Welcome to Steven Temple Books

STEVEN TEMPLE BOOKS IS STILL OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND IS SHIPPING TO EVERYWHERE IT IS ALLOWED.

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Having operated shops on Queen Street West in downtown Toronto since our founding in 1974, we closed the shop in March, 2014 and now operate from home in Welland, Ontario (close to Niagara Falls, only two turns from Toronto). We can see visitors by appointment. The books (currently around 10,000 of them) are priced, on shelves, and in categories. We continue to specialize in literary books, especially Canadian literary books, general Canadiana, and select out-of-print and rare books in various fields (mostly 19th and 20th century, though we do stock some earlier). We now have some ephemera, but don’t stock comic books, fairly recent used books, bestseller novels, nor paperbacks (unless collectible). Business is primarily by internet or mail. We welcome and pay attention to wants lists when they are for books we might actually find some day and which are worth more than a token amount.

We accept payment by Visa, MasterCard, Amex, PayPal, cheque (Canada and US only), money order, e-transfer (Canada only) – even cash.

Some recent arrivals…

  • ROOKE, Leon
    BALDUCCI'S WHO'S WHO

    Edition: First printing

    Windsor, ON: Biblioasis, 2004. Card covers. Total edition of 60 numbered copies, 50 paperbound for sale, and 13 casebound lettered copies of which 10 were for sale. This is the author's own copy, #48 of 60, signed. Printed at the Gaspereau Press. Biblioasis No. 1. Out of print. Fine copy. ; Octavo; (63) pages; Signed by Author

    Book ID: 56116
    View cart More details Price: USD $95.00 USD $85.50
  • ROOKE, Leon
    THE LAST SHOT: a novella and eleven stories

    Edition: First Edition

    Toronto: Thomas Allen, 2009. Advance reading copy in glossy red card covers. Fine. ; Octavo

    Book ID: 56115
    View cart More details Price: USD $34.95 USD $31.46
  • ROOKE, Leon
    OH ! : twenty-seven stories

    Edition: First printing

    Toronto: Exile, 1997. Glossy card covers. First state covers, with front cover photo of a naked woman's torso, with ample bush, by Gregory Dru. According to Leon, there were only 100 copies. It was withdrawn after wife Connie Rooke, then a University of Guelph VP, objected, feeling it would negatively affect her position. Fine copy. Laid in is a promotional postcard reproducing a Rooke painting. ; Octavo

    Book ID: 56114
    View cart More details Price: USD $95.00 USD $85.50
  • ROOKE, Leon
    THE APRIL POEMS

    Edition: First Edition

    Erin, ON: Porcupine's Quill, 2013. Card covers. Fine copy. ; Octavo

    Book ID: 56113
    View cart More details Price: USD $19.95 USD $17.96
  • ROOKE, Leon
    WIDE WORLD IN CELEBRATION AND SORROW: acts of kamakazi fiction

    Edition: First printing

    Holstein, Ontario: Exile, 2012. Card covers. Fine copy. Short stories. This was the author's own copy, which he has signed (simple signature on title page), ; Octavo; Signed by Author

    Book ID: 56111
    View cart More details Price: USD $29.95 USD $26.96
  • ROOKE, Leon
    BALDUCCI'S WHO'S WHO

    Edition: First printing

    Windsor, ON: Biblioasis, 2004. Quarter bound in grey cloth and marbled boards with cloth cover label, thick textured endpapers. pp [4], (63), [5]. Total edition of 60 humbered copies, 50 paperbound for sale, and 13 casebound lettered copies of which 10 were for sale, This is the author's own copy, "F" of 13. Printed at the Gaspereau Press. Biblioasis No. 1. Out of print. Fine copy. A short story. Laid in is a three page computer printed poem titled "Dormant Seeds", folded twice. ; Octavo

    Book ID: 56110
    View cart More details Price: USD $195.00 USD $175.50
  • ROOKE, Leon (John Metcalf)
    HITTING THE CHARTS : selected stories. With a Foreword by John Metcalf

    Edition: First printing

    Windsor, ON: Biblioasis, 2006. Colourful endpapers and binder's blank front and rear. Bound in half green morocco with boldly colourful boards, leather inner hinges, spine label, by proprietor Dan Wells. Printed at the Coach House Press. Edition of 25 copies. Fine copy. This was the author's own copy but he hasn't signed it. ; Octavo; (2), (231) pages

    Book ID: 56108
    View cart More details Price: USD $225.00 USD $202.50
  • ELLIN, Stanley
    THE VALENTINE ESTATE

    Edition: First printing

    New York: Random, 1968. Black cloth, red topstain. Fine copy. Dust jacket has nicks to spine tips, nicks and one half inch tear along top edge of front panel and front flap; else fine, flap price intact. A nice copy. ; Octavo

    Book ID: 56121
    View cart More details Price: USD $24.95 USD $22.46
  • ROOKE, Leon
    OH ! : twenty-seven stories

    Edition: First printing

    Toronto: Exile, 1997. Glossy card covers. First state covers, with front cover photo of a naked woman's torso, with ample bush, by Gregory Dru. According to Leon, there were only 100 copies. It was withdrawn after wife Connie Rooke, then a University of Guelph VP, objected, feeling it would negatively affect her position. Fine copy. Signed by the author. ; Octavo; Signed by Author

    Book ID: 56120
    View cart More details Price: USD $95.00 USD $85.50
  • AVERY, Donald H. and Mark Eaton
    THE MEANING OF LIFE: The scientific and social experiences of Everitt and Robert Murray 1930-1964

    Edition: First Edition

    Toronto: Champlain Society, 2008. Red cloth. Plates, index. Paperclip impression to front free endpaper, else fine. Inscribed by Don Avery. 1.75 kg parcel ; cxxvi, 817 pages; Signed by Editor

    Book ID: 56119
    View cart More details Price: USD $45.00 USD $40.50
  • CHENETTE, Sue
    A TRANSPORT OF GRIEF

    Edition: First Edition

    Toronto: Lyricalmyrical Press, 2007. Bound in quarter black cloth and buff boards with pictorial cover label. pp [32], unpaged. Fine copy. Inscribed by the author "To Al" (editor Allan Briesmaster?). ; Octavo

    Book ID: 56118
    View cart More details Price: USD $45.00 USD $40.50
  • MacEWEN, Gwendolyn (Margaret Atwood and Barry Callaghan, editors)
    THE POETRY OF GWENDOLYN MacEwen. Volume One, the early years. Introduction and introductory notes by Margaret Atwood.

    Edition: First Edition

    (Toronto): Exile, 1993. Card covers. Fine copy.; Octavo; xii, (13)-175 pages

    Book ID: 56117
    View cart More details Price: USD $19.95 USD $17.96
  • ROOKE, Leon
    BALDUCCI'S WHO'S WHO

    Edition: First printing

    Windsor, ON: Biblioasis, 2004. Quarter bound in grey cloth and marbled boards with cloth cover label, thick textured endpapers. pp [4], (63), [5]. Total edition of 60 numbered copies, 50 paperbound for sale, and 13 casebound lettered copies of which 10 were for sale, This is the author's own copy, one of three, lettered AA. Printed at the Gaspereau Press. Biblioasis No. 1. Out of print. Fine copy. A short story.; Octavo

    Book ID: 56109
    View cart More details Price: USD $175.00 USD $157.50
  • MONTGOMERY, L.M.
    THE SELECTED JOURNALS OF L.M. MONTGOMERY. Edited by Mary Rubio & Elizabeth Waterston.(5 volume set)

    Edition: First Edition

    Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1985. Brick boards. Photos in text, indexed. Volumes I and II have the usual toning to text paper; ink gift inscription at front of Vol. I; Vol. III has a bump to upper outer corner of cover; the books are otherwise fine. Jackets: Creases to upper outer corner of front panel of Vol. III; nick at head of front flap of Vol. I; the jackets are otherwise near fine. A nice set. 4.5 kg parcel, extra shipping will be required. ; Octavo

    Book ID: 56106
    View cart More details Price: USD $150.00 USD $135.00
  • CARR, Emily
    THE BOOK OF SMALL

    Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1951. Third printing. Brown cloth. Frontispiece. Some darkening to spine gilt; long cellotape stain to front pastedown (hidden by jacket flap) and to the outer margin of p 141; small red ink name at front; VG otherwise. Jacket has minor rubbing at head of spine, near fine otherwise. The artist's second book, about growing up in Victoria, BC. ; Octavo; viii, 245 pages

    Book ID: 56105
    View cart More details Price: USD $29.95 USD $26.96
  • CARANI, Marie
    JEAN PAUL LEMIEUX

    Edition: First Edition

    Musée du Québec, 1992. Grey cloth. Colour reproductions, b&w illustrations, index, fine in fine jacket. Slipcase has minor rub spots, near fine. 2.5 kg parcel ; Folio; (xxxii), 285 pages

    Book ID: 56104
    View cart More details Price: USD $50.00 USD $45.00
  • WOOLF, Virginia
    THE LETTERS OF VIRGINIA WOOLF. Edited by Nigel Nicolson (6 volume set)

    Edition: First Edition

    London: Hogarth Press, 1975-1980. Six volume set, all first printings, covering the years 1888-1941. Blue boards. Small soft bump to top corner of Vol. 5, small soft bruise to outer corner of Vol. 3, the books are otherwise fine. Jackets: Vol. 1 price-clipped, nick at foot of spine, short tear to front and rear flap folds, else near fine. Vol. 3 short crease at foot of spine and inside flap at the bump at top. Vol. 5 short creases at head of very lightly sunned spine. Vol. 6 spine lightly sunned. The jackets are otherwise fine. Quite a nice set. Note: 6.5 kg parcel, extra shipping will be required. ; Tall octavo

    Book ID: 56103
    View cart More details Price: USD $375.00 USD $337.50
  • MATHERS, Powys, translator
    THE BOOK of the THOUSAND NIGHTS and ONE NIGHT. Rendered Into English from the Literal and Complete French Translation of Dr. J. C. Mardrus by Powys Mathers (4 Volume Set)

    Edition: 8th

    London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1951. Four volumes, navy blue cloth. Small owner name label in each volume, yellowing to endpapers, one small corner bump, faint damp spots to covers; in all, a VG clean, tight and unworn jacketless set. Note: 6.75 Kg parcel, extra shipping will be required; Octavo

    Condition: Very Good

    Book ID: 56102
    View cart More details Price: USD $85.00 USD $76.50
  • GARRETT, Albert
    A HISTORY OF WOOD ENGRAVING

    London: Bloomsbury Books, 1986. Green boards. Index, b&w illustrations. Fine in fine jacket. Reprint if the 1978 edition. 1.75 kg parcel. ; Quarto; 407 pages

    Book ID: 56101
    View cart More details Price: USD $24.95 USD $22.46
  • ST. JOHN, Judith
    THE OSBORNE COLLECTION OF EARLY CHILDREN'S BOOKS 1566-1910. A Catalogue. (2 volumes)

    Toronto Public Library, 1975. Third printing, corrected (first printing was 1958, 2nd printing 1966). Two volumes, printed cloth, without jackets, as issued. (xxvi), (564), (4) and (xiv), 563-1138, (2) pp. Colour and black & white plates plus illustrations in the text. Fine pair. An excellent and indispensable childrens' books reference, based on one of the world's great collections of pre-20th century kidlit in English. Not a fully descriptive bibliography, but more than a simple checklist, giving full titles, publishers, pagination, and size plus very useful annotations and biographical data. 2.6 kg parcel, extra shipping may be required. ; Quarto

    Book ID: 56100
    View cart More details Price: USD $65.00 USD $58.50

A selection of our current highlights…