Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Price: US$50.00 + shipping
Description: 111 pages. The Literary Guild resetting of the Random House limited edition. Laid-in, the Literary Guild "Wings," paphlet describing this publication. Orig. blue cloth sunned at head. Very good in worn dust wrapper
Seller: Royoung Bookseller, Inc. ABAA, Ardsley, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$150.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Limited edition No. 1444 of 1470 signed by Rockwell Kent. Faded leather like tan boards with gilt embossed decoration.
Seller: My Dead Aunt's Books, Hyattsville, MD, U.S.A.
Price: US$175.00 + shipping
Description: Quarto; in tan polished linen cloth, with embossed titling and decorations picked out in gilt, and double rules to the perimeter of the upper board in gilt as well; 111 page, followed by the colophon; the edition is limited to 1470 numbered copies, of which this is #1324, signed by Rockwell Kent on the colophon; the spine has darkened a bit.~~Bennett Cerf was the force behind the storied publishing which he founded in 1927 with the idea that they would "publish a few books . at random". Rockwell Kent happened to be present at the genesis of the firm. He quickly sketched out the Random House logo. And then . this book was the first book published the company the following year, with the logo printed in a pattern on the endpapers in green and in tan. Near Fine binding.
Seller: BLACK SWAN BOOKS, INC., ABAA, ILAB, Richmond, VA, U.S.A.
VOLTAIRE, Jean Francois Marie Arouet De. Candide -- (Signed, Ltd. Ed.). Random House, NY, 1928.
Price: US$180.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Bound in tan cloth, with raised gilt letters and illustration to front panel and spine. Spine is a bit darkened. This is #1029 of 1470 signed copies. Signed by the illustrator, Rockwell Kent, on the limitation page. Decorated endsheets. 111 pg. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall
Seller: Michael J. Toth, Bookseller, ABAA, Springtown, PA, U.S.A.
Voltaire. Candide. Random House, 1928.
Price: US$200.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Hardbound, no Dust Jacket. Published in a Limited Edition of 1470 copies, of which this is # 950. "Candide" by Voltaire, with illustrations by Rockwell Kent. SIGNED by Rockwell Kent on the limitation page. Book shows some wear to its boards. Binding is slightly cracked at the front hinge and at a couple spots throughout the text block, but it is holding well at all of them. Interior pages are clean with no writing or similar marks. The bookplate of a previous owner is affixed to the front free end page. RARE!
Seller: Black Cat Books, Shelter Island, NY, U.S.A.
VOLTAIRE, Jean Francois Marie Arouet De and KENT, Rockwell. Candide. Random House, New York, 1928.
Price: US$200.00 + shipping
Description: Quarto, original tan cloth with gilt lettering, 111 pp. Number 423 of a limited edition of 1470 copies signed by Rockwell Kent. In the original glassine wrapper. Very good with foxing to text block edges, sunning to edges and spine ends, bit of dust soiling to rear endpapers, toning, staining, chipping and tearing to glassine.
Seller: Caroliniana, Aiken, SC, U.S.A.
Voltaire. Candide. Random House, New York, 1928.
Price: US$200.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Limited Edition of 1,470 copies, of which this is no. 785. Signed by the artist, Rockwell Kent on the limitations page. Very Good. Minor wear at spine-ends and mild toning to edges of boards and to spine. Binding is solid, contents in nice shape. Tipped in at the front is the ex libris label of Joseph Halle Schaffner, director of the clothing-manufacturing firm Hart, Schaffner, and Marx, and avid collector of books and manuscripts. 111 pages.
Seller: Brazos Bend Books, Houston, TX, U.S.A.
Voltaire, Jean Francois Marie Arouet de. Candide. Random House, 1928.
Price: US$250.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: 1066/1470, signed by Kent. Raised lettering on cover with gilt accent. Spine is a bit tanned. A little foxing on page edges. Name on front pastedown. B/W Rockwell Kent illustrations throughout.
Seller: Bearly Read Books, Sudbury, MA, U.S.A.
Voltaire, François-Marie Arouet. Candide signed by rockwell kent. New York: Random House, 1928.
Price: US$300.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: From the Estate of Barbara Walters. Illustrated and signed by Rockwell Kent. Limited edition #1353 of 1470 sold out copies. With description from bookseller Ursus Rare Books Ltd.Candide, satirical novel published in 1759 that is the best-known work by Voltaire. It is a savage denunciation of metaphysical optimism as espoused by the German philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz that reveals a world of horrors and folly. Voltaire s Candide, published when the author was 65 and condemned by numerous clerical and political authorities across Europe, was influenced by various atrocities of the mid-18th century, most notably the devastating Lisbon earthquake of 1755, the outbreak of the horrific Seven Years War in the German states, and the unjust execution of the English Admiral John Byng.
Seller: Clays rare and antique books, Seattle, WA, U.S.A.
Price: US$360.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: 111 Pp. #1159 Of 1450 Copies, The First Book Published By Random House, Illustrated Throughout By Rockwell Kent And Signed By Him On The Limitation Page. Binding And Gilt With Light Wear, Spine Gilt Mostly Worn Away But Title Very Clear, Some Browning Along Spine, Tiny Frays At Corners Of Spine, Contents Fine.
Seller: Arroyo Seco Books, Pasadena, Member IOBA, Pasadena, CA, U.S.A.
Price: US$575.00 + shipping
Description: A beautiful edition of Voltaire's satirical and witty critique of the human condition, religion, politics, and philosophy. Illustrated and signed by Rockwell Kent. This is the first book that was published by Random House. The firm was founded in 1927 by Bennett Cerf and Donald Klopfer, with the name inspired by Cerf's remark that they would "publish a few books on the side at random." Rockwell Kent, the leading commercial artist in the U. S. at that time, happened to be in Cerf and Klopfer's office when they came up with the name, and in five minutes sketched their trademark logo (Cerf, "At Random," p. 65). Bound in coarse ivory cloth with gilt embossed titles, rules, and illustration on upper board, title and ornaments on spine, decorative endpapers. Binding shows some mild age toning, gilt dulled on spine, some rubbing to gilt illustration on upper board. Binding sound. An attractive copy, very good condition overall. Cloth over boards. Quarto. 111 pages
Seller: Back Creek Books LLC, ABAA/ILAB, Annapolis, MD, U.S.A.
Voltaire, Jean Francois Marie Arouet De. Candide. Random House, New York, 1928.
Price: US$889.98 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Original beige cloth in folding red boards that fit in a matching elegant red slipcase that is a third leather and the rest paper-covered boards. First Edition thus and the first book published by Random House. No. 958 of 1470 copies signed by illustrator Rockwell Kent. Laid in is a signed Rockwell Kent print that was not connected to this book publication. The print is a wood engraving, “Girl on a Cliff,” which was one of 1750 copies issued from the press in 1930. Two white spots on the bottom edge of the slipcase, Very Good.
Seller: Pride and Prejudice-Books, Ballston Lake, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$2500.00 + shipping
Description: 111 pages. 29 x 19 cm. Limited edition, copy 527 of 1470 copies signed by Rockwell Kent. It is also the first book with the Random House imprint. Printed on all rag French paper and 95 coloured in the studios of the artist. Hand set in type designed by Lucien Bernhard and with paragraph designs by Kent. Some tape residue on inside back covers. Book plate inside front cover pastedown. Orig. illustrated and lettered beige cloth. Fine
Seller: Royoung Bookseller, Inc. ABAA, Ardsley, NY, U.S.A.
VOLTAIRE & KENT, Rockwell. Candide. Random House, New York, 1928.
Price: US$5000.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: Extensively illustrated throughout by Rockwell Kent, with each drawing hand-colored. 112 pages. Short slim 4to, handsomely rebound in 1/2 brown morocco and beige cloth boards. New York: Random House, 1928. A fine copy of the special limited printing with color images, printed by Elmer Adler's Pynston Printers. From a total of 1470 copies signed by Rockwell Kent, this is one of only 95 hand-coloured in the studio of the artist [This copy is un-numbered]. A splendid production, issued to celebrate the inauguration of Bennett Cerf's new company, Random House. The logo for Random House, used to this day, comes from the final illustration in the book -- an idealized country home filled with the ideas of the Enlightenment.
Seller: Argosy Book Store, ABAA, ILAB, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Voltaire; illustrated by Rockwell Kent. Candide. Random House, New York, 1928.
Price: US$7500.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: Spectacular hand-colored edition of Candide (1 of 95), issued to celebrate the inauguration of Bennett Cerf's new company, Random House. The logo for Random House, used to this day, comes from the final illustration in the book, by Rockwell Kent, depicting an idealized country home filled with the ideas of the Enlightenment. No slipcase. A beautiful book. 4to, handsomely rebound in 1/2 tan morocco over the original patterned cloth (which is very fresh). New York: Random House, 1928. A near fine copy with just a couple of minor spots in the margins, no bumps or tears. See photos.
Seller: Blue Sky Rare Books, Palm Springs, CA, U.S.A.