Rare Book Monthly
Articles - February - 2007 Issue
Books at Auction in San Francisco
A story that everyone knows.
Lot No: 52 BLAKE, TOM. 1902-1994. Hawaiian Surfboard. Honolulu: Paradise of the Pacific Press, 1935. Illustrated. 8vo. Original tapa-cloth. Ownership inscription to front pastedown, final several leaves and endpapers with brief dampstain in lower margin, else excellent. First edition of the first title devoted to surfing. Blake was an early 20th century surfing and health food pioneer who conceived and developed the hollow surf board. Estimate: $2,000 - 3,000
Lot No: 116 ADAMS, ANSEL EASTON. Parmelian Prints of the High Sierras. San Francisco: Jean Chambers Moore, 1927. Letterpress title, dedication, and contents leaves + 18 gelatin silver print photographs, each signed by Adams ("AE Adams"), letterpress captions, measuring approximately 205 x 155 mm on 302 x 254 mm sheets, in individual letterpress folders. Text printed by the Grabhorn Press. Loose as issued in original silk-lined cloth portfolio. Minor marginal paper crease to "Mount Galen Clark," one folder browned, overall very fine and fresh. Limited edition, one of approximately 75 copies from a projected edition of 150. Estimate: $30,000 - 50,000
Lot No: 194 BOSWELL, JAMES. 1740-1795. The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.... London: Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly, 1791. 2 volumes. xii, [16], 516; [2], 588 pp. Engraved frontispiece portrait of Johnson after Sir Joshua Reynolds, and 2 engraved plates. 4to (264 x 200 mm). Period full tree calf, rebacked, covers paneled with gilt floral and foliate roll enclosing blind foliate roll, spines with brown and red gilt lettered labels, custom cloth slipcase. Internally clean, bookplate to front pastedown of each volume, covers with some light shelfwear, corners expertly reinforced, a few stray marks to spine, but an excellent set. First edition, with "give" reading on p 135 of vol. I. Estimate: $2,000 - 3,000
Lot No: 303 STEINBECK, JOHN. 1902-1968. Cup of Gold: a Life of Henry Morgan, Buccaneer. With Occasional Reference to History. New York: Robert M. McBride & Co., 1929. Yellow cloth printed in black, top edge stained blue, front edges untrimmed, dust jacket. Endleaves spotted with faint offset from tape on former jacket cover, jacket creased with small chips to head and foot of spine, 3 mm diagonal chip to lower right front panel. First edition, first issue of Steinbeck's first book, presentation copy, inscribed on front pastedown: "For my sister Beth whom I love very much John Steinbeck." Estimate: $20,000 - 30,000
Lot No: 287 MORRISON, TONI. The Bluest Eye. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, [1970]. 8vo. Quarter cloth and boards; dust jacket. Previous owner's name and some erasures to front endpapers, very slight lean and mild sunning to boards, jacket with some toning, mild edge wear including a 1/4" tear to lower panel, tiny losses at corners and some fraying at spine panel ends.
First edition of the author's first book, signed by Morrison on the title-page with a calligraphic pen. Estimate: $1,500 - 2,500
