First Editions by Kenneth Roberts
Arranged alphabetically by title.



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    Roberts, Kenneth:  Black Magic.  Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill Co., 1924. First Edition. Very good in black cloth covered boards with faded gilt text stamping on the spine and on the front board. An octavo measuring 8 1/2" by 5 1/2" with a 1/8" hole in the cloth at the head of the spine and with fading of the cloth on the spine. Without a dust jacket. Signed and inscribed by the author on a Kenneth Roberts' book plate and signed a second time with "Best wishes" over his signature on the second free end paper. 250 pages illustrated with a black and white photographic frontispiece. A fairly scarce title and one seldom seen signed.
    TB01445  $300.00



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    Roberts, Kenneth:  The Collector's Whatnot.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1923. First Edition. Very Good in patterned paper covered boards with paper labels on the spine and front board. A small octavo measuring 8" by 5 1/4" with two, shallow chips from the head of the spine. In a good+ dust jacket dust jacket which is heavily faded especially on spine. Inscribed by Milton Kigallen and Kenneth Roberts at Christmas time of 1923. 147 pages of text illustrated with line art and other comical works of art.
    TB01465  $300.00




  • Cournos, John:  Famous Modern American Novelists.  New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1952. First Edition. Very good+ in red-brown cloth covered boards with black text stamping on the front board and on the spine with rubbing to the ends of the spine and lower edges of the boards. The book is one of the series of Biographies for Young People. This one contains tributes to nineteen authors amoung which are Booth Tarkington, Sinclair Lewis and Kenneth Roberts. 181 pages including an index.
    TB14292  $50.00



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    Roberts, Kenneth:  Florida.  New York: Harper & Brothers, 1926. First Edition. Good+ in green cloth covered boards with faded gilt text on the spine and readable gilt text and decorations on the front board. An octavo measuring 8 1/2" by 5 1/2" with a 1/8" tear to the cloth at the head of the spine which is well tanned so that the gilt text is unreadable Signed and inscribed "For Bingham Morris | from a fellow sufferer " by the author on the title page. Fewer than 5,000 copies of this title were sold by Harper and Brothers. 324 pages of text illustrated with black and white photographs.
    TB05743  $175.00



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    Roberts, Kenneth:  I Wanted To Write.  Garden Cty: Doubleday & Company, 1949. First Edition. Near fine in tan, linen covered boards with a gilt on read text block on the spine with decorated map end papers with the spine slightly tanned and at bump to the upper corner of the spine. In a fine jacket with the price intact but a later issue jacket with a price of $5.95 on the flap. Signed on a Kenneth Roberts book plate and tipped on to the second free end page. 471 pages including an index followed by several pages of ads for Roberts' books. The closest thing to Roberts' autobiography.
    TB13925  $200.00




  • Roberts, Kenneth:  Kenneth Roberts A Biographical Sketch An Informal Study.  New York: Doubleday Doran, 1936. First Edition, First printing. Good+ in heavy blue paper wraps with a stapled binding but with an archival tape repair at the upper edge of the front and rear panels with rubbing and flecking of the colors at the spine fold and two creases on the rear panel. Signed by the author on the verso of the front panel. A tribute to Kenneth Roberts prepared by his publisher, Doubleday The full title reads: Kenneth Roberts A Biographical Sketch An Informal Study His Books & Critical Opinions. 32 pages.
    TB14303  $50.00



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    Roberts, Kenneth:  Kenneth Roberts an American Novelist.  New York: Doubleday Doran & Co,, 1938. Probable first edition. Near fine in printed, heavy blue paper wraps over a stapled binding with very light rubbing to the spine edge of the cover and with two handwritten, marginal notations on pages 5, 22 and 23. Doubleday Doran normally uses the statement "First Edition" in their books; however, this lacks that typical slug and in 25 years of specializing in Roberts' books we have yet to see a copy with that statement. Signed and inscribed by the Roberts to "Jesse E. Walker | with best wishes" on the title page and dated "1952". A tribute to Roberts by his publisher, Doubleday Doran with several articles by individuals reviewing his work. 40 pages. Accompanying this signed and inscribed copy is a signed, typed letter from Roberts to Jesse E. Walker containing a brief discussion of the last edition of March To Quebec and the fact that as of that date (Nov. 22, 1952) there had been no further changes to that title. The letter goes on to note that this copy of Kenneth Roberts an American Novelist is enclosed which contains "the automobile routes that mark, as nearly as possible, the marches in some of my books." Also included is the original envelope from Roberts to Walker.
    TB29952  $85.00



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    Roberts, Kenneth:  Moreau de St. Mery's American Journey.  Garden City: Doubleday & Company, 1947. First Edition. Very good+ in off white cloth covered boards with a gilt on black title block on the spine. An octavo of 9 by 6 inches with the cloth on the front board slightly soiled, the spine lightly tanned and a gift inscription on the first free end page. Without its issued dust jacket. Overall a nice copy of this entirely true account of travel through post-Revolutionary America. An excellent source of information for genealogists and historians. The original document was discovered by Kenneth Roberts during his research for his book Lydia Bailey. Roberts and his wife translated this the first US edition from the French.
    TB32198  $20.00



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    Roberts, Kenneth:  Northwest Passage.  Garden City: Doubleday Doran, 1937. First Edition, First Printing. Near fine in decorated dark green cloth covered boards with map end papers with the hinge areas of the end papers showing very faint foxing due to a reaction with the glue employed in binding as is often found with this printing. In a very good+, unclipped dust jacket with very minor rubbing and wear to the ends of the spine area. Signed "With all the good wishes of | Kenneth Roberts" by the author on the title page. 709 pages of text. This was one of Robert's most popular books dealing with Major Robert Rogers, of Roger's Rangers and the French and Indian War. Very uncommon in such nice condition and signed without a personal inscription.
    TB32328  $225.00



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    Roberts, Kenneth:  Oliver Wiswell (Limited Edition).  New York: Doubleday, Doran Co., 1940. First Edition, Limited Edition. Both volumes of this two volume set are in near fine condition specially bound in full, red leather covered boards with five raised bands on each spine with gilt text in two of the compartments and gilt tooling in the others. The top edge of the text blocks are gilt, the end sheets are marbled paper and the leather turn-ins are decorated with gilt dentelles. This binding was most probably ordered by Roberts to be gifted to his friend, Doubleday, Doran publishing executive, Malcolm Johnson, who's name is listed in the collection of names who provided "generous assistance" in the creation and publication of this title. Both volumes are small quartos of 9 1/4 by 6 1/4 inches. There is a faint dampness stain to the extreme lower, inside edge to the first 70 pages of volume I. That stain does not impact on any of the text as it is limited to the lower margin. The lower quarter of the front joint to volume I shows a slight weakness. The hinges and joints for both volumes are otherwise fine. The trade version of this set was sold with glassine jackets and a paper covered slipcase. It is doubtful that a slipcase was made for this specially bound set. The binding was produced by The French Binders of Garden City, New York as evidenced by their gilt stamp on the front paste downs. This set is signed by Roberts and numbered 182 out of only 1,050 copies printed and sold. Volume I contains 411 pages of text and illustrated with a frontispiece portrait by Grant Wood and two, double page maps. Volume II contains pages 415 to 849 including a bibliography and text and is illustrated with two, two page maps. This title was a best selling novel for Roberts. It provides an insightful look at the American Revolution from a Loyalist's point-of-view. After reading it one is astounded that the war was even won by the American forces.
    TB33418  $300.00



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    Roberts, Kenneth:  Sun Hunting.  Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1922. First Edition, First state. Near fine in dark green cloth covered boards with gilt text on the spine and on the front board. A 12mo measuring 7 1/4" by 5" with a prior owner's book plate on the front paste down behind the dust jacket flap. In a very good+, unclipped dust jacket with 1/8" deep chips at the upper and lower edges of the spine area, rubbing and light wear to the folds to the panels and with several short closed tears to the upper edge of the spine area with related creasing. Signed by the author on a Kenneth Roberts' book plate. A total of 4,790 copies of this title were sold by the publisher. Quite uncommon when signed.
    TB01739  $350.00




  • Roberts, Kenneth:  Sun Hunting.  Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill Comp., 1922. First Edt. 1st state. Near fine in green cloth covered boards with gilt text stamping on the spine and the front board. In a good+ dust jacket with damp staining on the spine and front panel and 1/4" chips on the front panel and spine ends. A total of 4,790 copies of this title were sold by the publisher. Extremely uncommon in a dust jacket.
    TB05593  $225.00



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    Roberts, Kenneth:  Sun Hunting.  Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1922. First Edition, First State. Very good+ in dark green cloth covered boards with faded gilt text on the spine and bold gilt text stamped on the front board. A 12mo measuring 7 1/4" by 5". Without a dust jacket. Signed, warmly inscribed and dated Oct. 17th, 1928 by the author to Helen Bess Finch on the first free end page. 198 pages of text illustrated with black and white photographs. A total of 4,790 copies of this title were sold.
    TB01648  $200.00



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    Roberts, Kenneth L.:  Why Europe Leaves Home.  New York: Bobbs-Merrill, 1922. First Edition. Very good in dark red cloth covered boards with gilt text stamping on the spine. The cloth at the head and heel of the spine is very slightly rubbed. In a very good dust jacket chips at top of spine & small chip at bottom. Signed and inscribed by the author to Frederick S. Bigelow of the Saturday Evening Post and dated in the year of publication (April 20, 1922.) Reportedly only 2,011 copies of this book were published making it an extremely rare find and particularly so in a collectible jacket and inscribed by the author.
    TB00569  $700.00






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