Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Holmes, Oliver Wendell. the Professor at the Breakfast Table. Ticknor & Fields, Boston, 1860.
Price: US$15.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: VERY GOOD+ spine mildly darkened, shelf wear to spine ends.
Seller: Barrister, Inc., Davie, FL, U.S.A.
Price: US$18.00 + shipping
Description: Book Condition: good/Very good. Sharp cornered. Tight binding. Inside pages clean. Signature on front end page. Chip at spine edges. Loose cover page.
Seller: Ken's Book Haven, Coopersburg, PA, U.S.A.
Price: US$20.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Brown cloth, bordered and with front panel device in blind, lettered on spine panel in gilt. Mild surface rubbing, edges and extremities a bit rubbed, corners slightly curled but not rubbed or exposed, a bit soft at heel of spine. [ii],410 pp. Pale pink endpapers, marbled text block fore-edge. Interior generally clean, slightly toned, with a few instances of slight scattered foxing. Solid copy. 1st edition, issued Dec. 1859, with 1860 date on lower title (preceding the British edition). A penciled note on front flyleaf indicates that this copy was purchased by its former owner in Odessa, U.S.S.R. in July 1934. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall
Seller: Saucony Book Shop, Kutztown, PA, U.S.A.
Holmes, Oliver Wendell. THE PROFESSOR AT THE BREAKFAST-TABLE WITH THE STORY OF IRIS. , 1860.
Price: US$24.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: Boston 1860 Ticknor and Fields. 8vo., 410pp., index. Pressed brown cloth. Nice copy, near Fine.
Seller: Xerxes Fine and Rare Books and Documents, Glen Head, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$25.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Octavo. [2], 410 pages, [1]. Brown pebble cloth hardcover with publisher seal stamped on the front board and gilt title on the spine. Cloth chipped bottom of the spine. Previous owner name etched out in pen on the front paste down. Light foxing and toning to the contents. Binding is slightly shaken in the middle. Copyright date is 1859. A good reading copy.
Seller: Americana Books, ABAA, Stone Mt, GA, U.S.A.
HOLMES, Oliver Wendell.. Professor At The Breakfast Table.. Ticknor And Fields, Boston, 1860.
Price: US$25.00 + shipping
Description: 410 pp. 8vo. Publisher's brown patterned cloth. First edition. A fine copy.
Seller: Jeffrey H. Marks, Rare Books, ABAA, Rochester, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$25.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Brown pebbled cloth, publisher's logo blindstamped on boards, gilt titles on spine. Cloth has rubbing and wear with light chipping at edges of spine. First 150 pages have faint dampstaining at top and fore-edges.
Seller: Acme Book Company, Fayetteville, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$26.25 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: 8vo; 410 pages; Minor rubbing, bumping, and edgewear to the blind-stamped covers, book otherwise has been well taken care of.
Seller: Circle City Books, tucson, AZ, U.S.A.
Price: US$28.63 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: 410pp. 1860. First edition. A lovely, clean, tight very good first edition copy in original publisher's brown cloth - with gilt embossed spine, blind embossed motifs to the boards and original brown endpapers. A neat ink former owner's name to the head of the preliminary blank page. The head and tail of the spine a little bumped. A very good, clean, tight copy.
Seller: Trumpington Fine Books Limited, Gilmilnscroft, Ayrshire, Scotland, United Kingdom
Price: US$30.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First edition (Blanck 8791). Brown pebbled cloth. Slight wear at head and foot of spine, some bubbling inside front cover, previous owner's inscription in ink, else VG.
Seller: Pride and Prejudice-Books, Ballston Lake, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$32.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1860. First edition. 12mo. Hard cover binding, 410 pp. including index. Chocolate end papers. Number inside front board. No other writing inside, hinges sound. Spine faded. Very good. Size: 12 mo.
Seller: Rose's Books IOBA, Harwich Port, MA, U.S.A.
HOLMES, OLIVER WENDELL. THE PROFESSOR AT THE BREAKFAST-TABLE. , 1860.
Price: US$50.00 + shipping
Description: HOLMES, Oliver Wendell. THE PROFESSOR AT THE BREAKFAST-TABLE; OR THE STORY OF IRIS. Boston: Ticknor & Fields, 1860. Sm. 8vo., embossed brown cloth. First Trade Edition. [BAL 8791]. Very Good (tight, with little wear binding). $50.00.
Seller: Antic Hay Books, Asbury Park, NJ, U.S.A.
Holmes, Oliver Wendell. THE PROFESSOR AT THE BREAKFAST-TABLE;. N, Boston, 1860.
Price: US$63.12 + shipping
Description: with The Story of Iris. Pp. [iv]+410; index; brown cloth, decorated in blind, spine lettered in gilt, edges rubbed and worn; bookplate on upper pastedown, occasional light foxing, fore-edge of a few leaves carelessly opened, a few pencilled notes, inner margin of last leaf lightly chipped and torn; Ticknor and Fields, Boston, 1860. First trade edition. BAL 8791; Ives p. 171.
Seller: Kay Craddock - Antiquarian Bookseller, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Price: US$75.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First edition, BAL 8791. iv, 410 pages, index, brown cloth, gilt spine title, Trade edition measuring 7 3/4 x 5 1/4". Spine ends chipped, one signature started, light wear, spine lettering clear and bright.
Seller: Barry Cassidy Rare Books, Sacramento, CA, U.S.A.
Price: US$88.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Book has modest wear to the head of the spine. Gilt lettering on the spine is complete but a tad dull. First edition first issue wilth the less common double imprint.
Seller: Uncommon Books, Glastonbury, CT, U.S.A.
HOLMES, OLIVER WENDELL. THE PROFESSOR AT THE BREAKFAST-TABLE. , 1860.
Price: US$125.00 + shipping
Description: HOLMES, Oliver Wendell. THE PROFESSOR AT THE BREAKFAST-TABLE; OR THE STORY OF IRIS. Boston: Ticknor & Fields, 1860. Sm. 8vo., embossed brown cloth. First Trade Edition. [BAL 8791]. Near fine (tiny ink name front blank page with ink presentation on verso; minor wear & soil). Nice condition. $125.00.
Seller: Antic Hay Books, Asbury Park, NJ, U.S.A.
HOLMES, Oliver Wendell. PROFESSOR AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE. , 1860.
Price: US$125.00 + shipping
Description: HOLMES, Oliver Wendell. THE PROFESSOR AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE; with the Story of Iris. Boston: Ticknor and Fields. 1860. First trade edition. 8vo. [4],410 pp. Bound by Stikeman & Co. in half, polished red morocco with red cloth sides, gilt title at spine, marbled endpapers, t.e.g. Bookplate at front pastedown. Spine shows a few rubbed spots at heel, crown and bands, but clean and fresh overall. Near fine. (BAL 8791).
Seller: Boston Book Company, Inc. ABAA, Boston, MA, U.S.A.
Price: US$150.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: index, 410p. Blindstamped brown cloth with beveled edges. 21.7cm. All edges gilt. Minor fraying at ends of backstrip and along other extremities. Text lightly browned.
Seller: McBlain Books, ABAA, Hamden, CT, U.S.A.
Price: US$172.50 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: 8 x 5", half green leather; marbled boards; teg, 410pp with index, corners bumped, outer hinges creasing, spine a bit dull, still a decent decorative leather binding. With Otto Orren Fisher's bookplate.
Seller: John K King Used & Rare Books, Detroit, MI, U.S.A.
Holmes, Oliver Wendell. The Professor at the Breakfast Table. Ticknor and Fields, 1860.
Price: US$175.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Bound in the original pebbled brown cloth which is blind stamped on the front and rear boards. Lettering stamped in gold on the spine. There is wear and rubbing to the top and bottom of the spine ends with a tiny chip on bottom edge. Corners are bumped worn a bit. Name and address in very small lettering on FFEP. Brown coated white endpapers show some chipping on edges. Rear board bumped on fore edge. Pages 41-48, 89, 377-384 torn in gutter, it appears to have happened when one used their finger and not a letter opener to separate the pages; does not affect text. P. 215 has marginal staining. Page edges are slightly age toned.
Seller: Bearly Read Books, Sudbury, MA, U.S.A.
Price: US$175.00 + shipping
Description: First Edition. Publisher's cloth. BAL 8791. Bookplates; name erased on the first blank; a nearly fine, bright copy. All books described as first editions are first printings unless otherwise noted.
Seller: Peter L. Stern & Co., Inc, Newton, MA, U.S.A.
Price: US$220.00 + shipping
Description: First printing. 12mo (20cm). In original brown publisher's cloth, titled in gold on spine, with blindstamped boards; brown coated endpapers; [4], 410pp. A solid copy, gently rubbed, with one gathering slightly loose and perforation to front hinge over sewing, but overall Very Good. With the preferred single imprint. CURRIER & TILTON pp. 88-90; BAL 8791.
Seller: Lorne Bair Rare Books, ABAA, Winchester, VA, U.S.A.
Price: US$225.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: 12mo (7 1/4" x 5"), original blind-stamped and pebbled-brown publisher's cloth with gold lettering on spine, blind-stamped rules and ornament on front cover, chocolate brown-coated endpapers, [vi] + 410 pages. Green cloth slipcase with leather label. Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. (1809 - 1894) was an American physician, poet, and polymath based in Boston. A member of the Fireside Poets, he was acclaimed by his peers as one of the best writers of the day. His most famous prose works are the "Breakfast-Table" series, which began with The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table (1858). He was also an important medical reformer. In addition to his work as an author and poet, Holmes also served as a physician, professor, lecturer and inventor and, although he never practiced it, he received formal training in law. The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table (1858) is a collection of Holmes' essays originally published in The Atlantic Monthly in 1857 and 1858 before being collected in book form. This edition of The Professor at the Breakfast-Table was serialized in 1859 and appeared in book form during December just in time for the '59 Christmas trade. It also contained more than a dozen poems. The essays take the form of a chiefly one-sided dialogue between the unnamed Author and the other residents of a New England boarding house who are known only by their profession, location at the table or other defining characteristics. The topics discussed range from an essay on the unexpected benefits of old age to the finest place to site a dwelling and comments on the nature of conversation itself. The tone of the book is distinctly Yankee and takes a seriocomic approach to the subject matter. These urbane pieces present imaginary conversations at a Boston boardinghouse, reflecting Holmes¿s opinions, charm, and wit. in some sense a sequel to the more well-known "Autocrat of the Breakfast Table" is full of gems of aphoristic writing. Philosophical, religious and social insight abound. The two introductions, written decades apart acknowledge the momentous changes that took place with the Civil War and in each subsequent decade and the fact that sequels are never as well-received as the first book in a series SUPERIOR COPY of this classic of 19th century American literature: tight, clean, bright with minimal foxing and only slight rubbing to extremities. Previous owner's light inscription on front free endpaper. BAL 8791 Currier Tilton, Bibliography of Oliver Wendell Holmes, pp.88-89f.
Seller: Borg Antiquarian, Lake Forest, IL, U.S.A.
Oliver Wendell Holmes. The Professor at the Breakfast Table. Ticknor and Fields, Boston, 1860.
Price: US$250.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: Publisher's original pebbled brown cloth in better than usual condition with little wear and fairly bright gilt titling to the spine. Minor spot of wear-through to the front paste down but overall a clean tight copy in collectible condition. Diminutive owner stamp to front free end paper. BAL 8791.
Seller: Wiggins Fine Books ABAA, ILAB, SNEAB, Shelburne Falls, MA, U.S.A.
Price: US$250.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First trade edition with the 1860 (MDCCCLX) date and double imprint J.B. Lippincott, Philadelphia added on title page. First appearing in *The Atlantic Monthly*. Original blind-stamped, pebbled brown cloth with gilt-stamped spine title. Pages 203-206 with short tears on edges, spine ends and corners nicked and bumped, still a very good copy. BAL, 8791. Scarce with the double imprint.
Seller: Between the Covers-Rare Books, Inc. ABAA, Gloucester City, NJ, U.S.A.
Price: US$250.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Bibliography of American Literature number 8791: "Large Paper Edition" measuring 8 5/8 x 5 11/16. BAL notes that 500 copies of this edition were printed, as opposed to the "Trade Edition" of which there were 5000. iv, 410. Publisher's pebble cloth with gilt lettering. All edges gilt.
Seller: Barry Cassidy Rare Books, Sacramento, CA, U.S.A.
Price: US$250.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: 8vo, original brown pebbled cloth stamped in gilt & blind. Boston: Ticknor & Fields, 1860. First Edition. A tight copy, the binding in unusually fine condition having spent a good part of its life in a 1/4 leather slipcase. Internally, one leaf has a torn corner, with no loss of text.
Seller: Argosy Book Store, ABAA, ILAB, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$250.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: 410 pages, index; large-paper issue; dark brick-red pebbled-cloth blind-stamped covered boards, beveled edges, gilt spine titles, all edges gilt; some shelfwear to bottom of boards, spine ends slightly worn; front endpaper has a short (3/4") closed tear, unobtrusive; faint line of discoloration on first page of story; overall, in good plus condition.
Seller: Certain Books, ABAA, Bolivia, NC, U.S.A.
HOLMES, Oliver Wendell. PROFESSOR AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE. , 1860.
Price: US$275.00 + shipping
Description: HOLMES, Oliver Wendell. THE PROFESSOR AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE; with the Story of Iris. Boston: Ticknor and Fields. 1860. First trade edition. 8vo. [4],410 pp. Original brown diapered cloth. Inner front hinge is starting, contemporary bookplate, else a fine copy with just a hint of rubbing housed in a lovely custom half morrocco slipcase and three panel folding sheath. (BAL 8791).
Seller: Boston Book Company, Inc. ABAA, Boston, MA, U.S.A.
Price: US$400.00 + shipping
Description: First edition. 1 vols. 8vo. Tipped to the front pastedown is a small card signed by the author "Oliver Wendell Holmes Boston April 2d 1877" BAL 8791 Original brown pebbled cloth. Minor rubbing to extremities, else a fine, attractive copy
Seller: James Cummins Bookseller, ABAA, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$445.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: 1860. These urbane pieces present imaginary conversations at a Boston boardinghouse, reflecting Holmes's opinions, charm, and wit. 1st Printing. Large paper edition, only 230 copies in this format, very rare. Holmes apparently used this edition for gifts. 1860 on title page. Currier notes that the first impression of the large paper issue consisted of 530 copies, of which 300 were cut down (to make the regular trade edition) before binding. BAL 8791. Shiny black leather spine and board tips. 5-ribbed spine with gold decor and red title, author fields. Blue marbled paper covered boards; identical endpapers. All page edges gold gilt. Leather weakening at hinges. Light wear at spine top. Paper stock darkened from white, but not browned, text clear and readable. Has tiny tiny Goodspeed Boston stamp. For nearly a century, Goodspeed's in Boston was one of the world's pre-eminent rare book shops. The firm was founded in 1898 by Charles Eliot Goodspeed, who recorded the shop's early history in his book, 'Yankee Bookseller', published in 1937. Was likely rebound in leather and marbled endpapers by Goodspeed. 410 pages. RBR9
Seller: BookScene, Hull, MA, U.S.A.
Price: US$500.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Octavo, 410pp., Gilt lettered and decorated cover and spine. Top edge is gilt. Rebound in full leather with gilt inner dentelles Mild fading on spine. New endpapers. Original spine and front board cloth bound in at rear of book. First trade edition. Currier notes that the first impression of the large paper issue consisted of "530 copies, of which 300 were cut down to make the regular trade edition before binding. This work first appeared serially in The Atlantic Monthly. It contained the first printing of several poems, including De Sauty, The Opening of the Piano, The Two streams, and Under the Violets. BAL 8791. Holmes [1809-94], was an American author and physician. He began his medical career as a general practitioner but shifted into the academic field, becoming professor of anatomy and physiology at Dartmouthand later was dean of the Harvard medical school. A stimulating and popular speaker, he published two important medical lectures, one in opposition to the practice of homeopathy and the other on the nature of fevers. His first important poem,"Old Ironsides" (1830), was a protest against the scrapping of the fighting ship Constitution. In 1857 he began to contribute to the Atlantic Monthly which he named the famous series of "Breakfast-table" sketches, which were collected in The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table (1858) and several subsequent volumes. These urbane pieces present imaginary conversations at a Boston boardinghouse, reflecting Holmes¿s opinions, charm, and wit. Among his other notable works are three novels presenting a scientific approach to psychological traits, most notably Elsie Venner and biographies of his friends John Lothrop Motley and Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Seller: Sean Fagan, Rare Books, Buford, GA, U.S.A.
Price: US$600.00 + shipping
Description: Original pebbled brown cloth, decorated in blind. Aside from a loose gathering, a lovely copy, with a clean binding and interior. First edition in book form. With the rare double imprint. This work first appeared serially in The Atlantic Monthly. It contained the first printing of several poems, including De Sauty, The opening of the piano, The two streams, and Under the violets. BAL, 8791; C&T, p. 88.
Seller: B & L Rootenberg Rare Books, ABAA, Sherman Oaks, CA, U.S.A.
Price: US$650.00 + shipping
Description: First Edition with the 1860 (MDCCCLX) title page date. Complete with index. This copy has a full-page letter written and signed by Oliver Wendell Holmes glued onto the front chocolate brown endpaper: "Beverly Farms, Mass. Oct. 5th 1887. My dear Mr. Miller, It will give me great pleasure to copy the lines you mention in the book when it comes. But it has not come as yet, and I can only send you this promise, daily awaiting the little volume. Very truly yours, O.W. Holmes."The letter is written in dark black ink, and there is some light smudging to the last three letters of Holmes' name as if his hand gently brushed against it upon penning it. A relatively worn binding in the original terracotta cloth which is blindstamped on the front and rear boards and brightly stamped brightly in gold on the spine. There is wear and rubbing to the top and bottom of the spine ends with some modest chipping and small loss of cloth, especially at the top edges. With wear at the corners as well. Internally clean and tight; mottling to the rear chocolate endpapers. Overall, an attractive copy with Holmes' original hand-written letter glued in along one edge. First Edition with the 1860 (MDCCCLX) title page date. Complete with index.
Seller: Brainerd Phillipson Rare Books, Holliston, MA, U.S.A.
Holmes, Oliver Wendell. The Professor at the Breakfast Table. Ticknor and Fields, Boston, 1860.
Price: US$750.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: The Professor at the Breakfast Table by Oliver Wendell Holmes. Tipped in handwritten and signed letter. First Printing in original dark brown cloth. Publisher: Ticknor and Fields, Boston, 1860. Letter tipped on the second free endpaper. Signed and dated Jan 1st, 1866. Binding is in near fine condition, slight wear at the top of the spine. Contents clean, darkened spot on front free endpaper, slight cracking to rear endpaper, else a wonderful copy. 410 pages. Protected in Mylar. Inventory #12-098. Language: eng Language: eng Language: eng
Seller: Discovery Bay Old Books ABAA, ILAB, Brentwood, CA, U.S.A.