Catalog 126, T-U
351. TAYLOR, Peter. Happy Families Are All Alike. NY: McDowell, Obolensky (1959). A collection of short stories that takes its title from the opening lines of Anna Karenina -- "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way" -- which aptly describes one of the major themes of Taylor's writing. Pencilled owner name on pastedown under front flap; else fine in a very good dust jacket which has very slight rubbing and wear to the spine ends, much less than usual, and is internally tape-strengthened at the crown.
352. TAYLOR, Peter. Miss Leonora When Last Seen. NY: Obolensky (1963). His fourth collection of short fiction, which reprints stories from his first two collections as well as six previously uncollected stories. Small "3" partially erased from flyleaf; else fine in a very near fine dust jacket with tanning to the spine lettering. A very attractive copy of this collection, uncommon in this condition.
353. TAYLOR, Peter. In the Miro District. NY: Knopf, 1977. A collection of stories. Inscribed by the author in Charlottesville in 1978. Slight bump to upper corners, but still fine in a very near fine dust jacket.
354. -. Another copy. The "first finished copy" of this collection of stories, with a note of transmittal to Taylor from his editor at Knopf. Fading to spine and top stain; near fine, without dust jacket, possibly as presented. Subsequently (June 6, 1977, i.e., two months after publication) inscribed by Taylor to friends. Together with a typed postcard signed (initialed) by Taylor and sent to the same friends at a later date, thanking them for their sympathy when he was sick. A unique and significant copy of this collection.
355. TAYLOR, Peter. A Woman of Means. NY: Frederic C. Beil (1983). A reissue of his second book, first novel, originally published in 1950. One of 2000 copies (the first printing of the first edition was only 2500 copies). Slight splaying to soft boards; else fine in the near fine, original acetate dustwrapper.
356. TAYLOR, Peter. The Old Forest and Other Stories. Garden City: Doubleday/Dial, 1985. A collection of stories, published with a first printing of 6000 copies and winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award, the first major national award Taylor's fiction had earned in nearly four decades of writing, during which time his reputation among writers was exalted but his popular recognition was largely limited to the South. Inscribed by the author in the year of publication. Fine in a fine dust jacket with a little crimp at the crown.
357. TAYLOR, Peter. A Stand in the Mountains. NY: Frederic C. Beil (1986). A play, a version of which first appeared in The Kenyon Review. Offered here with a preface by the author. Published in an edition of 1500 copies. Erasure scuff on front free endpaper, otherwise fine in cardboard slipcase.
358. TAYLOR, Peter. A Summons to Memphis. NY: Knopf, 1986. The second novel by this Southern writer who was renowned as a master of the short story. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize. Inscribed by the author in 1987. Faint top edge foxing; else fine in a near fine dust jacket.
359. THOMPSON, Hunter S. Hell's Angels. London: Allen Lane, 1967. The first British edition of the first book by the Gonzo reporter who later gained countercultural (and literary) immortality with his drug-soaked memoir Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Thompson developed his reporting-by-immersion approach with this book, spending a year hanging out with the California Angels, eventually getting beaten up by several of them. His account, written in an immediate and direct, first-person style, was an example of the "New Journalism" just then beginning to be practiced, and an attempt to convey, as closely as possible without being a member of the motorcycle club, the experience of being with the Hell's Angels -- their lives, their cares, their values. This British edition is extremely scarce: it is possible there were only 20 hardcover copies produced, according to some accounts. This copy is signed by Sonny Barger, who appears prominently in the book, and additionally has a full-page ink & watercolor portrait of Thompson by Ralph Steadman on the title page. Owner initials on front flyleaf; a few lines drawn in the margins; near fine in a good, modestly edgeworn dust jacket with staining and tape-repairs (both visible on verso only). In a custom clamshell case. A unique copy of this scarce and important first book, with original art by a contemporary artist of international acclaim.
360. THOMPSON, Hunter S. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. NY: Random House (1971). Thompson's hilarious, drug-soaked memoir of a trip to Vegas -- the book that defined "gonzo journalism." Illustrated by Ralph Steadman, with his bizarre and unforgettable ink drawings, the perfect complement to Thompson's bizarre and unforgettable prose. This copy is signed by Steadman with a full-page ink & watercolor portrait by Steadman of Thompson. Fine in a very near fine dust jacket with a small abrasion on the verso. Laid in is a "Lizard Lounge" postcard also signed by Steadman. In a custom clamshell case. A unique copy.
361. THOMPSON, Hunter S. Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72. (San Francisco): Straight Arrow Books (1973). Thompson covers the Nixon/McGovern race for the Presidency in his own inimitable style. This is a variant edition, with several factors pointing to its being an earlier state than the presumed first state, and a few factors suggesting otherwise. It does not state "first printing" nor does it have a white border around the photo on the rear panel, and it is priced $7.95; however, the text block is thicker than the presumed first and second states and the photo quality is sharper. The binding has the publisher's name on the spine rather than the logo with the book number. The boards are glossy rather than the matte boards with the embossed skull of the known states. Straight Arrow Books, the publishing arm of Rolling Stone magazine, was at the time a small, financially shaky company; the parent magazine was not yet the mainstream powerhouse it would later become, which supports the idea that the editions of this book that reflect cheaper production values (thinner paper, worse photographic reproduction) came after a trial or sample production run involving more costly materials was deemed unacceptable. A near fine copy in a very good, spine-faded dust jacket chipped at the crown.
362. TWAIN, Mark. Life on the Mississippi. Boston: James R. Osgood, 1883. Brown cloth, no ads. First state, with Twain's head in flames above a cremation urn on p. 441 and "St. Louis Hotel" on p. 443. Life on the Mississippi had a lengthy and tumultuous history prior to publication. Started as a serial in 1874, it was not finished until 1881 and not printed until 1883. When it was finally printed, both the author and his wife had objections to a variety of points, with Mrs. Clemens insistent upon the removal of the illustration showing Twain's head in flames. A cancel replaced that page in all unsold copies of the book, but some had already been sold and they became immediate collector's items, and remain so to this day. Previous owner name and date ("Xmas 1883") on flyleaf; hinges cracked; fraying to spine ends; very good. In custom clamshell case.
363. UPDIKE, John. The Centaur. NY: Knopf, 1963. His sixth book, fifth work of fiction, and his first National Book Award winner. Inscribed by the author. Boards a bit edge-sunned; else fine in a near fine lightly edgeworn dust jacket, with virtually none of the rubbing that typically afflicts this black, unlaminated jacket.
364. UPDIKE, John. Assorted Prose. 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 on the front free endpaper, with the salutation "Cheers." Foxing to spine cloth; near fine in a spine-tanned dust jacket. A signed issue of this book was released by the First Edition Society, but inscribed trade editions are quite uncommon.
365. UPDIKE, John. A Child's Calendar. 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). Small, faint spot of dampstaining at the spine base; else fine in a very good dust jacket with modest, internally tape-strengthened edge wear and minor dampstaining visible on the verso. Signed by the author on the front free endpaper. One of Updike's scarcest titles from the Sixties. Illustrated by Nancy Ekholm Burkert.
366. UPDIKE, John. Bottom's Dream. NY: Knopf (1969). An illustrated fantasy set to music, adapted from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Oblong quarto with text by Updike and illustrations by Warren Chappell. This is the issue in the trade binding; remainder stripe; else fine in a fine dust jacket.
367. UPDIKE, John. Seventy Poems. (Middlesex): Penguin (1972). First thus, selected by Updike from his two collections Midpoint and Telephone Poles. No comparable U.S. edition of this title exists. Slight foxing and scuffing, edge-darkened pages; still near fine in wrappers, the only way it was issued.
368. UPDIKE, John. Buchanan Dying. NY: Knopf, 1974. His first play, about President James Buchanan. Signed by the author. Verso of dust jacket heavily dampstained from cloth; this is a near fine book in a very good dust jacket that outwardly presents as very near fine.
369. UPDIKE, John. Too Far to Go. NY: Fawcett (1974). A paperback original; a collection of related stories that was turned into a made-for-television movie. Signed by the author and with a foreword by him. Seven of the seventeen stories had never been collected in book form prior to this publication. Near fine in wrappers.
370. UPDIKE, John. Rabbit is Rich. NY: Knopf, 1981. The third of his "Rabbit Angstrom" books, winner of the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize, a rare literary double. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
371. UPDIKE, John. Hugging the Shore. NY: Knopf, 1983. A massive collection of essays and criticism from The New Yorker and elsewhere. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket. A beautiful copy of this book that, because of its bulk and weight, is seldom found in fine condition, let alone signed.
372. UPDIKE, John and GOREY, Edward. The Twelve Terrors of Christmas. NY: Gotham Book Mart (1993). The first separate appearance of this piece by Updike, which first appeared in The New Yorker and is here illustrated by Gorey. Of a total edition of 626 copies, this is one of 100 numbered hardcover copies signed by Updike and Gorey. Approximately 4 1/4" x 5 7/8"; slight spine roll; else fine without dust jacket, as issued. A little-known and scarce collaboration between two of the most collected 20th century American authors.
373. UPDIKE, John. Brazil. [NY: Knopf, 1994]. The Book of the Month Club edition of this novel that was something of a departure for Updike, being far removed from the familiar suburban milieu of most of his fiction. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
374. UPDIKE, John. Rabbit Angstrom: The Four Novels. NY: Everyman's Library/Knopf (1995). The first combined edition of the four Rabbit novels. With a special 15-page introduction by Updike for this edition and a chronology of Rabbit Angstrom's life printed alongside a historical chronology spanning the character's lifetime. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket, with ribbon marker bound in. A massive book (1500+ pages) and surprisingly uncommon in the first printing, especially in fine condition and signed.
375. UPDIKE, John and David. A Helpful Alphabet of Friendly Objects. NY: Knopf (1995). An alphabet book, with poems by John Updike and photographs by his son, David. Quarto; fine in a fine dust jacket.
376. UPDIKE, John. Friends from Philadelphia. (Victoria): Penguin (1995). A small format paperback, 4 1/4" x 5 1/2", issued in Australia and published on the occasion of Penguin's 60th anniversary. Includes five stories by Updike. One page corner turned; else fine in wrappers. Uncommon.
377. UPDIKE, John. Of Prizes and Print. NY: Knopf, 1998. "Remarks delivered on the occasion of his receiving the 1998 National Book Foundation Medal for distinguished contribution to American letters." One of 5000 copies printed for friends of the author and publisher and not offered for sale. Fine in stapled self-wrappers.
378. UPDIKE, John. On Literary Biography. (Columbia): University of South Carolina Press (1999). The text of a talk Updike gave in honor of the 200th volume produced by the Dictionary of Literary Biography. A shorter, less personal version appeared in The New York Review of Books. One of 500 numbered copies. Although not called for, this copy has been signed by Updike. Fine without dust jacket, as issued.
379. UPDIKE, John. Licks of Love. NY: Knopf, 2000. A collection of short stories and a novella, "Rabbit Remembered," a sequel to the Rabbit Angstrom sequence. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
380. UPDIKE, John. The Complete Henry Bech. NY: Knopf, 2001. A volume in Knopf's "Everyman Library," collecting Bech: A Book, Bech is Back, Bech at Bay, and adding "His Oeuvre." With an introduction by Malcolm Bradbury. Signed by Updike. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
381. (UPDIKE, John). Attacks of Taste. NY: Gotham Book Mart, 1971. A compilation of authors' responses to the question of what books they enjoyed as teenagers, with contributions by Paul Bowles, John Cheever, Ralph Ellison, John Fowles, Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, Norman Mailer, Irwin Shaw, Wallace Stegner, J.R.R. Tolkien, Updike, E.B. White, Tennessee Williams and many others. One of 500 numbered copies signed by the editors Evelyn Byrne and Otto Penzler. This copy is also signed by John Fowles and by John Updike. Updike has also provided the signatures of Arnold Toynbee and Gore Vidal, whose contributions share his pages (for unknown reasons, he skipped Mark Van Doren, who also shares the pages). A fine copy in a fine, plain white dustwrapper.
382. (UPDIKE, John). SHEED, F.J. Soundings in Satanism. London: Mowbrays (1972). The first British, and first hardcover, edition of these essays on Satanism, assembled by Sheed and introduced by Updike. Slightly splayed with trace foxing to top edge; near fine in a near fine, lightly sunned dust jacket. First issued in the U.S. in paperback by Sheed & Ward in 1972.
383. (UPDIKE, John). GREENE, Graham. The Power and the Glory. (NY): Viking (1990). The fiftieth anniversary edition of one of Greene's first classics, with an introduction by Updike. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
384. (UPDIKE, John). Conversations with John Updike. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi (1994). The uncommon hardcover issue of this collection of interviews edited by James Plath. Signed by Updike. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
385. (UPDIKE, John). The Mabinogion. NY: Everyman's Library (2000). Updike provides the preface to this edition of this collection of 14th century tales. Signed by Updike. Fine without dust jacket, as issued.
386. (UPDIKE, John). CHODOROV, Jerome. Bech: A Play. (n.p)[CA]: (n.p.) [c. 1980]. Photocopied typescript of a play by Chodorov, based on Updike's Bech stories. Chodorov, the noted playwright and author of My Sister Eileen and Wonderful Town, among others, adapted these stories for the stage; in the 1950s, he successfully adapted Eudora Welty's The Ponder Heart for Broadway. Included with this script is a copy of a letter from the Patricia Karlen Agency to producer Ross Hunter, offering the play as a vehicle for Paul Newman. With the business card of the agency stapled to the title page of the play. We find no evidence that the play was ever produced, nor have we ever seen another copy of this script. Provenance: from the estate of Ross Hunter. Three hole-punched sheets printed on rectos only, bound in blue wrappers.