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Catalog 120, H-J

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112. HARRISON, Jim. Plain Song. NY: Norton (1965). Harrison's first book, a collection of poems. This is the scarce hardcover edition, one of 1500 copies; it was also issued simultaneously in wrappers. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.

113. -. Another copy, unsigned. This copy has a small scuff on the copyright page over the word "First" in the first edition statement (not the first copy we have seen thus); otherwise it is a fine copy in a near fine dust jacket sunned on the rear panel and foxed on the verso.

114. HARRISON, Jim. Wolf. NY: Simon & Schuster (1971). The author's first novel, after several books of poetry. Inscribed to novelist Jonathan Carroll, author of a number of highly acclaimed books including Land of Laughs, which was selected as one of the best 100 fantasy novels and the best 100 horror novels. The inscription is dated in 1972, eight years before Carroll's first book. Tape shadows on both free endpapers, presumably from some previously present dust jacket protector. No other markings; near fine in a fine dust jacket. A nice association between two prominent and accomplished novelists.

115. -. Another copy, unsigned. Small label rear pastedown; small label removal front pastedown; remainder stripe; it is otherwise a fine copy in a near fine dust jacket with one internally tape-mended edge tear.

116. HARRISON, Jim. A Good Day to Die. NY: Simon & Schuster (1973). His second novel, which has long been considered the scarcest of his volumes of fiction. Fine in a fine dust jacket.

117. HARRISON, Jim. Farmer. NY: Viking (1976). The first issue of Harrison's third novel. Because of binding problems, the first printing of this book was withdrawn and reprinted; the first issue measures 5 1/16" from spine cloth to board edge; the second issue measures 4 7/8". Foxing to foredge; else fine in a very near fine dust jacket with a tiny spot at the top edge. The first issue is much less common than the second.

118. HARRISON, Jim. Legends of the Fall, Revenge, The Man Who Gave Up His Name. (NY): Delacorte/Seymour Lawrence (1979). The three-volume limited edition of this collection of novellas, Harrison's first book published by legendary editor and publisher, Seymour Lawrence. Reportedly, prior to his meeting Lawrence, Harrison had been unable to get the collection published, being told several times that a collection of novellas wouldn't sell. Lawrence, on the other hand, loved the book, took it and published it, the result being that it sold more copies than all of the author's other books put together, according to Harrison. Lawrence decided to not only publish a trade edition but to do a signed limited edition in three volumes, with a volume for each novella, and to also publish a separate trade edition in three volumes as well -- an unusual move indicative of his innovative and creative approach to publishing. Since then, two of the novellas have been made into major movies, and Harrison has become a literary celebrity. One of 250 numbered copies signed by the author. Fine copies in a fine slipcase.

119. -. Same title, the one volume trade edition. Fine in a very near fine dust jacket with a small label removal shadow and some creasing, both to the front flap.

120. HARRISON, Jim. Warlock. (NY): Delacorte/Lawrence (1981). Foxing to top edge and a bit of edge-sunning to boards; near fine in a near fine dust jacket with a small abrasion at the lower spine fold.

121. -. Same title. The limited edition, one of 250 numbered copies, signed by the author. Clothbound; all edges gilt. Fine in a fine slipcase.

122. HARRISON, Jim. Selected & New Poems. (NY): Delacorte/Seymour Lawrence (1982). Mild sunning to boards; else fine in a fine dust jacket.

123. -. Same title. The limited edition, one of 250 copies, signed by the author. With illustrations by Russell Chatham. Fine in slipcase.

124. HARRISON, Jim. Sundog. NY: Dutton/Lawrence (1984). Fine in a fine dust jacket with one edge nick on the rear panel.

125. -. Same title. The limited edition. One of 250 numbered copies signed by the author. Fine in a fine slipcase.

126. HARRISON, Jim. The Theory and Practice of Rivers. Seattle: Winn Books, 1986. The hardcover edition of this collection of poems, illustrated by Russell Chatham. Harrison is most noted as a novelist, but his first two books were collections of poetry, and much of his writing derives its strength from his sense of the interaction of people and landscape. This edition was limited to 350 copies, of which half were reportedly sold with a portfolio of the Chatham prints; this copy is one of the 175 that were issued separately, without the portfolio. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine cloth slipcase. A handsome production.

127. HARRISON, Jim. The Woman Lit By Fireflies. Boston: Houghton Mifflin (1990). The limited edition of this novel. One of 225 numbered copies signed by the author. Fine in a fine slipcase.

128. HARRISON, Jim. The Beast God Forgot to Invent. NY: Atlantic Monthly (2000). The advance reading copy of this well-received collection of three novellas. Fine in wrappers.

129. HELLER, Joseph. Catch-22. NY: Simon & Schuster, 1961. Heller's first book, a black comedy of World War II and military life whose title has become a part of the language, signifying a contradictory set of instructions or constraints. This book was both the basis for a well-received movie and also one of the novels that helped define the ethos of the 1960s -- funny, irreverent, and critical of established authority and bureaucracy. Signed by the author. Fine in a very near fine dust jacket with two tiny tears and some light rubbing. One of the nicest copies we've seen offered in the past several years, and probably the nicest signed copy we've seen. Housed in a custom clamshell box. A very attractive copy of one of the few books to be listed on each of the Modern Library, Radcliffe, Waterstone's and New York Public Library lists of the great books of the 20th century.

130. HELLER, Joseph. Something Happened. NY: Knopf, 1974. The limited edition of the second novel by the author of the landmark book Catch-22. By general consensus, this is a better novel than its predecessor -- in terms of the writing, the plot structure, the extent to which it holds together and "works" as a novel -- if not so ground-breaking a success as his first book was. Nominated for the National Book Award. One of 350 numbered copies signed by the author. Fine in a near fine, mildly spine-tanned dust jacket, in a very good slipcase worn along one edge and beginning to crack along one seam.

131. HELLER, Joseph. "Aristotle in New York." March 1988. A 21-page typescript (computer printout with one holograph marking, closing the gap between two paragraphs) of an excerpt from Heller's novel Picture This. Submitted to Art & Antiques magazine six months prior to the book's publication. Fine, in the binder of Heller's agent. With the letter of transmittal from the agent and a copy of an internal memo advocating publication.

132. HELLER, Joseph. Closing Time. NY: Simon & Schuster (1994). The limited edition issued by the trade publisher. One of 750 numbered copies signed by the author. Fine in a fine slipcase.

133. HELLER, Joseph. Now and Then. From Coney Island to Here. NY: Knopf, 1998. His well-received memoir. With an autograph note signed tipped to the first blank, in which Heller discusses Guillain Barré Syndrome, the illness that afflicted him in the latter years of his life, and its treatment. Additional date written on this page; else fine in a fine dust jacket. An interesting note from the author.

134. HELPRIN, Mark. "Now he had been riding since early morning..." Berkeley: Black Oak Books, 1991. A broadside excerpt from A Soldier of the Great War, printed on the occasion of a reading by the author. 7" x 14". Matted; fine.

135. HEMINGWAY, Ernest. Big Two-Hearted River. Portland: Coyote Love Press, 2002. A Nick Adams story, published in an elaborate, artistic edition of 85 copies. Illustrated by M.D. Ryus. Printed letterpress on rives de lin paper and uniquely bound in a non-adhesive binding. One of the more unusual and striking editions we have seen from a small/fine press, and reportedly the last title to be issued by this publisher. Fine.

136. HERSEY, John. A Bell for Adano. NY: Knopf, 1944. His third book and first novel, a war story of American soldiers occupying a small Italian town during World War Two. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize. Inscribed by the author: "For Phoebe Fenner/ who helps make everything legal! Best,/ John Hersey." Fine in a near fine, price-clipped dust jacket that is rubbed at the folds, a bit faded on the spine, and is internally tape-strengthened at the crown. An uncommon book to find in collectible condition, because of the wartime restrictions on paper, which caused books to be printed cheaply. In addition, this title seldom turns up signed, let alone with what would appear to be a significant inscription. A difficult Pulitzer signed.

137. HERSEY, John. Hiroshima. NY: Knopf, 1946. A review copy of this classic account of the effects of the first atomic bomb ever dropped on a civilian population, tracing the bomb's impact on the lives of six individuals, five Japanese and a German Jesuit priest. One of the key books of the postwar era, which defined the questions that were to be at the heart of the debate over nuclear weapons for more than a generation. Fine in a near fine, spine-faded dust jacket.

138. HERSEY, John. The Wall. NY: Knopf, 1950. His second work of fiction, a novel of the Jewish uprising in the Warsaw Ghetto in 1943. Shelf dust at the lower outer edge from the weight of the text block; still a fine copy in a near fine dust jacket with a vertical crease down the spine, apparently folded for storage.

139. IRVING, John. Setting Free the Bears. NY: Random House (1968). The first book by the author of such later bestsellers as The World According to Garp and A Prayer for Owen Meany. Unlike his later books, which sold literally hundreds of thousand of copies -- millions, if one includes the paperback sales -- this book sold slightly over 6000 copies in two printings. Fine in a fine dust jacket and as such the nicest copy we have seen in years, and probably the nicest we've ever offered. In custom clamshell box.

140. IRVING, John. The Water-Method Man. NY: Random House (1972). A review copy of his second book which, like his first, sold about 6000 copies. Signed by the author. Erasure to flyleaf and faint foxing to top edge; else fine in a fine dust jacket. A very nice copy, scarce in an advance issue, and uncommon signed, as Irving has declined to sign books for the most part in recent years. In a custom box.

141. IRVING, John. The 158-Pound Marriage. NY: Random House (1974). His third novel. Inscribed by the author to the legendary wrestling coach Henry Littlefield "with my appreciation," with a full-page self-caricature in wrestling uniform. Littlefield was himself a national champion wrestler, and he later coached a New York prep team to the state championships before coaching at Amherst College and finishing his career with 24 years on the west coast. Irving practiced with Littlefield when Littlefield was at Amherst and Irving was an Assistant Professor of English at Mount Holyoke College, ten miles away. Wrestling has been a big part of Irving's life -- he competed from the time he was in high school until he was in his mid-30s, and he built a wrestling room onto his house in Vermont where he reportedly continues to practice -- and the sport figured into his first several novels, including giving the title to this one. Littlefield was, in addition to being a coach, active in the theater and arts, being a member of the Screen Actors Guild and publishing a notable paper on the Wizard of Oz as a "parable of populism," among other writings. He had his wrestling team put on a play each year, humorously depicting the history of wrestling over 3000 years. Irving reportedly would bring the manuscript of his work-in-progress at the time -- which became The World According to Garp -- to Amherst College when he was practicing with Littlefield, and would read sections of it to the members of the wrestling team. Irving refers to Littlefield affectionately in his memoir "Trying to Save Piggy Sneed." In an interview in Salon magazine, Irving pointed out that he had always had two sets of friends -- the literary types and the athletes -- and they practically mutually exclusive. Littlefield would have been one of the few friends Irving had who bridged the gap between his literary side and his athletic side. An excellent association copy. A little offsetting to spine cloth; still fine in a fine dust jacket with a crease on the front flap. In custom clamshell box.

142. IRVING, John. The World According to Garp. NY: Dutton (1978). The author's fourth novel, and his breakthrough book, which went into numerous printings, became a multi-million copy bestseller and a National Book Award winner in its paperback release. Basis for a well-received movie, albeit one that by consensus fell short of the book's magic. The first printing of Garp was 35,000 copies -- far larger than any of Irving's previous novels but far short of any of the books that came later: his next novel, The Hotel New Hampshire, had a 100,000 copy first printing and since then all his books have had printings well into six figures. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket. A difficult book to find in fine condition: copies seem to have been handled and read, maybe even re-read, and generally show substantial wear. Very few copies that are both fine and also signed by the author have turned up on the market in recent years.

143. IRVING, John. The Hotel New Hampshire. NY: Dutton (1981). Inscribed by the author: "For Steve -/ with my/ appreciation/ for the/ world/ according to/ Tesich -/ John Irving." Steve Tesich, who wrote the 1979 Academy Award-winning screenplay for the film "Breaking Away" also wrote the 1982 screenplay for Irving's The World According to Garp. Fine in a dust jacket with a hint of sunning at the upper edge of the rear panel, but still fine.

144. -. Another copy. Signed by the author. Faint foxing to top edge; else fine in a fine dust jacket.

145. IRVING, John. A Son of the Circus. NY: Random House (1994). Irving's eighth novel, about an Indian doctor in Bombay. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.

146. IRVING, John. Trying to Save Piggy Sneed. NY: Arcade (1996). The first American edition of this collection of stories and other short pieces, expanded from the British edition, which was published in 1993. Inscribed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.

147. IRVING, John. A Widow for One Year. NY: Random House (1998). The first American trade edition. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Few copies of the trade edition have turned up signed.

148. -. Same title, the limited edition. Media: Unicycle Press (1998). The American limited edition, theoretically issued to precede the American trade edition, both of which followed the British limited and trade editions as well as the Dutch edition. One of 1200 copies signed by the author. Leatherbound, gilt stamped, with an introduction by Irving on gender and structure that does not appear in other editions. The first publication by Unicycle Press, issued with a relatively small limitation compared to the Franklin Library signed editions of Irving's last several novels. A fine copy.

149. IRVING, John. The Fourth Hand. NY: Random House (2001). Third printing. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Probably Irving's most difficult book to find signed, in any edition.

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