Catalog 108, B
20. BAXTER, Charles. The Feast of Love. NY: Pantheon (2000). The uncorrected proof copy of this forthcoming novel by the author of Shadow Play and First Light, among others. The publisher's promotional sheet that is laid in has blurbs by Howard Norman, Andrea Barrett and Alan Lightman, which praise the novel extravagantly. Fine in wrappers.
21. BINGHAM, Robert. Lightning on the Sun. NY: Doubleday (2000). The advance reading copy of his posthumously published second book by this young writer whose work is reminiscent of Graham Greene and Robert Stone. This is a tale of drug smuggling from Phnom Penh to New York. Fine in wrappers.
22. (BISHOP, Elizabeth). WILBUR, Richard. Elizabeth Bishop: A Memorial Tribute. NY: Albondocani Press, 1982. Of a total edition of 212 copies, this is one of 174 numbered copies signed by Wilbur. Fine in saddle-stitched self-wrappers, with publisher's prospectus laid in.
23. BLY, Robert. Iron John. Reading: Addison-Wesley (1990). First edition of this book that became a bestseller and went into numerous later printings and became the bible of the "men's movement" for a time. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
24. BORGES, Jorge Luis. Evaristo Carriego. Buenos Aires: Gleizer, 1930. Borges' seventh book, a biography of Buenos Aires street poet Carriego. Attractively rebound in gilt-stamped quarter leather and marbled paper boards, with original wrappers (pink issue) bound in. Previous owner name on first blank; foxing to text, mostly confined to the outer pages; a very good copy. While the print run for this title is not indicated in the bibliography, earlier Borges titles had been printed in numbers ranging from 300 to 500 copies, and this likely had an extremely small printing as well.
25. BORGES, Jorge. Nueve Poemas. Buenos Aires: (D. Francisco A. Colombo), 1955. One of 50 Roman numeraled copies of one of Borges' scarcest titles, a group of poems dating from 1923-1955, this being copy "X." Signed by Borges and Manuel Francioni, (presumably the book's designer or printer) and with an original signed frontispiece by Santiago Cogorno, a Milan-trained Argentine artist who in 1966 was voted by critics as the best artist of his generation. Unbound signatures laid into glassine-covered wrappers, fine; encased in a folding chemise that has been professionally strengthened at the hinges, and a slipcase that is moderately worn and foxed. Overall an attractive and sound copy of one of the scarcest items by Borges, by consensus one of the half-dozen most important figures in 20th century world literature.
26. (BORGES, Jorge Luis). BECCO, Horacio Jorge. Jorge Luis Borges. Bibliografia Total 1923-1973. Buenos Aires: Casa Pardo (1973). The definitive bibliography to date of Borges' Spanish-language publications, with some information on his translations as well. Very good in wrappers rubbed at the folds.
27. BOWLES, Paul. The Time of Friendship. NY: Holt Rinehart Winston (1967). His second collection of stories to be published in the U.S., 17 years after The Delicate Prey and nearly a decade after The Hours After Noon, which was only published in England. Inscribed by the author. Slight spine base bump; else fine in a near fine dust jacket with mild tanning to the spine. An attractive copy of this title. Signed trade editions of Bowles's books are quite scarce, not so much because of any aversion he had to signing but rather because he spent most of his life in North Africa and was not easily accessible to casual collectors.
28. BOWLES, Paul. Scenes. Los Angeles: Black Sparrow Press, 1968. The first volume of Bowles's poetry since his exceedingly scarce first book, published some 35 years earlier. These poems date from 1934-1940, the period in his career when he was primarily writing music and well before his first novel was published. This is an early Black Sparrow Press publication and also Bowles's first signed limited edition, done with a total printing of 300 copies of which this is one of only 50 hardbound copies, the entire hardcover edition. Signed by the author. A fine copy of this early limited edition, done before Bowles became highly collectible and his books were routinely issued in signed editions.
29. (BOWLES, Paul). "Bluey" in A Night with Jupiter. (NY): View Editions (1945). "Bluey" is in the form of 1919-1920 diary entries, written when Bowles was 9 years old. Also includes two Bowles translations of others' stories as well as two stories by Henry Miller. Other contributors include Ramon Sender, Leonora Carrington, Raymond Roussel, Miguel Asturias, Giorgio di Chirico, and others. Owner name and address front pastedown, light bowing; near fine in a near fine, rubbed dust jacket with slight edge wear. One of 3000 copies printed. Miller B3. An early appearance by Bowles, preceding his first novel, The Sheltering Sky, by four years.
30. BOYLE, T. Coraghessan. Descent of Man. Boston: Little Brown (1979). His first book, a highly praised collection of stories. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket with minuscule rubbing at the corners. A very attractive copy of an important debut.
31. -. Another copy. Spine slant, slight top edge foxing; near fine in a near fine dust jacket with slight rubbing to the corners and spine extremities.
32. -. Same title. The uncorrected proof copy. Publicity information stapled to first blank; sticker with change of publication date affixed to front cover; fine in wrappers with publisher's slip laid in. An extremely scarce proof: we haven't seen one offered since around the time of the book's original publication.
33. -. Same title, the first British edition. London: Gollancz, 1980. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket with trace wear at the base of the spine.
34. BOYLE, T. Coraghessan. Water Music. Boston: Little Brown (1981). His second book, first novel. Signed by the author. Remainder stripe top page edge; else fine in a fine dust jacket with a tiny smudge on the rear panel.
35. -. Same title, the uncorrected proof copy. Signed by the author. Spine-faded, very mild crease to front wrapper; near fine. With publisher's slip of apology laid in regarding the "egregious number of printers errors."
36. -. Same title, the first British edition. London: Gollancz, 1982. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
37. BOYLE, T. Coraghessan. Budding Prospects. NY: Viking (1984). A humorous novel of marijuana growing in the northern California wilds. For whatever reason, this is one of his least common titles. We suspect that Water Music did not sell as well as its publisher had hoped (many copies, like the above, having been remaindered) and the print run for this, his second novel, was cut back considerably from his first. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
38. BOYLE, T. Coraghessan. Greasy Lake. (NY): Viking (1985). His second collection of stories. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
39. -. Another copy. Signed by the author. Fine in a near fine dust jacket.
40. BOYLE, T. Coraghessan. World's End. (NY): Viking (1987). His third novel, winner of the PEN Faulkner Award. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket with a faint sticker shadow on the front panel.
41. BOYLE, T. Coraghessan. If the River Was Whiskey. NY: Viking (1989). His third collection of short fiction. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
42. BOYLE, T. Coraghessan. East is East. (NY): Viking (1990). An extravagant novel of a Japanese seaman who jumps ship and arrives on an island off the coast of Georgia. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket with a small abrasion on the verso from a previous jacket protector.
43. -. Same title, the advance reading copy. Signed by the author. Fine.
44. BOYLE, T. Coraghessan. "He sprang, taking his adversary by surprise..." Berkeley: Black Oak Books/Okeanos Press, 1990. An attractive broadside printing an excerpt from East is East and issued on the occasion of a reading by the author at Black Oak Books. 7 1/4" x 11 3/8". Although not called for, this copy is signed by the author. Slight sunning, as though from a previous matte, and two pieces of tape on verso; near fine.
45. BOYLE, T. Coraghessan. The Road to Wellville. (NY): Viking (1993). An elaborate, satirical historical novel based on the life of Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, a turn-of-the century health crusader and inventor of Kellogg's Corn Flakes (along with "peanut butter...[and] some seventy-five other gastrically correct foods"). Basis for the film. Signed by the author on the half title in the month of publication. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
46. BOYLE, T. Coraghessan. Without a Hero. (NY): Viking (1994). His fourth collection of short stories. Fine in a fine dust jacket and signed by the author.
47. -. Another copy. Signed by the author. Shallow scuff to rear board; else fine in a fine dust jacket. Laid in is a promotional pamphlet reprinting "The Fog Man," an ephemeral item that is the only separate publication of this story.
48. BOYLE, T. Coraghessan. The Tortilla Curtain. (NY): Viking (1995). A review copy of this novel. Signed by the author on the day of publication. Light bump to base of spine; else fine in a fine dust jacket. Virtually as new.
49. (BOYLE, T. Coraghessan). "Heart of a Champion" in The Literary Dog. NY: Atlantic Monthly Press (1990). An advance reading excerpt from this collection of "Great Contemporary Dog Stories," printing Boyle's story and one by Alice Adams. Fine in stapled wrappers and signed by Boyle and Adams. Boyle's story first appeared in Descent of Man.
50. BRAUTIGAN, Richard. In Watermelon Sugar. San Francisco: Four Seasons Foundation (1968). Writing 21 in the Four Seasons Foundation series. The first edition of this lyrical book which defies easy categorization: a novel in the form of a number of short, related prose poems. This is the issue in wrappers, signed by the author in the year of publication. (There were 50 signed hardcover copies.) Although Brautigan was not averse to signing books, his popularity was such that most copies that turn up signed are later printings. First editions with contemporary signatures or presentations are quite scarce. Light rubbing to front cover and a couple of spots on the spine, otherwise fine.
51. (BRAUTIGAN, Richard). The San Francisco Public Library: A Publishing House. (San Francisco): (Self-published), 1968. Rare photocopy volume created by Brautigan, Victor Moscoso and Jack Thibeau one afternoon on the photocopy machine at the San Francisco Public Library. A collage of feline and human body parts, poetry, and newspaper ads. Because of the nature of the project, each example of this title is slightly different, and the total number of copies created is unknown, but likely small. There was a signed limited edition of 7 copies; this is the unsigned "trade" edition. Not listed in Barber's bibliography. The photosensitive paper used in the copying machines of that era has darkened slightly with age; the staples have fallen out, leaving the volume as three loose sheets, approximately 8 1/2" x 14 1/2". Near fine. A humorous project, which records a small but significant moment in Bay Area literary history. We have not seen another copy offered in several years.
52. BUKOWSKI, Charles. The Other. [Hamburg: Gingko Press, n.d.]. The only copy of this book, never published in this form. Published several years later in an illustrated edition. A story by Bukowski which was going to have been published by the Gingko Press in Hamburg, but the project was canceled. This is the printer's dummy (labeled #1/1) and is as close to publication as the book ever got. Attractively designed on sheets that would have been a mockup of the final design had the project gone forward. With a signed drawing by Bukowski tipped to the front cover. Soft covers, tenuously tapebound; otherwise fine. The earliest form of this title, and the unique, single example of this edition. A true Bukowski rarity.
53. BURKE, James Lee. To the Bright and Shining Sun. (Huntington): (Cahill) (1992). The publisher's archive for the limited reissue of Burke's scarce second book, a regional novel set among mine workers in the Cumberland mountains of Kentucky -- the first time this book was reprinted after its original publication in 1970. Including the typescript of Burke's introduction to this volume signed by Burke; the printer's blues, signed by Burke; eight original woodcuts to illustrate the new edition, signed by artist Joe Servello along with mock-ups for two versions of the title page; and two author "check copies" of the volume, which consist of the folded & gathered sheets laid into the boards, each signed by Burke on the front cloth and on the colophon, and one is additionally signed on the title page. Together with the finished product: one of 400 numbered copies signed by the author, with the new introduction. All elements fine. A unique collection by a writer who has become one of the most popular novelists of his time: his award-winning Dave Robicheaux mystery series garnered him both critical acclaim and popular success, and his first novel to break away from that series in recent years also won him an Edgar Award as the best mystery novel of the year. The Servello woodcuts are attractive, moody, and suitable for framing.
54. BURKE, James Lee. Two for Texas. (Huntington): (Cahill) (1992). The publisher's archive for this reissue, which was the first hardcover edition of this historical novel, published as a paperback original a decade earlier, well before the author's critical and commercial success with his Dave Robicheaux mystery novels. This edition had a new introduction by Burke on the writing of historical novels such as this one. The archive includes the printer's blue proofs signed by Burke; nine original Joe Servello woodcuts plus mock-ups of both the title page and the tailpiece; two author "check copies" of the volume consisting of folded & gathered sheets laid into the boards, each signed by Burke and illustrator Joe Servello on the colophon, and one signed by Burke on the title page; and one autograph note signed by Burke, which spans three post-it notes. All elements fine. Again, a unique and attractive archive.
55. BURROUGHS, William S. The Naked Lunch. Paris: Olympia (1959). The first edition of his second book, one of the all-time great drug novels and one of the "big three" volumes of the Beat movement (with Kerouac's On the Road and Ginsberg's Howl). Published only in paperback in Paris by Maurice Girodias' small press, in an edition of 5000 copies, three years before it could be published in the U.S. This copy has the "New Price" stamp on the rear panel, for which the bibliographer gives no priority but which can be presumed to have been done shortly after publication. Very slight spine creasing; else a fine copy in a very near fine dust jacket with two very short tears at the spine crown and minuscule wear at the spine base. A beautiful copy, completely unfaded on the spine and bright all over. A high spot of postwar American literature and one of the nicest copies we've seen offered for sale in recent years.
56. BURROUGHS, William S. The Letters of William S. Burroughs. (n.p.): Viking (1993). The uncorrected proof copy of this collection of Burroughs' letters from 1945-1959, the overwhelming majority written to Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac, with several to Paul Bowles and a few others. Fine in wrappers.
57. BURROUGHS, William S. Last Words. NY: Grove Press (2000). The uncorrected proof copy of this collection of writings from Burroughs' final journals, just published in February. A revealing glimpse of Burroughs' concerns, from the philosophical and political to the mundane. A bit of rubbing at the crown; else fine in wrappers. Wrinkled publicity sheet laid in.
58. BUTLER, Robert Olen. A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain. NY: Henry Holt (1992). The author's first collection of stories after six highly-praised novels. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and a finalist for the PEN Faulkner Award. A scarce book in the first printing, issued originally in small numbers (reportedly 6000 copies) and reprinted many times after the announcement of the prize. Signed by the author.
59. BUTLER, Robert Olen. Mr. Spaceman. NY: Grove Press (2000). The uncorrected proof copy of his latest novel. Fine in plain blue printed wrappers.