Catalog 115, G-I
116. GADDIS, William. Carpenter's Gothic. (NY): Viking (1985). A review copy of his third novel, the shortest and most accessible of his books. Two of Gaddis' four books won the National Book Award, and a third title, The Recognitions, is considered a postwar classic. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
117. GARCÍA MÁRQUEZ, Gabriel. Manuscript of "La Viuda de Montiel." (n.p.): (n.p.)(n.d.). The original manuscript of this story, written by García Márquez in the 1950s, when he was still working primarily as a journalist. The story was included in a collection entitled Los Funerales de la Mamá Grande, published by a small university press in Mexico in 1962. Eight pages, ribbon copy, with authorial corrections in pencil and ink on every page, including a number of excisions that remain visible. Pages somewhat foxed and aged; very good, in a custom clamshell box. A remarkable amount of the writer's work is in evidence on the page; a notable item from a Nobel Prize-winning author, whose manuscripts are kept under lock and key and not likely to make it onto the market. This, having come from a longtime family friend and originating with the author's sister, is one of a very small number of García Márquez manuscripts that have ever been offered for sale, and it is the only one remaining.
118. GARDNER, John. Nickel Mountain. NY: Knopf, 1973. The uncorrected proof copy of one of Gardner's best-loved novels, a National Book Award finalist in 1974. A bit of splaying to covers; crease at mid-spine; still near fine in tall wrappers. A very scarce proof from an era (pre-1978) when proofs were not saved as frequently as today, and did not make their way into the rare book market as automatically as is the case now.
119. GARDNER, John. The Art of Fiction. NY: Knopf, 1984. The uncorrected proof copy of the companion volume to On Becoming a Novelist, subtitled "Notes on Craft for Young Writers." Derived from Gardner's classes in creative writing and published posthumously. Near fine in wrappers.
120. GARRETT, George. In the Briar Patch. Austin: University of Texas Press (1961). His second collection of stories. Garrett is both a highly praised writer in his own right, especially as the author of a number of highly literary historical novels of the Elizabethan era, and was also the longtime director of the Hollins College writing program, which produced a number of noteworthy writers, including Annie Dillard, Madison Smartt Bell, and others. Library of Congress surplus stamp; near fine in a very good, price-clipped dust jacket, with open tears along the top edge of the rear panel.
121. GIBRAN, Kahlil. Sand and Foam. NY: Knopf, 1926. Aphorisms, with illustrations by Gibran, author of the perennial classic The Prophet. This is the limited issue: of a total edition of 100 copies, this is one of 95 numbered copies signed by the author. The Prophet had been published by Knopf a year earlier, and its enormous success inspired the publisher to do a deluxe limited edition of Gibran's new book, albeit with a very conservative, small limitation. This copy has small owner stamps on the pastedowns, with an additional bookplate on the front pastedown; a bit of rubbing to the board edges; edges opened unevenly but still near fine, without dust jacket. Books signed by Gibran, who died in 1931, are notably uncommon.
122. GIBSON, William. Virtual Light. NY: Bantam (1993). A novel by the author of the cyberpunk classic Neuromancer. Signed by the author. Fine in a very near fine dust jacket with slight top edge creasing.
123. GINSBERG, Allen. Howl and Other Poems. San Francisco: City Lights (1956). The first issue of the first trade edition of Ginsberg's first regularly published book, printed in an edition of 1000 copies and since reprinted dozens of times with the total number of copies printed in the hundreds of thousands. "Howl" has been called the most important American poem since Walt Whitman's "Leaves of Grass." This copy is inscribed by the author to poet Stephen Dunn, recent winner of the Pulitzer Prize for poetry, and signed "Allen." Ginsberg has added a small drawing of a skull and crossbones, with a halo over the skull. A significant association copy of the work that defined the new poetic aesthetic that came to be associated with the Beat movement.
124. GURGANUS, Alan. Plays Well with Others. NY: Knopf, 1997. The third book by the author of Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
125. GUTERSON, David. Snow Falling on Cedars. NY: Harcourt Brace (1994). The uncorrected proof copy of his first novel, a well-written and touching story of a murder trial on an island in Puget Sound in the aftermath of World War II. The evocative prose gently captures an era and the conflicting sensibilities of the island's Japanese-American community and its white, patriotic fishermen. On the basis of this book, Guterson was included on the list of Granta's 20 best young American writers. Winner of the PEN Faulkner Award. This copy belonged to Annie Dillard and bears her ownership signature. Spine slanted, presumably from reading, and one page corner turned. Near fine in wrappers. In our experience, a very scarce proof.
126. HAZZARD, Shirley. The Evening of the Holiday. NY: Knopf, 1966. Her second book, first novel. Hazzard's novel Transit of Venus won the National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction in 1981. Fine in a bright, very near fine dust jacket with a couple tiny edge tears.
127. HEGGEN, Thomas and LOGAN, Josh. Mister Roberts. NY: Random House (1948). The play version, based on Heggen's bestselling novel. Inscribed by Heggen and Logan to the play's producer, Leland Hayward. Mister Roberts won the 1948 Tony Award for Best Play; and Heggen, Logan and Hayward won Tony Awards for best authors and producer, respectively. Heggen's novel had been one of the literary sensations of the year when it was published in 1946. The eagerly-awaited play version more than lived up to expectations and was a huge critical and commercial success. Heggen, however, became depressed about his ability to live up to his new-found fame and success, and committed suicide a year later, in 1949. Books signed by Heggen are quite uncommon, and this is one of the best association copies imaginable, and a unique item. Leatherbound, with cover art used as endpages. With the bookplate of the estate of Ambassador Pamela Harriman: Hayward was Harriman's second husband. Spine leather sunned with light rubbing to the joints; near fine.
128. HEINLEIN, Robert A. Beyond this Horizon. Reading: Fantasy Press, 1948. The first edition of Heinlein's second novel, published a year after his first. One of 500 numbered copies signed by the author. Heinlein went on to become one of the masters of the science fiction genre -- a four-time winner of the Hugo Award, SF's highest honor, as well as winner of a Grand Master Nebula Award. Various of his titles, including Stranger in a Strange Land and Starship Troopers, have become classics in the field. Faint sunning or spotting to cloth; else fine in a near fine, modestly sunned dust jacket with very shallow edge-chipping.
129. HOAGLAND, Edward. Compass Points. NY: Pantheon Books (2001). His latest book, a collection of reminiscences. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
130. HOWARD, Robert E. Conan the Barbarian. NY: Gnome (1954). The sixth book in the classic sword-and-sorcery series, which comprises a prequel to the other books in the series, and consists of five short stories about Conan's early adventures. Pages edge-darkened; otherwise a fine copy in a near fine, rubbed and mildly spine-faded dust jacket.
131. HULME, Keri. The Bone People. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press (1985). The uncorrected proof copy of the first American edition of this Booker Prize-winning novel, by a Maori author from New Zealand. "Uncorrected Proof" written on front cover; near fine in spine-faded wrappers.
132. HUMPHREY, William. Farther Off from Heaven. NY: Knopf, 1977. The uncorrected proof copy of this memoir by the highly regarded Texas novelist, written after he returned to his hometown after an absence of 30 years, and considered by some to be his best book. One short, dull crease, else fine in wrappers.
133. HUXLEY, Aldous. Words and Their Meanings. Los Angeles: Jake Zeitlin (1940). An essay on language, attractively printed in a limited edition by the Ward Ritchie Press for Jake Zeitlin, a famous Los Angeles bookseller. One of 100 hardbound copies signed by the author; the rest of the edition was issued in wrappers. A thin book, with light splaying to boards; else fine in a near fine dust jacket with one closed edge tear at the upper front spine fold. A very attractive copy.
134. IRVING, John. The Water-Method Man. NY: Random House (1972). The second book by the author of The World According to Garp, The Cider House Rules, etc. This copy is from the library of Alex MacPhail, who took the author photo for the dust jacket of Irving's first book, Setting Free the Bears. With MacPhail's 1972 owner signature and added sentiment. Bowing to boards; near fine in a near fine dust jacket with wear at the spine extremities.
135. IRVING, John. The Hotel New Hampshire. NY: Dutton (1981). His fifth book, and his first after the huge success of The World According to Garp, which was his breakthrough book. Before Garp, all of Irving's novels had sold poorly -- a few thousand copies at most -- and he was considered a good, but non-commercial, literary author. After Garp -- which enjoyed both critical and commercial success -- the first printings of his books, beginning with this one, numbered in six figures. He even suffered a slight critical backlash, the view apparently being that if he was that popular, he couldn't also be that good. Nonetheless, Irving's critics have tended to fade into the woodwork over the years, while his writings remain as popular as ever, or more so. This copy is inscribed by the author. Recipient's blindstamp beneath inscription; fine in a fine dust jacket. After the rush of celebrity that attended the success of his novels, and of the movies that have been made from them, Irving has seldom made himself available for signing books, and signed copies have become somewhat scarce.
136. -. Same title, the uncorrected proof copy. This is a later issue proof, with pages 1A and 1 tipped in, in that order. There is both an earlier typeset state of the proof and a rare, first issue proof shot from typescript. This copy is signed by the author. Near fine in wrappers.
137. -. Same title, the first British edition. London: Jonathan Cape (1981). Inscribed by the author: "For Alastair/ with my appreciation/ for an absolutely/ lovely evening/ in Edinburgh./ John Irving." One tiny corner bump; else fine in a similar dust jacket. A nice inscription, and uncommon thus.
138. IRVING, John. The Cider House Rules. Franklin Center: Franklin Library, 1985. The correct first edition of his sixth novel, bound in full leather stamped in gilt, with gilt page edges and silk ribbon marker. With a special introduction by the author in which he explains the value of having "bad things" happen in a novel. A fine copy. Signed by the author. Basis for the highly praised movie, for which Irving wrote the Academy Award-winning screenplay.
139. IRVING, John. A Prayer for Owen Meany. Franklin Center: Franklin Library, 1989. The true first edition of what may be Irving's best-loved book (a substantial claim for a book by the author of The World According to Garp), and the novel from which the movie Simon Birch was adapted. Leatherbound, gilt stamped, with gilt page edges and silk ribbon marker. With a special introduction for this edition that does not appear in the trade edition. Signed by the author. A fine copy.