Black Beauty, First Edition (150 results)

First edition. Small 8vo. Original green cloth with decoration embossed in gilt and black, Carter's variant B. Author's presentation copy, inscribed on publication, "Mary and Catherine Sewell from their affectionate cousin, the Author, Christmas 1877." A very good copy with the front joint neatly repaired, lacking the front endpaper. Light wear to the spine ends and corners. Engraved frontispiece after C. Hewitt. A wonderful family association being a Christmas gift from Anna Sewell to her spinster cousins. Anna Sewell lived only a few months after the publication of her book making inscribed copies extremely uncommon. Confined to the home after a childhood accident, Anna first mentioned that she was writing Black Beauty in her journal on 6th November 1871. She wrote "I am writing the life of a horse, and getting dolls and boxes ready for Christmas". In December 1876 she wrote, "I am getting on with my little book 'Black Beauty'." By this time Anna was becoming more and more crippled and spent much of her time on a sofa writing in pencil, with her mother making a copy. She wrote "I have been confined to the house and to my sofa, from time to time, when I am able, been writing what I think will turn out a little book, its special aim being to induce kindness, sympathy and an understanding treatment of horses". Black Beauty was published at the end of 1877 and Anna lived just long enough to hear of its success. The book has a strong moral purpose and is said to have been instrumental in the abolition of the cruel practice of using the check rein.

Condition: Fine. First Edition. First edition, first printing. Original publisher's gilt and black stamped green cloth, wood-engraved frontispiece by C. Hewitt, 8 pp. of publisher's advertisements in rear. In Carter's "C" binding, with a small gilt horse's head medallion, looking to the left, as is virtually always found (Carter, More Binding Variants, 37-38). Fine with light wear to extremities, moderate foxing to all edges. Contemporary female gift inscription on front free endpaper; contents lightly toned with scattered foxing. An exceptionally well-preserved and unrestored copy of this scarce work. Housed in a custom full morocco clamshell box by Patron.The most celebrated animal story of the 19th century.

First edition, first printing, published by Jarrold and Sons in 1877. Carter's variant C binding. The book is firmly bound in the publisher's brown cloth, lettered and decorated in gilt and black. The boards are a little marked with some light repairs to the corners and spine ends. The text block is a little foxed and toned - the gutters show repair - some corners of the pages have been repaired. 247 pages with 8 pages of adverts to the rear. The 'C' binding was probably the standard trade issue, with 'A' and 'B' being either publisher's presentation bindings, or a more expensive deluxe issue. The text block and ads appear to be the same for all three. The story highlights the mistreatment of horses during the Victorian era and raises awareness about animal welfare. Black Beauty faces both kind and cruel owners, working as a carriage horse, a cab horse, and in other roles. Throughout the book, the horse narrates his experiences and shares his thoughts and feelings, providing insights into the hardships and joys of his life.

[the tale of a horse, BY a horse] London: Jarrold and Sons, n.d.[1877]. 8 pp undated ads. Original green cloth decorated in black and gilt. First Edition of this classic tale, told in the first person by Black Beauty himself. He encounters masters both kind and cruel, and as a result the book came to be seen as the UNCLE TOM'S CABIN for animals' rights -- in fact, the first American edition, which came out thirteen years later, was published by the American Humane Society. The tale has been filmed numerous times, beginning in 1910 and continuing in 1946, 1971 and 1994. Anna Sewell (1820-1878). had been crippled by a leg-injury since she was fourteen years of age [resulting in her constant need for horse-drawn carriages], and by the time she came to write BLACK BEAUTY [from 1871 until 1877], her one and only book, she was bedridden [and in declining health: she dictated most of the tale to her mother and, at the end too weak of voice for that, wrote on little slips of paper which her mother transcribed] [Quayle]. The first small group of copies of BLACK BEAUTY went out in December 1877; Anna Sewell died in April 1878, too early to realise the extent of its phenomenal success (the book did not sell well at first, but after it received positive reviews from anti-cruelty groups, sales picked up). More copies were issued in 1878, several additional small printings from the same plates. The common theme of this book's bibliography is uncertainty -- with the best analysis still being the 1938 one by John Carter in MORE BINDING VARIANTS. All copies are identical (undated, with no mention of printing), except that there are three binding styles, all rather ornate. This copy is Carter's binding "C" -- with the front-cover gilt medallion of a horse's head looking left, in green (there is also terra-cotta and blue); though the book is far from common, "C" is the most frequently-seen binding. Bindings "A" and "B" are very scarce: the only copies Carter saw were presentation or Sewell-family copies; however there is also at least one known copy in this binding "C" that is inscribed by the author. Generally, it is presumed that all "A" copies are first printing, that "B" copies are likely but not certainly first-printing, and that "C" copies may be part first-printing and part later-printing. It is important to note that whichever printing(s) binding "C" is (and no one knows for sure), it constitutes most collectors' only opportunity to afford this famous book; the only "A" or "B" copy currently on the market (a "B" inscribed from "the Author") is priced at about $45,000. This copy is in near-fine condition (volume slightly askew as usual, discreet repair at the top end of the front joint and at the bottom end of the rear joint). There is scarcely any other external wear, the original endpapers are intact (the front one bears a 1922 inscription), and the leaves are free of foxing. Carter MBV pp 37-38; Quayle pp 96-97. In all, a highly-desirable copy, housed in a beautiful morocco-backed clamshell case.

Condition: Good. First Edition. First edition, first printing of the classic equine novel; in Carter's variant C binding. Good. Cloth well-worn and soiled, textblock edge lightly spotted, inner hinges repaired, pencil markings to brown coated endsheets, effaced owner name to first blank sheet and owner name in pencil to title page, light cigar smoke odor to pages, pages thumbed. Written by Sewell during the last years of her life, which she spent home-bound. She died five months after it's publication, living just long enough to see the book become a success. It went on to become one of the most well-known books of the Victorian era, as well as one of the best-selling books of all time. Additionally, the novel was notable for being used as a tool to advocate for more humane treatment of horses, drawing attention to a number of restrictive objects commonly in use at the time such as bearing reins and blinkers.

Cloth Gilt. Condition: Good/very Good. 1st Edition. Small 8vo. (1877). 1st edition. 248pp, 8 lls ads. Occasional spotting otherwise clean but slightly shaky in publisher's terracotta cloth gilt (CARTER binding variant 'C'). Spine top and tail slightly rolled with some faint discolouration of boards. Otherwise clean and bright. Ownership inscription dated 1878. Images available on request.

Cloth Gilt. Condition: Good/very Good. 1st Edition. Small 8vo. (1877). 1st edition. 248pp, 8 lls ads. Clean and crisp in publisher's terracotta cloth gilt (CARTER binding variant 'C'). Spine top and tail slightly rolled with some surface wear, boards slightly discoloured otherwise bright. Rear e.p. inner hinge cracked. M/s presentation inscription Christmas (1877 or 1879?). Images available on request.

First American Edition. First American edition. (First printing with Angell's preface). [2], iv, [5]-245, [15] pp. Bound in publisher's buff boards. Very Good+ with light rubbing and foxing to boards, a few small cracks along head and tail, slight lean to spine, toning throughout. A nice sound copy. One of the bestselling books of all time, a novel described on its front board as "The 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' of the Horse," likening it to the abolitionist novel for its then-radical message of kindness and respect for animals. Concludes with promotional literature on the American Humane Education Society including humane methods for putting animals down.

Unbound. Condition: Near Fine. Illustrated broadside. The word"Ujima" is printed next to a drawing of a family (Ujima means "collective work and responsibility"). Measuring 11" x 17". Offset printed in green, orange, and black on stiff paper. Spotting on the unprinted verso, slightly affecting border of image on front, near fine. The Black Family Festival at UC Davis (then known as Black Family Day) was launched by the Black Student Union in 1971. From the event's website: "Every year marks a monumental step towards Black empowerment and strengthening of our community and families. The family reflects the resilience, diversity, and openness of black culture." A striking poster not appearing in commerce, auction, or *OCLC*.

Hardcover. Condition: Good Plus. First Editions. 16mo, 4.1 in. x 2.9 in. Red paper-covered boards with green holly decorations and paste-down color illustrations; left quarter of front cover in red cloth. Color and black-and-white illustrations throughout each book. Rubbing to extremities. Light soiling to all. Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty (1905), pp. 119, [5] (advertising). [Condition: Very Good] Fairy Tales from Andersen (1905), pp. 126. Boards have darkened with age. Light crease to front and back boards. Front corners rounded. Inscription to front flyleaf. [Condition: Good Only] Animal ABC/A Child's Visit to the Zoo (1907), pp. 124. Front corners rounded. Book a touch shaken. Front hinge tender. [Condition: Good] Little Black Sambo (1905) pp. 56, [5] (advertising). State 2 printing, with frontispiece oriented sideways. (Bienvenue 222) [Condition: Good Plus] Fairy Tales from Grimm (1906), pp. 127. [Condition: Good Plus] The Night Before Christmas (1905), pp. 105 [5] (advertising). [Condition: Good Plus].

Hardcover. 1st Edition. First American Edition, First Issue points. March 1, 1890 ads, "Over Ninety Thousand Copies" at front cover. Octavo, original printed paper over boards, paper spine. Uncommon first printing of this classic novel meant to promote the humane treatment of animals. The book would go on to sell fifty million copies. Very Good, modest soiling and wear, some minor loss to spine at edges.

Soft cover. Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition. Beautiful Near-Fine copy. Printed Wrappers. 4 Page Preface Dated 1890. First Edition. Excellent Fresh Copy.

Hardcover. 1st Edition. First American Edition, First Issue points. March 1, 1890 ads, "Over Ninety Thousand Copies" at front cover. Octavo, original printed paper over boards, paper spine. Uncommon first printing of this classic novel meant to promote the humane treatment of animals. The book would go on to sell fifty million copies. Textually Very Good, clean and firmly bound volume, covers with considerable soiling, old ink name at mid front cover, spine paper lacking some material at ends.

Hardcover. Illustrated by Lucy Kemp-Welch (illustrator). First Edition; First Printing. Fine, Leather Bound. Printed on archival paper with gilded edges. The endsheets are of moire fabric with a silk ribbon page marker. Smyth sewing and concealed muslin joints to ensure the highest quality binding. This book is in full leather with hubbed spines. ; First Easton Press Edition.

First edition thus. First edition thus. Illustrated throughout. 1 vols. Oblong 8vo. Paul Brown's own abridgment of this classic tale. Signed by the author on the half title, and inscribed on the front flyleaf with a remarque of horse's head, "To Stacey Connett with the best of luck Paul Brown, '53." The recipient was a grand-daughter of sporting publisher Eugene V. Connett, 3rd, publisher of the Derrydale Press, where much of Brown's work appeared (some brown crayon and ball-point tracing over the original drawing, perhaps by the recipient). Biscotti p. 100 Brown cloth. Spine rubbed, front joint with scuff and short split, youthful coloring to horse's forehead on title page, and to one page of illustrations, else very good Illustrated throughout. 1 vols. Oblong 8vo.

Condition: Very Good. , . . . Hinged onto card window mount. Image 298x230mm, mount 455x355mm. A few inoffensive light pencil marks to plate, otherwise very good. A delightful hand-coloured copper engraving from the rare first edition of The Aurelian, 1766. The plate depicts the Brindled Beauty moth and the Black Veined White butterfly, showing the various developmental stages. The Black Veined White, Aporia crataegi, is interesting as the butterfly is now extinct in the British Isles.Original accompanying text leaf loosely enclosed at rear of mount.Foot of image, engraved 'Moses Harris ad Vivum', indicating that the drawing was made from living specimens.Lower margin of each plate includes a dedication to a subscriber or patron, accompanied with the appropriate coat of arms. This dedication reads, 'To the Right Hon. Lord Viscount Charlemont, this Plate is Humbly Inscribed by his Lordships most Obliged & Obedient Serv't Moses Harris'.Moses Harris (1730-c.1788) was an English entomologist, painter, engraver and book illustrator, one of the most celebrated masters of insect portraiture. His most famous work, The Aurelian is considered one of the finest illustrated books of the eighteenth century; it is greatly admired for its artistic and accurate depictions of butterflies and moths, presented in the various stages of their life cycles.

Hardcover. Condition: Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. First Edition. First edition with Scribner's A on copyright page. Hardcover in very good, colorful reproduction jacket. Tawny brown colored cloth covered boards with dark brown title and illustration of mare and colt on frt board. Hinge papers fine, binding tight, 100 pp. text clean. Title continues: Told in short form and in pictures by Paul Brown, this is an abridged edition. Boards lightly sprung, tips sharp with cloth rubbed at absolute point, spine ends bumped. Micro abrasion on spine title taking part of the last L in Sewell. No former owner's names, tears or soil. Professionally reproduced, unclipped color dust wrapper is complete with a few very short 1/4" closed tears at panel edges, few small surface rubs but displays very well in new mylar. More photos available for the asking. Anna Sewell was born on March 30, 1820 in Yarmouth, Norfolk, England. She was raised a Quaker by her father, a bank manager and her mother, a children's novelist. At the age of fourteen, Anna hurt her knee during a fall and the injury never healed properly. Even though she could not walk well, she could still ride horses and drive a horse drawn buggy. It was this form of freedom that sparked in her great concern for the often horrible treatment of horses she witnessed on her day-to-day outings. Her book was not written as a bedtime story for children, Anna intended it for adults who worked daily with horses such as: cab drivers, delivery men, draft & work horse owners moving agriculture products, etc., with the aim being: 'To induce kindness, sympathy, and humane treatment of horses' (Mrs Bayly, 272). Sewell wrote the story from the viewpoint of the horse, in first 'horse' person. In spite of her ill health, she finished her book and sold it to her mother's publisher: Jarrold and Sons of London, for.

First edition with Brown's illustrations. Illustrated throughout. 1 vols. Oblong 8vo. Paul Brown's own abridgment of this classic tale. Biscotti p. 100 Brown pictorial cloth. Near fine in very good plus dust jacket. Gift inscription, Christmas 1952 on flyleaf, with recipient's childish signature beneath Illustrated throughout. 1 vols. Oblong 8vo First edition with Brown's illustrations.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. Paul Brown (illustrator). 1st Edition. Unpaged. profusely illustrated. Jacket toned, worn, and price-clipped. Foxing to top edge; small name/address sticker top right first leaf. Binding sound; contents clean. 8.25 x 9.75 inches.

Softcover. Condition: Good. First edition. Illustrated self-wrappers. Rear wrap detached but present, chipping at the extremities of the wrappers, a good copy.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. This book is bound in bright dark green boards with bright gilt letters + horses head on the front cover (head facing right indicating a First Edition, First State, 1890). The gilt letters on the spine are lightly faded. There is a previous owner's ink dedication on the front endpaper. The hinge is cracked 9in the back & beginning to crack on the front. The contents are clean & unmarked, the binding is tight.

Hard Cover. Condition: Good. Neill, John Rea (illustrator). First Edition. Rare first edition thus. Stated Copyright 1908 by The Reilly and Britton Company. Includes two stories, Black Beauty and The Little Lame Prince; both enigmatically illustrated by John R. Neill. Part of The Children's Red Books series. Red matte boards, black stamped cover and spine titles, some shelf wear, rub. Sharp cover plate in strikingly subdued color depicts the Black Beauty and maiden by A.B. Cremin. Thick, heavy stock pages very good. Striking pictorial endpapers at front, back. Bind good, front hinge reinforced. Illustrated throughout by John Rea Neill of The Wizard of Oz fame in striking, yet simple motifs w/ornate borders, devices, decoration. Nearly every page features intriguing design, drawings. Black Beauty the first of two tales found within these covers, was written in 1877 by Anna Sewell . The Little Lame Prince (originally The Little Lame Prince and His Traveling Cloak) was penned in 1875 by Dina (Miss) Mulock. Neither is credited at title pages. Features eighteen color images, lovely pictorial endpapers, and black and white line drawings, by John R. Neill, most famous for his illusrations of the many L. Frank Baum and other Oz books. Fabulous and characteristically magical Neill illustrations. Near very good example of intriguing bookcraft. Several pages of adverts at back for L. Frank Baum's Oz series; The Twinkle Tales; and, the Christmas Stocking Series from The Reilly & Britton Co. The last title listed at the rear, under "The Oz Books" is John Dough and the Cherub first published in 1906. 58 pages. Insured post. Size: 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall.

Softcover/Paperback. Condition: As New. AN ACTION COVER COMBINES WITH A DETAILED INTERIOR TO MAKE THIS ORIGINAL CLASSICS FIRST EDITION OF BLACK BEAUTY A DELIGHT TO READ AND COLLECT! The Classics series has been renowned for decades as one of the most impressive of all time. With over 1400 editions to choose from, collectors can make their collection whatever they want it to be - from extremely rare and valuable first editions in high grade to relatively plentiful later editions in low grade. Whatever a person wants, here it is - adventure, mystery, romance, SF, fantasy, detectives and more. Importantly, these comics are still great to read - and it is nice to be familiar with the foundations of English literature (which is what these editions represent).This particular comic is especially noteworthy for its adaptation of Anna Sewell's story about what could be the most famous horse of all time. Like all true first edition Classics, this comic has the ad for the next Classics in the series (the elusive Woman In White). Additionally, this book came from one of the foremost Classics collections of all time. Our consignor at one point had over 1100 separate USA Classic editions, and we are delighted that we finally convinced him to part with this key. We do not expect it to be available for very long.CONDITION is extremely nice. We have carefully counted every page and the book is complete, with superb off-white pages. The cover colors are especially deep and brilliant. Due to some quite minor wear visible upon close inspection (most noticeable is a little discoloration on the bottom of the back cover's blank border), we grade it VERY FINE-. SCANS: We are providing large scans so everyone can see how nice this is. - GRADE: As New.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. HBDJ , 1ST EDITION, STATED 2ND PRINTING, APRIL 1946 ON COPYRIGHT PG, , SAME YEAR & MONTH AS 1ST/1ST EDITION, VG+ /VG, BACK OF DJ LISTS ADVNTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN THRU KING GOLDEN RIVFR. ,Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. VG hardback copy in dustwrapper, BACK DJ LITE WEAR RUB TINY CHIPS, SOILING TO VERSO OF DJ, Illustrated pink green & Beige cover with black cloth spine of horses & Birds with gold gilt ,& May Lamberton Becker, general editor INTRO , illustrated Fly Leaves SCUFF MARK GREEN & WHITE OF HORSE & TRAINER; , Much Loved Classic, WAS THOROUGHBRED Horse, who Began His Career in Gentleman's Stable. He was Ruined when His Knees were Broken By a Drunken Groom. & After That His Life was Succession OF MISFORTUNES Until 1 Day When a Wonderful Stroke of Luck Brought Him the Happiness & Contentment for which He had Always Longed.

Eleventh edition, 1905. Small 8vo. 31, (1) pp. Illustrated from photographs, plates. The story of the smartest horse in the world and his teacher, African-American Tennessee veterinarian William Key. Cover title: "The Story of Beautiful Jim Key, the Arabian Hambletonian Educated Horse, Valued at $1,000,000: How He Was Taught; The Most Wonderful Horse in the World, the Equine King, He Reads, Writes, Spells, Counts, Figures, Changes Money, He Tells Time, Uses a National Cash Register, etc., etc. OCLC locates only this edition, in five copies (Illinois State, Missouri Historical Society, Ohio State Library, Virginia, Wisconsin Historical Society) and the 1901 first edition, in a single copy. Very good. Original illustrated light green wrappers (rubbed), stapled. (#6827).

Hardcover. Illustrated by Edwin John Prittie (illustrator). First Edition Thus; First Printing. Good+ in boards. Rear hinge cracked. Tape on second front end page. Small open tears on panel corners. Foxing on text block edges.

Hardcover. Condition: VG-. Paul Brown (illustrator). 1st Edition. Pub by Charles Scribner's Sons, 1952, 1st Edition w/ Scribners' "A" on CP. Oblong format. VG-minus cond. hardcover, no dj. Ex- School Library hardcover w/ all the usual stamps, stickers, marks & distinctions. Yellow library cloth bds w/ black pict dec & lettering on cover & spine. Light bumping to exterior, w/ slight loss to wear points. Crayon scribble on verso of half-title page w/ associated single line crayon mark across title page. Approx 3" vertical closed tear up from bottom edge of 3rd leaf from rear, o/w book is complete, intact & unmarked. Illustrations in b&w by Paul Brown on every page. Book is square, straight, tight & clean except as noted, overall VG- cond. Same or next day shipping. Please email any questions.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good +. No Jacket. 1st Edition. Gift Quality 1908 Hardcover With Circular Paste-On Art Of A Woman Standing At Black Beauty's Head Feeding Him Sugar By A.B. Cremin. This Is One Of The Children's Red Books And Has A Pair Of Abridged Stories Within. Black Beauty & The Little Lame Prince Illustrated By John R. Neill. There Is A Cute Pencil Gift Inscription On The Colorfully Illustrated Endpapers "Merry Xmas To Be Bo From Ethyle'. No Former Owners Name In Space Provided. Tips Still Sharp With Lower Board Tips Brushed So That They Just Peek Through The Paper, Spine Ends Bumped But Not Rubbed. Red Paper Boards Show Light Sunning On Frt Panel Along Spine Edge And Across Upper Edge. Hinges Are Fine, Page Block Is Tight And Crisp Without Tears Or Chips, Only An Occasional And Very Finger Mark In Margins. Several Pages Of Adverts At Back For L. Frank Baum's Oz Series; The Twinkle Tales; And, The Christmas Stocking Series From The Reilly & Britton Co. The Last Title Listed At The Rear, Under "The Oz Books" Is John Dough And The Cherub First Published In 1906.

Hardcover. Condition: VG. Brown, Paul (illustrator). First "A" Printing. Decorative cloth with lightly worn / frayed edges, else tight, bright and unmarked. No jacket. Illus. by Paul Brown.

Thick 4to. viii, 291, [1] pp. Tipped-in colour frontisp., 17 tipped-in colour plates. Blue pictorial publisher's cloth, gilt illustration & ruling on front cover, gilt lettering on spine (minor rubbing & wear at corners head & foot of spine, lower corners, light foxing to fore-edges of textblock), still a VG copy. First Boots edition of this ground-breaking book which was the first novel written from the perspective of an animal, and their mistreatment, which would successfully helped further the cause of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Aldin (1870-1935) was a famed British artist and illustrator, best known for his paintings and sketches of animals, sporting life, and nature in the Victorian & Edwardian era. Issued as part of the 15 Shilling Boots Presentation editions.