Paris, Olympia, (1959). The first edition of his second book, one of the all-time great drug novels and a high spot of Beat and postwar American literature -- one of the three key volumes of the Beat movement, along with Kerouac's On the Road and Ginsberg's Howl. This is the first issue, without the New Franc stamp over the original old franc price on the rear cover. Published only in paperback in Paris by Maurice Girodias' important small press, in an edition of 5000 copies (comprising both "issues"), three years before it could be published in the U.S. This copy belonged to the author Peter Matthiessen, who co-founded The Paris Review in 1953 and bears his ownership signature. Slight foredge foxing and minor sunning to the spine and rear panel; near fine in a very good dust jacket with just a few small edge chips. [#031346] SOLD