NY, Simon & Schuster, 1961. Heller's first book, a black comedy of World War II and military life whose title has become a part of the language, signifying a contradictory set of instructions or constraints. This book was both the basis for a well-received movie and also one of the novels that helped define the ethos of the 1960s -- funny, irreverent, and critical of established authority and bureaucracy. Signed by the author. A bit of foxing on the front free endpaper but still fine in a very near fine dust jacket with a small amount of foxing at the extremities. No fading to the spine panel, and no rubbing to the rich blue front panel; bright, unfaded orange topstain. Extremely scarce thus. One of the nicest copies we've seen offered in the past several years, and probably the nicest signed copy we've ever seen. Housed in a custom clamshell box. One of the few books to be listed on each of the Modern Library, Radcliffe, Waterstone's and New York Public Library lists of the great books of the 20th century. From the collection of Bruce Kahn. [#911040] SOLD