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1940s Books

Set of 35 Swedish Leather-Bound Books From Early 20th Century
Set of 35 Swedish Leather-Bound Books From Early 20th Century

Set of 35 Swedish Leather-Bound Books From Early 20th Century

Located in Haddonfield, NJ

-1940s. The books are wrapped in leather-bound covers, comprised of a selection of warm tones and gold

Category

Early 20th Century Swedish British Colonial Books

Materials

Leather, Paper

Collection of 42 Swedish Early 20th Century Leather-Bound Books
Collection of 42 Swedish Early 20th Century Leather-Bound Books

Collection of 42 Swedish Early 20th Century Leather-Bound Books

Located in Haddonfield, NJ

-1940s. The books are wrapped in leather-bound covers, comprised of a selection of warm tones and gold

Category

Early 20th Century Swedish British Colonial Books

Materials

Leather, Paper

Book "Logos Volume 1, Arduino Panaro Method" and Wooden Rappelling, 1940s
Book "Logos Volume 1, Arduino Panaro Method" and Wooden Rappelling, 1940s

Book "Logos Volume 1, Arduino Panaro Method" and Wooden Rappelling, 1940s

Located in taranto, IT

Extremely rare book Arduino Panaro Bari "logos" method, volume 1, 1930s / 40s, over 400 illustrated pages, signed by the author, equipped with a wooden rappelling team Spignese il...

Category

Vintage 1940s Italian Books

Materials

Paper

Original french travel poster / winter - Czechoslovakei / around 1940s
Original french travel poster / winter - Czechoslovakei / around 1940s

Original french travel poster / winter - Czechoslovakei / around 1940s

Located in Praha, CZ

- 1940, France, Czech Republic - framed - original, no reprint - marked by artist jr

Category

Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Books

Materials

Glass, Paper

1940s Jeweled Enameled Brass Daybook Phonebook Note Pad with Stone Buddah
1940s Jeweled Enameled Brass Daybook Phonebook Note Pad with Stone Buddah

1940s Jeweled Enameled Brass Daybook Phonebook Note Pad with Stone Buddah

Located in Hyattsville, MD

Purse note pad book, cinches paper in binding, works well with index cards, as shown. Carved Green Stone possibly Jade of a Confucius Asian Man with Long Beard.

Category

Vintage 1940s Chinese Art Deco Books

Materials

Brass

Recent Sales

Reference Book on French 1940s Design "Les Decorateurs des Annees 40"
Reference Book on French 1940s Design "Les Decorateurs des Annees 40"

Reference Book on French 1940s Design "Les Decorateurs des Annees 40"

By Bruno Foucart & Jean-Louis Gaillemin

Located in Winnetka, IL

An excellent reference book on the major French interior designers from the 1940s. Included is work

Category

1990s French Modern Books

Materials

Paper

1940s Diego Rivera Time Magazine

1940s Diego Rivera Time Magazine

Sold

H 11 in W 8.5 in D 0.025 in

1940s Diego Rivera Time Magazine

By Diego Rivera

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Vintage original 1949 Time magazine featuring Diego Rivera cover: Caption reads: "Diego Rivera (Self-Portrait). Rotten duck is for educated noses (Art)." Interior includes a feat...

Category

Vintage 1940s Books

American Abstract Art of the 1930s and 1940s, First Edition
American Abstract Art of the 1930s and 1940s, First Edition

American Abstract Art of the 1930s and 1940s, First Edition

By J. Donald Nichols

Located in valatie, NY

American abstract art of the 1930s and 1940s. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1998. Stated first

Category

20th Century American Books

Materials

Paper

The Bay Area School: Californian Artists from the 1940s, 1950s & 1960s 1st Ed
The Bay Area School: Californian Artists from the 1940s, 1950s & 1960s 1st Ed

The Bay Area School: Californian Artists from the 1940s, 1950s & 1960s 1st Ed

Located in valatie, NY

The Bay Area School: Californian Artists from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s by Anya Perse and Thomas

Category

21st Century and Contemporary English Books

Materials

Paper

Illustrated French Books, Regions of France, 1940s-1950s
Illustrated French Books, Regions of France, 1940s-1950s

Illustrated French Books, Regions of France, 1940s-1950s

Located in Austin, TX

A set of 18 French books about French regions: Geography, history, tourism etc... with multiple

Category

Mid-20th Century French Books

Materials

Leather, Paper

People Also Browsed

Collection of Leather Bound Classic Books, Easton Press & Franklin Library
Collection of Leather Bound Classic Books, Easton Press & Franklin Library

Collection of Leather Bound Classic Books, Easton Press & Franklin Library

By Franklin Press, Easton Press

Located in Peabody, MA

A collection of twenty-seven 1970s-1980s era leather bound and 22kt gold leaf classic novels. Nineteen by Easton Press, and eight published by Franklin Library. Many feature silk mo...

Category

Vintage 1970s American American Classical Books

Materials

Gold Leaf

Chinoiserie Panel Hand Painted Wallpaper on Gold Metallic, Accept Custom Size
Chinoiserie Panel Hand Painted Wallpaper on Gold Metallic, Accept Custom Size

Chinoiserie Panel Hand Painted Wallpaper on Gold Metallic, Accept Custom Size

$1,160Sale Price / set|27% Off

H 96 in W 36 in D 0.1 in

Chinoiserie Panel Hand Painted Wallpaper on Gold Metallic, Accept Custom Size

Located in Wuxi, 32

If you love the look of De Gournay wallpaper but not the price, this is for you. The colorways in this sections present our latest colorways, which can be applied to any designs and...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens

Materials

Gold Leaf

Fossilised Skull of Prehistoric Marine Reptile the Mosasaur, 70Million Years Ago
Fossilised Skull of Prehistoric Marine Reptile the Mosasaur, 70Million Years Ago

Fossilised Skull of Prehistoric Marine Reptile the Mosasaur, 70Million Years Ago

Located in Puglia, Puglia

Upper Cretaceous, about 70-65 million years ago (Maastrichtian) Morocco The skull is reconstructed in good proportions with fossil pieces found in a phosphate mine in Morocco. I att...

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier African Natural Specimens

Materials

Bone

Highclere Castle Jewellery Box
Highclere Castle Jewellery Box

Highclere Castle Jewellery Box

$249,291

H 20.87 in W 21.07 in D 27.56 in

Highclere Castle Jewellery Box

By LINLEY London

Located in London, GB

Over the years, British design company Linley has developed expertise in creating scaled versions of famous architectural buildings including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the R...

Category

2010s British Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Maple

A Gold And Enamel Mourning Ring For Lord Nelson By John Salter, England, 1806
A Gold And Enamel Mourning Ring For Lord Nelson By John Salter, England, 1806

A Gold And Enamel Mourning Ring For Lord Nelson By John Salter, England, 1806

Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent

An extremely rare ring that commemorates the naval hero, Horatio Nelson, who died in 1805 at the Battle of Trafalgar, fighting against the Napoleonic forces. Dr William Nelson, the a...

Category

Antique 19th Century English Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Gold, Enamel

Antique Giltwood Picture Frame. English 18th Century
Antique Giltwood Picture Frame. English 18th Century

Antique Giltwood Picture Frame. English 18th Century

Located in St Annes, Lancashire

Lovely Georgian giltwood picture frame Carved pine with shallow gesso and gilt Original patina Internally or sight measures 19.25 x 24 inches. 48.5 x 61 cm Free UK shipping

Category

Antique Late 18th Century English George III Picture Frames

Materials

Giltwood

First Trade Edition of Winnie-the-Pooh signed by Author & Illustrator, with Orig
First Trade Edition of Winnie-the-Pooh signed by Author & Illustrator, with Orig

First Trade Edition of Winnie-the-Pooh signed by Author & Illustrator, with Orig

Located in Middletown, NY

Milne, A.A. (Alan Alexander): Winnie-the-Pooh An Exceptionally rare copy of the FIRST TRADE EDITION of Winnie-the-Pooh signed by both the Author and the Illustrator, with Original ...

Category

Vintage 1920s English Books

Materials

Paper

The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments, 1887
The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments, 1887

The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments, 1887

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments, Translated out of the Original Tongues: And with the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised, by His Majesty’s Spec...

Category

Antique 1880s English Late Victorian Books

Materials

Leather, Paper

Complete English Porcelain Dinner Service For 12 People With Coffee/Tea Service
Complete English Porcelain Dinner Service For 12 People With Coffee/Tea Service

Complete English Porcelain Dinner Service For 12 People With Coffee/Tea Service

By Coalport Porcelain

Located in Tarry Town, NY

English Coalport Cobalt Ground Porcelain Dinner Service with tea and coffee service for Twelve / with tableware serving Pieces. 10 piece place setting Maker's mark undersigned .Each...

Category

Mid-20th Century English Dinner Plates

Materials

Gold

19th Century Memento Mori Carved Skull & Cross Bones
19th Century Memento Mori Carved Skull & Cross Bones

19th Century Memento Mori Carved Skull & Cross Bones

$2,762

H 5.91 in W 11.82 in D 6.7 in

19th Century Memento Mori Carved Skull & Cross Bones

Located in Lowestoft, GB

A well executed almost life size skull and crossbones pine carving, depicting the remembrance that we all will pass. Likely a part of a larger religious carving, possibly placed a...

Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Pine

10 Volumes. Shakespeare, William. The Complete Works
10 Volumes. Shakespeare, William. The Complete Works

10 Volumes. Shakespeare, William. The Complete Works

$3,500 / set

H 8.5 in W 5.75 in D 2 in

10 Volumes. Shakespeare, William. The Complete Works

Located in New York, NY

10 Volumes. Shakespeare, William. The Complete Works. Bound in full red morocco by Maurin, top edges gilt, raised bands, gilt panels. Published: New York: Society Of Shakespeare Edit...

Category

Early 20th Century British Books

Materials

Leather

Cold War Japanese Defence Agency 15x80 Binoculars with Illumination Control
Cold War Japanese Defence Agency 15x80 Binoculars with Illumination Control

Cold War Japanese Defence Agency 15x80 Binoculars with Illumination Control

By Kowa

Located in Leicester, Leicestershire

Japanese Type 65 Naval Binoculars (1984) by Tokyo Optical Co. – With Full Illumination Controls This outstanding set of Type 65 8cm twin-eye naval binoculars, manufactured by Tokyo O...

Category

Vintage 1980s Japanese Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Aluminum, Brass, Bronze

Voltaire's Candide True First Edition & First London Edition
Voltaire's Candide True First Edition & First London Edition

Voltaire's Candide True First Edition & First London Edition

$38,400Sale Price / set|20% Off

H 7 in W 5 in D 1 in

Voltaire's Candide True First Edition & First London Edition

Located in Savannah, GA

A rare example of a first edition Candide, published in Geneva by Cramer, 1759. 299pp. Woodcut ornaments and Voltaire's corrected pages (pp. 31/32, 41/42, 83/84, 85/86) all corresp...

Category

Antique 1750s Swiss Books

Materials

Leather, Paper

19th Century Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom
19th Century Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom

19th Century Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom

Located in London, by appointment only

Scottish, after 1837. This particular carving of the Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom as used in Scotland is marvellous for the tremendous vitality of the Unicorn and Lions. It ...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Early Victorian Wall-mounted Sculptures

Materials

Wood, Paint

Life of Napoleon Bonaparte by William Milligan Sloan, in Four Volumes, 1896
Life of Napoleon Bonaparte by William Milligan Sloan, in Four Volumes, 1896

Life of Napoleon Bonaparte by William Milligan Sloan, in Four Volumes, 1896

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

Sloane, William Milligan. The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte. New York: Century Co, 1896. Four volume quarto set. Handsomely bound in half red Moroccan leather and cloth boards, spines r...

Category

Antique 1890s American Books

Materials

Paper

Works of the Late Doctor Benjamin Franklin, With Essays, in Two Volumes, 1796
Works of the Late Doctor Benjamin Franklin, With Essays, in Two Volumes, 1796

Works of the Late Doctor Benjamin Franklin, With Essays, in Two Volumes, 1796

By Benjamin Franklin

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

Franklin, Benjamin. Works of the Late Doctor Benjamin Franklin, Consisting of His Life Written by Himself together with Essays, Humorous, Moral & Literary, Chiefly in the Manner of t...

Category

Antique 1790s English Federal Books

Materials

Leather, Paper

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1940s Books For Sale on 1stDibs

There is a range of 1940s books for sale on 1stDibs. The range of distinct 1940s books — often made from paper, animal skin and leather — can elevate any home. There are all kinds of 1940s books available, from those produced as long ago as the 19th Century to those made as recently as the 21st Century. 1940s books bearing Mid-Century Modern or Modern hallmarks are very popular at 1stDibs. Winston Churchill, Pablo Picasso and Alastair Duncan each produced beautiful 1940s books that are worth considering.

Finding the Right Books for You

Antique and vintage books add a sense of culture and style to any room. Displaying these types of books in your living room or reading nook can warm a space with a distinguished feel.

Several factors make antique books highly desirable. Original jackets, ornate binding, illustrations and quality of the print all contribute to making a vintage book special. Rare books are of great interest to collectors in the know and can command high prices at auction. In 2021, an important early artist book by Andy Warhol sold at auction for more than $106,000. Somewhere between all the commercial work he did as an ambitious young graphic designer in the early 1950s and his first real debut as a Pop artist a decade later, Warhol produced a trove of incredibly charming drawings. His illustrated self-published artist books from the 1950s are very rare.

Many collectors seek the first edition of certain books. Fewer copies of a book and higher demand make it a rare find. A book that contains the author’s signature also makes it much more prized than other examples of the same title.

Collectors and designers decorate rooms with vintage books for a cozy feeling in a home. Coffee-table books, such as those featuring photography and design, serve as conversation pieces or offer a relaxing moment when leafed through.

Interior designers look for vintage books when they want to add color or detail. For instance, leather-bound books can create a scholarly air while mid-century titles offer a modern edge. Vintage international books or first editions can provide a sense of history.

No matter the genre, there is a book for you. You can find rare, one-of-a-kind antique books on 1stDibs. Browse by authors, like celebrated architect and designer Frank Lloyd Wright and Edgar Rice Burroughs, as well as by period, including mid-century modern, Art Deco and Victorian.

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