Search Results

[NY], (Scientific American), (1969). The first separate edition of this physics-themed poem. One of 6200 copies printed as Christmas cards to be issued with W.H. Auden's A New Year Greeting (not present). 24 pages, illustrated. Fine in stapled wrappers. Lacking the cardboard sleeve that combined the two booklets, but in a custom three quarter leather clamshell case from the Praxis Bindery. This copy is inscribed by the author: "For ___/ Merry Christmas 1995/ John Updike [with a drawing of holly leaves and berries]." While the print run of this item was not particularly small, especially when compared with the many limited editions Updike has done, the nature of its distribution -- as a freebie to Scientific American subscribers -- suggests that most copies would have been lost or discarded. [#030850] $1,500

(Boston), G.K. Hall and Marquis Who's Who, Inc., (1978). A poem by Updike, published as a holiday greeting card. Signed by the author. Fine, with original (unused) mailing envelope. Together with a presumed proof copy, with the copyright notice handwritten (in an unknown hand) rather than printed on the rear cover. Also fine. Both housed together in a G.K. Hall envelope. An ephemeral piece, uncommon signed, and rare in the variant with the handwritten copyright notice. [#031524] $1,250

Kittery Point, William Dean Howells Memorial Committee, 1987. One of 150 copies printed of a lecture Updike gave at Harvard as part of the 150th anniversary of Howells' birth. Published in a slightly altered form in The New Yorker, this is the first separate appearance, with an Author's Note by Updike. Approximately 40 pages of text; fine in self-wrappers with complimentary slip from the publisher laid in. Updike won the Howells Medal years later, in 1995, for Rabbit at Rest; the medal is given out for the best work of fiction in America during a five-year period. One of Updike's scarcest "A" items. [#028555] $1,000

Newburyport, Wickford Press, 1968. A limited edition of a humorous essay on encounters with (other) famous authors, which first appeared in the New York Times. Number 56 of 250 numbered copies. Issued unsigned, this copy is inscribed by the author in 1997: For ___ ___ and her fabulous collection/ Cheers, John Updike." One of Updike's earliest limited editions, done the same year as Bath After Sailing and The Angels. Although the limitation of this title is larger than either of those, we have encountered it just as infrequently. Faint sunning at the edge of the spine, else fine. [#030849] $1,000

1986. A remembrance by Updike of his friend Lovell Thompson, read at Thompson's memorial service. Two photocopies, each four pages, folded in thirds, stapled, and stamped with Updike's address. Reproduces a couple of holograph corrections and one note of transmittal. One of the copies is signed by Updike. Near fine, and together with a copy of Bookbuilder, January/February 1987, the newsletter of the Bookbuilders of Boston, where the tribute was printed. [#031526] $550

Washington, DC, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1978. Roughly 800 words by Updike. In part: "I love my Government not least for the extent to which it leaves me alone. My personal ambition has been simply to live by the work of my pen. This is not a very fastidious ambition. If I were aware of large amounts of Federal money available to purveyors of the written words I would attempt to gain access to it and hope to please the administrators of this fund as I hope to please magazine editors and bookbuyers. But I would rather have as my patron a host of anonymous citizens digging into their own pockets for the price of a book..." Modest cover creasing; small joint tear; date stamped to cover. Near fine in wrappers. An interesting and uncommon Updike piece, not available elsewhere. [#034751] $500

(Warwickshire), Sixth Chamber Press, 1987. A limited edition of this story. Of a total edition of 201 copies, this is copy "N" of 26 lettered copies signed by the author. Quarterbound in leather and marbled paper boards; fine in slipcase. An attractive production, uncommon in the lettered issue. [#911255] $450

Newburyport, Wickford Press, 1968. An unsigned limited edition of an essay that first appeared in the New York Times. One of 250 numbered copies. Edge-sunning to covers; coffee splot lower front corner; very good in stapled wrappers. One of Updike's earliest limited editions, done the same year as Bath After Sailing and The Angels. Although the limitation of this title is larger than either of those, we have seen it less often and it appears to be scarcer in the market. [#026894] $400

(n.p.), (n.p.), 1978. Transcript of two consecutive nights of Updike's appearances on The Dick Cavett Show in December 1978. Ten pages and eleven pages, respectively, plus cover sheet. Printed on rectos only. Near fine, in a blue acetate folder that has split along its fold. DeBellis and Broomfield A68. Later collected in Conversations with John Updike. [#030282] $375

(Stevenson), (Country Squire), (1968). A single poem, and his first book to be issued as a limited edition. Copy number 54 of 125 numbered copies signed by the author. The slightest hint of edge sunning; else fine in saddle-stitched cardstock covers. [#030162] $325

NY, Knopf, 1968. The first of his novels to be both a critical and a substantial commercial success. Inscribed by the author: "For ___ ___/ with every good wish in her new environs/ John Updike." Foxing to cloth and edges of text block; mild splaying to boards; very good in a near fine dust jacket that is also foxed, mostly on verso. [#030163] $325

NY, Knopf, 1963. His second collection of poems. Inscribed by the author. Fine in a near fine, spine-sunned dust jacket with creasing to the base of the spine. [#912067] $300

(Schenecdaty), (Union College), (1971). Printed as a special issue of The Idol and featuring the text of a conversation with Updike. 32 pages, fine in glossy stapled wrappers with a pencil sketch of Updike on the cover. This copy is inscribed by Updike. [#031521] $250
On Sale: $163

Cambridge, Leavitt & Peirce, 1958. The hardcover issue of this very early appearance in print by Updike. Harvard alumni commemorate the 75th anniversary of a tobacco store and gathering place; Updike contributes a poem, "The Old Tobacconist." Slight foxing to top edge, else fine in a near fine, orginal glassine dustwrapper. [#030276] $225

NY, Knopf, 1959. His third book and first collection of stories. Fine in a near fine, lightly rubbed, price-clipped dust jacket. A very nice copy. [#027123] $225

NY, Random House, (2003). A holiday collection from The New Yorker, with a five-page introduction by Updike. This copy is inscribed by Updike: "For ___ ___/ Christmas cheer, John Updike." Laid in is a mailing label addressed to the recipient and her husband, in Updike's hand. Fine in a near fine, mildly finger print-smudged dust jacket. [#030294] $200

Northridge, Lord John Press, 1990. A miniature book of poems. Of a total edition of 226 copies, this is copy 39 of 200 numbered copies signed by the author. 3" x 2-3/8". Fine. [#030226] $200

NY, Knopf, 2001. A volume in Knopf's "Everyman Library," collecting Bech: A Book, Bech is Back, Bech at Bay, and adding "His Oeuvre." Inscribed by the author: "For ___ ___/ warm regards, John Updike/ 4/19/01." Fine in a fine dust jacket. [#030267] $200

(n.p.), (William B. Ewert), (1998). The first separate edition of this poem, issued as a holiday card. Of a total edition of 185 copies, this is one of 130 copies issued unsigned, but this copy has been signed by Updike and dated 1988 and additionally inscribed by Updike in three different colored pens: "Merry Christmas/ a card to warm yourselves by/ Cheers, John." Fine, in hand-addressed envelope, apparently meant to be hand-delivered as Updike has added, "Sorry to miss you - Happy Holidays!/ John." [#030257] $185

(n.p.), William B. Ewert, 1999. The first separate appearance of a poem that first appeared in The New Republic. Two issues produced: 65 signed copies printed as broadsides and 130 unsigned copies issued folded, as cards. This is one of the latter but has been inscribed by the author to two, married friends: "___ - An item for your collection./ ___ - whatever happened to our golf foursome?/ Happy Holidays to you both./ John." 8-3/4" x 11-1/2". Folded, by design; fine. [#030264] $185

Cambridge, Leavitt & Peirce, 1958. The hardcover issue of this very early appearance in print by Updike [Roberts B2]. Harvard alumni commemorate the 75th anniversary of a tobacco store and gathering place; Updike contributes a poem, "The Old Tobacconist." Two very slight bumps to the boards and a small tear at the front joint; else very near fine, lacking the glassine jacket. [#026900] $175

NY, Knopf, 1965. His first collection of nonfiction, short pieces from The New Yorker and a number of other publications, collected the year after Updike won the National Book Award and was elected to the National Institute of Arts and Letters. Inscribed by the author: "For ___ ___/ Best wishes to a former Beverlyite/ John Updike." Foxing to foredge and cloth, thus very good in a very good dust jacket, which is also foxed, predominantly on verso. Most of the signed copies of this title that show up have been signed on a tipped-in leaf. Inscribed copies are uncommon. [#030159] $175

NY, Knopf, 1963. His second collection of poems. Inscribed by the author. Spotting to top stain; near fine in a very good dust jacket. [#030156] $175

(n.p.), (Ewert), (1997). A poem by Updike from A Child's Calendar, here issued as a holiday card. Printed in an edition of 150 copies, this is one of 100 copies issued unsigned, but this copy has been inscribed by the author: "A small item for [your] enormous collection. Sent to both of you with my warm regards of the season. Cheers, John." Fine. [#030255] $150
On Sale: $98

Ipswich, 17th Century Day Committee, 1968. Written by Updike for performance on "Seventeenth Century Day," August 3, 1968. One of 1000 copies, this being one of the 950 copies that were issued unsigned, but this copy has been signed by Updike on the front cover. One spot of sunning to the top edge, else fine in stapled wrappers. [#030165] $150

[1980]. Dated "Jan 1". One paragraph, agreeing to sign books for the recipient's wife. Written on the verso of the colophon for the limited edition of Problems. Signed in blue, with recipient's address hand-written in pink across the top; the colophon has some math written in pink. Folded in thirds for mailing; else fine. [#013416] $115

NY, Knopf, (1965). A book of poems, one for each month. This is the third of Updike's books for children done in the Sixties, this being the trade binding (there was also a library binding done). Illustrated by Nancy Ekholm Burkert. Fine in a near fine, price-clipped dust jacket. [#912070] $100

(Logan), (Perfection Form Co.), (1979). An educational pamphlet consisting of the title story of Updike's 1962 story collection, with exercises based on the story. DeBellis & Broomfield A75-a2: the cream-colored variant (no priority established between a1 and a2). Uncommon. Fine in stapled wrappers. [#031527] $100

(n.p.), Albondocani, (1974). A card with a poem by Updike, used as a holiday greeting. One of 75 copies of the suppressed first issue, with the front cover drawing printed upside down. Fine in stapled wrappers. Uncommon. [#011637] $100

NY, Knopf, 2009. The uncorrected proof copy of this posthumous collection. A few light spots to covers; near fine in wrappers. [#029542] $95