This is the first issue of Gay Book Magazine (January, 1933), a ‘sophisticated’ men’s magazine published by Narrative Publishers.  This magazine published fiction (“Hard to Please” by Brooks Sandborn; “Under the Cap and Bells” by Tiffany Thayer; “Illusion” by Jack Woodford), articles (“A Woman for President!” by Benjamin DeCasseres; “Why Do You Lie?” by Edmond Vance Cooke), and regular features on life in New York and Paris, Sports, Books, and Theater.  This issue includes two 8-page sections printing tinted b&w photos, generally of beautiful, provocatively-clad women.  The front cover art is by North Stuart; in addition to b&w illustrations by Stuart and others, there is a full-page ‘frontispiece’ illustration in full color on high grade white paper by Earle Bergey.  This copy is in remarkable condition; there is some rubbing to the covers’ edges, with a very little wear at the head and foot of the spine panel; the front cover is dented directly over the lower binding staple, and there is a pinhead-sized perforation there; the white-space on the rear cover displays some light foxing, and there is a small area of discoloration adjacent to the spine; the text pages are gently tanned, with a darker shading along the lower edges; the paper is quite supple; I’ve seen no folds, tears or writing.  This clean and flat copy of a ‘first issue’ is in very good/near fine condition, and, as such, a genuine rarity.  This magazine will be packed carefully and shipped via insured US Priority Mail.  Thanks for looking.

Up for auction is the FIRST EDITION of a work published on the 250th anniversary of the death of the 17th century Jewish-Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza, entitled THE OLDEST BIOGRAPHY OF SPINOZA edited with Translation, Introduction, Annotations, Etc., by A. Wolf. Published by Lincoln MacVeagh at the Dial Press in New York in 1927. The work contains both the French and English translations of THE LIFE OF THE LATE MR. DE SPINOSA, an early 18th century work of uncertain authorship, begun just after the death of the philosopher. 196 pages. Includes photographic illustrations of the manuscript, the house in which Spinoza died, and much more. Book bound in original navy blue cloth with gilt-stamped title on spine. Book in GOOD condition, but appears to be missing frontispiece of Spinoza. A former owner has underlined some passages in pencil, and there is a bit of occasional smudging from that. Book used to belong to Benjamin de Casseres, a prolific author and journalist of the early 20th century; his signature is on the flyleaf. A solid copy. Good luck!

 

RORY AND BRAN
by LORD DUNSANY

LONDON/TORONTO: WILLIAM HEINEMANN, (1936)

Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany (24 July 1878 – 25 October 1957) was an Irish writer and dramatist, notable for his work, mostly in fantasy, published under the name Lord Dunsany. More than eighty books of his work were published, and his oeuvre includes many hundreds of published short stories, as well as successful plays, novels and essays…..

Ran across a copy of a Eugene O’Neil book listed for sale at quite a sum. It’s inscribed by the author to DeCasseres… here is a reproduction of the text of that listing, my emphasis added.

THE EMPEROR JONES. DIFF’RENT. THE STRAW
O’NEILL, Eugene G.
Price: $7,500.00

New York: Boni and Liveright, (1921). First Edition INSCRIBED and SIGNED by the author on the front endpaper: “To Ben de Casseres/with all best–/Eugene O’Neill.” The recipient was an American journalist and author who thought too much of himself. Atkinson A 15-I-i.a: Binding A: 2200 copies published. THE EMPEROR JONES is subtitled “A study of the psychology of fear and of race superstition,” and DIFF’RENT is subtitled “The Story of a Sex-Starved Woman.” Frank Hogan’s gilt red morocco bookplate on the front pastedown. De Casseres’s name and address ink stamp on the front endpaper, half-title page, and title page with his bold pencil signature on the front blank. Both hinges cracked, the front moreso with the webbing showing and some looseness. Very Good in a Near Fine example of the very scarce dustwrapper (Item ID: 016408)