. First Edition. Pictorial boards depicting ships  and
planes  around the island of the title. The first, suppressed  binding
and  very  scarce.  It  seems   Rukeyser  was  dissatisfied  with  the
illustration  on the cover, and most copies were destroyed. This  copy
is  INSCRIBED  and  SIGNED  by the poet on the  title  page  to  noted
collector  Eugene L. Delafield "a long time later" in 1952.  Delafield
has  noted  in pencil on the front pastedown a publication date of  21
August  1942  and on the copyright page: "circa 200 in this  binding."
An  early  if  not the first book of American poetry  published  whose
primary  subject matter is World War II. Minor wear to spine tips  and
darkening  to  the  top of the front cover affecting the  top  of  the
title lettering. Very Good or better and quite scarce.        $1000.00

11.  [SALINGER, J. D.]. "The Hang of It" in THE KIT BOOK FOR SOLDIERS,
SAILORS  AND  MARINES. Chicago: Consolidated Book  Publishers  (1943).
First  Edition.  Pictorial  boards without dust jacket as  issued  and
with  the original unused shipping box reproducing the cover image  of
the  book.  Second  Issue with the 1943 rather  than  1942  copyright.
Salinger's  story  is  his FIRST published book  appearance  predating
CATCHER  IN  THE  RYE by eight years. Also includes  works  by  Ellery
Queen,  Rudyard  Kipling, Damon Runyan, and Ernest Thayer's "Casey  at
the    Bat,"  among  others.   Numerous  color   and   black-and-white
illustrations.  About  Fine in original pictorial shipping box,  never
mailed.                                                        $850.00

12.    SHAW,   George  Bernard.   AUTOGRAPH   LETTER   SIGNED   (ALS).
Parnasilla-on-Sea:  10 August 1919. A two-page letter on both sides of
a  5"  x 8" piece of Great Southern Hotel stationery dated  10  August
1919  to  an  anonymous recipient and SIGNED "G. Bernard  Shaw."  Shaw
responds  to a manuscript sent to him about battle experience in World
War  I  giving some excellent advice about publishing in the  process.
In  part:  "It is quite competently written; and its eligibility  will
depend  on  circumstances which have nothing to do with  the  literary
merit  of the MS: as, for instance, whether the publisher wants  fresh
matter  at  the moment; whether he wants that sort of matter;  whether
the  length suits the price at which he wants to put his books on  the
market;  whether  he  thinks the public is or is not fed up  with  war
books;  whether  he is bold or timid in showing up the seamy  side  of
popular  ideals; whether he is a revolutionary publisher or a club and
a  country  house publisher; and so on and so forth." Shaw goes on  to
give  specific  constructive  advice   regarding  the  manuscript  and
concludes:  "I cannot deny that what you have to say could be said  in
a  ten  page  article as effectively. But that is true of  many  books
which  nevertheless manage to get themselves published." Along  with a
typed  transcript  of  the  letter. Though there  is  no  evidence  of
ownership,  this  item  came  from the collection  of  Harold  Ackert.
Creases from folding. Very Good                               $2000.00

13.  SHAW, George Bernard. COMMON SENSE ABOUT THE WAR in The New  York
Times  Current  History of the European War. Volume I, Number  I.  New
York:  The  New  York  Times Company  December  1914.  First  Edition.
Printed  wraps;  208  pages. Laurence A130a for  the  English  Edition
issued  in  November 1914 as a supplement to THE NEW  STATESMAN.  This
American  Edition  is not noted by Laurence and in addition to  Shaw's
piece,  which  is given head billing, it includes articles  by  Arnold
Bennett,  John  Galsworthy,  Rudyard  Kipling,  H.  G.  Wells,  G.  K.
Chesterton,  A. Conan Doyle, H. Rider Haggard, and others. All of  the
above,  as well as a few others, have portraits within as well. Not in
Lomazow's guide to first issues of magazines. Near Fine        $250.00

14.  (SHAW,  George Bernard) RICHTER, Lina (compiler). FAMILY LIFE  IN
GERMANY  UNDER  THE BLOCKADE. London: National Labour Press Ltd.  July
1919.  First Edition. Original printed wrappers with "price  sixpence"
printed  at  the  bottom  of  the front  cover.  Laurence  B111.  Shaw
contributes  a  9-page preface to this 60-page pamphlet. Tiny tear  to
rear  cover and bottom of a few pages. In specially made cloth chemise
and  matching  slipcase with leather spine label. Just about  Fine  in
Near Fine chemise and slipcase.                                $125.00

15.  VONNEGUT,  Kurt. HISTOIRE DU SOLDAT. n.p.: Gonfalon  Press  1997.
First  Edition.  Bound in cloth-backed handmade  paper-covered  boards
and  printed  on  handmade  paper. Vonnegut's new  libretto  for  Igor
Stravinsky's  1918  composition.  Copy #103 of only  110  created  and
illustrated  with  original color woodblock prints by  Michael  Fallon
and  SIGNED  by him as well as by Vonnegut. Fine, tight copy  of  this
beautiful production.                                          $750.00

16.  VONNEGUT,  Kurt.  L'HISTOIRE  DU SOLDAT.  (New  York):  (New  York
Philomusica)  (1997).  First  Edition. A 12-page pamphlet  in  stapled
decorated  green  wrappers  with  the text printed  on  pink  paper. A
program  for  Igor  Stravinsky's  1918  composition  featuring  a  new
libretto  by Vonnegut. While Vonnegut's libretto is not printed  here,
a  two-page commentary by him is. Boldly SIGNED by Vonnegut and  dated
3/10/00 on the front cover. Fine                               $200.00

17.  VONNEGUT,  Kurt. SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE OR THE CHILDREN'S  CRUSADE. A
DUTY-DANCE  WITH  DEATH.  New York: Delacorte (1969).  First  Edition.
Fine,  tight copy in a beautiful dustwrapper with none of the  tanning
or  darkening normally associated with this title. Other than a  touch
of  very  light  wrinkling to the spine head and a brief  1/2"  closed
tear  to the bottom of the front panel, the dustwrapper is as close to
new  as one could hope for. A gorgeous copy, and quite scarce as such.
                                                               $2500.00


-- 

All books subject to prior sale.  Cash with order; institutions may be 
billed.  Postage additional:  $8.00 for the first book, $4.00 each 
thereafter.  Overseas postage billed at approximate cost. Pennsylvania 
residents must add 6% sales tax.  Mastercard, Visa, American Express and 
Discover accepted.  Books may be returned within 7 days of receipt for 
any reason provided they are in the same condition as sent and prior 
notice is given. Please insure returns for their full value.  We carry a 
diverse stock with major specialties including Modern and 19th Century 
Literary First Editions, Autographed Books, and Limited Editions Club 
books.  We are proud to be members of the Antiquarian Booksellers 
Association of America (ABAA) and the International League of 
Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB) as well as the Manuscript Society and the 
Universal Autograph Collectors Club (UACC).  Please feel free to contact 
us with any wants or offerings.  Thank you.

CHARLES AGVENT
291 Linden Road
Mertztown, PA  19539-8750
Voice/Fax: 610-682-4750
agvent at erols.com
Visit our home page:  http://www.erols.com/agvent