Catalog 127, T-V
395. -. Another copy. Inscribed by the author to another writer "with love and admiration." Fine in a near fine, spine-tanned dust jacket. A nice literary association copy.
396. TATE, James. Constant Defender. NY: Ecco Press (1983). Volume 28 in the American Poetry Series. Again, this is the hardcover issue, there having been a simultaneous paperback. Inscribed by the author in 1986 in Iowa to the President of the University of Iowa, where Tate taught for a time, with the quote, "If all this is possible/ what are we to do then?" Fine in a fine dust jacket.
397. THURBER, James. The Wonderful O. NY: Simon & Schuster (1957). A review copy. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with light rubbing at the folds. A very nice copy, and scarce as an advance copy.
398. TOOLE, John Kennedy. A Confederacy of Dunces. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State U. Press, 1980. One of the most elusive of recent Pulitzer Prize-winning fiction titles, this book had a small first printing, reported to be 2500 copies. Initially, it was turned down for publication by dozens of publishers, and the author committed suicide in 1969. Years later, his mother brought the manuscript to Walker Percy, insisting that he read it. Percy, who was inclined to dismiss it for lack of time, succumbed to her persistence, loved the book, and arranged to get it published, contributing an introduction. Excellent reviews and word-of-mouth led to its being reprinted numerous times and becoming a bestseller. It then won one of the most prestigious literary prizes given in this country. This is a fine copy in a very near fine dust jacket with just a touch of wear at the heel and a faint crease to the lower rear panel. A lovely copy.
399. UPDIKE, John. Rabbit, Run. NY: Knopf, 1960. The third printing of Updike's second novel -- printed in the same month as the first printing -- 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. Inscribed by Updike. Faint sunning to spine cloth; very near fine in a near fine, rubbed dust jacket with two edge tears.
400. UPDIKE, John. The Same Door. NY: Knopf, 1963. The second printing of his third book and first collection of stories, first published in 1959. Signed by the author. A little staining to upper spine cloth; near fine in a near fine dust jacket.
401. UPDIKE, John. A Month of Sundays. NY: Knopf, 1975. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
402. UPDIKE, John. Marry Me. NY: Knopf, 1976. A collection of related stories. Signed by the author on the front flyleaf, above a patch of glue residue. Possible ex-lending library copy: additional glue residue on pastedowns where the flaps were once affixed. Very good in a near fine dust jacket.
403. UPDIKE, John. Tossing and Turning. NY: Knopf, 1977. Poetry. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
404. UPDIKE, John. The Coup. NY: Knopf, 1978. A novel about an African political coup, a sharp break from his usual focus on middle- and upper middle-class suburban Americans. Signed by the author. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with two edge tears on the front panel.
405. UPDIKE, John. Problems and Other Stories. NY: Knopf, 1979. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket with one slight corner bump.
406. UPDIKE, John. Bech is Back. NY: Knopf, 1982. The second of his humorous books featuring writer Henry Bech, an Updike alter-ego. Inscribed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
407. UPDIKE, John. The Witches of Eastwick. NY: Knopf, 1984. The trade edition of Updike's suburban fantasy, made into a movie with Jack Nicholson, Cher, Susan Sarandon and Michelle Pfeiffer. Chosen by British critic David Pringle as one of the hundred best fantasy novels of the postwar era. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
408. UPDIKE, John. Facing Nature. NY: Knopf, 1985. A collection of poetry. Inscribed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
409. UPDIKE, John. Roger's Version. NY: Knopf, 1986. The first trade edition of this novel. Inscribed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
410. UPDIKE, John. Trust Me. NY: Knopf, 1987. A collection of stories. Inscribed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
411. UPDIKE, John. S. NY: Knopf, 1988. An epistolary novel based on an ashram similar to that operated by the popular guru Rajneesh during the 70's and 80's. Inscribed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
412. UPDIKE, John. The Alligators. (Mankato): Creative Education (1990). The first separate appearance of a story that first appeared in The New Yorker and was collected in The Same Door. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
413. UPDIKE, John. Friends from Philadelphia. (London): Penguin (1995). A small format paperback, 4 1/4" x 5 1/2", published on the occasion of Penguin's 60th anniversary. Five stories by Updike, including the title story, which was his first story published in The New Yorker. This is the British edition (there was an Australian edition; no priority determined). Read, with general overall wear; very good in wrappers. Uncommon.
414. -. Same title, the Australian edition. (Victoria): Penguin (1995). Fine in wrappers. Uncommon.
415. (UPDIKE, John). Sleeping Bags and Flying Machines. (Don Mills): Nelson (1973). A grade school reader, which reprints two "pop up poems" (they don't pop up) by Updike on full-color pages. Shelf dust to bottom page edges; else fine in wrappers.
416. (UPDIKE, John and ROTH, Philip). SEARLES, George J. The Fiction of Philip Roth and John Updike. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press (1985). A critical study of the two writers. Fine in a near fine, rubbed dust jacket.
417. (UPDIKE, John). BARTH, Karl. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Grand Rapids: Eerdman's (1986). First thus, with a 6-page foreword by Updike. Only issued in wrappers; fine.
418. (UPDIKE, John). Saul Steinberg. (n.p.): (Jeffrey H. Loria) (1995). Fifty Steinberg works from the collection of Jeffrey and Sylvia Loria. With an introduction by Updike. Quarto. Production crease page 90; else fine in wrappers.
419. (UPDIKE, John). JAMES, Henry. The Portrait of a Lady. (NY): Oxford University Press (1999). First thus, with an 8-page introduction by Updike. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
420. (UPDIKE, John). The Song of Solomon. (Oxford): Lion (1997). Updike provides a forward to this Biblical work. Only issued in wrappers in the first edition (which has a number line extending down to "0"). Fine.
421. -. Same title. NY: St. Martin's (1999). The advance reading copy of the first American edition. Fine in wrappers with publisher's card stapled inside the front cover.
422. VIDAL, Gore. Dark Green, Bright Red. NY: Dutton, 1950. An early novel by Vidal, signed by the author. Owner name on pastedown under front flap; heavy offsetting to rear endpapers; otherwise a near fine copy in a very good dust jacket with some edge wear and faint staining. Jacket design by Alvin Lustig.
423. VIDAL, Gore. The Judgment of Paris. NY: Dutton, 1952. Another early novel. Light foxing to top edge; else fine in a near fine dust jacket with a strip of sunning at the lower rear panel. A much-nicer-than-usual copy of this title.
424. VIDAL, Gore. A Thirsty Evil. NY: Zero Press, 1956. A collection of seven short stories. Near fine in a very good, lightly spine-tanned dust jacket with a couple edge tears.
425. VIDAL, Gore. Visit to a Small Planet and Other Television Plays. Boston: Little Brown (1956). Television screenplays written by Vidal, including two adaptations of Faulkner stories. Inscribed by the author in 1991. Fine in a near fine, lightly rubbed dust jacket with a couple of small spots.
426. VIDAL, Gore. The Best Man. Boston: Little Brown (1960). A stage play, "about politics." Fine in a very good, price-clipped dust jacket with a tear at the lower rear spine fold.
427. VIDAL, Gore. Rocking the Boat. Boston: Little Brown (1962). Essays on politics, theater and literature. Near fine in a near fine, price-clipped dust jacket with light wear at the spine extremities and one edge tear.
428. VIDAL, Gore. Myra Breckinridge. Boston: Little Brown (1968). One of his best-known novels, probably because of the 1970 film with Mae West, Raquel Welch and John Huston that became something of a cult classic. Inscribed by the author in 1991. Fine in a near fine, price-clipped dust jacket.
429. VIDAL, Gore. Reflections Upon a Sinking Ship. Boston: Little Brown (1969). His second collection of essays. Inscribed by the author in 1991. Fine in a very good, mildly rubbed dust jacket.
430. VIDAL, Gore. Two Sisters. Boston: Little, Brown (1970). "A novel in the form of a memoir." Inscribed by the author in 1991. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. A very crisp, attractive copy of this title which, because of its black dust jacket, usually turns up showing considerably more wear.
431. VIDAL, Gore. An Evening with Richard Nixon. NY: Random House (1972). Inscribed by the author in 1991. Marginal stains to a few early pages; shallow dampstaining to front board; still near fine in a near fine, faintly spine-sunned dust jacket.
432. VIDAL, Gore. Sex is Politics and Vice Versa. Los Angeles: Sylvester & Orphanos, 1979. A single essay by Vidal, produced as an attractive limited edition. Of a total edition of 330 copies, this is one of 300 numbered copies signed by the author. Faint foxing to rear blanks; else fine without dust jacket, as issued.
433. VONNEGUT, Kurt. Histoire du Soldat. (n.p.): Gonfalon Press, 1997. A limited edition of Vonnegut's libretto for Igor Stravinsky's 1918 composition. Vonnegut replaced the original text with a story based on the service and execution of Private Eddie Slovik, the only American soldier to be executed for desertion in World War II. A heart and head-felt anti-war comment by an author whose masterwork, Slaughterhouse-Five, stands as one of the century's greatest statements on the absurdity and tragedy of the human insistence on self-destruction. This edition was created and illustrated by Michael Fallon. One of 110 numbered copies signed by Fallon, and although not called for, this copy is signed by Vonnegut on his 75th birthday. A fine copy, in cloth and paper covered boards, without dust jacket, as issued. Together with a photocopy of a typescript of Vonnegut's introduction, reproducing the author's holograph corrections and signed by Vonnegut with an added caricature. Also together with a 1993 handout for a performance of the work at Lincoln Center, signed by the author, and the program for the St. Louis premiere in 1997, also signed by Vonnegut. A rare Vonnegut item and, with the extra manuscript copy and ephemera, unique. For all:
434. VONNEGUT, Kurt and STEADMAN, Ralph. Vonnegut-Steadman Portfolio. Lexington: Petro III Graphics, 2001. Two original color silkscreens, "Messenger" by Kurt Vonnegut and "Red Shark" by Ralph Steadman, each hand printed by Joe Petro III in an edition of 50 numbered copies; 12" x 16 3/4"; signed by Vonnegut and Steadman, respectively. The Steadman print is an adaptation of the artwork that was used on the cover of Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, with additional color. Together with a signed limited edition of the catalog Modern Fiction and Art: Prints by Contemporary Authors (Lexington: University of Kentucky Art Museum, 1999), which reproduces an original piece by each of the artists. The prints are fine; the catalog is fine in stapled wrappers; all are enclosed in a string-tied portfolio. At the list price:
435. (VONNEGUT, Kurt). Shortridge Daily Echo, Vol. XLII, No. 149. Indianapolis: Shortridge High School, May 15, 1940. An issue of the daily paper from Vonnegut's high school from his senior year. Vonnegut was on the Tuesday staff of the paper: this is a Wednesday issue. Age-darkened and torn along the folds; a good copy only, marginally relevant.
436. VOGT, Brady. Gladiolus Drive. Fort Myers: Everglades Books (2001). The author's first book, a south Florida mystery, with blurbs by Carl Hiaasen and Randy Wayne White. Signed by the author. Only issued in wrappers. Fine.