Catalog 109, T-V
369. TILGHMAN, Christopher. The Way People Run. NY: Random House (1999). The author's highly praised third book, second collection of stories. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket with an "Autographed Copy" label.
370. TUROW, Scott. Presumed Innocent. NY: FSG (1987). His second book, first novel, a bestseller and probably the most talked about book of that year -- a courtroom thriller published by one of the most literary publishing houses in the U.S. and bearing blurbs by such writers as Wallace Stegner and Pat Conroy. Dampstaining to the lower spine cloth; near fine in a near fine, internally dampstained dust jacket. Signed by the author in 1995. Together with a typed note signed, dated October 18, 1995 and on office stationery, agreeing to sign Presumed Innocent. Folded for mailing; fine, with envelope.
371. (TWAIN, Mark). English as She is Taught. London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1887. The true first edition, preceding the American. Contains a 40 page commentary by Twain, reprinted from Century Magazine. Foxing to endpages; front hinge starting; near fine.
372. TYLER, Anne. The Tin Can Tree. NY: Knopf, 1965. Her second novel, a powerful and moving story of a young boy coming to terms with his little sister's death. Like her first book, this title is scarce, having received good critical reviews but not much in the way of commercial success. It is an open question which of her books is the scarcest -- this one, her first book, or her fourth, The Clock Winder. The conventional wisdom seems to be that it is either her first or fourth but our experience suggests that this one is every bit as scarce as those. Tips worn; spots page 21; about near fine in a fine, price-clipped dust jacket with a shiny white spine, which is very unusual for this title, as the spine tends to darken with age. A very attractive copy of one of Tyler's scarcest books.
373. UPDIKE, John. Rabbit, Run. NY: Knopf, 1960. Updike's second novel, which introduced Rabbit Angstrom and began the sequence of novels that will likely stand as his major work, a four-volume series spanning 30+ years. The chronicle of Rabbit Angstrom is a chronicle of America in the postwar era, and Updike has become without question -- in large part on the basis of this series -- the most collected living American author. This copy is signed by the author. Edge-sunned boards; near fine in a very good, spine- and edge-sunned dust jacket.
374. UPDIKE, John. Gertrude and Claudius. NY: Knopf, 2000. His well-received new novel, a departure from his usual contemporary suburban milieu and a venture into the realm of the historical novel, with Updike writing about the king and queen of Denmark in the years before the action of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
375. UPDIKE, John. Typed Note Signed. April 5, (no year). A paragraph explaining that some signed books were returned to him and requesting a self-addressed stamped mailer to get them to their proper destination. He adds, "At any rate, my usual limit for signing is three." Signed (initialed) by the author. An uneven 5" x 5" page, with two pieces of edge tape, presumably from prior mounting; else fine.
376. UPDIKE, John. Signed Photograph. Undated. A color photograph, undated but of fairly recent vintage; an upper body shot of Updike standing outdoors, with a reluctant smile. Signed by the author. 5" x 7". Matted and framed to 9 1/4" x 11 1/4". Fine.
377. (UPDIKE, John). Parodies. NY: Random House (1960). An anthology of parodies from Chaucer forward. Compiled and introduced by Dwight Macdonald. Includes "On the Sidewalk," a hilarious, and surprisingly touching, Updike parody of Jack Kerouac, which first appeared in The New Yorker. Near fine in a very good, spine-sunned dust jacket with light edge wear.
378. (UPDIKE, John). A Treasury of American Political Humor. NY: Delacorte Press (1964). Edited by Leonard C. Levin and including work by Updike, James Thurber, Norman Mailer, H.L. Mencken, Dan Wakefield, S.J. Perelman, Langston Hughes, Ralph Ellison, Joseph Heller, and many others. Updike's piece, "Mr. Ex-Resident," is re-printed from The New Yorker. Dusty top edge; else fine in a very good dust jacket with light edge wear.
379. (UPDIKE, John). Incarnation. Contemporary Writers on the New Testament. (NY): Viking (1990). Twenty-three authors respond to books of the Bible. Updike leads with "The Gospel According to Saint Matthew." Also included are Annie Dillard, Marilynne Robinson, Reynolds Price, Robert Hass, Rita Dove, Michael Malone, John Hersey, Amy Clampitt, David Plante, and others. This copy belonged to Dan Wakefield, longtime novelist and more recently a writer on spiritual issues, and bears his underlinings and turned down corners, presumably for a review in Commonweal, as guidelines for reviews in that publication are laid in. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket.
380. VAN DOREN, Mark. Collected Poems, 1922-1938. NY: Henry Holt (1939). The limited edition of this collection of poems, which won the 1940 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. One of 200 numbered copies signed by the author. Spine-tanned cloth; else fine, without dust jacket.
381. VONNEGUT, Kurt, Jr. Cat's Cradle. NY: HRW (1963). One of his greatest novels, which by turns condemns and celebrates science, religion and humanness. "A quietly satirical consideration of mankind and its need for sympathy and compassion, proposing that we live by foma, lies that make for human happiness." One of Pringle's 100 best science fiction novels. A title that is especially susceptible to wear, because of the thin, unlaminated paper dust jacket; the cloth on this copy is unevenly faded from green to yellow; near fine in a near fine, dusty dust jacket with a few spots on the spine and light wear at the spine extremities.
382. VONNEGUT, Kurt, Jr. Silkscreens. (n.p.): Petro III Graphics (1997). A catalog of Vonnegut's artwork: fifty-one different silkscreen editions available for sale, variations on roughly two dozen designs, created by Vonnegut and printed by Joe Petro. Also featured, one monotype and one sculpture. For color catalogue:
383. VONNEGUT, Kurt. "Smerdyakov." (Lexington): (Petro) (1996). One of the above-mentioned silkscreen prints, this one of the Dostoevsky character. 8 1/2" x 11 3/4". One of 99 copies signed by Vonnegut. Fine. At the list price:
384. (VONNEGUT, Kurt). Happy Birthday, Kurt Vonnegut. (NY): (Delacorte Press) (1982). A festschrift for Kurt Vonnegut on his sixtieth birthday. Issued in an edition of 500 copies and privately distributed. With original contributions by John Irving, John Updike, E.L. Doctorow, Richard Yates, Irwin Shaw, Norman Mailer, Garry Trudeau, Truman Capote, Jerzy Kosinski, Bernard V. O'Hare and many others, including family members. Compiled by Jill Krementz. Fine in a fine slipcase.