NY, Grove Press, (1959)[c. 1962]. The first American edition and the first hardcover edition: Naked Lunch was not published in this country until three years after its original publication in Paris. It was published by the maverick publisher Barney Rosset, of Grove Press, in a tiny edition of 3500 copies -- a smaller number than was done of the scarce French paperback edition in 1959. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with a short tear at the lower edge of the front panel and a bit of rubbing on the rear spine fold. Together with an advance reading excerpt: eight pages from the novel and two reviews, one by Terry Southern. With additional blurbs by Norman Mailer, Jack Kerouac, Robert Lowell and John Ciardi. Fine in stapled wrappers. An important promotional piece, in that Burroughs' novel was subjected to censorship prior to its U.S. publication, and the endorsements of such established literary celebrities as the above helped pave the way for its publication here by establishing it as a novel of literary merit. A beautiful copy of a landmark book, together with an uncommon, important ephemeral piece. [#026950] SOLD