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James M. Dourgarian, Bookman
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2341 Hickory Drive
Concord, CA 94520
925-349-4400
Established1980 - Member ABAA
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James M.Dourgarian, Bookman, was established in 1980. We are members of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (ABAA). Like all ABAA members, we answer to a higher authority and follow a higher standard of ethics that guarantees a successful transaction for all our customers.
We buy and sell old books, vintage books, collectible books, rare books, first edition books, and related ephemera. We maintain several specialties. Among them are American fiction first editions from c.1900 to the present. Within that general field, we have heavy emphasis in John Steinbeck and Steinbeckiana. Thus, we buy and sell Steinbeck primary first editions in dust jackets, signed/limited editions, his appearances in anthologies, his periodical appearances, books and periodicals about Steinbeck, film and theatre memorabilia, bibliographies, and miscellaneous items.
We also specialize in these same categories for these authors -- Jack London, Wallace Stegner, and Stephen King. Other specialties include Western Americana, books on California and the West, Photography books, books on Japan, China, and the Orient, and Armed Services Editions. The latter are vintage paperbacks issued to American GIs from 1943 to 1947. They are comprised of mysteries, Westerns, science fiction and fantasy, mainstream fiction, historical novels, science, poetry, adventure stories, and more.
Within our field of modern first editions, we also sell related film memorabilia Thus, we sell film posters, lobby card sets, pressbooks, stills, scripts, etc. for films made from the works of authors we carry such as John Steinbeck, Jack London, Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, Raymond Chandler, Zane Grey, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Stephen King, Edward Abbey, Anne Rice, and many others.
Browse Books Listed by Author's Name Browse Armed Services Editions Books Listed by Issue Numbers | |
| [Photography] Baer, Morley. Light Years. Carmel, Photography West Graphics, 1988, first edition, first printing, dust jacket. Hardcover. 51 b&w plates by Baer, plus the frontispiece photo, this copy is Signed by Morley Baer. Fine. JD31126 |  $200.00 |
| [Steinbeckiana] Baker, Denys Val (editor). Writers of Today. London, Sidgwick & Jackson, 1946, first edition, first printing, dust jacket. Hardcover. Includes a chapter on John Steinbeck by Bernard Raymond, pages 122-138, also includes chapters on Aldous Huxley, Graham Greene, Andre Gide, James Joyce, J. B. Priestley, T. S. Eliot, and others, Goldstone & Payne F17, not recorded by Morrow. Very good. JD28491 | $25.00 |
| [Modern Literature] Balakian, Peter. Black Dog of Fate. NY, BasicBooks, 1997, fifth printing, dust jacket. Hardcover. "An American son uncovers his Armenian past," a memoir by this English professor of Armenian ancestry, both funny and poignant, map endpapers. Very good. JD35735 | $10.00 |
| [Modern Literature] Ballard, J. G. Empire of the Sun. NY, Simon and Schuster, 1984, first edition, first printing, dust jacket. Hardcover. A novel of boyhood experiences in China on the eve of Pearl Harbor, source for the Stephen Spielberg film. Remainder mark to bottom edge, else fine, unread. JD33129 | $35.00 |
| [Wallace Stegner] Barclay, Julius P. The Papers of Bernard DeVoto. San Francisco, Taylor & Taylor, 1960, first edition, wrappers. Softcover. One of 2,000 copies printed for Stanford University for an exhibition there, includes a tribute to his mentor, DeVoto, by Wallace Stegner titled Benny DeVoto's America, Colberg B56. Stray mark to rear wrapper, else fine. JD3517 | $20.00 |
| [Wallace Stegner] Barclay, Julius P. The Papers of Bernard DeVoto. San Francisco, Taylor & Taylor, 1960, first edition, wrappers. Softcover. One of 2,000 copies printed for Stanford University for an exhibition there, includes a tribute to his mentor, DeVoto, by Wallace Stegner titled Benny DeVoto's America, Colberg B56, this copy Signed by Wallace Stegner. Very good plus. JD3518 | $50.00 |
| [Modern Literature] Barth, John. Lost in the Funhouse. Garden City, Doubleday, 1968, first edition, first printing, dust jacket. Hardcover. Fiction for print, tape, live voice, these are short, experimental pieces. Fine. JD33054 | $50.00 |
| [John Steinbeck] Baskett, Sam S. and Strandness, Theodore B. (editors). The American Identity. Boston, D. C. Heath, 1962, first edition, dust jacket. Hardcover. Includes John Steinbeck's The Leader of the People, introduction and text pages 83-94, text from The Red Pony, also includes Steinbeck's Life in the Machine Age, introduction and text, pages 415-422, text from The Grapes of Wrath, and Steinbeck's Hunger in a Land of Plenty, text and introduction pages 487-490, text from The Grapes of Wrath (one of the intercalary chapters), not recorded by Goldstone & Payne or Morrow, also includes Joaquin Miller, Henry David Thoreau, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Jack London, Sinclair Lewis, and Wallace Stegner, who offers The Making of Paths which he has Signed. Ink name, fine. JD29650 | $100.00 |
| [John Steinbeck] Baudin, Maurice, Jr. (editor). Contemporary Short Stories. NY, Liberal Arts Press, 1954, first edition, wrappers. Softcover. No. 13 in the Forum Books series, includes a brief biography of John Steinbeck and his The Leader of the People, pages 172-188, not recorded by Goldstone & Payne or Morrow, also includes Sherwood Anderson, Sinclair Lewis, Damon Runyon, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and others. Very good. JD29578 | $15.00 |
| [Armed Services Editions] Beach, Rex. The World in His Arms. NY, Armed Services Editions, n.d. (1946), first edition thus, wrappers. Softcover. No. 1195 in this important series, "a swashbuckling romance" from San Francisco to Alaska, issued by the Council on Books in Wartime, designed to fit the pocket of a World War II American GI, this is in the very scarce upright/vertical format. Very good plus. JD35987 | $85.00 |
| [Stephen King] Beahm, George. Stephen King America's Best-Loved Boogeyman. Kansas City, Andrews McMeel Publishing, 1998, first edition, wrappers. Softcover. Foreword by Stephen J. Spignesi, photo illustrated. Fine. JD36789 | $25.00 |
| [John Steinbeck] Becker, Mary Lamberton (selector). Golden Tales of the Southwest. NY, Dodd, Mead, 1939, first edition, dust jacket. Hardcover. Decorations by Lois Lenski, includes a selection from John Steinbeck's The Pastures of Heaven, brief biography and text pages 225-258, not recorded by Goldstone & Payne or Morrow, also includes Mary Austin, O. Henry, J. Frank Dobie, William Saroyan, and others. Fine in a very good plus jacket. JD29310 | $50.00 |
| [Armed Services Editions] Beerbohm, Max. Seven Men. NY, Armed Services Editions, n.d. (1944), first edition thus, wrappers. Softcover. No. C-67 in this important series, short stories, with a note about the author at the end, issued by the Council on Books in Wartime, designed to fit the pocket of a World War II American GI, this is one of the very important and scarce D-Day ASEs. Very good. JD36880 | $45.00 |
| [Modern Literature] Beilke, Marlan. Shining Clarity: God and Man in the Works of Robinson Jeffers. Amador City, Quintessence Publications, 1977, first edition, dust jacket. Hardcover. Includes several mounted illustrations, including photos of Jeffers, his Tor House, etc., also includes a preface by James D. Hart, two contributions by Bill Hotchkiss, and two contributions by Jeffers himself, The House-Dog's Grave--Haig's Grave and The Last Conservative, the latter being a mounted broadside, this is No. 490 of 900 copies. Fine. JD30522 | $75.00 |
| [Armed Services Editions] Bell, Vereen. Swamp Water. NY, Armed Services Editions, n.d. (1944), first edition thus, wrappers. Softcover. No. C-68 in this important series, a novel, issued by the Council on Books in Wartime, designed to fit the pocket of a World War II American GI, this is one of the scarce and important D-Day ASEs, scarce. Very good. JD33940 | $175.00 |
| [Armed Services Editions] Bellamann, Henry. King's Row. NY, Armed Services Editions, n.d. (1944), first edition thus, wrappers. Softcover. No. E-150 in this important series, a novel and source for the film, condensed, issued by the Council on Books in Wartime, designed to fit the pocket of a World War II American GI, scarce. Solid very good. JD36325 | $50.00 |
| [Modern Literature] Bellow, Saul. The Last Analysis. NY, Viking, 1965, first edition, first printing, dust jacket. Hardcover. A play, photo of a laughing Bellow adorns the front the jacket. Very good. JD33153 | $50.00 |
| [Armed Services Editions] Benchley, Robert. Benchley Beside Himself. NY, Armed Services Editions, n.d. (1943), first edition thus, wrappers. Softcover. No. B-39 in this important series, first issue, later reprinted within the series as ASE No. T-13, humor, illustrated, issued by the Council on Books in Wartime, designed to fit the pocket of a World War II American GI. Soiling, else very good. JD36269 | $45.00 |
| [Modern Literature] Benet, Stephen Vincent. Autographed Letter Signed. NY, n.p., n.d. (c.1935), first edition. A single sheet written on both sides of Benet's printed letterhead showing his 220 East 69 Street, New York City address, to Malcolm Johnson who was a publishing executive with Doubleday, Doran and D. Van Nostrand, "Dear Malcolm:--/Thank you/very much indeed for the/"Two Forewords" which I shall/treasure. It's beautifully done./It's interesting./I've now had letters about/Kipling from Maine to Texas--/and every one of them extraordinarily/personal. I've had letters before,on/pieces, but these are different./They don't talk about him as/you normally talk about a writer./They talk about something that/is an essential part of their/lives./As ever/SVB," the book to which Benet refers is Two Forewords which Doubleday, Doran published in an edition of 950 copies as its Christmas greeting. Folded once for mailing with some minor toning to recto which is more substantial on the verso. JD31356 | $150.00 |
| [Armed Services Editions] Benet, Stephen Vincent. The Short Stories of Stephen Vincent Benet. NY, Armed Services Editions, n.d. (1944), first edition, wrappers. Softcover. No. C-77 in this important series, a paperback original, issued by the Council on Books in Wartime, designed to fit the pocket of a World War II American GI, this is one of the important D-Day Armed Services Editions issues . Very good. JD34046 | $45.00 |
| [Steinbeckiana] Benson, Jackson J. Looking For Steinbeck's Ghost. Norman, University of Oklahoma Press, 1988, first edition, dust jacket. Hardcover. A rather personal account of his research that went into his massive and definitive Steinbeck biography (The True Adventures of John Steinbeck, Writer), illustrated with photos, this copy Inscribed by Benson. Top and fore edges foxed, else fine, unread. JD28943 | $50.00 |
| [Steinbeckiana] Benson, Jackson J. The True Adventures of John Steinbeck, Writer. NY, Viking, 1984, first edition, first printing, dust jacket . Hardcover. This is The Bible of all John Steinbeck biographies, it was 12 years in the research and writing, followed by another three years in getting it published, there are several suites of photo illustrations, a great accomplishment, this is an Association Copy of the highest order, this copy is Inscribed by Benson in the year of publication to fellow Steinbeck scholar Robert DeMott ("Salinas, Ca./August 3, 1984/II International Congress/For Bob DeMott,/a Steinbeck scholar/longer than I,/with affection,/Jack Benson) at the II International Steinbeck Congress in combination with the annual Steinbeck Festival in Salinas, Steinbeck's hometown, DeMott has been among the best of Steinbeck scholars for decades and is easily the most accessible writer who can explain and expound on Steinbeck in something other than English professor-speak, he was acting director of the Steinbeck Research Center at San Jose State University at the time of this book's publication, he helped launch "The Steinbeck Quarterly," a mostly scholarly publication dedicated to Steinbeck, he is also the author of a trilogy of books on Steinbeck beginning with his influential Steinbeck's Reading published in 1984, followed by Working Days which follows Steinbeck's own journal kept while writing The Grapes of Wrath, that was followed by Steinbeck's Typewriter, he also wrote the introduction to his friend Jim Harrison's bibliography, laid in loosely is an announcement of this massive biography from Viking. Color fade to the jacket, mostly along the spine panel, as is so common with this title, else a very solid copy of a bulky book. JD32021 | $225.00 |
| [Steinbeckiana] Benton, Thomas Hart. Pa Joad. n.p., 20th Century-Fox, n.d. (1940), first edition. This lithograph is one of 25 copies commissioned by 20th Century-Fox in 1940 to publicize the film version of The Grapes of Wrath, this image of Pa Joad is one of five character studies, the others were Ma Joad, Jim Casy, Tom Joad, and Rose of Sharon, Benton also produced The Departure of the Joads which was one of 100 copies, this matted image measures c.7.5X9.5 inches, the frame size is c.16X20 inches, this lithograph sold at Heritage Auctions in 2007 for $1,195. Fine, although not examined out of the frame. JD35619 | $1,000.00 |
| [Steinbeckiana] Benton, Thomas Hart. Rose of Sharon. n.p., 20th Century-Fox, 1940, first edition. A lithograph of this character from John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, Rose of Sharon was an unimportant character in this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel -- until the end of the book when her importance to the story is pivotal, one of 25 copies of this image commissioned by 20th Century-Fox for publicizing its film version of The Grapes of Wrath, the character studies of Ma Joad, Pa Joad, Tom Joad, Rose of Sharon, and Casy were all done in an edition of 25 copies, while The Departure of the Joads was one of 100 copies, it is a beautiful, androgynous, haunting b&w image, the matted image measures c.7.5X9.5 inches, the frame size is c.16X20 inches, this lithograph sold at Heritage Auctions in 2007 for $1,195. Not examined out of the frame, some foxing, although not affecting the image. JD35600 | $1,250.00 |
| [Steinbeckiana] Beyer, Preston (compiler). Essays on Collecting John Steinbeck Books. Bradenton, Opuscula Press, 1989, first edition, wrappers. Softcover. Includes seven essays on Steinbeck books and on Steinbeck himself by Beyer, Dr. Tetsumaro Hayashi, Kiyoshi Nakayama, Lee Richard Hayman, Carlton A. (Dook) Sheffield, Dr. Robert DeMott, and Roy S. Simmonds, this is No. 96 of 300 numbered copies, this copy Signed by Hayashi, Hayman, and DeMott, this is a presentation from the publisher, Robert F. Hanson with his inscribed business card laid in loosely. Fine. JD28939 | $100.00 |
| [Steinbeckiana] Bigay, Rhu. Poster. Salinas, Salinas Public Library, 1983, first edition. This poster by artist Bigay measures 20X30 inches, it was produced to promote the 1983 Steinbeck Festival in Salinas, CA, Steinbeck's hometown, it is one of 250 copies, Signed by Rhu Bigay. Well foxed. JD28348 | $50.00 |
| [Armed Services Editions] Biggers, Earl Derr. Seven Keys to Baldpate. NY, Armed Services Editions, n.d. (1944), first edition thus, wrappers. Softcover. No. E-130 in this important series, "a mystery romance," this was his first mystery and the source for several film versions, issued by the Council on Books in Wartime, designed to fit the pocket of a World War II American GI, very scarce. Very good. JD36322 | $60.00 |
| [John Steinbeck] Birmingham, Frederic A. (editor). The Girls from Esquire. London, Arthur Barker Ltd., 1957, first edition thus, wrappers. Softcover. No. 11 from Dragon Books, includes John Steinbeck's A Snake of One's Own, pages 26-38, not recorded by Goldstone & Payne or Morrow, also includes James Jones, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Robert Ruark, and others. Very good. JD29599 | $12.50 |
| [Armed Services Editions] Bishop, Curtis. By Way of Wyoming. NY, Armed Services Editions, n.d. (1946), first edition thus, wrappers. Softcover. No. 1192 in this important series, a Western, issued by the Council on Books in Wartime, designed to fit the pocket of a World War II American GI, this is in the very scarce upright format. Very good. JD35583 | $75.00 |
| [Armed Services Editions] Blackwood, Algernon. Selected Short Stories of Algernon Blackwood. NY, Armed Services Editions, n.d. (1945), first edition, wrappers. Softcover. No. S-26 in this important series, a paperback original, ghost and supernatural stories of mystery and imagination, issued by the Council on Books in Wartime, designed to fit the pocket of a World War II American GI. Very good. JD34885 | $45.00 |
| [Miscellaneous] Block, Eugene B. Above the Civil War. Berkeley, Howell-North Books, 1966, first edition, first printing, dust jacket. Hardcover. The story of Thaddeus Lowe, balloonist, inventor, and railway builder, photo-illustrated, endpapers with a balloon view of rebel forts and camps at Yorktown, VA sketched from Lowe's balloon at the elevation of 1,000 feet, Review Copy with a review slip, this copy Inscribed by the author in the year of publication to David Belch, then head of public relations for the San Francisco Public Library. Slight lean to book, jacket with age-toning, else a very nice copy. JD31192 | $100.00 |
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Browse Books Listed by Author's Name Browse Armed Services Editions Books Listed by Issue Numbers | |