Catalog 145, R-S
177. RANKIN, Ian. Knots & Crosses. (London): (Orion) (2007). The 20th anniversary edition of his second book, which was the first to feature Detective Sergeant John Rebus, one of the most complex, engaging and -- these days -- popular characters in detective fiction. One of 1500 numbered copies signed by the author. Fine in a fine slipcase.
178. REZNIKOFF, Charles. Going To and Fro and Walking Up and Down. NY: (Self-published) (1941). A collection of poetry by the author for whom the term Objectivist was coined (by Louis Zukofsky). A self-published volume; Reznikoff had been publishing his own work since he was in his teens, and he also co-founded the Objectivist Press. Inscribed by the Reznikoff in 1975, the year before Black Sparrow Press published his collected poems in two volumes. Minor spotting to cloth; near fine in a dusty, else fine dust jacket.
179. 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; it was also 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 boards; otherwise a fine copy in a fine dust jacket with review slip and author photo laid in. The review slip gives the publication date as January 14, 1980; the book was published on December 1. Uncommon these days in the first printing, let alone as an advance copy.
180. ROTH, Philip. When She Was Good. (n.p.): (n.p.), 1967. Taiwan piracy of Roth's second novel. Boards slightly splayed; near fine in a near fine dust jacket with trace wear at the spine ends and an edge tear at the upper front joint.
181. ROTH, Philip. Sample pages for The Professor of Desire. (n.p.): (FSG) (1977). Printer's sample pages. One sheet, folded in half, printing the text of pp. 101-103, plus one page of specifications for the trim size, page size, margins, text type, etc. Four sections of text have been cut and pasted over corresponding sections of text and, though retained, have fallen off, leaving glue residue. Their function is confusing, as the text of the "revisions" exactly corresponds to the printed sections. Else fine.
182. ROTH, Philip. Proof dust jacket for Zuckerman Unbound. [NY: FSG, 1981]. Proof dust jacket for this novel featuring Nathan Zuckerman, one of Roth's fictional alter egos. Front cover and spine printed; rear cover and flaps blank. 19 3/8" x 8 1/4"; folded at the rear spine folded; else fine.
183. ROTH, Philip. Zuckerman Bound. NY: FSG (1985). The uncorrected proof copy of the Zuckerman trilogy: The Ghost Writer, Zuckerman Unbound and The Anatomy Lesson. With a previously unpublished epilogue. "Press Copy" written on cover and title page. Foxing to top edge and a few spots to the rear cover; near fine in wrappers.
184. ROTH, Philip. Everyman. Boston/NY: Houghton Mifflin, 2006. The advance reading copy. Fine in wrappers. Surprisingly uncommon for a recent ARC.
185. RUSHDIE, Salman. The Satanic Verses. London: (n.p.), c. 1988. An advance issue, consisting of the photocopied typescript and reproducing authorial corrections throughout. One of approximately 20 copies bound for the staff of Viking well in advance of publication and preceding the printed proof copies by some months. The typescript is dated February 1988, and this copy was reportedly circulating within the publishing house in the spring. The proofs were not printed until the summer, and the book was published in September, 1988. Inscribed by the author to a member of the sales staff. An ambitious novel and an imaginative tour de force, the book seems destined to become part of literary history by virtue of its notoriety -- it prompted a death sentence on Rushdie by Islamic fundamentalists in 1989, causing him to go into hiding for years -- rather than its considerable literary accomplishment. Winner of the Whitbread Prize and shortlisted for the Booker Prize. Approximately 9" x 12"; fine. The earliest state of this landmark book, other than the author's own manuscript, and a revealing look at the work while the final changes and revisions were being made. Extremely scarce.
186. RUSHDIE, Salman. Fury. (Toronto): Knopf Canada (2001). The advance reading copy of the Canadian edition. Signed by the author. Fine in wrappers.
187. -. Same title, an advance copy in the form of 8 1/2" x 11" bound photocopied typescript. Signed by the author. New York literary agency information on title page, spiralbound in Knopf Canada wrappers. Fine.
188. SARTON, May. A Reckoning. NY: Norton (1978). Inscribed by the author in the year of publication. Foxing to page edges; near fine in a very good dust jacket with some surface soiling to the unlaminated jacket.
189. SAUNDERS, George. A Bee Stung Me, So I Killed All the Fish (Notes from the Homeland, 2003-2006). (NY): (Riverhead Books) (2006). A limited edition of pieces previously published in magazines. One of 500 numbered copies signed by the author. Stapled wrappers; fine. Together with five other items included in this "Dispatch to the Saunders Army," as follows: temporary tattoos; an iron-on patch; a double-sided poster; an invitation to the George Saunders Photo Challenge; and an In Persuasion Nation Official Recruitment Tool (unopened). All items fine. An unusual collection of items by and pertaining to the author of Civilwarland in Bad Decline and The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil, among others. Saunders has developed a passionate following by writing some of the quirkiest and most heartrending satire of recent years; his work has been compared to that of Kurt Vonnegut.
190. SETTLE, Mary Lee. The Love Eaters. London: Heinemann (1954). The true first edition of her first novel. Settle is the author of the highly-acclaimed Beulah quintet, which is considered one of the finest sets of American historical novels ever written, and she also won the National Book Award for her novel Blood Ties. After winning the award, she founded the PEN/Faulkner Award, which is judged by other writers rather than publishing insiders. This copy is inscribed by the author: "For Bob's book on April 10 1965 instead of 1955 but never mind - Here we are - Love from Mary Lee." A fine copy in a very good dust jacket with modest edge wear. An extremely scarce first novel by an important Southern author; we have only seen this edition a handful of times, and never with an inscription from the author.
191. SMITH, Zadie. On Beauty, Part One. (n.p.): Hamish Hamilton (2005). An advance copy, consisting of part one of the three part novel. 109 pages. 8 1/4" x 11 3/4". Near fine in wrappers. An unusual format for an advance issue, and quite uncommon: few of these seem to have circulated. A highly praised book, shortlisted for the Booker Prize and chosen by The New York Times as one of the 10 best books of the year.
192. STEADMAN, Ralph and PALMER, Tony. Born Under a Bad Sign. (Lexington/Tucson): (Isolde Films/Steam Press) (2004). First thus, a reissue jointly produced by Sylph Publications and Petro III Graphics. Originally published in 1970, this book by the noted British film director, who worked with the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and others, is a reflection on the youth culture of the late 1960s. Of a total edition of 150 copies, this is one of 100 numbered copies signed by Palmer and Steadman. Reproduces the original, brief foreword by John Lennon. Fine without dust jacket, as issued.
193. -. Same title. One of 26 lettered copies signed by Steadman and Palmer. Includes "Pop Pedestal," an original collage and silkscreen print signed by Steadman. Fine, without dust jacket, in clamshell box.
194. STONE, Robert. A Hall of Mirrors. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1967. His first book, a novel of drifters in New Orleans in the early Sixties caught up in the web of a quasi-religious political machine. Winner of the William Faulkner Award for best first novel of the year as well as a Houghton Mifflin Literary Fellowship Award. Signed by the author. Cocked, and board edges rubbed, with previous owner signature; a very good copy in a near fine BOMC dust jacket.
195. -. Same title, the BOMC edition. Warmly inscribed by the author: "For ___/ with love and thanks until we meet again/ Bob." Laid in is the half-title page from a paperback edition, which is also inscribed: "For ___/ with love/ Bob S." Small dent upper board edge; else fine in a near fine, mildly rubbed dust jacket.
196. STONE, Robert. Dog Soldiers. Boston: Houghton Mifflin (1974). His second novel, winner of the National Book Award and one of the best novels to link the impact of the Vietnam war on American society in the Sixties to the dark side of that era -- the official corruption and the underside of the drug experiences of a generation. Signed by the author. Small bump to lower board edge; else fine in a fine, price-clipped dust jacket with mild offsetting to the flaps from the endpapers.
197. -. Another copy. Warmly inscribed by the author: "For ___/ on the road -- / with love/ Bob Stone." Recipient's name on front pastedown; a near fine copy in a near fine dust jacket with mild offsetting to the flaps from the endpapers.
198. STONE, Robert. Typed Letters Signed. 1979, 1986. Two typed letters signed from Stone, the first from Honolulu, the second from Providence, RI. The first grants permission for the recipient to use his name and discusses his time in Hawaii and his delay in responding ["I've been under the weight of burdens real and imaginary here that have played hell with my time."]. The second apparently accompanied a recommendation for the recipient ["If you think of anything they might want beyond this, I think you might add whatever you feel is necessary and sign my name."]. The recipient was a writer who studied with Stone in the Seventies and later became a friend. Both letters are folded for mailing; else fine, with envelopes. Also included is an autograph letter signed by Stone's wife, Janice in which she offers the recipient use of their summer home in the off-season. For all:
199. STONE, Robert. A Flag for Sunrise. NY: Knopf, 1981. His third novel, which many consider his best book, a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award and winner of the L.A. Times Award for best novel of the year. A dark tale of a small Central American country in upheaval, and the lives of a group of Americans whose different backgrounds and connections to the action intersect alarmingly and tragically. Signed by the author. Foxing to page edges; else fine in a fine dust jacket.
200. -. Another copy, this being a review copy. Inscribed by the author: "For ____/ with love until we meet again/ Bob S." Cocked, with spotting to top edge; very good in a near fine dust jacket with light wear at the spine ends. Review slip laid in. Not an uncommon book, but uncommon as an advance copy and with a warm, personal inscription.
201. STONE, Robert. Children of Light. London: Deutsch (1986). The true first edition of his fourth novel, preceding the American edition by one week, and printed in an edition of only 4500 copies, vs. 40,000 (announced) for the American edition. A dark Hollywood novel, with themes from Kate Chopin's The Awakening and King Lear and one of the best, and most hard-hitting, Hollywood novels since Nathanael West's The Day of the Locust. Signed by the author. Mild foxing to top edge; else fine in a fine dust jacket.
202. -. Same title, the first American edition. NY: Knopf, 1986. Inscribed by the author: "For ____/ with love until we meet again/ Bob Stone." Mild sunning and spotting to boards; near fine in a very good, spine-faded dust jacket with a couple small edge chips and tears.
203. STONE, Robert. Outerbridge Reach. NY: Ticknor & Fields, 1992. The first trade edition of Stone's first bestseller. Chosen by the New York Times as one of the dozen best books of the year, covering all categories, and nominated for both the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award. Inscribed by the author: "For ____/ with love until we meet again/ Bob." Indentation to spine; near fine in a fine dust jacket. Publisher's promotional sheet laid in.
204. STONE, Robert. Damascus Gate. Boston/NY: Houghton Mifflin, 1998. A densely plotted political and metaphysical thriller set in contemporary Jerusalem. Stone tackles the religious hatreds, political intrigues and spiritual aspirations and malaise that intersect in one of the most historically significant, and volatile, places on earth. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
205. STONE, Robert. Bear and His Daughter. Boston/NY: Houghton Mifflin, 1997. A review copy of his first collection of stories, spanning the years 1969 to 1997. Fine in a fine dust jacket with author photo and promotional page laid in.
206. STONE, Robert. Bay of Souls. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2003. The advance reading copy. Inscribed by the author: "For ____/ really fun times in Washington and [??] all the [??]/ warmly, until we meet again/ Robert Stone. Front cover splayed; else fine in wrappers.
207. SUZUKI, D.T. Mysticism: Christian and Buddhist. NY: Harper & Brothers (1957). An important book comparing Western and Eastern traditions of mysticism, by the Zen scholar whose works introduced Zen Buddhism and the principles of the Mahayana sect to the west. Inscribed by the author to noted photographer Dorothy Norman in the year of publication, and signed in Japanese. Paperclip rust to front endpages where Suzuki quote has been clipped; else fine in a very good dust jacket with rubbing to the front flap fold and crown and a thin line of staining to the rear panel.