1950s Books

Survey of trends in modern architecture, furniture, and decorative arts, principally from Britain, Europe, the U.S., Latin America, and Japan, covering the years 1959-1960. Contains ...

First edition of this landmark photography book by Richard Avedon with text by Truman Capote, featuring portraits of cultural figures such as Marilyn Monroe, Brigitte Bardot, Alfred ...

"Cómo Nace y Crece un Volcán: El Paricutín" - 1943-Mexico-1950 (How a Volcano is Born and Grows: The Paricutín) hardcover book by Dr. Atl, Mexican, artist and volcanologist, publishe...

Tolkien, J.R.R., The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King. London: Allen & Unwin, 1956, 1957, 1959. First editions, fifth impression ...

A quite scarce and coveted hardcover book in slipcase - "Dali: A Study of His Art-In-Jewels (The Collection of the Owen Cheatham Foundation)". Bound into the book are color photographs of 28 jewels designed by Dali with comments and captions written by the artist himself. The book was published by The New York Graphics Society in 1959 - a quite collectible first edition/first printing (with no other printings noted) of the art book. The book is boldly hand-signed and dated (in the year of publication - 1959) by Dali on the lower corner of the first blank page/ front free endpaper. As such, exceedingly rare (we only know of two other existing copies, and only one was also signed in the year the book was published). A scarce signed edition. Would be a great addition to any collector of Dali's work or those who appreciate his fine art jewelry...

Meißen. Meissner Porzellan des Achtzehnten Jahrhunderts. 1710 - 1750. Published by Verlag der Kunst., Dresden., 1956. 1st Ed hardcover with dust jacket. Large format book on 18th c Meissen Porcelain. With 120 B&W full page illustrations...

Monograph on celebrated modernist architect and designer Pierre Chareau, published by Editions du Salon des Arts Managers in Paris, 1954. With text by Rene Herbst, preface by Francis...

Large folding sales brochure (12" x 9", opening to 36" x 24"), printed in color and black-and-white, published by The Widdicomb Furniture Company circa 1950 and distributed through M...

Capote, Truman. Breakfast at Tiffany's: A short novel and three stories. New York: Random House, 1958. First edition, first issue printing. Signed by Truman Capote. In the original publisher’s orange first issue dust jacket and yellow cloth binding. Presented with an archival clamshell case. This is a signed, first edition, first issue of Truman Capote's classic novella chronicling the adventures of the free-spirited Holly Golightly, Breakfast at Tiffany's. In addition to the title novella, the book also includes three other short stories: House of Flowers, A Diamond Guitar, and A Christmas Memory. The book is issued its first issue dust jacket with the 10/58 date code one the front flap. "First Printing" is stated on the copyright page and the book signed by the author “Truman Capote” on the front flyleaf. Capote originally sold his story Breakfast at Tiffany's to Harper's Bazaar for $2,000, with intended publication in its July 1958 issue. Shortly after the publication was scheduled, Harper's editor Carmel Snow was ousted by the magazine's publisher, the Hearst Corporation, and Hearst executives began asking for changes to the novella's language as there was concern that Tiffany's & Co., a major advertiser, would react negatively. The story was removed from the Harper’s Bazzar publication schedule but Capote soon resold the work to Esquire for $3,000. His novella appeared in Esquire’s November 1958 issue. A collection of the Breakfast at Tiffany’s novella and three short stories by Capote was published by Random House in the same year. The novella received glowing reviews. "If you want to capture a period in New York, no other book has done it so well. He could capture a period and place like few others" (Norman Mailer). The novella was quickly adapted for the 1961 hit film starring Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard. Truman Capote was born in New Orleans and educated in New York and Connecticut. He worked in the Art Department of The New Yorker and as a writer on a television show before going on his own as a full-time writer. His first novel at age 24, Other Voices, Other Rooms, brought him literary fame and a strong following, which continued throughout his life, reaching a peak with the success of his "nonfiction” true...

Original Exhibition Catalog – Picasso Peintures 1955-1956 at Galerie Louise Leiris, Paris, 1957 Artist: Pablo Picasso Exhibition: Picasso Peintures 1955-1956 – Galerie Louise Leiri...

First edition of Carl Dair’s foundational text on typographical design, published in 1952 by Pellegrini & Cudahy In New York City. Oblong 8vo (8.75” x 5.35”) wire spiral bound with p...

Steinbeck, John. East of Eden. New York: The Viking Press, 1952. First trade edition, first printing. Octavo. In original green cloth boards with blue titles to the front and spine, ...

Marketing poster/brochure for Harry Bertoia’s line of sculptural steel wire mesh-and-rod chairs for Knoll Associates, published in 1957. Graphic design by Herbert Matter. Folded in e...

The sought after first edition, first printing of Ralph Ellison's monumental award winning novel, his first and only work to be published during his lifetime. The first edition, fir...

Mid-1950’s catalog for the fabled Altamira design center, located at 18 E 50th St in New York City, one of the top U.S. venues for high-end Italian design. Altamira commissioned a li...

First edition, second printing of J.D. Salinger’s iconic American bildungsroman, first published by Little, Brown, and Company on July 16, 1951. The second printing followed in the s...

Monograph on American artist Alexander Calder, first edition thus, published in 1951 by the Museum of Modern Art, New York, and distributed by Simon and Schuster. An expanded edition...

Small format brochure published in January 1956 showcasing nearly 50 new Edward Wormley designs for Dunbar Furniture, presented at the Chicago Merchandise Mart. Highlights include th...

This is a four volume set of A History of the English-Speaking Peoples by Winston Churchill, first published in 1957. A celebrated historical work by the former British Prime Minist...

AUTHOR: SHAKESPEARE, William (Peter Alexander - editor) TITLE: The Poems Of William Shakespeare. PUBLISHER: NY: The Heritage Press, 1958. DESCRIPTION: 1 vol., 10-3/8" x 6-5/8", il...

Early collection of poems by anarchic satirist Tuli Kupferberg, a key figure in the Beat Generation and counterculture movements. Self-published in a small run in 1959 by Poets Union...

Third edition of this landmark architectural text by the founder of the Bauhaus, based on lectures delivered in London in 1934 following the school’s closure in Germany. This edition...

First edition of The Documents of Modern Art, Vol. 8, edited and with an introduction by Robert Motherwell. Cover and typography by Paul Rand. Published in 1951 by Wittenborn, Schultz Inc. With texts by Richard Huelsenbeck, Hugo Ball, Kurt Schwitters, Jacques Vache, Tristan Tzara, Georges Ribemont-Dessaignes, George Hugnet, Andre Breton, Jean Arp, Paul Eluard, Louis Aragon, Gabrielle Buffet-Picabia, and Hans Richter. Illustrations by (or after) Jean Arp, Marcel Duchamp, Max Ernst, Raoul Hausmann, Paul Klee, Marcel Janco, Man Ray, Francis Picabia, Tristan Tzara, Kurt Schwitters, Kasimir Malevich, Pablo Picasso, Sophie Tauber...

Oblong Quarto. Unpaginated. Original spiral-bound cream boards with modern design in color on cover reverse white lettering on red label of spiral, in original tan dustjacket with cu...

AUTHOR: THOMAS, Dylan. TITLE: In Country Sleep And Other Poems. PUBLISHER: NY: New Directions, 1952. DESCRIPTION: FIRST EDITION SIGNED. 1 vol., one of 5,000 copies printed on Kil...

King Jr., Martin Luther, Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story. New York: Harper & Brothers: 1958. First edition. Presented in the publisher's original boards and dust jacket. ...

The Case of the Negligent Nymph A Perry Mason Story Erle Stanley Gardner 1950. Hard cover with original dust jacket.

Chelsea and Other English Porcelain Pottery and Enamel in the Irwin Untermyer Collection by Yvonne Hackenbroch. Published in London for The Metropolitan Museum of History and Art by ...

Step back in time with our exclusive collection of vintage postcards from the USSR, featuring the iconic Kremlin as its captivating theme. This meticulously curated set of 8 postcards offers a glimpse into the enchanting world of 1950s Russia, showcasing the architectural wonders and historical significance of the Kremlin. Each postcard is a window to the past, capturing the grandeur and majesty of this remarkable landmark. From the intricate details of the Spasskaya Tower to the breathtaking views of the Red Square, these postcards transport you to an era where history and beauty converged. What makes this collection truly special is that all 8 postcards remain in pristine condition, never having been used or written upon. Every card carries the essence of nostalgia and invites you to embark on a visual journey through time. Preserved with care, these vintage postcards from the USSR are a rare find for history enthusiasts, collectors, or anyone with an appreciation for the allure of bygone eras. Whether you're an avid postcard collector or simply seeking a unique piece of Soviet memorabilia, this collection is a true treasure. Bring the spirit of the Soviet Union into your home, commemorate a piece of history, or surprise a loved one with a gift that sparks curiosity and captivates the imagination. Experience the beauty and significance of the Kremlin through the lens of 1950s USSR with our remarkable vintage postcard collection...

Well-edited and lavishly illustrated survey of mid-century Italian ceramics, written by Hugo Blattler and published in Rome in 1958 by Aristide Palombi as part of the Arti Pratiche series, intended to contribute to an examination in depth of the material, as well as to the documentation and to the spreading of knowledge of each separate subject. Features vessels, lighting, fireplaces, and artworks by renowned artists such as Lucio Fontana, Salvatore Meli, Fauson Melotti, Gio Ponti, Antonia Campi, Marcello Fantoni, Franco Meneguzzo, Pietro Melandri, and Guido Gambone, along with a host of lesser-known figures. Stellar abstract designs throughout. Square 8vo (8.5” x 9”), 206 pages, hardcover, illustrated throughout in b/w. Slight lean to spine. Mild soiling to extremities, with chipping to corners. Professional repair to front hinge, as well as between pp. 194-5 and 204-5. Light chipping to first two leaves. The complete front cover remains of the dust jacket, which is still crisp and vibrant, with only minor chipping to top edge. Missing spine and back of dust jacket. A must-have for collectors and connoisseurs of Italian design and mid century ceramics.

AUTHOR: FORSTER, E. M.. TITLE: Two Cheers For Democracy. PUBLISHER: London: Edward Arnold & Co., 1951. DESCRIPTION: FIRST EDITION SIGNED. 1 vol., 8-5/8" x 5-3/4", signed by the Fo...

Rare and collectible 1954 publication on Danish Chairs by the designers Nanna and Joergen Ditzel. 92 pages, 86 of which are excellent black and white photographs of chairs by the lik...

AUTHOR: DOBIE, J. Frank. TITLE: The Mustangs. PUBLISHER: Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1952. DESCRIPTION: FIRST EDITION INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR WITH AN ORIG...

Steinbeck, John. East of Eden. New York: The Viking Press, 1952. Octavo. First trade edition, first printing. In original lime green cloth boards with green titles to the spine and o...

First edition, published by Pierre Matisse, New York, 1953. One of 1000 numbered copies, this being n° The dustjacket is an original lithograph by Dubuffet. This catalogue, creat...

Histoire du Peuple Americain (History of the American People). French book in two volumes by André Maurois from the French Academy, 1955/56. Volume I: Europe discovers America - At t...

Stevenson, Robert Louis. Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes. New York: The Limited Editions Club, 1957. Limited edition, numbered 763/1500. Signed and illustrated by Roger Duvoisi...

Satire Against Husbands by J. F. Regnard,. Hardcover 1954 1st Edition. Mylar jacket has been added at later date.

First edition, published by Høst & Søns Forlag København, 1954 An important document of Danish chair design during the early 1950s, showing many of the aesthetic and technolog...

First edition of the lavish 1956 Dunbar Furniture catalog, showcasing Edward Wormley designs for sofas, chairs, tables, cabinets, desks, shelves, room dividers, benches, and bedroom ...

Catalog published in conjunction with an exhibition of De Kooning oils held at the famed Martha Jackson Gallery in New York from November 9-December 3, 1955. Small 8vo (4.75” x 6.75”...

Catalog showcasing high-end Italian furnishings and accessories, published circa 1956 by the fabled Altamira design center located at 18 East 50th St in New York City. Per the introduction, “Altamira is the only center in this country where Interior-Architecture by Italy’s foremost architects is represented together with furniture, handicrafts, accessories and every other element essential to the modern interior.” Altamira commissioned a line of furniture from Gio Ponti in 1953, crafted by Giordano Chiesa in Milan. Included were a number of Ponti’s iconic mid-century designs—the Distex lounge chair and a self-described masterpiece, the two-drawer desk, model AP 1025, are shown in the present catalog. Shown, too, are furniture designs by Ponti’s fellow “interior architects” and designers Marco Zanuso (produced by Arflex Milano), Enrberto Carboni, Enrico Peresutti of BBPR, Carlo Pagani, Enrico Taglietti, Nino Zancada, Ico and Luisa Parisi, Ignacio Gardella...

The book has deteriorated over time, it does not have its original cover but it is complete, no page is missing, it is 175 pages and is from the fourth edition. For more photo or vid...

First edition of art director Ladislav Sutnar and research director Knud Lonberg-Holm’s landmark exposition on information design and visual communication, published in 1950 by Sweet...

Rare Mid-Century Belgian magazine “MEUBLES ET DÉCORS”, n°670-671, published in French in June and July, 1954. Dimensions: 27x38’6cm, 34 pages, unnumbered, color and b/w illustrations...

The Henry Francis Du Pont Winterthur Museum by Alice Winchester and Joseph Downs. The Magazine Antiques, 1951. First Edition hardcover. A classic work from the...

AUTHOR: MILNE, A. A. TITLE: When We Were Very Young. PUBLISHER: London: Methuen & Co., 1954. DESCRIPTION. INSCRIBED BY CHRISTOPHER ROBIN MILNE. 1 vol., inscribed on the front pic...

Southern Interiors of Charleston, SC, by Samuel & Narcissa Chamberlain. Published by Hastings House, New York, 1956. 1st Ed hardcover with dust jacket. Southern Interiors will have a...

Parke Bernet NY, Mildred B. Vanderbilt English & American Furniture, Porcelain, Silver, Sheffield Plate, Mazers, Treen and Leather Ware, Paintings & Rugs,...

The Glitter and the Gold by Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan. 1952 Hardcover 1st Edition. Mylar clear cover has been added at a later date.

Harunobu, by Lubor Hajek, and translated by Hedda Vessela Stranska. 1st Edition: Spring Books, London, 1958. Softcover with Silk tied binding, pictorial softcover laid in to green cl...

Parke-Bernet NY Florence H. Crane, Castle Hill Ipswich Mass, Important English Furniture 6/29-30 & 7/01, 1950, 1st Ed. Chicago industrialist Richard Teller Crane Jr., heir to Crane C...

Early catalog for Laverne Originals, the modern design company founded by Estelle and Erwine Laverne in 1938. From its modest origins producing primarily wallpapers and textiles, Lav...

Lighting catalog (#C3) published in March, 1959 for the Architectural Lighting Corporation, Eastern United States distributors for Sveld Wohlert, Inc. of San Francisco. Wohlert was t...

The Good Shepherd by C. S. Forester. Hardcover book, published in 1955 by Little, Brown and Company. Printed in the United States of America. 310 pages.

This is a six folio volume run of the Ensembles Mobiliers series published by Editions Charles Moreau in the 1950s, each volume is complete and the ...

Accordion brochure for Hansen Lamps listing locations in New York and Dallas. Presents work by T.H. Robsjohn Gibbings, Stewart Ross James, Jane Kidder, and Clark Voorhees. Published ...

First edition of Roland Penrose’s monograph on his friend Pablo Picasso, published in 1958 by Victor Gollancz. With a full-page mixed media (crayon, pen-and-ink) rendering on the hal...

Vintage Modernism Arts & Architecture Magazine July 1951 John Entenza editor and publisher 9.75 W x 12.75 H Preowned used vintage condition Refer to all images

2 Volume set: Book of Trees and Book of Shrubs, by William Carey Grimm. The Stackpole Company, Harrisburg, PA, 1957. Pair of 1st Ed books with dust jackets and slip case. William Car...