Catalog 174

NY, Viking, (1983). Matthiessen's controversial and suppressed book about the confrontation between American Indian activists and the FBI in the early 1970s at Pine Ridge Reservation near Wounded Knee that left two federal agents and one Indian dead, and resulted in AIM activist Leonard Peltier imprisoned for life, convicted of the agents' murder in a case that, as Matthiessen describes it, was rife with government malfeasance. This copy is inscribed by Matthiessen in the year of publication: "For Rahda & Jimmy/ with many thanks and love. Peter. In your beautiful house/ Santa Barbara/ March - 1983." Also signed in full on the front pastedown. Trace edge sunning, still a fine copy in a very good, very spine-faded dust jacket with modest edge wear. [#035589] $250

NY, Random House, (1990). The first book in his highly acclaimed trilogy, later published in 2008 as the edited single-volume Shadow Country, which won the National Book Award and the William Dean Howells Medal. Inscribed by the author in Santa Barbara in 1994: "For Rahda and Jimmy/ Perhaps by the time we meet again, I can bring you Watson II & III/ Many thanks/ and love/ Peter." Also signed in full on the facing page. Fine in a very near fine dust jacket. [#035591] $125

San Francisco, Sierra Club, (1992). Text by Matthiessen, who, at the invitation of musician Paul Winter, visited Lake Baikal in hopes of stirring a response that would help save the lake, which contains one-fifth of all the fresh water on earth and which has been threatened in recent years by acid rain and industrial pollution. Stunning photographs by Boyd Norton; introduction by the poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko. Inscribed by the author in 2003, "for Rahda and Jimmy, with much love." Fine in a very near fine, price-clipped dust jacket. [#035592] $150

NY, Random House, (1997). The second novel in the trilogy that began with Killing Mr. Watson, based on a series of events in Florida at the turn of the last century and using the novel form to explore the settling and development of that frontier, with an awareness of the ecological implications of that development. Inscribed by the author: "For Rahda & Jimmy/ Here's #II/ With love/ Peter/ Sta. Barbara/ April 2003/ (Matthiessen)." Fine in a fine dust jacket. [#035593] $75

NY, Random House, (1999). The concluding volume in the Watson trilogy -- which comprises one of the great achievements of ecological fiction in American literature. Inscribed by the author: "For Jimmy - Rahda/ Here's #3/ with much love (and many thanks for so much kind hospitality at Via Huerto)/ Peter/ Santa Barbara/ April 2003." Also signed in full on the facing page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. [#035594] $75

(n.p.), Sports Illustrated, 1971-1973. Sports Illustrated file copies of five articles by McGuane and two Letters from the Publisher about McGuane that appeared in the magazine. The articles include "Casting on a Sea of Memories," "A Bomb in Sheep's Clothing," "Angling and Some Acts of God," "Hazardous Life in a Meat Bucket," and "Gundog Molly, Folly and Me." These, as well as the two Letters from the Publisher columns, are each stamped "Edit Ref./ [date]/ S.I." The articles are corner-stapled, with one staple failing; near fine. [#035853] $250

(Various), (Various), ca. 1960s. File of approximately two dozen articles by and about Merton collected by his friend Doris Dana. Includes a page of handwritten notes apparently about Merton; a photocopy of a letter from Merton to Dana; and a photocopy of Merton's "My Campaign Platform," his 1967 anti-campaign letter/poster in which he explains why he should not be the replacement for the retiring Abbot (he was not). Together with an envelope and a mailing label addressed to Dana in Merton's hand. The lot is in very good condition. Interesting Merton ephemera in at least three languages -- English, French and Spanish -- compiled by a friend and admirer. [#035854] $650

(n.p.), (New Directions), (1962). One of 8000 copies in wrappers of Merton's meditation on the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Inscribed by Merton: "For Doris/ from Tom." Doris Dana and Merton met in 1966, having been introduced by Dana's godfather, Jacques Maritain. Dana visited Merton at the Gethsemani monastery twice in 1967, and the two maintained a correspondence until Merton died in December, 1968. Foxing to covers, and a creased bump to the spine crown; very good in wrappers. Mailing label from the Abbey of Gethsemani, made out to Dana in Merton's hand is included. There was a signed limited edition of this title done -- 500 copies -- which is uncommon now; signed copies of the trade edition are considerably scarcer, especially with a good association as this one has. [#035855] $1,500

Alhambra, Cambria Books, (1960). An essay on painting by Miller, illustrated with color reproductions of fourteen of his artworks. Issued in a trade hardcover, a wrappered issue, and a limited edition of 50 copies, this is an out-of-series copy of the limited edition and is signed by Miller. Scarce. Trace foxing to page and board edges, one light corner tap; near fine in a very near fine dust jacket. [#035666] SOLD

Santa Barbara, Capra Press, (1973). The limited hardcover edition; this is Copy No. 79 of 250 copies, signed by the author. Fine, without dust jacket, as issued, and with a tipped-in photo of the author at rear, as published. Shifreen & Jackson's first issue binding, A185a. There was a simultaneous softcover of this title, but no unsigned trade hardcover edition issued. [#035667] SOLD

NY, Macmillan, 1971. Long galley sheets for this autobiographical novel by the exiled South African writer. It follows his book Down Second Avenue and recounts his exile in Nigeria and Kenya, prior to his move to the U.S. This title was banned in South Africa. 100 long galley sheets (approximately 24" x 8"); folded in half. Tears to the cover sheet, else near fine. A very scarce prepublication format: probably no more than a half dozen copies of these galleys were created. [#035668] $125

Amenia, NY, 1975. Mumford declines to be a "nominator," on the grounds that he resists doing favors for anyone who might review his work, and suggests in his place Loren Eiseley or Harrison Salisbury. The letter reads as though the recipient was looking for a nomination, not for himself, but for some unnamed third party. The fascinating part is that Mumford begins the letter "I had a smothered fear, dear Van Veen," and closes it by saying "With all good wishes to you -- and Ada!" It is signed "Cordially, Lewis" (and headed with an Amenia NY address, where Mumford lived). "Van Veen" is the name of Vladimir Nabokov's protagonist in his novel Ada. Although we could find no direct connection between Mumford and Nabokov, both won the National Medal for Literature, in 1972 and 1973, respectively, and could have met at the April, 1974 ceremony where Nabokov received his. As for the nomination in question, Mumford, Eiseley, and Harrison all belonged to both the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Association. Folded in sixths; light corner creasing; near fine. [#035856] $300

Washington, DC, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1974-1984. 17 reports from the 93rd-98th Congresses on matters related to Indian affairs, including self-determination, education, health care, housing, jobs, oil, trust lands and trust fund disbursement. Together with three Congressional Resolutions (on land claims and religious freedom) and one Senate Bill (on the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act) from the 94th and 95th Congresses. Some edge-foxing to the resolutions; the lot is overall near fine in wrappers. [#035857] $175

Washington, DC, U.S. General Accounting Office, 1978. Three reports: "Tribal Participation in the Bureau of Indian Affairs Budget System Should Be Increased," "Bureau of Indian Affairs Not Operating Boarding Schools Efficiently," and "The Indian Self-Determination Act--Many Obstacles Remain." The first two are near fine in stapled wrappers, and addressed to Senator Robert Byrd with respect to his role on the Senate Appropriations Committee; the third has some darkening and staining to the front cover, and is addressed to both houses of Congress; very good in stapled wrappers. [#035859] $225

NY, John Day, (1940). This is the life story of Anauta, as told to Washburne. Anauta was an Eskimo woman raised as a boy on Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada, who moved to Indianapolis as an adult. Inscribed on the half-title with "My very best wishes to you" and signed by Anauta in both the English alphabet and the Inuktitut syllabics. A near fine copy in a very good dust jacket worn at the edges and joints. Dust jacket design by Rockwell Kent. [#035860] $350

(San Francisco), (American Indian Historical Society), 1976-1983. An incomplete run of 24 issues of this "National Newspaper of Indian America," as follows: Vol. 4, Nos. 2, 6, 7, 9, 10; Vol 5, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5; Vol. 6, No. 1, then a Special Issue, then Nos. 3, 4, 6, 7/8, 9/10, 11; Vol. 7, Nos. 3, 4; Vol. 9, Nos. 1, 2, 3; Vol. 10, Nos. 3, 4. The papers span the period from February, 1976, to July/August, 1983. The front page of the first issue present is almost entirely devoted to the arrest of AIM activist Dennis Banks as a fugitive from justice, for jumping bail from his arrest in Custer, South Dakota, and his lawyer's plea for political asylum to avoid being extradited back to South Dakota. California Governor Jerry Brown later refused to allow him to be extradited; these newspapers provide the "first draft of history" for an especially pivotal time in relations between Native Americans and the dominant white society. Another small front-page article reports on the Pine Ridge election in which Robert Wilson was voted out as tribal head, a major victory for Native activists, reformers and AIM. Mailing labels; tanning to the edges and folds; overall very good. [#035862] $450

St. Louis, CNI/CEI/SIPS, 1961-1977. 34 issues of this magazine, which was founded by Barry Commoner and which evolved in name, format, and expanding environmental concerns over its publication history, from 1958 to at least 1977. An incomplete run, with 5 issues of Nuclear Information (October and November, 1961; February 1962; February and August, 1963); 12 issues of Scientist and Citizen (Jan/Feb, April, May/June, 1965; April and May, 1966; Jan, Feb, June/July, 1967; Jan/Feb, April, May, December 1968); and 17 issues of Environment (July/Aug 1969; Dec 1970; April 1972; April, May, July/Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec 1973; May and June 1974; June and Dec 1976; Jan/Feb, March and May 1977). Note that the publisher was initially the Committee for Nuclear Information, then the Committee for Environmental Information, then the Scientists' Institute for Public Information, changes that mirrored the publication's widening scope, from nuclear issues to air and water pollution, recycling, pesticides, land use, and alternative energy. The second issue in this lot is dedicated to CNI's famous baby tooth study, which documented strontium 90 in the bones of children and helped ban above ground nuclear testing. Mailing labels to some issues. Several issues have dampstained edges and are only in very good condition, but most are near fine or better. [#035865] SOLD

Caldwell, Caxton Printers, 1940. Pearce's first of three books on Austin. Inscribed by the author: "For Mary Barrett/ with the friendship of the author -- TM Pearce." Near fine in a good, edge-chipped dust jacket splitting at the folds, particularly along the front spine fold. Uncommon in dust jacket, let alone signed or inscribed. [#035835] SOLD

(NY), Harper, (2022). The noted Presidential historian examines how administrations from 1960-1973 were influenced by Rachel Carson, Cesar Chavez, David Brower, Barry Commoner, and other environmental activists. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket. [#035670] SOLD

NY, Knopf, 1964. The 1965 John Burroughs Medal winner. An account of journeys Brooks took with his wife in the roadless areas of the U.S., including Alaska, as well as journeys in Africa. Inscribed by the author: For Isobel Scovel/ with best wishes from/ Paul Brooks/ November, 1965." Brooks, in addition to being a conservationist, was editor-in-chief at Houghton Mifflin and published Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, and he later wrote a literary biography of her, This House of Life. Fine in a near fine, price-clipped dust jacket, with very light wear at the spine ends. With 67 pen-and-ink illustrations by the author. Uncommon signed, in the first printing. [#035671] SOLD

Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1980. Brooks was both Rachel's Carson's editor and biographer and a John Burroughs Medal winner (for Roadless Area). This book provides an overview of those for whom "the chief weapon [in the] fight to protect the American environment over the past century has been the pen," including Thoreau, John Burroughs, John Muir, William Beebe, Mary Austin, Aldo Leopold, Rachel Carson, and many others. Inscribed by Brooks: "For Joe -- Long-time friend and colleague, with much gratitude for your efforts on behalf of this & my other books./ Paul/ October, 1980." Light foxing to endpages and page edges; near fine in a near fine, faintly spine-sunned dust jacket. [#035672] SOLD

Boston, Houghton Mifflin/Environmental Defense Fund, (1987). A limited edition: the Environmental Defense Fund's Commemorative (25th) Anniversary edition of Carson's classic 1962 work, which single-handedly brought about the banning of the pesticide DDT, saving songbirds and giving wing to the environmental movement. With a new foreword by Paul Brooks, who was editor-in-chief at Houghton Mifflin during the publication of both The Edge of the Sea and Silent Spring, and who became the guardian of Carson's adopted son after her death; he also wrote the Carson biography, The House of Life, in 1972. This is Copy No. 277 of 1000 copies. Fine in a near fine dust jacket, with light wear to the spine ends. A little-known, uncommon limited edition of this classic work (note: printed from sheets of a 16th printing). Laid in is an Environmental Defense Fund pamphlet entitled Reflections on Silent Spring, written by Michael J. Bean and Dr. Ellen K. Silbergeld, discussing the legacy of Carson's book, 25 years on. The pamphlet is fine in stapled wrappers. [#035673] $250

Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1972. A literary biography of Carson by Brooks, who was editor-in-chief at Houghton Mifflin during the publication of Carson's The Edge of the Sea and Silent Spring, and who became the guardian of Carson's adopted son after her death. The book also includes selections from Carson's own writing, both published and unpublished. Brooks himself was an important writer of natural history: his first book, Roadless Area, won the John Burroughs Medal. This copy is inscribed by Brooks: "For Lois/ with love from Paul." What follows is speculation: "Lois" could be a close personal friend, unknown to us, or someone connected to Carson and her work. There are three Lois's named in this biography: Lois Crisler, who died the year prior to publication; Lois Schaefer, wife of Vincent Schaefer; and Lois Darling, who, with her husband Louis, illustrated Silent Spring, at the strong and sustained suggestion of Brooks (a process that gets more attention in Linda Lear's biography of Carson than in this one). We are entertaining the possibility that this copy could be inscribed to Lois Darling (and not to both Lois and Louis as Louis Darling passed away in 1970). In any event: scarce signed. Slight shelf wear, else a fine copy in a very good dust jacket with wear to the spine ends and a long, closed, internally tape-mended edge tear to the front panel. [#035868] $750

NY, Thomas Y. Crowell, (1970). Apparently the first of many biographies of Carson, preceding even Paul Brooks' The House of Life (1972). This volume was published in Crowell's "Women of America" series. Mild splaying to boards; near fine in a very good dust jacket with rubbing and wear to the edges and folds. Uncommon in the first printing, with many copies having gone to libraries. [#035674] $200

Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1970. The first American edition. Inscribed by Dorst to Claes Nobel: "To Mr. Claes Nobel/ as a tribute to his efforts to save man and nature/ Jean Dorst." Before Nature Dies was first published in French (in Switzerland) in 1965, before being translated into 17 languages: it catalogs man's assaults on nature, by continent, listed in "chronological order of their devastation," beginning with "Yesterday" (pre-Industrial Man) and continuing with "Today" (the 20th century). Dorst was Vice President of the Commission of Protection of Threatened Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature; one of the founders of the Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos; and President of the 16th International Ornithological Congress. Nobel (grand-nephew of Alfred Nobel) drafted, in 1974, the Nobel Laureates Declaration on the Survival of Mankind, acknowledging that technological advances had contributed to environmental degradation while asking for pledges of conservation, and, in 1985, he authored the Global Declaration of Earth Ethics, attempting to raise standards of environmental stewardship. A fine copy in a very good, lightly rubbed and creased dust jacket, and an excellent association copy. Illustrated with photographs. [#035869] $950

NY, Scribner's, (1980). One of the last books by the microbiologist, environmentalist, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of So Human an Animal. This copy is signed by the author, who died in 1982. Light foxing to page edges and prelims; near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Uncommon signed. [#035870] SOLD

Martha's Vineyard, Privately Printed, 1959. A complete reference, including a history of birding on the island; an annotated systematic list of all recorded birds; a list of summer, winter and permanent residents as well as migrants and accidentals; where to look for birds and who has seen them; and a large fold-out birdwatcher's map of the island. Inscribed in 1961 by both the co-author Guy Emerson and by Henry Beetle Hough, who contributes the first essay in the book -- "A Ticket to Martha's Vineyard" -- to Eleanor Herrick Stickney, a lifelong, avid bird-watcher who was an ornithologist for the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History for 30 years, in charge of the collection of specimens there and director of the library. Henry Beetle Hough was the longtime owner, editor and publisher of the Vineyard Gazette and a Pulitzer Prize winner. A fine copy in a very good, spine-sunned, lightly rubbed dust jacket with a few short tears near the spine crown. An excellent association copy. [#035601] $300

NY, Henry Holt, (2014). Kolbert, author of Field Notes from a Catastrophe, here examines the ongoing greatest mass extinction since the age of the dinosaurs. In the current scenario, humans are the asteroid. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction in 2015, it is now widely viewed as a classic of environmental and historical reporting. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket, with blurbs by Barry Lopez, David Quammen, T.C. Boyle, and Bill McKibben, among others. Reprinted many times: signed first printings are uncommon. [#035872] SOLD

(NY), Villard Books, (1996). The second solo book (after Eiger Dreams) by the author of Into Thin Air. Like his more famous title, this one also recounts a tragedy in the wilderness, albeit not one he was witness to. Made into a film by Sean Penn. This copy is inscribed by the author. A bit of softening to the corners, else fine in a fine dust jacket. Reprinted many times, signed first printings are uncommon. [#035873] ON HOLD
$750

Eugene, Lone Goose, 1997. Copy "A" of 16 participants' copies of this limited edition of an essay from Crossing Open Ground, which was later issued in a trade edition by the University of Georgia Press. Here issued with twenty-three 11-3/4" x 11" woodblock images by Robin Eschner, hinged in a continuous presentation almost 22 feet long, encompassing the text. An elaborate production, involving a number of individuals prominent in the book arts, in addition to Lopez and Eschner: Charles Hobson, the designer, whose work is included in the collections of the Whitney Museum and the National Gallery of Art, among others; Sandy Tilcock, the publisher and boxmaker; Susan Acker, the letterpress printer; Nora Pauwells, the relief edition printer; and John DeMerritt, the binder, who was President of the Hand Bookbinders of California. Of a total edition of 66 copies, this is Copy A of 16 lettered copies signed by Lopez and Eschner and including a unique tire-tread print from Lopez's Toyota 4-Runner, the vehicle used in the journey from Oregon to Indiana that is described in the story. Fine, in a clamshell box. [#035200] $3,500