Catalog 146, G-J
88. GINSBERG, Allen. Prose Contribution to Cuban Revolution. Detroit: Artists' Workshop Press, 1966. The first separate edition of this 1961 essay, published by the press of noted radical John Sinclair. One of 1000 copies printed. Fine in stapled wrappers.
89. -. Another copy. Signed by Ginsberg, who has added "& reprinted by John Sinclair" under the publication information. Age toning to pages and covers; near fine in stapled wrappers.
90. GINSBERG, Allen. T.V. Baby Poems. (London): Cape Goliard (1967). One of 1500 copies of the softcover edition of this collection of poems, this copy inscribed by Ginsberg to the artist Raphael Soyer with a drawing of a Star of David, and with four corrections to the text in Ginsberg's hand: "For Rapher Sawyer [sic]] NY 1969 AD [?] Nov 25, 1967/ [Star of David with the inscription inside] This is Magen David? [drawing of an eye]/ from his admirer, Allen Ginsberg." Soyer was an acclaimed Russian-born artist known for his representational art -- sometimes ascribed to the "socialist realist" school of art. As a populist he had friends and admirers among the Beats and the counterculture, including Diane di Prima, Gregory Corso and Ginsberg. A nice association, even with the misspelling.
91. GINSBERG, Allen and FERLINGHETTI, Lawrence. Open Head/Open Eye. Melbourne: Sun Books (1972). An uncommon edition of work by the two poets, bound back-to-back. No comparable U.S. edition. A notable production, in that Ferlinghetti published Ginsberg's Howl in 1956, a time when no one else would likely have done so, and by doing so created the literary movement known as the "Beat Generation.". By 1972, both Ginsberg and Ferlinghetti were giants of the (former) Beat movement and the counterculture, and this is their only joint publication. Age-toning to pages; near fine in stapled wrappers.
92. GINSBERG, Allen. Maturity. (Denver): Wynkoop Brewing Company (n.d.). A commemorative edition of Railyard Ale, featuring on the rear label Ginsberg's haiku "Maturity," published in White Shroud Poems and here having its first separate appearance. The front label bears an account of the mentions of beer in Ginsberg's Howl. The text is very near fine; the bottle has been hand-emptied and re-capped.
93. (GINSBERG, Allen). Spiritual Quests. The Art and Craft of Religious Writing. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1988. The uncorrected proof copy of this collection of six talks given at The New York Public Library by Allen Ginsberg, Mary Gordon, Hugh Nissenson, Frederick Buechner, David Bradley and Jaroslav Pelikan. Edited by William Zinsser. An uncommon Ginsberg appearance. Fine in wrappers.
94. (GINSBERG, Allen). From his library. Three titles: Beneyto, Antonio. La Otra Realidad [n.p.: n.p. (1983)]. Bordier, Jean-Marc. Lama Sabachtani Tristan Poemes '66-'70 [Paris: Saint-Germain-Des-Pres (1980)]. And Qadri, Sohan, The Dot and the Dots [(Stockholm): Forlag/Edition Galerie International (n.d.)]. The first title is inscribed to Ginsberg by the subject of the book, Spanish painter and writer Antonio Beneyto. The latter two titles are each inscribed to Ginsberg by the authors -- French poet Jean-Marc Boudier and Indian poet and painter Sohan Qadri. The Beneyto and Qadri books are heavily illustrated with the artists works, many of the illustrations being in color. A nice group of association copies, giving a sense of the international flavor of the avant garde movements of recent decades. Each title is fine or near fine in wrappers.
95. GOLDMAN, William. Wigger. NY: HBJ (1974). The only children's book by the author of such novels as Marathon Man, which was made into a Hollywood thriller, and The Princess Bride, another novel that was turned into a successful Hollywood film. Inscribed by Goldman in 1988: "____ - There's no reason for you to be encumbered with this, my only children's book, except I kind of like it and hope you do too. God bless/ Bill." Fine in a very good dust jacket with several edge tears and a heavy vertical crease near the front spine fold. This is the publisher's reinforced library binding of burgundy cloth stamped in silver -- not, however, an ex-library copy: simply the issue created by the publisher for sale to libraries and as such uncommon without library markings. Illustrated by Errol Le Cain, a Kate Greenaway Award winner, and a fairly early book for him. `
96. GORDIMER, Nadine. The Black Interpreters. (Johannesburg): Ravan Press (1973). Subtitled "Notes on African Writing," with one section on fiction and one on poetry. This copy is signed by the Nobel Prize-winning author. Second issue, with passages by Mandlenkosi Langa censored on pages 54 and 60. The poet was supposedly issued with a banning order in October, 1973 and the passages quoting him had to be deleted or the issues pulped: later reports say it was actually Langa's brother Benjamin who had been banned. Handling apparent to rear cover; about near fine in wrappers. A fairly uncommon book in either issue, and quite scarce signed.
97. GRAFTON, Sue. Keziah Dane. NY: Macmillan, 1967. Her first novel, preceding the acclaimed Kinsey Millhone alphabet series by well over a decade. Inscribed by the author: "Dear Mr. Scott -- This is for you because you have treated my with gallantry, chiding me gently, believing me always a little better than I am. Sue 9-25-67." The recipient was apparently her editor at Macmillan. A wonderful association copy of the first book by the writer whose influence on contemporary mystery writing, especially by women, cannot be overstated. Small spot to foredge and slight foxing to top edge; else fine in a fine dust jacket.
98. GRASS, Günter. Cat and Mouse. NY: Harcourt Brace World (1963). The first American edition of his second novel published here, after the success of The Tin Drum. Inscribed by the author to the former President of Dartmouth College. Fine in a near fine, very slightly spine-faded dust jacket with a touch of wear at the crown. A very nice copy, and uncommon signed.
99. GRASS, Günter. Dog Years. NY: Harcourt Brace World (1965). The first American edition of his third book, the conclusion of the Danzig trilogy that started with The Tin Drum. Inscribed by the author, again to James Freedman, then-President of Dartmouth College. Mild mottling to cloth; near fine in a near fine, price-clipped dust jacket with faint, blended dampstaining on the spine. Overall a very attractive copy, and scarce signed.
100. GRISHAM, John. The Firm. NY: Doubleday (1991). His second novel, and first book to be published by a major trade publisher; also the basis for a successful movie. The Firm became a huge bestseller but at the time it was published Grisham was a virtual unknown; thus copies of the first printing are considerably scarcer than the first printings of Grisham's later novels, which all had 6- or 7-figure first printings. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
101. GUARE, John. Three Exposures. San Diego/NY: HBJ (1982). A collection of three plays: The House of Blue Leaves, Landscape of the Body, and Bosoms and Neglect. Inscribed by Guare to playwright Lanford Wilson: "For Langford [sic]/ What a surprise to see this - not even out yet - and happy to be part of your collection - Fond greetings/ John Guare." With Wilson's address stamp above inscription. An excellent association between two award-winning playwrights: Wilson won the Pulitzer Prize for Talley's Folly and Guare's Six Degrees of Separation was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, which he has also won two other times. Mild top edge foxing; else fine in a very near fine dust jacket with a slight degree of spine fading.
102. GUARE, John. Six Degrees of Separation. NY: Random House (1990). Perhaps his best-known play, winner of an Obie Award, the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play of the year, and a British Olivier Award for Best Play; Guare also wrote the screenplay for the 1993 film. Slightly dusty top edge; still fine in a near fine dust jacket with shallow ridging.
103. HANSEN, Brooks. The Monsters of St. Helena. NY: FSG (2003. A novel of Napoleon's last exile, by the author of the acclaimed novel The Chess Garden, among others. Inscribed by the author to film director Tony Harvey. Near fine in a very good, mildly foxed dust jacket with slight spine sunning and one short edge tear.
104. HANSEN, Ron. Atticus. (NY): HarperCollins (1996). The advance reading copy of the well-received novel by the author of Desperadoes and Mariette in Ecstasy, as well as the recently filmed The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. Finalist for the National Book Award. Signed by the author. Fine in wrappers.
105. HECHT, Ben and GOODMAN, Kenneth Sawyer. The Hero of Santa Maria. NY: Frank Shay (1920). A short play co-written by Hecht and Goodman, and his second book, following a 1918 collaboration with Maxwell Bodenheim. Hecht went on to become one of the most prolific and successful Hollywood screenwriters over a career lasting more than four decades. He was nominated for six Academy Awards and won twice. Fine in wrappers. A very nice copy of a small, fragile volume.
106. HIGGINS, Aidan. Killachter Meadow. NY: Grove (1960). The first American edition of this Irish writer's first book, an Evergreen softcover original. Signed by the author. Near fine in wrappers.
107. HILLENBRAND, Laura. Seabiscuit. NY: Random House (2001). The uncorrected proof copy of the award-winning bestseller, basis for the Academy Award nominated movie. This proof copy precedes the much more common advance reader's edition. Fine in wrappers.
108. HILLERMAN, Tony. The Fly on the Wall. NY: Harper & Row (1971). Hillerman's second book, a mystery set among political reporters in a fictional state capitol; Hillerman himself had been, according to the publisher, "a longtime political reporter." This is one of his only mysteries that is not a Navajo tale. Signed by the author. Slight spine lean; else fine in a near fine dust jacket with light rubbing to the spine ends but no fading. An attractive copy.
109. HOPKINS, John. In the Chinese Mountains. London: Peter Owen (1990). The first British edition of this novel set in Peru by the expatriate writer. Paul Bowles blurb. Fine in a near fine dust jacket.
110. HOPKINS, John. The Tangier Diaries, 1962-1979. San Francisco: Cadmus Editions (1998). The first American edition, the issue in wrappers. Inscribed by the author to Virginia Spencer Carr who, among other things, wrote a biography of Paul Bowles. Several sections pertaining to Bowles are marked in text, presumably by Carr for her biography. Otherwise fine in wrappers. Blurbs by Bowles and William Burroughs.
111. HOPKINS, John. Adieu, Alice. (Paris): Quai Voltaire (1999). A French edition of All I Wanted Was Company. Warmly inscribed by the author to Virginia Spencer Carr. Fine in wrappers, with fine wraparound band.
112. HOSSEINI, Khaled. The Kite Runner. NY: Riverhead, 2003. The advance reading copy (marked "uncorrected proof for limited distribution) of the author's first book, published to tremendous critical acclaim and an unlikely bestseller, being a family story set in Afghanistan, written by an Afghan expatriate. Reportedly it was the first novel published in English by an Afghan writer, and it was the third bestselling title of the year in the U.S. The film made from the book had its opening pushed back out of concern for the safety of the young actors in the movie who were still in Afghanistan. Trace wear to corners; else fine in wrappers. An uncommon prepublication issue of one of the most surprising literary successes of recent years.
113. HOUELLEBECQ, Michel. Whatever. (London): Serpent's Tail (1999). The first English language edition of the controversial author's first book, originally published in France in 1994. Only issued in wrappers. Fine.
114. -. Same title. The uncorrected proof copy. One tiny foredge spot, else fine in wrappers, with a contest sticker on front offering 20 readers of the proof a bottle of Plonk for the wittiest responses for what the dachshund said to the poodle.
115. HOUELLEBECQ, Michel. Atomised. London: Heinemann (2000). The first British edition of his second novel, winner of the 1998 Prix Novembre, one of France's premier literary awards, when it was first published. Fine in a fine dust jacket. This translation won the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award in 2002.
116. -. Same title, the first American edition, re-titled Elementary Particles, the literal translation of its original French title -- Les particules élémentaires. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
117. HOUELLEBECQ, Michel. Platform. London: Heinemann (2002). The first British edition of this novel that provoked an international outcry when it was published for, among other things, its criticism of Islam. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Charges against Houellebecq and the novel were brought to trial in France but he was acquitted of instigating racial hatred by a panel of judges.
118. -. Same title, the first American edition. NY: Knopf, 2003. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
119. HOUELLEBECQ, Michel. The Possibility of an Island. NY: Knopf, 2006. The first American edition of his most recent novel. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
120. INMAN, Will. 108 Tales of a Po' Buckra from the Lower Cape Fear. NY: Kauri, 1965. Poetry by the radical poet, self-published as Kauri book No. 2. Signed by the author, with an additional long, warm inscription dated 1966. Mimeographed folded sheets in oversize card stock wrappers. A low-tech, fragile production. Near fine.
121. (INMAN, Will). Umbra, No. 2. NY: Society of Umbra, 1963. Inman contributes "The South is a Dark Woman." Inscribed by Inman in 1964, with the page number added to his contribution in the contents. Sunned, with a short tear near the spine; very good in stapled wrappers.
122. IRVING, John. A Son of the Circus. NY: Random House (1994). The uncorrected proof copy of this novel, complete with the first page, which contains the publisher's text describing the book and, very briefly, the author. This page was excised from most copies, reportedly at the author's request. Copies with the page intact are extremely uncommon; we haven't seen one offered for sale since the book was new. Fine in wrappers.
123. IVINS, Molly. You Got to Dance with Them What Brung You. Politics in the Clinton Years. NY: Random House (1998). The uncorrected proof copy of this collection of essays by the late political columnist and commentator. Fine in wrappers.
124. -. Another copy. Near fine in wrappers with a crimp at the lower front corner.
125. JAMES, Henry. Theatricals. Second Series. London: Osgood McIlvaine, 1895. The first edition, U.K. issue, of this volume of two plays by the author of The American, The Europeans, and others, whose novels redefined the "cosmopolitan novel" for the modern era. Collects "The Album" and "The Reprobate," with a preface by the author. One of 550 copies printed and bound for distribution in Britain. The balance of the print run (460 copies) went to the U.S., and was issued under an American imprint. Foxing to endpapers and page edges; spine-faded cloth; very good, without dust jacket.
126. JOHNSON, Denis. Tree of Smoke. NY: FSG (2007). The advance reading copy of his most recent novel, which won the National Book Award. 614 pages, with a CD sampler of a reading from the tipped inside the rear cover. A very well-received novel and by far the longest one he has written; reviewers have drawn comparisons to the writings of Cormac McCarthy. An uncommon advance copy, and an unusual presentation with the CD accompanying the book. Fine in wrappers.
127. -. Another copy. Near fine in wrappers.
128. JOYCE, James. Pastimes of James Joyce. (NY): (Joyce Memorial Fund Committee), 1941. Of a total edition of 800 copies, this is one of 100 numbered hardbound copies signed by Maria Jolas and Padraic Colum, who provide commentary, and by Jo Davidson, who provides a frontispiece illustration. In addition to the two short essays by Jolas and Colum this volume reproduces three pages of Joyce manuscript in facsimile. Small, 1945 gift inscription on front free endpaper; tanning to page edges and endpages; near fine. A very nice copy of an uncommon and fragile book, seldom found in collectible condition.
129. JOYCE, James. Autograph Letter Signed. 1925. Written to Lloyd Morris on June 3, and accepting an invitation for the following evening. Joyce had just moved into a new flat at 2 Square Robiac, off 192 rue de Grenelle, which would prove to be the Paris address at which he lived the longest, staying there until 1931. Since he moved in in "early June," according to his biographer, this must have been one of his first days there. Lloyd Morris was an expatriate American essayist and author of critical works on Edward Arlington Robinson and Irish poetry, among other subjects, and later in life he wrote a series of volumes on American history and culture. His 1943 book, A Threshold in the Sun, recounts a visit to Carnac that Morris and his mother took together with Joyce and Nora Barnacle in 1924 -- that is, a year before this letter. Signed, "Sincerely yours, James Joyce." Notepaper folded in half to 5 1/2" x 7" and halved again; near fine. Matted and framed with hand-addressed mailing envelope to 11 1/2" x 18 1/4". Autograph material by Joyce is very scarce.