This is a one-of-a-kind collection of rare portraits, production stills, and negatives of more than 100 legendary film directors. Found in a file cabinet formerly belonging to Films Incorporated, a Chicago-based 16mm film supplier and home video company that shuttered in the mid 1990s, this was their Director's Index, a.... More
University of Chicago Press, 1978. Hardcover. Some scuffs and tears to dust jacket corners. Previous owner's name on flyleaf. This is sociologist Anderson's out-of-print ethnographic study of the "men on the corner" in Chicago's low-income black neighborhoods. More
University of California, 1984. First Edition. Cloth. Association copy. Inscribed on title page: "For Victor Cassidy -- I'm glad this introduced us. Mary Barnard, September 26, 1987." Barnard was a celebrated poet, biographer, and translator. Her tutelage under Ezra Pound and friendship with William Carlos Williams, Marianne Moore, and other... More
Viking Press, 1993. First Edition. Boards. Inscribed by both Chicago and Woodman on title page. This book comprises the paintings and prose of legendary artist Judy Chicago with photographs from her husband Donald Woodman from their 8 year (1985-1993) exploration of the Holocaust and their Jewish heritage. The Holocaust Project... More
Vintage, 1991. Paperback. Inscribed "Para la Evelyn, Sandra Cisneros, 12.7.93, Chgo." One of the finest popular contemporary works by a Chicago author. More
University of Knowledge, 1941. Cloth. In protective overwrap. Jacket has some tears along edges and a larger tear at top of spine. This is an early edition of this accessible history of primitive humans written by the Coles, distinguished anthropologists at the University of Chicago. With many fine pen illustrations... More
1934. Hardcover. First page has a nameplate: "Ex Libris Roland H. Bradley" and is stamped twice: "R.H. Bradley" and "APR 9-1934". Light pen marks in pages 111-118 where previous owner bracketed and underlined several passages, mostly dealing with the ACLU. Self-published in 1934, this rare 352-page title details the organizations and... More
1992. Spiral bound. In original envelope with title sticker. This is a rare self-published art zine by Chicago artist Jim Duignan. Spiral-bound and hand-made. Duignan is now a professor of visual arts at DePaul University where he founded the Arts Education Program. He is best known as founder of the... More
Harper and Row, 1970. First Edition. Cloth. Some shelf wear and rubbing at corners and edges of dust jacket. This is a stated first edition of Gitlin and Hollander's humanist study of Chicago's Uptown neighborhood. Studs Terkel called it "an overwhelmingly beautiful book." More
Paris Art Center, 1985. First Edition. Hardcover. In French and English. Exhibition catalogue from the 1983 Paris show and 1985-86 Chicago show at the Museum of Science and Industry. More
Seabury Press, 1977. First Edition. Hardcover. This is a first edition of Chicago social scientist Greeley's out-of-print study of neighborhoods, both in the abstract and practical sense. In protective overwrap. More
University of Chicago Press, 2008/2012. First Edition. Hardcover. Shelf wear to edges of dust jacket, otherwise very good all around. The rediscovery of The Chicagoan magazine, a short-lived counterpart to The New Yorker, was an exciting moment for us residents of the Windy City, exciting enough to lead to the... More
Man Mountain Publishing, 1987. First Edition. Spiral bound. A first edition boldly inscribed by the artist on title page. This is a collection of Chicago photographer Hauser's striking black and white portraits of both everyday people and celebrities. Spiral bound with wraps. Edges and top of spine are a little worn. More
William B. Eerdman's Publishing Company, 1984. First Edition. Hardcover. This is a first edition of Holli and Green's contemporary study of the historic 1983 Chicago mayoral election that put the great Harold Washington, Chicago's first African-American mayor, in office. Signed by Holli on flyleaf. More
Terk Books and Publishers, 1995. Paperback. A self-published oddity by retired Chicago police officer Thomas "Terk" Krupowicz, signed and personalized on the title page. Terk wrote and published several collections of noir thrillers and a non-fiction book on identifying fingerprints. Features several illustrations of ghosts who are excited to read... More
Crown, 1950. First Edition. Cloth. Missing dust jacket. Cloth ripped at top left of front cover. This is a first edition, fourth printing of Lait and Mortimer's cheeky collection of true Chicago crime stories. More
Lakeside Press. Low, Joseph. Paperback. Stamped several times with the name "M. Larson." This is a curious illustrated history of book binding and restoration as well as a promotion for Lakeside Press' own hand bindery services. Lakeside Press was a Chicago specialty press that produced fine limited editions in its... More
Watson-Guptil Publications, 2000. Paperback. Minor shelf wear to bottom edge. This is a revised edition of Lowe's great architectural and cultural history book with over 270 photos and prints. Inscribed by Lowe on half title. More
Loyola University Press, 1977. First Edition. Paperback. This is a first edition of Chicago sociologist Marciniak's thorough study of the East Humboldt Park neighborhood. With maps and images. Out of print. Numbered sticker on front cover. More
Chronicle, 2008. First Edition. Hardcover. Signed on flyleaf by the great Stephanie Izard. Izard was the first female contestant to win Top Chef (season 4), and a beloved fixture in the Chicago restaurant scene, creative mind behind Fulton Market favorites Girl & the Goat, Little Goat, and Duck Duck Goat... More
Cuneo Press, 1927. First Edition. Hardcover. Signed and numbered 84 of 250. Strip of spine is peeled, and corners are frayed. Pages 38-40 bear the extensive notes of the previous owner. This is a curious limited run book, both a history of early printing presses in Chicago and a sampling... More
Indiana University Press, 1999. Cloth. This is the expanded edition of Middleton's handsome book about the Chicago South Shore Line train, featuring over 250 photos, maps, and schematics. A must-have for enthusiasts of Chicago transportation or railroad history. More
Arcadia, 2004. Paperback. Part of the Arcadia "Images of America" series. Signed by historian Ogorek on half title. More
Putnam, 2010. First Edition. Hardcover. Association copy. This is first edition of Paretsky's Chicago police thriller inscribed to and previously owned by (famous/infamous) Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan: "Lisa Madigan, you really are the best thing that's happened to Illinois probably since Lincoln. Good wishes always, Sara Paretsky, 06.06.2011." This... More
Walton Street Publishing, 2011. First Edition. Paperback. This is a signed and numbered (1516/3500) first edition of Chicago author and self-publisher Rimsky's first novel. More