Catalog 144, O-R
198. OATES, Joyce Carol. Queen of the Night. Northridge: Lord John, 1979. A single story, published as a limited edition. Of a total edition of 350 copies, this is one of 300 numbered copies signed by the author. Fine, without dustwrapper.
199. OATES, Joyce Carol. Funland. Concord: Ewert, 1983. A single short story, with a short introduction by the author. This is Copy "A" of 40 deluxe copies bound in quarter cloth and paste paper over boards -- the only hardcover issue of this title, of a total edition of 150 copies. Signed by Oates and by the illustrator, Gillian Tyler. Fine without dust jacket, as issued.
200. O'CONNOR, Flannery. Typed Note Signed and Wise Blood. NY: Harcourt Brace (1952). Her first book, a novel of a southern evangelist whose quest for God ends with his burning his own eyes out in order to see better. The first printing was 3000 copies. O'Connor's concern with religion, alienation and human suffering, combined with her sense of humor and the absurd, marked her as a distinctive voice from her first publications. This copy was donated by O'Connor to the patients of the National Jewish Hospital in Denver and bears a label and stamp to that effect, along with a circulation card envelope. A very good copy only, with no dust jacket but for the flaps which have been taped to the rear endpages. Laid in is a typed note signed by O'Connor, dated June 28, 1952, in which she informs the director of the hospital that she has instructed her publisher to send this copy. The letter is folded in sixths with wrinkles at the edges; it was also once taped to the front flyleaf. Very good, with the signature unaffected by the flaws. Autograph material by O'Connor is scarce, and this is a historically interesting note and copy of the book.
201. O'HARA, Frank. Meditations in an Emergency. NY: Grove (1957). The first major collection of poems by the legendary writer who, together with John Ashbery and Kenneth Koch, was instrumental in defining the "New York school" of poetry in the Fifties, an enormously fertile era in the arts. The New York poets, who became heroes to a later generation in the Sixties and Seventies, created and legitimized a kind of writing free from the cramping constraints of literary strictures, a freedom seized upon by the beat generation and its successors. This is one of 75 copies of the limited edition of O'Hara's book, this copy having been inscribed by O'Hara: "For Chuck, darkly, pastorally, Frank." Spine sunned; a near fine copy in an edge-sunned publisher's plain cardboard slipcase which has been professionally repaired.
202. OLDENBURG, Claes. Injun & Other Histories (1960). NY: Great Bear, 1966. Four short prose pieces by Oldenburg with two illustrations by him. Signed by the author on the front cover, with the signature incorporated into a sketch of a moving figure. Near fine in stapled wrappers.
203. OLSON, Charles. Call Me Ishmael. NY: Grove Press (1947)[1958]. The limited edition of his long essay on the meaning of Melville's Moby Dick, which was first published in 1947 and then reissued by Grove Press in the late 1950s, after Olson's tenure at Black Mountain. Olson was one of the leading figures in the literary avant garde that arose out of Black Mountain College -- one of the most influential cultural centers of postwar America -- where he was an instructor and rector from 1951 until 1956, when it closed. One of 100 numbered copies, this being copy #8 and sporting an inauthentic Olson signature (inked through) on the title page. Ownership signature of another author on front flyleaf. Erasure to colophon; edge-sunning to boards; near fine, without dust jacket.
204. OPPENHEIMER, Joel. The Progression Begins. NY: #Magazine, 1981. Oppenhemier's poetry comprises the entire unnumbered special issue of #Magazine. This copy is inscribed by Oppenheimer to Edward Hoagland: "For Ted/ also progressing/ Joel." A nice association copy: Oppenheminer and Hoagland were friends in the 1960s when they both lived in NY and wrote for The Village Voice, among their other pursuits. Mild edge sunning; else fine in stapled wrappers.
205. ORWELL, George. Typed Postcard Signed. July 27, 1943. Written to James Stephens, Esq., on British Broadcasting Corporation stationery. In the card, Orwell is trying to confirm that Stephens received a previous letter, "giving particulars of the talk on B.S." That letter and a previous follow-up postcard were apparently wrongly addressed. In 1943, Orwell was Talks Producer at the BBC, broadcasting to India. The "B.S." referred to is likely Bernard Shaw, who had been the subject of Orwell's January 22 broadcast. Seven typed lines, signed "Geo. Orwell." Dampstaining, mostly visible on address side and not affecting signature; else near fine. Included, for context, are advance copies of Orwell: The War Commentaries [NY: Pantheon, 1985] and The Lost Writings [n.p.: Arbor House, 1984], which collect Orwell's BBC broadcasts about the war and about literary matters, including the above-mentioned talk on Shaw. Any autograph material by Orwell is extremely scarce; this is a nice small piece with good literary references.
206. ORWELL, George. Selected Writings. London: Heinemann (1958). The uncorrected proof copy of this posthumous collection of thirteen essays, edited by George Bott. This is a working copy, with copyeditor's marks throughout. A fragile example, with several small stains to cover; still holding out at very good in wrappers. Scarce. Together with an ex-library copy of the first edition for reading or reference: a very good copy with splayed boards. Also scarce. Extremely uncommon to see a working copy of an Orwell proof.
207. PARKER, Robert B. A Savage Place. (NY): Delacorte (1981). An early Spenser novel -- the first book was in 1974, and this one is still in the smaller format they were issued in until Parker became a bestseller; 15,000 copies were printed. Inscribed by the author. Page edge foxing and slight spine lean; near fine in a fine dust jacket.
208. PARKER, Robert B. Love and Glory. (NY): Delacorte (1983). A non-Spenser novel and a non-mystery, one of the few he has written, or at least published. This title also had a 15,000 copy first printing. Near fine in a very good, modestly edgeworn dust jacket.
209. PARKER, Robert B. Valediction. (NY): Delacorte (1984). A Spenser novel. Foxing to top edge; else fine in a near fine dust jacket with trace wear to the spine extremities.
210. -. Another copy. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with minor edge wear.
211. PARKER, Robert B. The Private Eye in Hammett and Chandler. Northridge: Lord John Press, 1984. A re-working of his 1971 doctoral dissertation, with a new, brief introduction. Of a total edition of 350 copies, this is one of 50 deluxe copies quarterbound in leather and marbled paper boards and signed by the author. Fine without dust jacket, as issued.
212. PARKER, Robert B. A Catskill Eagle. (NY): Delacorte (1985). Another Spenser novel, this one published on the cusp of his breakthrough to becoming an automatic bestseller upon publication; the 60,000 copy first printing was his largest yet and by 1987 Pale Kings and Princes had a 125,000-copy first printing. Faint foxing to page edges; else fine in a fine dust jacket.
213. PARKER, Robert B. and MARSH, John R. Training with Weights. NY: Sports Illustrated (1990). The first printing of the revised edition; the original was published in 1974, the same year as his first novel, The Godwulf Manuscript, but preceding it. Inscribed by Parker. Only issued in wrappers. Fine.
214. PARKER, Robert B. Paper Doll. NY: Putnam (1993). The uncorrected proof copy of this Spenser novel. Inscribed by the author in December 1992, six months prior to publication. Fine in wrappers.
215. (PARKER, Robert B.). CHANDLER, Raymond. Backfire. Santa Barbara: Santa Teresa Press, 1984. Parker provides the preface for this posthumously published story for the screen by Chandler. Of a total edition of 326 copies, this is Copy #3 of 126 hardbound copies. Signed by Parker. Fine without dust jacket, as issued.
216. PEACOCK, Doug. Walking it Off. (Salt Lake City): Dream Garden Press (2005). The limited, "Hayduke," edition of this memoir by the author of Grizzly Years, who was the basis for the Hayduke character in Edward Abbey's The Monkey Wrench Gang. Much of this book is concerned with the author's recollections of Abbey, particularly around the time of his death. Of a total edition of 500 copies, this is one of 26 numbered copies bound in quarter leather and signed by Peacock with a "Hayduke" print by R. Crumb laid in that is signed by both Peacock and Crumb. Fine without dust jacket, and without the slipcase mentioned on the colophon; as far as we know, no slipcases ended up being created for this edition, but the colophon was not changed to indicate that.
217. PELECANOS, George. Down by the River Where the Dead Men Go. NY: St. Martin's (1995). His fourth novel and his third to feature Nick Stefanos. The first printing was reported as 4000 copies. Pelecanos has become one of the most highly praised, and bestselling, of the new hard-boiled writers: Esquire magazine called him "the poet laureate of the D.C. crime world," and he has won the International Crime Novel of the Year Award three times. In addition to his novels, he has written for the highly praised HBO television series, The Wire. Fine in a very close to fine dust jacket.
218. PERCY, Walker. The Thanatos Syndrome. NY: FSG (1987). The first trade edition of the last novel by the author of The Moviegoer, Love in the Ruins, and others. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
219. PIERRE, DBC. Vernon God Little. (London): Faber and Faber (2003). His Guardian Prize- and Booker Prize-winning first novel. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket. A beautiful copy.
220. PINTER, Harold. The Caretaker. London: Encore (1960). The second play by the Nobel Prize winner and, according to many critics, his most important play. This is the true first edition, preceding the Methuen edition issued later the same year. Light foxing to the rear cover; else fine in stapled wrappers. A nice copy of a fragile item and a landmark in the history of 20th century theater.
221. POUND, Ezra. Canzoni. London: Elkin Mathews, 1911. The first issue, in gray cloth. Gallup A7. Boards slightly bowed; tiny chip to crown and mild spine-tanning; still near fine, without dust jacket, as issued. A nice copy.
222. POWELL, Padget. Edisto Revisited. NY: Henry Holt (1996). A sequel to the author's highly praised first novel, Edisto, which was compared to a latter-day, Southern Catcher in the Rye. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
223. PRICE, Reynolds. A Whole New Life. NY: Atheneum, 1994. A memoir of Price's bout with cancer, which left him partially paralyzed but from which he emerged to have the most productive period of his life. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
224. PRITCHETT, V.S. The Turn of the Years. NY: Random House (1982). A limited edition printing Pritchett's "As Old as the Century" with wood engravings by Reynolds Stone and an introduction by Paul Theroux. One of 500 numbered copies signed by Pritchett. Fine in a fine slipcase with a small sticker removal shadow.
225. PROULX, Annie. What'll You Take For It? Charlotte: Garden Way (1981). A how-to book on barter: the second book by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author, after a book on making apple cider, and several years before her first published book of fiction. Only issued in wrappers. Very good.
226. (PYNCHON, Thomas). Handbill. NY: Pastormerlo (n.d.) [ca. 1970]. Promotional handbill advertising "for the first time since the inception of civilization, Thomas Ruggles Pynchon t-shirts" with the "obscure and perhaps comical visage of young Pynchon" emblazoned in "long-lasting organic blue" on a white Fruit of the Loom t-shirt, for $3.95, including "postage and fondl (crossed out) handling." Ordering coupon and telephone number (after 10 p.m.) included. "Dealers' offers welcome." "English majors and professeurs have been waiting for this." "These shirts exist no where else in the entire universe!" And the handbill is scarce, too. 8 1/2" x 11"; hand-lettered and then mechanically reproduced. Very slight age-toning; else fine. Scarce Pynchon ephemera.
227. RANKIN, Ian. Hide & Seek. London: Barrie & Jenkins (1991). His fifth book, and the second featuring Detective Inspector John Rebus. Fine in a fine dust jacket. A scarce book, especially in fine condition. Rankin has since become both a bestselling and award-winning author, whose gritty mysteries set in the criminal underbelly of Edinburgh, Scotland, transcend the genre: his unflinching descriptions of the city and its low-life residents amount to an implicit, and sometimes explicit, social commentary, drawing a portrait of the city and its time the way Raymond Chandler did with 1930s Los Angeles.
228. RAWLINGS, Marjorie Kinnan. Cross Creek. NY: Scribner (1942). A narrative by the Pulitzer Prize-winner author of The Yearling, about the land and people of Cross Creek, Florida, one of whom, a formerly close friend, won a lawsuit against Rawlings for invasion of privacy, according to a short newspaper article laid into the book. Near fine in a very good, mildly spine-tanned dust jacket with light wear at the edges and rubbing at the folds.
229. -. Same title. London: Heinemann (1942). The first British edition. Foxing to top edge; else fine in a good dust jacket with staining to the spine and chipping to the crown. A very presentable copy of an uncommon book produced to wartime standards.
230. ROBINSON, Marilynne. Housekeeping. NY: FSG (1980). A review copy of her first book and her only novel until the 2005 Pulitzer Prize-winning Gilead. Housekeeping won the Ernest Hemingway Foundation Award, a Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Award, and was the basis for a well-received movie; also recently named one of the best works of American fiction of the last quarter century in a survey by The New York Times Book Review. Mild edge sunning to both boards and jacket; otherwise a fine copy with review slip and author photo laid in. Uncommon these days in the first printing, let alone as an advance copy.
231. ROTH, Philip. When She Was Good. NY: Random House (1967). His third book, second novel. Dampstaining; a very good copy in a very good dust jacket with dampstaining primarily visible on verso.
232. ROTH, Philip. Portnoy's Complaint. NY: Random House (1969). His landmark fourth book, a comic novel and one of the defining volumes of its time. Foxing to top edge, owner name to flyleaf; near fine in a near fine, spine-faded and price-clipped dust jacket.
233. ROTH, Philip. Our Gang. NY: Random House (1971). Roth's send-up of Nixon and the Nixon administration. Mottled spine cloth; near fine in a near fine dust jacket.
234. (ROTH, Philip). WOLFF, Geoffrey. Typed Letter Signed. August 2, 1972. One and a half pages, nearly 600 words, of critical praise for Roth's novel The Breast, written to an editor at Holt, Rinehart, Winston. Wolff describes in detail how he tried to resist the story and, in greater detail, the words and sentences that won him over. "It is an odd failing in a reader, odder in a fiction writer, to resist a story of metamorphosis, to resist that word's linguistic kinsman, metaphor. But the drag of what we are pleased to call reality is substantial, and the nature of its attractive power is not the least interesting question raised by this work of fiction...Roth has done...what the Dali painting could never do, suggest how it would feel to become your dream rather than merely see it...Thank you for trusting me with the manuscript." Folded in fourths for mailing, small corner staple holes; else fine.