Catalog 144, A-C
1. ABBEY, Edward. The Journey Home. NY: Dutton (1977). The hardcover issue of this collection of essays -- "Some Words in Defense of the American West." Inscribed by Abbey to fellow author Edward Hoagland: "For Ted Hoagland/ carry on, companero -- / give us many more good books./ Ed Abbey/ NYC 1983." An excellent association copy: Hoagland's essays on the natural world, among his other writings, have earned him high praise. He and Abbey had a 20+ year friendship and correspondence, and Hoagland wrote the tribute to Abbey for The New York Times Book Review when Abbey died. Light foxing to top edge and foredge; very near fine in a fine dust jacket.
2. (American Repertory Theatre). One Minute Plays. Cambridge: American Repertory Theatre (1992). Five one-minute plays created to benefit the playwriting program of the American Repertory Theater. Includes:
DELILLO, Don. The Mystery at the Middle of Ordinary Life. Ribbon-copy typescript; two pages. Signed by DeLillo. Together with one autograph note signed transmitting the script and one autograph postcard signed declaring his progress: "42 seconds completed. 18 to go. Will send soon." All elements fine.
GUARE, John. New York Actor. Computer printout typescript. 10 pages. Inscribed by Guare: "Sold!! To the highest bidder to support the Playwrighting Program at A.R.T. Thank you thank you thank you (doesn't take much to make a playwright happy)/ Best/ John Guare." Lower edge crease to title page; else fine.
KOPIT, Arthur. One Minute to Go or The Last One Minute Play. Eight pages: seven are photocopied holograph; one original holograph. One photocopied page has a holograph annotation initialed by Kopit. The title page is in holograph and bears an inscription by Kopit and is signed by him. Fine.
MAILER, Norman. Once a Philosopher, Twice a Pervert. Two typescript pages, with the author's holograph corrections, both pages saying essentially the same thing (one copy was to be auctioned off). Mailer's play is without dialogue (with the exception of a scream) and his paragraphs sketch only the action to be staged. Each sheet is signed by the author. Fine.
MAMET, David. The Cheap Hello. Four pages, computer printout typescript. Signed by the author over his comet stamp. Fine.
PARKER, Robert and Joan. The Further Adventures of Ned Poins. Five pages, computer printout typescript, inscribed by the authors. With an autograph note signed "Bob." Fine.
A remarkable group of original manuscripts, of plays presumably performed only once, by several of the greatest playwrights of our time as well as several acclaimed novelists. For all:
3. (Anthology). Some 7/8. NY: Some, 1976. An anthology in a box, this copy containing the first of two planned installments, the second installment to be added to the box at a later time (so perhaps this is only Some 7). Present are all the first installment items, including, among other things, a pamphlet of poems by James Tate, Robert Bly, Terry Stokes and others and "Dream of an Interview with Joyce Carol Oates" by Estil Loney, an invented interview in which Oates has given up writing for quilting and cheese hockey. Also includes the printed postcard requesting future installments of the "magazine." All elements fine.
4. (Anthology). Blast 2. Santa Barbara: Black Sparrow, 1981. The hardcover edition of this facsimile of the Wyndham Lewis magazine that was first published in 1915. One of 276 numbered copies. With contributions by Lewis, Eliot, Pound and others. Stain to top edge of boards; sunning to spine cloth; about near fine, without dust jacket, as issued.
5. (Anthology). Rebel Yell. (Edinburgh): Rebel Inc. (1999). A sampler of the titles in their "Century of Underground Classics" series. Includes Richard Brautigan, Thomas Pynchon, Charles Bukowski, Nelson Algren, Alexander Trocchi, Jim Dodge, John Fante and others. With capsule author biographies. Near fine in wrappers.
6. ARTAUD, Antonin. The Theater and its Double. NY: Grove (1958). The uncommon hardcover issue of the first American edition of this classic work on the theater, by a surrealist who promoted a "Theater of Violence" that, in part, helped lead to the Theater of the Absurd. Artaud wrote that the value of the theater "is in its excruciating, magical relation to reality and danger," and this work articulated a vision that led to dramatic experimentation in the theater, which was most clearly represented in the works of Samuel Beckett. These essays were first published in France in 1938. The U.S. edition was issued by Grove, an early publisher of the avant garde in the U.S. The bulk of the edition was issued in paperback, and only a small number of hardcovers were done. This is an ex-library copy, with the circulation pocket removed from the rear flyleaf and the evidence of the jacket having been formerly affixed to the pastedowns. Black lines on boards and jacket extremities from previous jacket protector, and library stamps to top and bottom page edges; thus only a good, but tight copy, in a very good dust jacket with small waves to the front panel and an accession label to the lower spine.
7. BAKER, Nicholson. U and I. NY: Random House (1991). An advance copy, in the form of 8 1/2" x 11" bound photocopied typescript, of his third book, a personal essay and analysis of the effect that the writings of John Updike have had on the author. A unique portrait in ideas more than a criticism of Updike, nonetheless a serious meditation on Updike's work and a self-examination of the author's own thoughts on writing. Velobound with acetate covers; fine.
8. BARGER, Ralph "Sonny." Hell's Angel. (NY): Morrow (2000). Later printing, but also a review copy. A memoir by the longtime leader of the Oakland chapter of the Hell's Angels motorcycle gang. Inscribed by Barger to underground cartoonist S. Clay Wilson, famous for his comix featuring the Checkered Demon and assorted other motorcycle gang toughs. A nice association. Fine in a fine dust jacket, with publicity material laid in.
9. BARGER, Ralph "Sonny." Ridin' High, Livin' Free. (NY): Morrow (2002). Another memoir by the Hell's Angel leader. Inscribed by Barger to S. Clay Wilson, the underground cartoonist famous for his artwork featuring biker gangs and assorted underground characters. Fine in a fine dust jacket with a Sonny Barger trading card laid in.
10. BARTH, John. The Sot Weed Factor. Garden City: Doubleday, 1960. His massive third novel, which secured Barth's reputation as one of the leading experimental writers of his generation, and helped set the standard for the postmodern fiction that dominated the 1960s. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket by Edward Gorey, with a bit of rubbing to the folds and edges and a strip of sunning on the upper rear panel. In a beautiful three quarter leather custom clamshell case. A very nice copy of a bulky book, seldom found in this condition.
11. BASS, Rick. Wild to the Heart. (Harrisburg): Stackpole (1987). The uncorrected proof copy of his second book, a collection of essays on the natural world. This copy was sent to Edward Hoagland for advance comment, and has a letter laid in to Hoagland from Bass's agent, pitching both Bass and the book. The proof is a bit dusty; near fine in wrappers. An uncommon proof.
12. BASS, Rick. Where the Sea Used to Be. Boston/NY: Houghton Mifflin, 1998. His first full-length novel. Signed by the author. Fine in a near fine, spine-sunned dust jacket.
13. (BECKETT, Samuel). KNOWLSON, James. Samuel Beckett: An Exhibition. (London): Turret Books, 1971. The catalog of an exhibition of Beckett's works held at Reading University Library, with a foreword by A.J. Levanthal. There was a limited edition of 100 copies; this is an unnumbered copy signed by Beckett on the colophon page; with dust jacket: either an out-of-series copy of the limited edition with a trade edition dust jacket or simply a trade hardcover that has been signed. In either case, rare. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
14. BERRY, Wendell. In the Presence of Fear. Great Barrington: The Orion Society, 2001. Three essays by Berry, one published online after September 11, and two published in Orion magazine; the three are collected here for the first time as the first book in what would become Orion's New Patriotism series. Fine in wrappers.
15. -. Same title, this being a review copy. Fine in wrappers, with promotional material laid in.
16. BERRY, Wendell and DUNCAN, David James. Citizens Dissent. Security, Morality and Leadership in an Age of Terror. (Great Barrington): Orion Society (2003). The third volume in the Orion Society's New Patriotism series. Includes Berry's "A Citizen's Response to the National Security Strategy of the United States of America" and Duncan's "When Compassion Becomes Dissent." This copy is signed by Berry in 2003. Only issued in wrappers. Slight horizontal spine crease; still very near fine.
17. BLOCH, Robert. Psycho. NY: Simon & Schuster, 1959. His most famous book, basis for the classic Hitchcock film, the most thrilling film of all time (American Film Institute: "100 Years, 100 Thrills," #1), and one of the top 100 horror novels according to Jones and Newman (Horror: 100 Best Books, #57). Signed by the author, with the signature ending in a pool of blood. Pages browning as is usual with this title. Fine in a near fine, mildly rubbed dust jacket with a small chip at the upper front edge and shallow, blended dampstaining at the lower edge. An attractive copy of an important novel, basis for one of the great films of all time, and seldom found signed.
18. BLOOM, Amy. Come to Me. (NY): HarperCollins (1993). 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 very near fine, mildly spine-sunned dust jacket.
19. (BLOOM, Amy). Here Lies My Heart. Boston: Beacon Press (1999). Bloom provides the foreword to this anthology of essays on "why we marry, why we don't, and what we find there." Contributions by Mark Doty, Phillip Lopate, Amy Hempel, Edward Hoagland, David Mamet, Katha Pollitt, Willie Morris, Gerald Early, Rebecca Walker and others. Only issued in wrappers. Fine.
20. BROWN, Larry. Facing the Music. Chapel Hill: Algonquin Books, 1988. His first book, a collection of stories. Brown, from Mississippi, was the first writer to twice win the Southern Book Award, the major literary award given out by the Southern Book Critics Circle. Signed by the author. Fine in a very near fine dust jacket with a strip of sunning at the front spine fold. Laid in is a publicity photo of Brown, also signed by the author and dated 10/29/88.
21. BROWN, Larry. On Fire. Chapel Hill: Algonquin Books, 1994. His fifth book, and his first book of nonfiction -- an extended personal essay on his life as a firefighter. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
22. BUKOWSKI, Charles. Underwater Poetry Festival. (n.p.): Temple, 2006. A CD recording of a 1974 reading by Bukowski in Salt Lake City. New, unopened.
23. BURROUGHS, William S. "On the Nova Lark" and "Abandoned Artifacts." Lawrence: Talk Talk Publications/Fresh Sounds, 1981. A 33 1/3 rpm flexi-disk originally issued with the rock and punk magazine, Talk Talk, Volume 3, Number 6. Fine, in near fine original envelope, with the rubber stamp of William Burroughs Communications, in Lawrence, Kansas, Burroughs' longtime home, and thus perhaps a copy that was not originally associated with the magazine but rather with Burroughs' own archive.
24. BURROUGHS, William S. and WILSON, S. Clay. Die Stadte der Roten Nacht. (Frankfurt): Zweitausendeins (1982). The German edition of Burroughs' Cities of the Red Night, with endpages and three intense, lurid, fold-out illustrations by underground comic artist S. Clay Wilson. Signed by Burroughs. Additionally, inscribed by S. Clay Wilson in 2000, with a drawing of a blood-tipped pen, with a tag reading "Goodbye Uncle Billy." Laid in is an autograph note signed and illustrated by Wilson, transmitting the book, complaining about the print job and the lack of his suggested red endpages, but including a drawing of a crazed turbaned figure. Fine, without dust jacket, as issued, in publisher's cardstock slipcase. The artwork does not appear in other editions of this work. A nice association between Wilson and Burroughs -- two of the most extreme artists in their respective fields.
25. BURROUGHS, William S. Junky. NY/Lawrence: Wylie/Burroughs, 1994. The title page of James Grauerholz's screenplay, from a treatment by Grauerholz and Burroughs, of Burroughs' first novel Junky. First written in 1977 and rewritten in 1994 for "The Fifth Night" in New York. Inscribed by both Burroughs and Grauerholz. A single page only, the title page, but interesting in the amount of historical and bibliographic information in conveys; fine.
26. BUSCH, Frederick. I Wanted a Year Without Fall. London: Calder & Boyars (1971). His first book -- a novel that was never published in the U.S. Trace foxing to top edge; else fine in a fine, price-clipped dust jacket. Uncommon.
27. CAPOTE, Truman. A Christmas Memory. NY: Random House [1966]. First separate edition of this autobiographical story, which has become a Christmas classic over the years. This is the trade edition, fine in a fine slipcase.
28. CARSON, Rachel. Guarding Our Wildlife Resources. Washington, D.C.: Fish and Wildlife Service, 1948. Issued as Conservation in Action No. 5, a 46-page illustrated booklet by Carson. Front cover bears the stamp of Charles Teague, Member of Congress, 13th District California, as well as the ink notation "Dup." Otherwise fine in stapled wrappers. Rare: this is the first copy we've handled, although we've had multiple copies of several of her other early publications done by the Department of the Interior, as this one was.
29. CARVER, Raymond. Where I'm Calling From. Franklin Center: Franklin Library, 1988. The correct first edition of this title, preceding the trade edition. Leatherbound; page edges gilt; with a silk ribbon marker bound in. An attractive edition in the Franklin Library's "Signed First Edition" series, with an interesting introduction by Carver which does not appear anywhere else. Signed by the author. Because Carver died shortly after the publication of this collection, signed copies of this title are uncommon, other than the Franklin Library edition. Carver prepared this volume knowing that he was dying of lung cancer, and many of these stories, although they had been published previously, were revised for this edition and stand as his definitive versions of them. Fine.
30. CHEEVER, John. The Day the Pig Fell into the Well. Northridge: Lord John, 1978. A presentation copy of this limited edition, inscribed by Cheever to his bibliographer, Beverly Chaney and dated in the year of publication. This is the first separate edition of a story that appeared in The New Yorker in 1954. There was a numbered issue of 275 copies and a lettered issue of 26 copies; this copy is indicated on the colophon in type to be a "Presentation Copy" -- limitation unstated but presumably a very small number, probably 10 or fewer, and with Cheever's inscription to a significant individual in his literary career. A nice association copy. Fine, without dust jacket, as issued.
31. COCTEAU, Jean. My Contemporaries. Philadelphia: Chilton Book Company (1968). Reminiscences by Cocteau on Proust, Colette, Gide, Picasso, Radiguet, Charlie Chaplin, etc. Small star drawn on front flyleaf. Boards a trifle edge-sunned; near fine in a fine, price-clipped dust jacket.
32. COETZEE, J.M. Typed Letter Signed and From the Heart of the Country. December 21, 1983. A typed letter signed by Coetzee, written to Ingmar Björkstén in Stockholm, thanking him for a transcription of their interview and commenting on the possibility of a visit to Stockholm after a stint at SUNY Buffalo. Aerogramme, folded in third for mailing; else fine. Together with a copy of his second book, first novel, From the Heart of the Country [London: Secker & Warburg (1977)], inscribed by the author to Björkstén in 1986. A fine copy in a very good, price-clipped dust jacket with modest rubbing but with an inch of abrasion to the spine, affecting a half dozen letters of the title. A notable association: Björkstén was on the Nobel Prize committee that awarded Coetzee the Nobel Prize for Literature two decades later, in 2003.
33. COETZEE, J.M. Truth in Autobiography. (n.p.): University of Cape Town, (1985). Text of Coetzee's "Inaugural Lecture," delivered at the University of Cape Town on October 3, 1984. Printed as New Series No. 94. Six pages. Fine in stapled wrappers. The only copy we've ever seen.
34. COETZEE, J.M. The Novel in Africa. (Berkeley): (Townsend Center for the Humanities)(1999). Prints the text of a lecture Coetzee delivered in November, 1988. Printed as Occasional Paper 17. No edition stated; the issue in light green wrappers. Small sticker shadow front cover; with larger attempted erasure; near fine.
35. COETZEE, J.M. His Man and He. (London): Rees & O'Neill, 2004. The limited edition of Coetzee's 2003 Nobel Lecture. Of a total edition of 87 copies, this is one of 75 numbered copies signed by Coetzee. Fine, without dust jacket, as issued.
36. -. Same title, the American trade edition. The Nobel Lecture: He and His Man. NY: Penguin Books (2004). Signed by the author. Includes the Acceptance Speech, not in the British edition. Fine without dust jacket, as issued.
37. CREWS, Harry. A Feast of Snakes. NY: Atheneum, 1976. Crews switched publishers for this book, and it is less common than some of his other titles from approximately the same period. Edge-sunning to boards; near fine in a near fine dust jacket with a bit of offsetting on the flaps from the orange endpages.
38. CROWLEY, John. The Girlhood of Shakespeare's Heroines. (Burton): Subterranean Press, 2005. A limited edition, with 526 copies published, this copy being unnumbered but signed by the author. Crowley is the author of the World Fantasy Award-winning Little Big, as well as Aegypt, which was a finalist for the World Fantasy Award. At least three of his books were included in Harold Bloom's list of the books defining the "Western canon." Fine without dust jacket, as issued. An uncommon title. From the author's own copies.
39. CROWLEY, John. In Other Words. (Burton): Subterranean Press, 2006. A collection of critical essays, issued in a limited edition of 626 copies, the first collection of nonfiction by this highly praised author, who has won virtually every award associated with the fantasy field, and has also been highly praised for his science fiction. Harold Bloom included three of his books in the list of those that comprise "the Western canon," and genre titles were not a priority for him: he viewed Crowley's work as transcending the genre, as have many critics since his award-winning novel Little Big. This copy is out of series, but is signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
40. CROWLEY, John. Lord Byron's Novel. (NY): Morrow (2005). Second printing of the author's most recent, highly acclaimed novel. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.