Search Results: Authors starting with V from James Pepper Rare Books, Inc.

1930s. Original autograph signature of British author George Vaisey written in vintage fountain pen ink on a 4” x 3” piece of paper. Fine. George Vaisey is the author of ‘Give Me Yesterday.’

Cleveland: World Publishing Company, 1971. First Edition, First Printing. Jack Valenti’s special personal leather bound copy. Bound in full brown leather with gilt-stamping and tooling. Marbled endpapers with gilt inner dentelles. All edges of block are gilt. Fine condition. Jack Valenti (1921-2007) is best known in his role as President of the Motion Picture Association of America. During his 38 year position in the MPAA, Valenti created the MPAA film rating system which is still used today. Previously, he had been a right hand man to President Lyndon Johnson. In 1963, Valenti was in the John F. Kennedy motorcade in Dallas, and he is seen in the famous photograph of Lyndon Johnson being sworn in as President on Air Force One. Valenti flew back to Washington with Johnson and literally lived in the White House for two months helping Johnson take the reins of the presidency. Hollywood mogul and Democratic fundraiser Lew Wasserman pressured Lyndon Johnson to let Valenti leave in 1966 to run the MPAA.… Read More

N.p: Privately Published, n.d. Original 46 page spiral bound collection of essays, articles, and photocopies of newspaper pieces from the 1960s and 70s written by Hollywood executive Jack Valenti which he had privately printed, and this copy comes from his estate, with a Certificate of Authenticity. 8 1/2” x 11”. Fine copy. Jack Valenti (1921-2007) is best known in his long-time role as President of the Motion Picture Association of America from 1966 to 2004. During his 38 year position in the MPAA, Valenti created the MPAA film rating system which is still used today. In 1963, Valenti was in the John F. Kennedy motorcade in Dallas, and he is seen in the famous photograph of Lyndon Johnson being sworn in as President on Air Force One. Valenti flew back to Washington with Johnson and literally lived in the White House for two months helping Johnson take the reins of the presidency. He was the first special assistant to President Johnson and served at Johnson’s direction as a liaison to the… Read More

New York: Macfadden Books, 1923. First Edition. Laid in is an Original Autographed Check Signed by Rudolph Valentino made out to Curley Steeker, dated August 8, 1921, for $65.00, drawn on the Citizens Trust and Savings Bank in Hollywood, CA, with the recipient’s endorsement signature on the verso. The silent film star’s rare book of poetry. Some light general wear, very good without printed dust jacket as issued.

Hollywood, CA: Ben-Allah Company, 1926. First Edition. Paperbound in textured decorative stiff paper covers. Ownership signatures. Very good slightly handled copy with some minor edge wear. A book about the life and career of silent film star Rudolph Valentino (1895 - 1926).

New York: William Faro, Inc, 1931. First Edition. Former owner’s initials. Near fine sound copy with a trace of edge wear and a couple of minuscule tears to the paper label on the spine without dust jacket. The memoirs of the great silent star, Rudolph Valentino.

Los Angeles, 1920s. Silent film star Rudolph Valentino’s bookplate (4 1/2 x 5 1/4 inches). The bookplate reads in bold type “EX LIBRIS - RUDOLPH VALENTINO” and the illustration depicts a Medieval Crusades battle scene of a knight on horseback armed with a long lance and holding a large decorated shield in combat with a Muslim soldier armed with a long sword and carrying a shield, and bears the artist’s name, William Cameron Menzies. One of the greatest art directors and production designers in the history of Hollywood as well as a film director in his own right, Menzies was a good friend of Valentino and worked on Valentino’s films, Cobra, The Eagle, and The Son of the Shiek. Some of Menzies’s other superb work includes Gone With the Wind, Things to Come, Invaders From Mars, For Whom the Bell Tolls, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Our Town, Duel in the Sun, The Thief of Bagdad, etc. Fine condition

Paris: Librairie Hachette, 1881. Text in French with a massive number of illustrations of all kinds. Heavy volume bound in full gilt-stamped and tooled white vellum. Spine moderately darkened, covers slightly dust soiled. Some splitting of vellum at spine extremities but not really affecting the solidness of this well bound book. 840 pages. 12 1/2 inches tall by 8 1/2 inches wide by 2 1/2 inches thick. Silent film star Rudolph Valentino’s own copy with the large Valentino bookplate (4 1/2 x 5 1/4 inches) on the flyleaf. The bookplate reads in bold type “EX LIBRIS - RUDOLPH VALENTINO” and the illustration depicts a Medieval Crusades battle scene of a knight on horseback armed with a long lance and holding a large decorated shield in combat with a Muslim soldier armed with a long sword and carrying a shield, and bears the artist’s name, William Cameron Menzies. One of the greatest art directors and production designers in the history of Hollywood as well as a film director in his own right,… Read More

New York: Dodd Mead, 1980. First Edition. Near fine copy with a very minor bump to the top edge of the spine and some foxing to the top and outer edges in a near fine bright dust jacket with a hint of handling. A hard-boiled murder mystery featuring detective Harry Stoner.

New York: Dodd Mead, 1980. First Edition. Fine copy in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket with a trace of edge wear. A hard-boiled murder mystery featuring detective Harry Stoner.

New York: Dodd Mead, 1980. First Edition. Thin strip of fading to the cloth at the spine and top edge, else a fine copy in a near fine bright dust jacket with a hint of handling. A mystery thriller featuring detective Harry Stoner and a psychopathic murderer who is also a library book vandal.

New York: Dutton, 1930. First Edition. Of 299 deluxe copies signed by the author, Rudy Vallee, this is copy number 13 and is inscribed on the colophon page: “To Elliott who helped me realize my dream of this book”. Fine in a very good original publisher’s box. Memoirs of the singer and film actor.

Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 1975. First Edition. Signed presentation copy from Rudy Vallee to fellow actor, Jim Backus, inscribed by the author: “To Jim, and again ‘Bless You!’ Rudy.” Illustrated. Memoirs of the singer and film actor. Fine in a torn and used dust jacket with some fading to the spine. Rudy Vallee began his career in show business as a saxophone player and singer and later became a band leader and radio personality. One of his most memorable performances was as J.B. Biggley in "How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" - both on Broadway and in film. In the book, Vallee reveals how his part in the film was initially offered to Jim Backus. Jim Backus was a veteran of stage, vaudeville, radio, film and television - the medium in which he is best remembered for being the voice of the cartoon character Mr. Magoo, and for his portrayal of Mr. Howell on Gilligan’s Island, as well as for his work on the popular series I Married Joan and The Jim Backus Show. His wife,… Read More

New York: M.A. Shortle, 1924. First Edition. A little 12 page paperbound book biography. Measures 3 inches wide by 4 1/2 inches tall. Illustrated. Very good. Rare little book, which we have never encountered before in our decades of selling cinema material. Virginia Valli was a silent film star who was married to actor Charles Farrell. She starred in such films as director King Vidor's Wild Oranges (1924), Alfred Hitchcock's debut feature, The Pleasure Garden (1925), Howard Hawk’s Paid to Love (1927) with William Powell, and Evening Clothes (1927) with Adolphe Menjou, etc.

Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1991. First Edition. Signed by the author, Chris Van Allsburg on the title page. From the author of The Polar Express, a sea tale of a glowing stone with curious powers and a strange voyage. Beautifully illustrated by Van Allsburg. Fine in dust jacket.

New York: Scribners, 1928. First Edition, First State of the third Philo Vance mystery novels, with 1928 on both the title page and copyright page. Bookplate. Slightly cocked, else a lightly used copy with some fading to the cloth at the spine, and minor wear to the cloth, and some edge wear without dust jacket. The basis of the 1929 film directed by Frank Tuttle starring William Powell as Philo Vance with Jean Arthur, Ullrich Haupt, and Florence Eldridge.

New York: Scribners, 1928. First Edition of the third Philo Vance novel. Signed and inscribed by the author S.S. Van Dine to actor and screenwriter George O’Hara in the year of publication on the front free endpaper: “To George O’Hara, New York, 1929 - or bust! If the Greene is shot and you are not there I’ll be unhappy. S.S. Van Dine, Hollywood, 1928.” Slightly cocked, else a very good lightly used copy with some fading to the cloth at the spine and some edge wear without dust jacket. The basis of the 1929 film directed by Frank Tuttle starring William Powell as Philo Vance with Jean Arthur, Ullrich Haupt, and Florence Eldridge. George O’Hara (1899 - 1966) began his film career working for early Hollywood director Mack Sennett and is best known for starring in Fighting Blood (1923), When Gale and Hurricane Met (1923), and California or Bust (1927). His screenwriting notables include Night Parade (1929)and A Single Man (1929).

New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1929. Photoplay edition issued to coincide with the release of the Paramount film starring William Powell and Jean Arthur. Pencil ownership signature. Very good without dust jacket.

New York: Scribners, 1927. First Edition. Very good plus copy with a touch of sunning to the spine without dust jacket. Haycraft-Queen cornerstone.

New York: Scribners, 1929. First Edition of the fourth Philo Vance mystery novels. A good lightly handled copy with a bit of wear to the cloth and a few small edge tears without dust jacket.