GRILE, DOD [PSEUD. AMBROSE BIERCE], AND FRANCIS BRET HARTE | A Group of Three First Editions

The Property of a Gentleman

GRILE, DOD [PSEUD. AMBROSE BIERCE], AND FRANCIS BRET HARTE

A Group of Three First Editions

Grile, Dod [Pseud. Ambrose Bierce]. The Fiend’s Delight. New York: A. L. Luyster, 1873. 8vo (4 5/8 x 7 in.; 118 x 175 mm). Half-title, title-page vignette; minor toning. Full brown cloth covered boards, upper with rules and cornerpieces in blind, upper cover and spine with satyr device in gilt, spine gilt lettered, brown coated endpapers; minor rubbing to extremities, cracks to cutters of endpapers. First American edition (bound from the English sheets with a title-page cancel) of Bierce's first book, a collection of short narratives and satirical sketches drawn from his weekly journalism. BAL 1097 — Grile, Dod [Pseud. Ambrose Bierce]. Nuggets and Dust Panned out in California. London: Chatto & Windus, [1873]. 8vo (4 x 6 3/8 in.; 102 x 162 mm). Publisher's advertisements at beginning and end, half-title. Original glazed wrappers pictorially printed in black, blue, and red, lower wrapper and endpapers printed with publisher's advertisements; vertical creases to spine, minor wear to extremities, including one or two chips. In custom black cloth covered clamshell case. First edition of Bierce’s second book, which like his first book (see above) was first published under this pseudonym. A fragile edition in remarkably fine condition. BAL 1099 — Harte, Francis Bret. The Luck of Roaring Camp, and Other Sketches. Boston: Fields, Osgood, & Co., 1870. 8vo (4 3/8 x 7 in.; 110 x 176 mm). Full green cloth covered boards, covers decoratively ruled in blind, spine gilt lettered, brown coated endpapers; minor rubbing to extremities of spine. In custom quarter red morocco over cloth covered slipcase and folding chemise. First edition, first issue of this classic of American literature. BAL 7246; Grolier 100; Zamorano 80. Margaret Jane Mussey Sweat (ownership inscription to preliminary blank) - James S. Copley (bookplate to front pastedown; his sale, Sotheby’s New York, 10 May 2011, lot 1059

Group lots not subject to return.

Together a group of fine first editions