Catalog 125, N-R
284. NAIPAUL, V.S. Half a Life. NY: Knopf, 2001. The uncorrected proof copy of the first American edition of this novel. Fine in wrappers.
285. OATES, Joyce Carol. In Case of Accidental Death. Cambridge: Pomegranate Press, 1972. A broadside poem. One of 250 numbered copies signed by the author. Illustrated and signed by Karyl Klopp. Approximately 10 7/8" x 16 1/2". No chips or tears but paper acidifying; a very good copy. An elusive Oates "A" item.
286. OATES, Joyce Carol. The Hostile Sun. The Poetry of D.H. Lawrence. Los Angeles: Black Sparrow, 1973. A short critical work. Of a total hardcover edition of 326 copies, this is one of 300 numbered copies signed by the author. Fine in acetate dust jacket.
287. OATES, Joyce Carol. Season of Peril. Santa Barbara: Black Sparrow, 1977. A limited edition of this collection of poetry. Of a total edition of 260 copies, this is one of 200 numbered copies signed by the author. Fine in acetate dustwrapper.
288. OATES, Joyce Carol. The Step-Father. Northridge: Lord John, 1978. A short story published as a limited edition. Of a total edition of 326 copies, this is one of 300 numbered copies signed by the author. Fine.
289. OATES, Joyce Carol. Queen of the Night. Northridge: Lord John, 1979. A single story, published as a limited edition. Of a total edition of 350 copies, this is one of 300 numbered copies signed by the author. Small stain near heel of spine, otherwise fine.
290. OATES, Joyce Carol. Luxury of Sin. Northridge: Lord John, 1984. Poetry. Of a total edition of 151 copies, this is one of 125 numbered copies signed by the author. Fine in wrappers.
291. -. Same title. One of 26 lettered copies signed by the author. Fine.
292. OATES, Joyce Carol. The Time Traveler. Northridge: Lord John, 1987. Poetry, issued in an edition of 176 copies, of which this is one of 150 numbered copies signed by the author.
293. -. Same title. One of 26 lettered copies signed by the author, quarterbound in black leather and marbled paper boards. Fine.
294. OATES, Joyce Carol. Small Avalanches and Other Stories. Helsinki: Eurographica (1989). One of 350 numbered copies of this small collection printing the title story along with "Shelter" and "The Assignation." Although all copies are called to be signed, this, copy #4, is unsigned on the colophon but is inscribed by the author in the year of publication: "For Mrs. Kaarina Suonio -/ Joyce Carol Oates/ 1989." Suonio, the Vice Chair of the Central Arts Council of Finland, has also served as the governor of the Province of Haeme and, prior to this inscription, had served as both Minister of Education and Minister of Science and Culture in Finland. Fine in wrappers. Remarkably scarce.
295. O'BRIEN, Edna. August is a Wicked Month. London: Jonathan Cape (1965). Her fourth book. Fine in a very near fine dust jacket with a tiny bump to the upper front spine fold.
296. O'BRIEN, Edna. Casualties of Peace. London: Jonathan Cape (1966). Rear page signatures darkened a bit; boards bowed; near fine in a fine, price-clipped dust jacket.
297. O'BRIEN, Edna. Night. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson (1972). Fine in a very near fine, price-clipped dust jacket with one small edge tear.
298. O'BRIEN, Edna. A Pagan Place. London: Faber & Faber (1973). The hardcover issue of the play version of her novel. Fine in a near fine, price-clipped dust jacket.
299. O'BRIEN, Edna. A Scandalous Woman. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson (1974). A collection of stories. Fine in a near fine, price-clipped dust jacket with a scratch to the lamination on the rear panel.
300. O'BRIEN, Edna. James and Nora. Northridge: Lord John Press, 1981. An essay on Joyce's marriage. Of a total edition of 276 copies, this is one of 250 numbered copies signed by the author. Fine.
301. -. Same title. One of 26 lettered copies signed by the author. Spine very slightly faded otherwise fine in a fine slipcase.
302. O'BRIEN, Edna. The High Road. (London): London Limited Editions (1988). The limited edition of this novel. One of 150 numbered copies signed by the author. Fine in glassine dustwrapper.
303. O'BRIEN, Tim. Northern Lights. London: Marion Boyars (1976). The first British edition of his second book, a tale of two brothers in the wilderness of northern Minnesota, one of them a Vietnam war veteran, the other a veteran of the protests against that war. Of a total edition of 2000 copies, only 900 were bound up in hardcover, the rest being issued in softcover a year later. Fine in a fine, price-clipped dust jacket.
304. -. Another copy. Light corner bumping; very near fine in a very near fine dust jacket.
305. -. Another copy. Inscribed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
306. PARKER, Robert B. The Private Eye in Hammett and Chandler. Northridge: Lord John Press, 1984. An essay by the author of the Spenser mystery novels. Of a total edition of 350 copies, this is one of 300 numbered copies signed by the author. Fine without dust jacket, as issued.
307. PATCHEN, Kenneth. See You in the Morning. NY: Padell (1947). Patchen's only conventional novel. Slight edge fading; else fine in a very good dust jacket with wear and dampstaining to the crown and a chip threatening at the upper rear spine fold.
308. PELECANOS, George. Hell to Pay and Right as Rain. Boston: Little Brown (2002). The advance reading copy of both the first edition of Hell to Pay and the Warner Books paperback of Right as Rain, bound back-to-back. An unusual edition, and a good introduction to one of the hottest mystery writers around. Fine in wrappers.
309. PERKINS, Maxwell. Letters. 1909. One typed letter signed and one autographed letter signed written to his "Uncle Max" soliciting $50,000, half the expenses necessary to set up a newspaper in Oklahoma City with Sam Bowles. The first letter, dated May 15, typed in blue ribbon, runs 1 1/4 pages and describes the marketing angle of the venture. Hand-corrected; several edge tears (one crossing text); folded with light edge sunning; very good. The second letter, two pages, 4 sides of Grand Union Hotel stationery, dated May 26, is hand-written and makes a more emotional case, obviously after his request is rejected: "It is clear enough to me that a newspaper man with no capital can do more wisely from every point of view than to stay in New York where the highest place he can hope for, or count on some say getting, is the most precarious in the whole precarious business -- that of a managing editor at not more than $10,000 a year." Perkins later became renowned as the legendary editor at Scribner's publishing house, where he nurtured young writers such as Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Thomas Wolfe. One reads these letters somewhat glad for the youthful disappointment in the failed newspaper venture, the success of which might have precluded Perkins from finding his way into literary publishing. Folded for mailing; near fine.
310. PORTER, Katherine Anne. Ship of Fools. Boston: Little Brown (1962). Signed by the author. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with a little rubbing to the edges and the folds. A very attractive copy of the book that will probably stand as her greatest achievement, and which is seldom found as crisp as this copy.
311. PRICE, Reynolds. Permanent Errors. NY: Atheneum, 1970. The fifth book of fiction by the author of The Surface of Earth, among others. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
312. PRICE, Reynolds. Things Themselves. NY: Atheneum, 1972. A collection of essays and other short pieces. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
313. PRICE, Reynolds. Early Dark. NY: Atheneum, 1977. A play, which dramatizes the story told in his first novel, A Long and Happy Life. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
314. PRICE, Reynolds. Lessons Learned. NY: Albondocani Press, 1977. Seven poems. Of a total edition of 226 copies, this is one of 200 numbered copies signed by the author. Fine in saddle-stitched self-wrappers.
315. PRICE, Richard. The Wanderers. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1974. His first book, the basis for the well-received Philip Kaufman film. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
316. PROWELL, Sandra West. The Killing of Monday Brown. NY: Walker and Co. (1994). Her second Montana mystery, featuring Phoebe Siegel. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
317. (PYNCHON, Thomas). LOTION. Nobody's Cool. NY/Richmond, Australia: spinART Records/Shock Records (1995). A CD, for which Pynchon provided liner notes. Stamped as promotional copy. Fine. Pynchon has published little outside of his novels, and this piece, approximately 500 words, is a notable appearance in print by the reclusive author.
318. PYPER, Andrew. Lost Girls. (Toronto): HarperFlamingo (1999). A mystery that won the Arthur Ellis Award for best first novel and was nominated for the John Creasey Award. Signed by the author. This is the hardcover issue. Text bound into binding upside down; else fine in a fine dust jacket.
319. QUAMMEN, David. To Walk the Line. NY: Knopf, 1970. The first novel by this writer who is better known for his writings in the field of natural history and as a columnist for Outside magazine. One of 225 numbered copies of the first edition designated as a limited edition by way of a colophon tipped to the front flyleaf that is signed by the author. Fine in a dust jacket nicked at the heel; else fine.
320. RANKIN, Ian. Knots and Crosses. London: Bodley Head (1987). His second book, and the first to feature Detective Sergeant John Rebus, one of the most complex, engaging and -- these days -- popular characters in detective fiction. The book has two thin spots to top edge; else fine in a very near fine dust jacket with light foxing on verso. Together with three typed letters signed (May 1987, June 1987, March 1988), written to the publisher of the paperback edition of Knots & Crosses. The first expresses enthusiasm at being accepted for paperback publication ("I hope you will find that with KNOTS you are getting a writer of continuing achievement") and offers to conduct self-promotion; the second appends a list of author "blurbs" ("I have typed out the 'highlights' merely to save myself photocopying charges!") for possible inclusion on the paperback edition; the third announces the sale of the film and television option of the book. He also mentions his forthcoming book, Watchman, having found a hardcover publisher, and alludes to "a mini-blockbuster about an attempt to hijack a spy satellite" that he is "already well into." Each letter is signed by the author with added game of tic tac toe (knots & crosses). Folded for mailing, as is the list of blurbs; else fine.
321. RANKIN, Ian. Watchman. London: Bodley Head (1988). His third book, and one of his scarcest, written before he had developed John Rebus into a recurring series character. Fine in a near fine dust jacket.
322. RANKIN, Ian. Dead Souls. (London): Orion (1999). The twelfth Rebus book. By this time, Rankin had won virtually every award in the mystery field and the blurb on the dust jacket calls him "Britain's finest detective novelist." Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket, with the publisher's introductory price sticker on the front panel.
323. REICHS, Kathy. Déja Dead. (NY): Scribner (1997). Her first novel, winner of the Arthur Ellis Award for best first mystery novel. Featuring Dr. Temperance Brennan, a forensic anthropologist, as is Reichs. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
324. RENDELL, Ruth. Master of the Moor. London: Hutchinson (1982). A mystery by this British master of the genre. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
325. RENDELL, Ruth. An Unkindness of Ravens. London: Hutchinson (1985). A novel featuring Chief Inspector Wexford; winner of the Edgar Award for best novel of the year. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
326. RENDELL, Ruth. Talking to Strange Men. NY: Pantheon (1987). The first American edition. Inscribed by the author in the month of publication. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
327. RENDELL, Ruth. The Veiled One. NY: Pantheon (1988). The first American edition. Inscribed by the author in the month of publication. Fine in a fine dust jacket with publisher's unbroken wraparound band laid in.
328. RIENITS, Rex. Assassin for Hire. London: Frederick Muller (1952). The second book, a hard-boiled mystery novel, by this Australian writer who went on to write a number of historical works. Pages foxed; very good in a very good, moderately edgeworn dust jacket.
329. ROBINSON, Peter. A Dedicated Man. NY: Scribner (1991). The first American edition of the author's second book featuring Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks. Inscribed by the author in the year of publication. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
330. ROBINSON, Peter. A Necessary End. NY: Scribner (1992). The uncorrected proof copy of the first American edition of the third Inspector Banks mystery. Inscribed by the author and dated prior to publication. Fine in wrappers.
331. ROBINSON, Peter. Wednesday's Child. (Toronto): Viking (1992). The true first edition, Canadian, of the sixth book in the Inspector Banks series, published as a softcover original. Nominated for an Edgar Award. Signed by the author. Creased at the hinge from reading; near fine in self-wrappers.
332. ROBINSON, Peter. In a Dry Season. (NY): Avon (1999). The first American edition of this Inspector Banks novel, which won an Anthony Award and was nominated for an Edgar. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
333. ROTH, Philip. Zuckerman Unbound. NY: FSG (1981). The limited edition of this novel, featuring Nathan Zuckerman, one of Roth's fictional alter egos. One of 350 numbered copies signed by the author. Fine in a fine slipcase. After a literary career spanning more than four decades, Philip Roth began to be recognized in the 1990s as one of America's foremost writers, and won virtually every major literary award given in the U.S.
334. ROTH, Philip. The Facts. NY: FSG (1988). The limited edition of his autobiography. One of 250 numbered copies signed by the author. Fine in a near fine, mildly sunned slipcase.
335. ROWSON, Martin. The Wasteland. NY: Harper & Row/Perennial (1990). A graphic novel that mixes Raymond Chandler with T.S. Eliot and is thus a bibliomystery of sorts. Covers slightly splayed, else fine in wrappers.
336. ROY, Arundhati. The God of Small Things. NY: Random House (1997). The first American edition of the first book by this young Indian author. Winner of the Booker Prize and a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. Signed by Roy. Fine in a fine dust jacket with a ticket to a reading laid in.
337. -. Same title. The advance reading copy. Signed by the author. Fine in wrappers and publisher's cardstock slipcase.