Catalog 152

(Toronto), Knopf Canada, (1993). The first Canadian edition of his first collection of short pieces, published after the British edition (or possibly simultaneously; we've heard conflicting stories). Both precede the expanded American edition, which was published in 1996. Inscribed by Irving to his editor, Harvey Ginsberg: "For Harvey, who never got his pencil on any of these...and they are less good, as a result. Love, John." Trace foxing to top edge; else fine in a fine dust jacket. An excellent literary association copy, one of the best we have seen for a John Irving title: Ginsberg edited The Cider-House Rules and five subsequent novels by Irving, even continuing on a freelance basis after Irving left William Morrow publishing company, where Ginsberg worked. Apparently, though, he did not edit Irving's short pieces, such as those collected here.   [#027915] SOLD

NY, Arcade, (1996). The first American edition of his first collection of short pieces. Expanded from the British edition, which was published in 1993. Inscribed by Irving to his frequent editor, Harvey Ginsberg: "For Harvey - a book with five spelling errors on one page (p. 97 - the correct name is 'Kurdelmeier' and another spelling error throughout ('Pierannnnzi, not Pieranunzi), suggesting that I NEED A GOOD EDITOR!! Love, John." Modest foxing to page edges; else fine in a dust jacket with a bit of foxing on the verso; else fine. A great inscription, and indicative of the closeness of the working relationship between the two.   [#027916] SOLD

1994. The typescript of a telephone interview of Irving by Dunn, conducted just after Irving finished A Son of the Circus. Signed by Dunn and with copyediting marks in her hand. This twenty-two page typescript became a 10 paragraph article by Dunn in the Los Angeles Times, entitled "What Was Irving Thinking - 'Multicultural' doesn't begin to describe the rambunctious all-inclusiveness of this fictional universe." Fine, in an envelope labeled "John Irving Int. Q & A." in Dunn's hand. An enormous amount of otherwise unpublished Irving commentary on both the novel Son of the Circus specifically and also on writing, and his particular approach to writing, in general.   [#027917] SOLD

NY, Modern Library, (1998). First thus, the Modern Library edition, with a new introduction by the author in which he discusses his son's reading of the novel. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.   [#027918] SOLD

NY, Random House, (2001). Signed by the author. Possibly his scarcest trade edition signed. Irving has been reluctant to do signings in recent years, and for this book he did a small number of readings at which he signed books. Fine in a fine dust jacket.   [#027919] $150

NY, Random House, (1977). His first book, introducing Detective Sergeant Mulheisen. Inscribed by Jackson to fellow Montana author Steve Krauzer: "To my brilliant, noble, courageous, handsome and incredibly hard-boiled colleague, from your faithful sidekick, Jon." Krauzer is unnamed in the inscription, but the book is from Krauzer's estate. Minor rubbing to the bottom edges of the boards; near fine in a near fine dust jacket with minor staining to the crown and a tiny chip on the rear panel.   [#027920] $350

NY, Random House, (1978). His second book, again featuring Detective Sergeant "Fang" Mulheisen. Inscribed by Jackson to Steve Krauzer: "For my beloved, esteemed and always fascinating pal, Love, Jon." Again, Krauzer is unnamed in the inscription, but the book is from Krauzer's estate. Fine in a fine dust jacket.   [#027921] $250

Woodstock, Foul Play Press/Countryman, (1990). The third Mulheisen novel. Inscribed by the author: "For Dorrit Karasek and Steve Krauzer. Two of my good ol' pals. I've got a joke & I'll tell you one day. But thanks for buying this & hope it keeps you awake. Affectionately, Jon Jackson." Fine in a fine dust jacket.   [#027922] $175

(Tucson), (Dennis McMillan), (1998). A historical novel set in Butte, Montana, in 1917. Signed by Jackson on the title page and additionally inscribed by him on the dedication page. The printed dedication reads "To the Workers of the World." Here Jackson has added, "That'd be us, Steve [Krauzer]. They just don't know how hard it is. Anyway, this is for my dear old pal, Steve. Affect'ly, Jon." A nice inscription. Krauzer was, as Jackson implies, a hard-working writer who received very little in terms of money or acclaim for his writing, although he wrote, co-wrote or edited some 31 books and a couple of screenplays. Fine in a fine dust jacket.   [#027923] SOLD

NY, Atlantic Monthly Press, (2000). A Mulheisen mystery. Inscribed by Jackson: "For Steve [Krauzer], my dear old pal. Jon." Jackson has also corrected the dedication page, changing "To the memory of Henry Wallace Robinson..." to "Leonard Wallace Robinson," adding, underneath, "Nardo." Fine in a near fine, spine-sunned dust jacket.   [#027924] SOLD

NY, Knopf, 1983. His first novel, a tale of drifters that is reminiscent of the noir fiction of Robert Stone. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket. A beautiful copy of a book that is surprisingly hard to find in fine condition and also signed. An auspicious debut by one of our finest contemporary writers, winner of the National Book Award for his Vietnam novel Tree of Smoke.   [#911213] SOLD

NY, Knopf, 1985. His second novel. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Again, a more difficult book to find in fine condition and signed than one would expect. Johnson has not been especially accessible in recent years, it seems, and back in the 1980s was not in as much demand for readings and signings as he is today, thus the scarcity of signed copies of his early books.   [#911214] SOLD

NY, Knopf, 1986. The uncorrected proof copy of his third novel. Signed by the author. Fine in wrappers, with publisher's promotional materials laid in.   [#911215] SOLD

NY, FSG, (1991). Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.   [#911216] SOLD

NY, FSG, (1992). Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket. By all appearances, the author signed very few copies of this title.   [#911217] SOLD

NY, Farrar Straus Giroux, (1992). A review copy. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket, with publisher's promotional pages (no review slip) laid in. Scarce signed, especially as a review copy.   [#911218] SOLD

(NY), HarperCollins, (1997). A well-received novel, subtitled "A California Gothic," a tale of various existential misfits in northern California. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.   [#911219] SOLD

(NY), HarperCollins, (2000). One of an unspecified number of copies of the first edition that has been signed by the author on a tipped-in leaf. Fine in a fine dust jacket.   [#911220] SOLD

NY, Viking, (1964). His second and most ambitious novel, about a logging family in Oregon, and embodying the individualistic values that helped Kesey to become a counterculture leader and icon. This is the presumed first state, with the Viking ship on the first half-title, and in the first issue dust jacket, with the author photo credited to "Hank Krangler" and only two lines of biographical information about the author on the rear flap. A fine copy in a near fine dust jacket with creasing to the lower edge of the rear panel and mottling visible only on verso. One of the nicer copies of this title that we have seen.   [#911221] $1,000

NY, Doubleday, (1978). One of King's early novels published by Doubleday, in a remarkably cheap binding. A massive book -- 823 pages -- which some consider his best. Nonetheless, a larger edition with "restored" text was issued in 1990. This copy is inscribed by King in 1979: "For Ron, with best wishes." Several small stains to page edges; a near fine copy in a near fine dust jacket with a little rubbing and a bit of dampstaining to the base of the spine. We seldom see the early Stephen King novels with contemporary or early inscriptions.   [#027934] $2,500

(West Kingston), Donald M. Grant, (1982). The first volume of King's "Dark Tower" epic. The Gunslinger was published by a small horror specialty publisher, Donald Grant, right at the point that King had broken through to huge commercial success as a writer, with his books commanding six-figure first printings (and later seven-figure printings) in hardcover. Grant published a small 10,000-copy trade edition of this title, and a 500-copy signed limited edition. Both of them were immediately sold out, and the title became one of the most sought-after Stephen King books, as it was originally announced that there would be no further printings of it. Since then, King has extended the Dark Tower series to seven volumes, and The Gunslinger has come back into print and is widely available. The first printings are still scarce. This copy is fine in a near fine dust jacket with minor edge wear.   [#027935] SOLD

(St. Paul), Graywolf Press, (1987). The second book by one of the preeminent writers of the contemporary American West. A collection of autobiographical essays that was only published in softcover. Inscribed by the author: "For Steve [Krauzer] -- [drawing of a heart with an arrow through it]/ Well, love & money, Bill K." Between 1982 and 1986, Kittredge and Krauzer wrote nine novels together under the pseudonym "Owen Rountree." The series of Westerns focused on an outlaw named Cord and his female partner, Chi, in the latter half of the 19th century. The books were highly praised but only modestly successful commercially. Rubbing to folds; else fine in wrappers. An excellent association copy between two writers who were both friends and collaborators over a number of years.   [#027936] $250

NY, Knopf, 1992. His highly praised memoir, which traces his family's history as wealthy landowners in southeastern Oregon, a mixed blessing for the author, as he describes it. Kittredge's memoir is in part an elegy for the Great Basin and the large ranch that was his family legacy and, as such, it reflects on the myths of the Old West and was a key work in defining the literature of the "New West." Inscribed by the author: "To Steve [Krauzer] with all possible respect & affection in memory of Cord. Bill Kittredge. 6/24/92." Fine in a fine dust jacket. A great association copy: in the 1980s Kittredge and Krauzer collaborated on a series of novels of the Old West whose main character was an outlaw named Cord, which the inscription refers to.   [#027937] $250

St. Paul, Graywolf Press, (2003). Inscribed by the author: "For Steve [Krauzer]/ Old friend and collaborator!/ Bill Kittredge." Only published in wrappers. Fine.   [#027938] $75

London, Bodley Head, (1960). The first British edition of the author's first book, a pseudonymously published nonfiction account of Russia in the postwar years, predating his first novel, The Painted Bird, by five years. Inscribed by the author as "Jerzy Kosinski" for Hugh Moorhead in 1982. Moorhead was a Philosophy professor at Northeastern Illinois University who wrote to 250 authors to ask them what they thought the meaning of life was, and then published their answers in a depressing book that suggested nobody had much of a clue. Stripe at bottom page edges; very good in a very good dust jacket chipped at the upper front spine fold.   [#000989] $375

(n.p.), (n.p.), (n.d.). Possibly printed to accompany the Corgi Books edition (London, 1967). Includes a biographical sketch of Kosinski and 9 pages of excerpted comments and reviews, including comments by such notable figures as playwright Arthur Miller, filmmaker Luis Buñuel, Nobel Prize winner Elie Wiesel, and numerous others from Europe and the USA, and particularly France where the book won the prestigious award Le Prix du Meilleur Livre Etranger -- the best book by a foreign writer. An interesting historical view of the reception of this book at around the time of its initial publication. Folded once; some staining and a marginal pen mark to the first page; near fine.   [#027939] $75

NY, Ronald Press Company, (1957). Leary's first book, written while he was Director of Psychology Research at the Kaiser Foundation Hospital in Oakland, California. The book was voted the best book on psychotherapy in 1957 by the American Psychological Association, and was immediately recognized as a landmark: among other things, Leary's book argued that "individual character functions as an inextricable part of a larger social network," an insight that was later crucial in his experiments with the use of psychedelic drugs in psychotherapy and psychological treatment, and also with his non-academic experiments with such drugs. The accolades Leary received after the publication of this book led directly to his being offered a teaching position at Harvard, where he taught from 1959-1963. Leary left academia to pursue an iconoclastic path as an avatar of the counterculture in the 1960s, and a prominent advocate of the use of psychedelic drugs for insight. This book has the small ownership stamps of O.W. Lacy, a longtime professor of psychology at Franklin and Martin College, on the front pastedown and lower page edges, otherwise this is a fine copy in a lightly spine-sunned, near fine dust jacket. An important book, with distinguished provenance, seldom found in dust jacket, especially in this condition.   [#027940] $500

1967. One page, dated 20th November. Le Carré (using his real name, David Cornwell), writes that he and his wife, Ann, enjoyed the recipient's poem, and that he had had to give up his tour half way across Canada "because it really became too much for me" but notes that he and Ann appreciated the hospitality the recipient had shown when he visited. Cornwell invites the recipient and his wife to visit if/when they come to England. Signed "David." Folded in thirds for mailing; one faint cup ring over the address; near fine.   [#025116] $200

(NY), HarperCollins, (1999). The first printing of the 40th anniversary edition of her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, which was made into an Academy Award-winning film. This copy is signed by the author. Reprints the foreword by Lee that appeared in the 35th anniversary edition in 1995. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Both anniversary editions went into multiple printings; first printings are uncommon, especially signed.   [#911222] SOLD

(NY), HarperCollins, (1999). The first printing of the 40th anniversary edition of her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, which was made into an Academy Award-winning film. This copy is signed by the author. Reprints the foreword by Lee that appeared in the 35th anniversary edition in 1995. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Both anniversary editions went into multiple printings; first printings are uncommon, especially signed.   [#028102] SOLD