The Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce (12 volume set, signed by Bierce)

Ambrose Bierce

New York; Washington : The Neale Publishing Company, 1909

[Fine Binding with interesting provenance: Paul Mellon's Copy] 12 volume set. Limited edition of 250 numbered sets, autographed by the author. Bound in fine 3/4 morocco. Hardcover.  Clean, unmarked pages. 23 cm. BAL 1129. 

Contents: V. 1. Ashes of the beacon. The land beyond the blow. For the Ahkoond. John Smith, liberator. Bits of autobiography -- v. 2. In the midst of life (tale of soldiers and civilians) -- v. 3. Can such things be? The ways of ghosts. Soldier-folk. Some haunted houses -- v. 4. Shapes of clay. Some ante-mortem epitaphs. The scrap heap -- v. 5. Black beetles in amber. The Mummery. On stone -- v. 6. The monk and the hangman's daughter. Fantastic fables. Fables from "Fun." Aesopus emendatus. Old saws with new teeth. Fables in rhyme --v. 7. The devil's dictionary -- v. 8. Negligible tales. The parenticide club. The fourth estate. The ocean wave. "On with the dance!" Epigrams -- v. 9. Tangential views -- v. 10. The opinionator. The reviewer. The controversialist. The timorous reporter. The March hare -- v. 11. Antepenultimata -- v. 12. In motley: Kings of beasts: Two administrations ; Miscellaneous.  

Ambrose Bierce was an important American writer and journalist. One of his most notable works is the satirical Devil's Dictionary. Bierce served in Union Army's 9th Indiana infantry during the Civil War, seeing action at Philippi, Rich Mountain, Shiloh, and Kennesaw Mountain.   

Personal leather stamp of Paul Mellon on front end page. 

Paul Mellon (1907-1999) was an American philanthropist and breeder/owner of thoroughbred racehorses. His fortune derived from the Mellon Bank created by his grandfather Thomas Mellon, his father Andrew W. Mellon, and his uncle Richard Mellon. His father was the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury (1921-1932). Mellon's Rokeby Stables owned many successful racehorses, including Kentucky Derby Winner Sea Hero. He was a trustee of the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame. He was created an Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire and was awarded the National Medal of Arts and Humanities in 1997. 

This is an oversized or heavy book, which requires additional postage for international delivery outside the US.