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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

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, (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

(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

NY, Alfred A. Knopf, 1975. Very Good in Very Good DJ. [#710501] $20

NY, Knopf, 1975. Fine in a dust jacket with a corner crease on the front flap, else fine. [#912081] $21

NY, Vintage, (2003). First thus, a paperback edition of O'Hara's first book, for which Updike contributes an introduction. The introduction is approximately two paragraphs shorter than that Updike provided (as a separate insert) to the BOMC edition in 1988, and at least one paragraph has been altered. Fine. [#024654] $20

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

(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, 1998. The uncorrected proof copy of his 49th book, subtitled "A Quasi-Novel," and a sequel to Bech: A Book and Bech is Back. Fine in wrappers. [#021380] $20

London, Andre Deutsch, (1983). Second U.K. printing. Very Good in Very Good DJ. [#710504] $20

NY, Knopf, 1982. The second of his humorous books featuring writer Henry Bech, an Updike alter-ego. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket. [#912093] $40

NY, Alfred A. Knopf, 1982. Very Good in Very Good DJ. [#710503] $20

NY, Knopf, 1974. His first play ("meant to be read"), about President James Buchanan. Foxing to edges of text block, thus near fine in a fine dust jacket. [#030406] $20

(Toronto), Little York Review, 1999. An interview with Updike in the second issue of this little magazine. Fine in wrappers. [#916946] $35

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

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, 1968. The first of his novels to be both a critical and a substantial commercial success. A little sunning to the board edge and the spine; very near fine in a fine jacket. [#912073] $100

Cambridge, Halty Ferguson, 1976. Of a total edition of 276 copies, this is copy number 16 of 250 numbered copies signed by the author. Fine in wrappers. This copy is also inscribed by Updike -- he has personalized the signature on the colophon in a different color ink -- and it includes a brief signed note by Updike on the prospectus, with a hand-addressed mailing envelope. By all appearances, Updike informed the collector of the existence of this edition by sending him a prospectus with a note saying "I thought you should be aware of this" and then the collector ordered the book and Updike personalized the signature for him. A mini-footnote to the relatively early years of Updike's being a highly collected author with numerous signed limited editions to his credit, with a glimpse of Updike's active involvement in helping a collector build his collection. [#031523] $350

NY, Knopf, 1985. A collection of poetry. Fine in a fine dust jacket. [#912096] $35

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

(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

1986. A remembrance by Updike of his friend 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 holograph corrections and one note of transmittal. One copy is however actually 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

NY, Knopf, 1992. The uncorrected proof copy. Fine in wrappers. [#030412] $20

NY, Knopf, 1992. Inscribed by the author: "For ___ ___/ a great collector of me (and others)/ All best, John U." Top stain a tad faded, else fine in a fine dust jacket. [#030236] $100

NY, Knopf, 1992. The uncorrected proof copy. Near fine in wrappers. [#011641] $20

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

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

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