Catalog 135, B
28. BALLARD, J.G. The Atrocity Exhibition. London: Jonathan Cape (1970). The first edition of this book that was published in the U.S. in 1972 as Love & Napalm: Export U.S.A. -- an influential collection of new wave science fiction stories that helped bridge the gap between science fiction and the artistic and political avant garde. Ballard's novel Crash derived from one of the stories, and others such as "Why I Want to Fuck Ronald Reagan" became landmarks in their own right. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
29. BASBANES, Nicholas. A Splendor of Letters. (NY): HarperCollins (2003). The fourth book on book-related matters by the author of A Gentle Madness, Patience and Fortitude and Among the Gently Mad. Signed by the author. Basbanes is the most noted contemporary chronicler of people, places, and issues relating to book collecting and his books have been bestsellers -- an unusual occurrence in the field of "books about books." Mr. Basbanes has also generously contributed his time to sign copies of his books to benefit the Antiquarian Booksellers Benevolent Fund, a charitable organization that assists booksellers who have been struck by catastrophes of one sort or another. In the spirit of extending this gift, we will donate all profits from the sale of this title to the ABBF as well. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
30. BECKETT, Samuel. Eleuthéria. NY: Foxrock (1995). A limited edition of Beckett's first known play, written before "Waiting for Godot" but not published until 1995. One of 250 numbered copies signed by the three publishers, Barney Rosset, John Oakes and Dan Simon and by the translator, Michael Brodsky. Published hors commerce while legal battles with the Beckett estate threatened. Fine, without dust jacket, probably as issued, and with a letter laid in from the co-publisher presenting the book.
31. BELLOW, Saul. Recent American Fiction. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 1963. The text of a lecture presented under the auspices of the Gertrude Clarke Whittall Poetry and Literature Fund. Twelve pages. Very good in stapled wrappers which show some handling; text clean.
32. BERRY, Wendell. Findings. (Iowa City): Prairie Press, 1969. His third collection of poems, which were written contemporaneously with the poems from his first two collections. An attractive edition, as usual from this highly regarded small press. This copy is inscribed by the book's designer, Carroll Coleman in 1975. Recipients' bookplate front pastedown; fine, without dust jacket.
33. BLOOM, Amy. Come to Me. (NY): HarperCollins (1993). A later printing of her first book, a collection of stories, two of which were included in The Best American Short Stories anthologies for 1991 and 1992. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket with a National Book Award finalist sticker on the front panel.
34. BOGARDE, Dirk. A Postillion Struck by Lightning. NY: HRW (1977). The first book, a memoir of his early years, by one of the preeminent British actors of the postwar era, with illustrations by the author. Board edges faded, with one edge ding; near fine in a fine dust jacket.
35. BOGARDE, Dirk. Snakes & Ladders. NY: HRW (1978). Also a memoir, a sequel to A Postillion Struck by Lightning. Fine in a near fine, spine-faded dust jacket with a small nick mid spine.
36. BOGARDE, Dirk. A Gentle Occupation. NY: Knopf, 1980. The first American edition of his first novel. Fine in a very near fine dust jacket.
37. BOGARDE, Dirk. Voices in the Garden. NY: Knopf, 1981. The first American edition of his second novel. Fine in a very near fine dust jacket with mild edge sunning and creasing.
38. BOGARDE, Dick. West of Sunset. NY: Viking (1984). The first American edition of this Hollywood novel by the noted actor. Remainder stamping lower page edges; else fine in a very near fine dust jacket with one short, closed edge tear.
39. (Books About Books). MARSHALL, Anthony. Trafficking in Old Books. Melbourne: Lost Domain (1998). A collection of humorous essays on the book trade by the proprietor of Alice's Bookshop in Melbourne, Australia. Most of these essays have appeared in various journals of the book trade; together they make for a wealth of enjoyable reading by anyone who has ever been involved in book collecting or the used book trade, and even by those who have not. Fine in wrappers and signed by the author.
40. (Books About Books). MARSHALL, Anthony. Fossicking for Old Books. Melbourne: Bread Street Press, 2004. Marshall's second collection of humorous essays on the book trade, with the author's characteristic light touch, which allows these pieces to reflect on far more than just used books -- as the cover proclaims: "All human life is here!" Fine in wrappers and signed by the author.
41. BORGES, Jorge Luis. Aspectos de la Literatura Gauchesca. Montevideo: Numero (1950). One of 1000 numbered copies, this copy inscribed by Borges in the year of publication to Emilio Oribe, the poet, and his closest friend in Uruguay: "Para el amigo Oribe, con el afecto de/ Jorge Luis Borges/ Montevideo - 1950." A notable literary association: Oribe was a modernist poet associated both with Borges' "school" of "ultaísmo" as well as the Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa, one of the foremost Iberian poets of the 20th century. A small but significant volume by Borges -- an essay on Argentine folk literature that attempts to establish its place in the overall context of world literature. Small bookplate of the noted Argentine collector Federico Vogelius -- perhaps the most important collector of 20th century Latin American literature and art; margins and covers age-darkened; very good in stapled wrappers. Borges was generous about signing books, but significant association copies of his works are quite uncommon.
42. (BORGES, Jorge Luis). BARRENECHEA, Ana María. Borges, the Labyrinth Maker. (n.p.): New York University Press (1965). A critical work by Barrenechea, edited and translated by Robert Lima and with a preface to this edition by Borges. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with some rubbing to the front panel and an internally-repaired edge tear. An early critical edition to appear in English, with a previously unpublished piece by Borges. Scarce in the hardcover edition.
43. BOWDEN, Charles. Verbatim: A Conversation with Charles Bowden. Tucson: Sylph Publications, 2004. Sylph Chapbook Number 7. The transcript of a conversation with Bowden, the noted reporter and chronicler of the desert Southwest. Of a total edition of 75 copies, this is one of 50 numbered copies signed by Bowden and by interviewer Mona Mort. Fine without dust jacket, as issued. An attractive limited edition, and a candid conversation with Bowden that touches on contemporary politics, the Southwest, Edward Abbey, and more. List price:
44. BOWLES, Paul. Correspondence Archive. 1986-1990. Six pieces of correspondence, all written to Anthony Weller, author of Days and Nights on the Grand Trunk Road, and himself a novelist, journalist, musician, and world traveler -- an unusual combination of talents that he shared with Bowles, and they with few others one might guess. The correspondence spans the years 1986-1990 (with two pieces undated). The sequence begins with a typed letter signed from March, 1986, in which Bowles explains his daily routine and his address and his nonfunctioning elevator, all in preparation for a visit at his home in Tangier from Weller. The second typed letter signed, from that same June, is written from Tangier and sent to Amsterdam, and in which Bowles thanks Weller for some stories he sent and goes on to express chagrin at a piece of music that he (Bowles) had written for a dancer that had then appeared on the program of a Rotterdam concert, and was never intended for that kind of venue. In 1989, Bowles sends Weller an autograph postcard signed thanking him for a cassette tape of music by Revueltas, the great Mexican composer, "most of which I've never heard." In 1990, an autograph letter signed thanks Weller for Chavez tapes (another great Mexican composer, although Bowles says he prefers Revueltas to Chavez), complains a bit about sciatica, and then expresses appreciation for Weller's remarks "on the homogeneity of my writing and music. I've never agreed with those who lock the two into separate, hermetic enclosures, claiming that one is white and the other is black. I suppose someone wrote it once, and the rest followed suit. That's the way meaningless remarks are transformed into legends, or 'truth.'" The final two autographed notes signed (undated), each relate to a personal visit, one saying a given date is not possible; the other suggesting a date. With the exception of the postcard, which is signed "Paul B.," all items are signed in full. A very nice run of correspondence between Bowles and a writer/musician who shared his talents and interests as very few others are likely to have. The six items are accompanied by four envelopes: three typed, one hand-addressed; two addressed for mailing, two for hand delivery. The letters are folded for transit and are otherwise fine. For all:
45. BROOKS, Gwendolyn. To Disembark. Chicago: Third World Press (1981). Poetry by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author. This is the simultaneous issue in wrappers. Inscribed by the author in 1988. Fine in wrappers.
46. BROOKS, Gwendolyn. Winnie. Chicago: The David Company (1988). A two-part poem for Winnie Mandela. Inscribed by the author in the year of publication. Slight spine fade; else fine in stapled wrappers.
47. BROOKS, Gwendolyn. Gottschalk and the Grande Tarantelle. Chicago: The David Company (1988). Includes the above two-part poem for Winnie Mandela and three other poems. Inscribed by the author in the year of publication "with Admiration! [underlined twice]." Slight spine fade and one stray pen mark; near fine in stapled wrappers.
48. (BROOKS, Gwendolyn). KGOSITSILE, Keorapetse. My Name is Afrika. Garden City: Doubleday, 1971. Introduction by Brooks to this collection of poetry. Foxing to foredge; cloth mottled; near fine in a near fine dust jacket with a little foxing and edge wear. From the library of Gwendolyn Brooks.
49. (BUKOWSKI, Charles, and others). The Outsider, 1-5 [in four volumes]. (New Orleans/Tucson): (Loujon Press) (1961-1969). A complete run of this influential small magazine, which began as a letterpress production in the early 1960s and published a virtual Who's Who of underground and avant garde writers, many of whom reached their first substantial readership via this magazine. Contributors include Charles Bukowski (present in all issues and featured as "Outsider of the Year" in issue #3), William Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, Charles Olson, Gary Snyder, Ed Dorn, Peter Orlovsky, Kenneth Patchen (a 46-page homage in the combined issue 4-5), Jack Kerouac, Henry Miller, Langston Hughes, LeRoi Jones, and many, many others. The first three issues are in printed wrappers; issue 4-5 is the hardcover volume, limited to 500 copies, with a handmade paper dust jacket and a packet of flowers picked from the site of Geronimo's grave laid in. The text block of issue 3 is beginning to separate from the spine and the acidic paper of issues 1 & 2 is browning, as usual; overall all volumes are very good or better. Two of them have ink prices on the front cover, apparently in the publisher's hand, as he has also annotated a page in one-volume indicating that the only copies left of a recent Bukowski publication are the $5 copies. A nice set of this important periodical, produced by hand with almost unthinkably elegant production values.
50. BURROUGHS, William S. Naked Lunch. Paris: Olympia (1959). The first edition of his second book, one of the all-time great drug novels and a high spot of Beat and postwar American literature -- one of the three key volumes of the Beat movement, along with Kerouac's On the Road and Ginsberg's Howl. This is the "second issue" with the New Franc stamp over the original old franc price on the rear cover, although the issue point does nothing more than indicate that this is a copy of the first printing that was not sold by the publisher until after January, 1960, when the Franc was revalued. Published only in paperback in Paris by Maurice Girodias' important small press, in an edition of 5000 copies (comprising both "issues"), three years before it could be published in the U.S. This copy has very light spine creasing and is near fine in a near fine dust jacket with slight age toning and a small, closed tear at the crown.
51. -. Same title, the twenty-fifth anniversary edition. NY: Grove Press (1984). One of 500 numbered copies signed by the author. With a 15-page introduction by Jennie Skerl that puts the book, and its publication history, in context. Fine in a fine slipcase.
52. BURROUGHS, William S. The Ticket That Exploded. Paris: Olympia (1962). The correct first edition, published in paperback in Paris, as were his earlier books, The Soft Machine and Naked Lunch. The U.S. edition was not published until five years later. Issued in Maurice Girodias' "Traveller's Companion" series -- a line of paperbacks that was largely dominated by the kind of hardcore pornography that could not be sold at all in the U.S. at that time -- few copies of this title migrated to the U.S. until well after Burroughs' popularity here was established and the landmark censorship cases of the early 1960s (including that of Naked Lunch) had been settled in favor of increased permissiveness in printed matter. Inscribed by the author. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket rubbed along the folds.