AbeBooks is a booklover's paradise. You can explore the shelves of avid reader staffers Jessica, Lily or myself (Beth). Depending on your mood, you can explore feel-good reads, books that made us angry, or the bleakest books imaginable. More interested in book design? Check out gilt-decorated covers, leather inlaid covers, fore-edge paintings, books in white vellum and more. If you're a travel junkie, we'll take you to Africa and Australia, Paris and India, and from the tippy top of Mount Everest down to the London Underground.

But with millions of items to see, it's easy to miss some of the most wonderful, and unique offerings from our thousands of booksellers worldwide. To show you the most rare and remarkable gems, we searched and searched and narrowed. Plenty of fantastic finds didn't make the cut, like this complete set of Ernest Hemingway first editions - two signed by Papa Hemingway himself.

Here are 12 unusual items, from rare first editions to collectible literary ephemera, that we wouldn't want you to miss.


The Rare and Divine:

Gerard's Deliverance Original Signed Painting by Jack Kerouac Gerard's Deliverance

An original painting created by Jack Kerouac of his brother Gerard, circa ~1962. Signed in blue ballpoint pen.

A German tobacconist's notebook A German Tobacconist's Notebook

This gorgeous 18th-century gem is a small collection of recipes from a German tobacconist. Some blends include opium!

The Bookhouse for Children by Olive Beaupre Miller The Bookhouse for Children by Olive Beaupre Miller

Sold out
Comprised of nine books in total, this gorgeous little wooden house for books is extremely rare, as it was offered as a limited edition in 1927. The story behind Olive Miller Beaupre is quite remarkable (see listing).

25 Cats Named Sam and One Blue Pussy by Andy Warhol 25 Cats Named Sam and One Blue Pussy

This 1954 art book from Andy Warhol is one of only about 150 copies printed. It's signed by Warhol.

Relativity: The Special And The General Theory - signed by Albert Einstein Relativity: The Special And The General Theory

Albert Einstein signed this 1920 first American edition in black fountain pen on the half title page. Comes with a blue cloth clamshell case.

Set of 7 complete menus for the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, 1950 Menus for the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, 1950

Sold out
Set of 7 different complete menus with Royal Hawaiian envelope, week of February 2-8, 1950, each with color cover illustration by John Kelly.

Christmas card signed by Malcolm X Christmas card signed by Malcolm X

A 1940 Christmas card from the noted black activist, written when he was still simply known as 'Malcolm Little'.

Princeton University's certificate of recognition of F. Scott Fitzgerald's Military Service in World War I. Princeton University's certificate of recognition

Dated 1918, the certificate recognizes F. Scott Fitzgerald's Military Service in World War I, and the fact that he left Princeton to serve.

Truman Capote's birth certificate Truman Capote's birth certificate

Original and genuine, issued in the parish of New Orleans, showing the birth of Truman Streckfus Persons, September 30th, 1924.

Signed Photograph of Five Former Presidents Signed Photograph of Five Former Presidents

Pictured: George H. W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, and Richard Nixon. Photograph is from 1991 and signed by all five former U.S. presidents.

1804 Ship's Passport 1804 Ship's Passport

Issued to allow the Schooner Eineline to leave the harbour in New York in 1804, carrying, sugar, beeswax, piments, pepper, coffee, and cotton - signed by President Thomas Jefferson and his Secretary of State James Madison.

Collection of Christmas cards and military reunion invitations Collection of Christmas cards and military reunion invitations

All designed (and some signed) by E.H. Shepard, famous illustrator of Winnie-the-Pooh, for his family's Christmas and New Year celebrations. Designs include characters from Pooh as well as The Wind in the Willows.