Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
James, Henry. The Princess Casamassima [1 Vol. MacMillan and Co., London, 1886.
Price: US$35.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: No catalogue. Endpapers have faded. Top end of spine has a defect that has been poorly fixed by a piece of vinyl like material. Corners are lightly bumped. ; Bal 10578. 1 volume edition.
Seller: Willis Monie-Books, ABAA, Cooperstown, NY, U.S.A.
Henry James. The Princess Casamassima. Macmillan and Co., London and New York, 1886.
Price: US$45.00 + shipping
Condition: Fair
Description: A copy with many flaws, but holding together firmly. If you enjoy the sensation of reading a Henry James as it first appeared, this is for you. Ex-library; spine mended on both sides and ends with duct tape; inner hinges also mended with tape. Internally fine.
Seller: Bryn Mawr Bookstore, Cambridge, MA, U.S.A.
James, Henry. The Princess Casamassima. Macmillan and Company, London, 1886.
Price: US$50.00 + shipping
Condition: Fair
Description: An early one-volume edition, with date of 1886 on title page and copyright page. An ex-library copy, with a bookplate and a stamp on the inside front board, stamps on the front endpaper, a "discarded" stamp and blind stamp on title page, blind stamp on page 3, pocket on inside back board, and Dewey decimal number in gold on the spine. Top half-inch of spine worn off; corners worn, tail of spine frayed; hinges weak; spine slant; no dust jacket; Mylar protected.
Seller: Black Falcon Books, Wellesley, MA, U.S.A.
James, Henry. The Princess Casamassima. Macmillan and Co., London, 1886.
Price: US$95.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: 8vo. Hardcover. Bluish-green cloth with gilt spine lettering. 596pp. 1st edition. Slight spine cock. Previous owner's name on front end-paper dated 1887. Light foxing to end-papers & a bit on fore-edge. Cloth of corner points just barely worn through. Better looking than it sounds.
Seller: Kevin T. Ransom- Bookseller, Amherst, NY, U.S.A.
James, Henry. The Princess Casamassima: A Novel. Macmillan and Co., London, 1886.
Price: US$135.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: A good+ copy of the first (British) hardcover edition, lacking a dust-jacket. The text is wholly unmarked, pristine. Evident spine cock. Front and rear gutters are split at the endpapers, revealing the webbings, which remain intact, with a resultant wobble to the front board only. Wear, fraying, and a bit of spotting at the extremities of the green cloth binding, with a 1" split of the cloth mid-way down the front spine seam.
Seller: Works on Paper, DeKalb, IL, U.S.A.
James, Henry. The Princess Casamassima. A Novel. Macmillan, London, 1886.
Price: US$175.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Octavo. (4) 596pp. Original dark green cloth with with gilt bordered embossed decor on cover and spine, gilt lettering on spine, embossed decor on back cover. Light wear along edges, some very light staining on back cover. Spine lightly cocked. Light damp-staining on endpapers. Blind stamp on page three. Block lightly age-toned.
Seller: ERIC CHAIM KLINE, BOOKSELLER (ABAA ILAB), Santa Monica, CA, U.S.A.
Price: US$364.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: First American (and first single-volume) Edition, First Issue (with 1886 title page), of James's only overtly political novel. Crown 8vo (187 x 117mm): [4],596pp. BAL first-state binding: blue-green S cloth, front cover and spine stamped in gilt and black, rear cover stamped in blind, spine lettered in gilt, with no catalog inserted. Cover edges very lightly rubbed, end-sheets toned, small stain to fore-edge (not affecting text), but an excellent example, tightly bound and virtually pristine throughout (apparently unread). Edel & Laurence A29b. BAL 10578. Sadleir 1282a. First published serially in The Atlantic Monthly, in 1885 and 1886, then in three volumes, in 1886. This single-volume edition was printed in London, and the earliest issues were exported to America. The story of an intelligent but confused young London bookbinder, Hyacinth Robinson, who becomes involved in radical politics and a terrorist assassination plot. N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, carefully preserved in archival, removable mylar sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).
Seller: Fine Editions Ltd, Lancaster, PA, U.S.A.
Henry James. The Princess Casamassima. Macmillan and Co., London and New York, 1886.
Price: US$448.30 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: The first American edition, issued from the English in one volume, of this novel by Henry James, in the first issue cloth binding. The first American edition of this novel, issued from the UK edition in one volume, first thus. Preceded by the true first UK edition in three volumes. In the first issue original publisher's cloth binding. A novel by Henry James, following the story of London bookbinder who becomes involved in radical politics and a terrorist assassination plot.Henry James was an American-born British author, regarded as a key transitional figure between literary realism and literary modernism, and considered to be one of the greatest authors in the English language. In the original publisher's full cloth binding. Externally smart with shelf wear and bumping to the head and tail of the spine, minor chipping to the extremities. Previous ownership inscription to the half title. Internally, the binding is slightly tender, split to pp. 208 and 224, held by four cords only. The pages are bright and clean. Good
Seller: Rooke Books PBFA, Bath, United Kingdom
Henry James. The Princess Casamassima. Macmillan, London and New York, 1886.
Price: US$505.94 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: The first issue of the first single volume edition of Henry James's tragic late nineteenth century novel, concerned with radical politics and a political assassination. The first issue of the first single volume edition of this work, preceded by the three volume first edition. The first issue, in the BAL first state binding, with front board and back strip stamped in gilt and black, and blind stamping to the rear board. With the correct date of 1886 to the title page and colophon.An excellent copy of this novel by major literary figure Henry James - author of such works as 'The Turn of the Screw' and 'The Ambassadors' - in which an intelligent but confused young London bookbinder, named Hyacinth Robinson, becomes involved in radical politics and a terrorist assassination plot. He meets the beautiful Princess Casamassima, who previously appeared in James novel 'Roderick Hudson'.With an inscription to the half title.A bright copy of this work. In the publisher's original cloth binding. Bumping to spine tail, with loss of cloth and small split to tail of front joint, with board holding firm. Otherwise, externally excellent. Inscription to half title. Internally, firmly bound. Pages clean and bright. Very Good
Seller: Rooke Books PBFA, Bath, United Kingdom
JAMES, HENRY.. The Princess Casamassima. London: Macmillan & Co. and New York, 1886, 1886.
Price: US$750.00 + shipping
Description: First American Edition; issued from the English one volume edition sheets; firs binding; contemporary owner's inscription; very good or a little better. All books described as first editions are first printings unless otherwise noted.
Seller: Peter L. Stern & Co., Inc, Newton, MA, U.S.A.
JAMES, Henry.. The Princess Casamassima - A Novel.. Macmillan, London., 1886.
Price: US$832.56 + shipping
Description: First edition. Octavo. Three volumes: pp 252; [iv], 257, [1], [2] adverts; [iv], 242, [2] adverts. Original green cloth. 750 sets of this three-decker were issued. From the library of essayist and Liberal politician Augustine Birrell with his monogram bookplate on the front pastedown of each volume.A set which is somewhat the worse for wear: W.H. Smith's Library labels on each pastedown (over which Birrell has placed his bookplate); covers rubbed at edges and joints; heads and tails of spines scuffed; last couple of leaves of last volume creased at top edges. Internally very good.
Seller: Peter Ellis, Bookseller, ABA, ILAB, London, United Kingdom
James, Henry. The Princess Casamassima. Three volume set. Macmillan and Co, New York, 1886.
Price: US$833.84 + shipping
Description: 200mm x 140mm (8" x 6"). 252pp; 257pp, 1pp ad; 242pp, 1pp ad. First edition of 750 copies. Heavy item - shipping supplement may apply for overseas. G : in Good conditio. Covers rubbed with some marks and edge-wear. Respined retaining original cloth spines though showing some signs of wear and minor loss along spine ends and external joints
Seller: Barter Books Ltd, Alnwick, NORTH, United Kingdom
JAMES, HENRY.. The Princess Casamassima. London: Macmillan & Co., 1886, 1886.
Price: US$1000.00 + shipping
Description: First Edition. Three volumes. Bound recently in 3/4 black morocco and marbled boards with gilt-decorated spines, all edges gilt; with the half-titles, but without the ad leaves at the end of volumes II and III. A fine set; only 750 copies were printed. All books described as first editions are first printings unless otherwise noted.
Seller: Peter L. Stern & Co., Inc, Newton, MA, U.S.A.
James (Henry). The Princess Casamassima. A Novel [3 Vols.]. Macmillan, 1886.
Price: US$1216.82 + shipping
Description: FIRST EDITION, pp. [iv], 252; [iv], 257, [2, ads]; [iv], 242, [2, ads], foolscap 8vo, modern binding of full dark-green morocco, single fillet border to boards, the backstrip with lettering and decorations in gilt between five raised bands, a.e.g., marbled endpapers, very good. An important work of his middle-period, the first of his novels 'with no major American characters' (ODNB); it had originally been serialised in The Atlantic Monthly in 1885-6. (Edel A29a)
Seller: Blackwell's Rare Books ABA ILAB BA, Oxford, United Kingdom
James, Henry. The Princess Casamassima: A Novel.. Macmillan and Co, New York, 1886.
Price: US$1250.00 + shipping
Description: First American edition of one of James's "three formidable novels" published in the 1880s along with The Bostonians and The Tragic Muse. Octavo, original publisher's cloth. In near fine condition, name opposite the half-title page. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell case. "The Princess Casamassima, a panoramic novel with a vivid English setting, documents a sensitive bookbinder's attempt to come to terms with his illegitimate birth and social disadvantages through involvement in subversive political action. Even more naturalistic than its predecessor [The Bostonians], The Princess reads today like an elegy for the beauty and traditions painfully evolved by civilized society and now endangered by what Yeats called 'mere anarchy'" (Gargano, 122).
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
JAMES, Henry.. The Princess Casamassima.. London: Macmillan and Co., 1886, 1886.
Price: US$1601.08 + shipping
Description: First edition in book form, handsomely bound, and one of 750 copies. The Princess Casamassima is one of James's "three formidable novels" composed during the 1880s, standing alongside The Bostonians (1886) and The Tragic Muse (1890) as demonstrating "a creative vigor and willingness to experiment that became distinctive watermarks of his career" (Gargano, p. 120). "The Princess Casamassima, a panoramic novel with a vivid English setting, documents a sensitive bookbinder's attempt to come to terms with his illegitimate birth and social disadvantages through involvement in subversive political action. Even more naturalistic than its predecessor [The Bostonians], The Princess reads today like an elegy for the beauty and traditions painfully evolved by civilized society and now endangered by what Yeats called 'mere anarchy'" (ibid., p. 122). It was initially serialized in the Atlantic Monthly from September 1885 to October 1886. Edel & Laurence A29a; Supino 29. James W. Gargano, "The Middle Years", A Companion to Henry James Studies, 1993. 3 volumes, octavo (183 x 119 mm). Mid-20th-century blue half morocco by Bayntun, spines lettered in gilt, gilt petals on raised bands, compartments framed in gilt, blue cloth sides, single gilt fillet trimming sides and corners, marbled endpapers, top edges gilt. Skilfully obscured library blind stamp to initial leaves of each volume. Spines uniformly and lightly sunned, rubbing to cloth, offsetting to outer leaves else clean, complete with half-titles and rear adverts. A very good copy indeed.
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom
JAMES, Henry.. The Princess Casamassima: A Novel.. Macmillan and Co., London, 1886.
Price: US$2000.00 + shipping
Description: 3 vols. 8vo, publisher's blue-green cloth. First edition. The cloth is uniformly discolored (lightened) with a few tiny losses; all volumes tight and sound. Each title page stamped at head: "With the Publishers' Compliments."
Seller: Jeffrey H. Marks, Rare Books, ABAA, Rochester, NY, U.S.A.
JAMES, HENRY.. The Princess Casamassima. London: Macmillan & Co., 1886, 1886.
Price: US$5500.00 + shipping
Description: First Edition. Three volumes; publisher's cloth; only 750 copies were printed. Spines a little cocked; some minor discolorations of the cover cloth, very possibly due to the one-time removal of labels; very good or better. A wealthy and beautiful woman becomes involved with both socialism and a socialist. All books described as first editions are first printings unless otherwise noted.
Seller: Peter L. Stern & Co., Inc, Newton, MA, U.S.A.
JAMES, Henry. Princess Casamassima A Novel.. Macmillan and Co, London, 1886.
Price: US$6500.00 + shipping
Description: First edition, one of 750 sets published in October of 1886. Three octavo volumes. Advertisement leaf at the end of volumes two and three. Publisher's dark green cloth, ruled in black on boards, gilt lettering on the spine. Green coated endpapers renewed. Spine extremities slightly bumped, light rubbing to tips and joints. Uncut. A very good copy. In custom cloth clamshell. "In the middle phase of his career, James wrote two novels dealing with social reformers and revolutionaries, The Bostonians (1886) and Princess Casamassima." (Webster's Dictionary of American Authors, 207) These novels were different in that they strayed from the usual themes found in James' works and focused more on the poor and working-class characters and radical politics. BAL 10577. Edel and Laurence A29a. HBS 64325. $6,500.
Seller: Heritage Book Shop, ABAA, Beverly Hills, CA, U.S.A.
James, Henry. The Princess Casamassima. Macmillan, London, 1886.
Price: US$9500.00 + shipping
Description: First edition of Henry James's most overtly political novel, one of 750 copies, first published in the Atlantic Monthly. The Princess Casamassima traces the friendship of a radical London bookbinder and an idle princess with revolutionary sympathies: "By way of defending the aristocracy he said to her that it couldn't be true they were all a bad lot (he used that expression because she had let him know that she liked him to speak in the manner of the people)." The comparatively action-packed plot, which turns on a terrorist assassination attempt, shows the influence of Charles Dickens and Émile Zola on James more clearly than his introspective fiction. Edel & Laurence A29. A near-fine copy of a major novel. Three octavo volumes, measuring 7.5 x 5 inches: iv, 252; iv, 257, [3]; iv, 242, [2]. Original dark blue-green cloth, double-rule border and panel stamped in black and blind, spines lettered in gilt with gilt publisher's device and decorative rules at top and bottom stamped in black, brown-coated endpapers, all edges untrimmed. Two pages of publisher's advertisements at rear of Volume II; two pages of advertisements at rear of Volume III. Owner signature of E.S. Russell to title page of each volume. Tiny scuff to spine and chip to endpaper of Volume I. Housed in a custom clamshell box.
Seller: Honey & Wax Booksellers, ABAA, Brooklyn, NY, U.S.A.
James, Henry. The Princess Casamassima: A Novel.. Macmillan and Co., London, 1886.
Price: US$12500.00 + shipping
Description: First edition in book form of one of James's "three formidable novels" published in the 1880s along with The Bostonians and The Tragic Muse. Octavo, three volumes, original publisher's cloth with gilt titles to the spine, half-titles, 2 pages of advertisements at rear of vols. II and III. From the library of Barton Currie with his bookplate to the pastedown and later Maurice Sendak, although not marked. American journalist, author, and book collector Barton Currie contributed hundreds of articles and stories for publications such as New York Evening World, New York Evening Sun, Harper's Weekly and Good Housekeeping in the early part of the 20th century. Currie wrote from personal experience of the effect of bibliomania on the collector in his memoir Fishers of Books (1931), "The first symptom of bibliomania manifests itself by producing a form of somnambulism. You come out of a bookshop carrying a first edition of something or other. You cannot explain how or why you got it, or what you paid for it. But you have it; and when you arrive home with it you creep off to some secluded room and examine it. Then occurs the first little burning exaltation. Just a little glow to begin with, then by infinite gradations a consuming fire." Best known for his immensely popular illustrated childrenâs book, Where the Wild Things Are, Sendakâs career was launched in 1952 with the publication of Ruth Kraussâs A Hole Is to Dig. Their author-illustrator collaboration, facilitated by Harper & Row publisher and editor-in-chief of juvenile books Ursula Nordstrom, became something of a cultural phenomenon, spawning a host of imitators of their âunrulyâ and ârebelliousâ child protagonists. Now one of the scarcest and most desirable books in modern childrenâs literature, Sendakâs Where the Wild Things Are faced many opponents and was banned in several libraries upon publication in 1963. Its challengers accused the work as being âtoo darkâ and âtraumatizingâ to young children due to its often frightening imagery." It would become one of many âgood books for bad childrenâ edited and published by Nordstrom who disliked the genteel, sentimental tone of earlier American childrenâs literature and sought to change its purpose to appeal to childrenâs imaginations and emotions, rather than serve as adult-approved morality tales. Housed in a custom clamshell box by Zaehnsdorf. An exceptional example with noted provenance. "The Princess Casamassima, a panoramic novel with a vivid English setting, documents a sensitive bookbinder's attempt to come to terms with his illegitimate birth and social disadvantages through involvement in subversive political action. Even more naturalistic than its predecessor [The Bostonians], The Princess reads today like an elegy for the beauty and traditions painfully evolved by civilized society and now endangered by what Yeats called 'mere anarchy'" (Gargano, 122).
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.