Catalog 150, T-Z
148. TOOLE, John Kennedy. A Confederacy of Dunces. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University 1980. Posthumously published novel that was the first work of fiction published by LSU, and which had a very small first printing (reportedly 2500 copies). Initially the book was rejected by dozens of publishers and the author committed suicide in 1969. Years later the author's mother brought the manuscript to Walker Percy, insisting that he read it. Percy championed the book, arranged for its publication, and contributed an introduction. Excellent reviews and word of mouth led to its becoming a best-seller, and eventually it won the Pulitzer Prize. This copy is signed by Walker Percy. A fine and unusually tight copy (the boards tend to splay on most copies) in a fine and bright dust jacket. An especially nice copy of a book that has become exceptionally uncommon. Burgess 99.
149. TYLER, Anne. If Morning Ever Comes. NY: Knopf, 1964. The first novel by the author of The Accidental Tourist and the Pulitzer Prize-winning Breathing Lessons. Written when she was just 22 years old, and published with a small first printing of only 4000 copies. Fine in a fine dust jacket and custom clamshell box.
150. TYLER, Anne. The Tin Can Tree. NY: Knopf, 1965. Her second book. Two tiny stains on the front flyleaf; still easily fine in a fine dust jacket. A beautiful copy, with the spine snowy white and exceedingly scarce thus: we have never seen a nicer copy.
151. TYLER, Anne. The Clock Winder. NY: Knopf, 1972. Her fourth book, which many consider her scarcest. Signed by the author. Stain on the front board, else near fine in a very near fine dust jacket with the slightest smudging on the rear panel.
152. WELSH, Irvine. Trainspotting. London: Secker & Warburg (1993). His first novel, highly acclaimed upon publication and later the basis for the phenomenally successful movie that became a cultural milestone of the 1990s. This is the hardcover issue, reportedly one of only 600 copies, most of which presumably went to libraries; the bulk of the edition was issued in softcover. Signed by the author. Remainder speckling (?) to top edge; else fine in a fine dust jacket. $3500
153. -. Same title, the softcover issue. Fine in self-wrappers. Uncommon in the first printing, especially in this condition.
154. WEST, Nathanael. The Day of the Locust. NY: Random House (1939). The author's classic novel of Hollywood, a scathing satire based on his own experiences as a screenwriter and for which he has received something approaching literary immortality. His last novel published in his lifetime: West was killed with his wife in a car accident in 1940, apparently after becoming distraught upon hearing of F. Scott Fitzgerald's death, and failing to notice a stop sign. The Day of the Locust remains the crowning achievement of his career, and a novel with influence far beyond the author's overall modest output during his short career; his first book had been published only eight years earlier. A bit of foxing to the foredges of the pages, otherwise a fine copy in a very near fine dust jacket, with none of the fading so typical of this title. The best copy we can recall seeing offered for sale in well over a decade. A beautiful copy.