Catalog 151, M-N
143. MALAMUD, Bernard. Dubin's Lives. NY: FSG (1979). Third printing. Inscribed by Malamud to George Garrett and his wife, "with affection." Fine in a very near fine dust jacket with slight fading and a couple tiny spots to the spine.
144. MALAMUD, Bernard. The People. NY: FSG (1989). A posthumous collection, including an unfinished novel and previously uncollected stores. Inscribed by Ann Malamud to George Garrett "on a splendid occasion" and dated December 7, 1990. Fine in a mildly spine-sunned dust jacket.
145. MAMET, David. The Cabin. NY: Turtle Bay, 1992. The advance reading copy of this collection of essays, many of them autobiographical. Signed by the author with his added stamp. Fine in wrappers. Uncommon signed, especially the advance issue.
146. MATTHIESSEN, Peter. Killing Mister Watson. NY: Random House (1990). Third printing of this highly acclaimed novel, the first of a trilogy, set in south Florida at the turn of the last century, and based on a historical incident in which a group of individuals conspired to kill a prominent local resident and then cover up the responsibility for the deed. A revised, one-volume edition of the trilogy, released as Shadow Country, won the National Book Award. This copy is inscribed by Matthiessen to George Garrett and his wife: "Great to see you! With many thanks and warmest regards." Also with George Garrett's signature. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
147. MATTHIESSEN, Peter. Lost Man's River. NY: Random House (1997). The second novel in the trilogy that began with Killing Mr. Watson. Signed by the author on the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
148. McCARTHY, Cormac. Suttree. NY: Random House (1979). His fourth book, which many considered his best, at least until the Border Trilogy and then The Road (and some even still). This copy is inscribed by McCarthy: "For ___ ___, with best wishes/ Cormac McCarthy." Fading to the spine cloth from the sun bleeding through the dust jacket lettering; small spot to flyleaf; a near fine copy in a near fine dust jacket with fading to the colors of the title and author lettering. Books signed by McCarthy are scarce: the author has nurtured his privacy since achieving commercial success and celebrity and his earlier books, like this one, were mostly signed for friends or for people with whom he had a specific relationship. Very few such copies turn up on the market; none have been sold at auction.
149. McCARTHY, Cormac. All the Pretty Horses. NY: Knopf, 1992. The uncorrected proof copy of the first volume of the Border Trilogy, a landmark novel that won both the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award and propelled its author to literary celebrity after nearly three decades of writing well-received novels in relative obscurity. This is the second state proof, which is identical to the first state proof except that the printed subtitle "Volume One of A Border Trilogy" has been changed by hand to "Volume One of The Border Trilogy." A later state made this change in print. Fine in wrappers, with a publisher's complimentary card laid in.
150. McCARTHY, Cormac. The Stonemason. (Hopewell): Ecco Press (1994). An advance copy of McCarthy's first play, in the form of photocopied galley sheets reproducing the copyeditor's corrections and stamped, on most pages, "MASTER SET - 2nd PASS." With an Ecco Press cover sheet transmitting the set with the explanation that all the galleys of The Stonemason are gone. Ecco printed only 41 copies of the proof, a tiny number after the success of McCarthy's most recent novel, All the Pretty Horses. The letter is signed by Ecco's Director of Publicity and Marketing. Approximately 135 pages, fine, with a corner chip to the cover letter. Uncommon advance issue.
151. McCARTHY, Cormac. No Country for Old Men. NY: Knopf, 2005. The trade publisher's signed limited edition: one of an unspecified number of copies signed by the author on a tipped-in leaf. A novel of drugs and violence set in the contemporary Southwest, basis for the Academy Award winning film. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
152. McCARTHY, Cormac. The Road. NY: Knopf, 2006. The uncorrected proof copy of his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, now in the process of being filmed. Fine in wrappers. A very scarce proof: only a handful have turned up since the book's publication, which is in keeping with reports pertaining to earlier titles that McCarthy had wanted to limit the number of copies that were produced and sent out.
153. McEWAN, Ian. Or Shall We Die? London: Jonathan Cape (1983). An oratorio by McEwan, set to music by Michael Berkeley, and performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. With an introduction by McEwan that runs longer than the piece itself. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
154. McEWAN, Ian. The Ploughman's Lunch. London: Methuen (1985). A screenplay by McEwan. Signed by the author. Published as a paperback original. Short, horizontal creases to spine; near fine. An uncommon title, especially signed.
155. McGARRY, Jean. Home at Last. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press (1994). The hardcover issue of this collection of stories. Inscribed by McGarry to another writer and his wife: "A taste of the R.I. mainland. We're going to miss you." Fine in a fine dust jacket.
156. McINERNEY, Jay. Story of My Life. NY: Atlantic Monthly Press (1988). The third novel by the author of Bright Lights, Big City. Inscribed by McInerney to another writer and his wife: "With fond wishes and admiration from your sub tenant." Spotting to top edge and foredge, thus near fine in a fine dust jacket. A nice association copy.
157. McMURTRY, Larry. It's Always We Rambled. An Essay on Rodeo. NY: Frank Hallman, 1974. A limited edition of this essay, one of 300 numbered copies, signed by the author. This copy is additionally inscribed by McMurtry "with my good wishes" on the first blank. Fine without dust jacket, as issued.
158. McPHEE, John. The Second John McPhee Reader. NY: FSG (1996). Excerpts from McPhee's work from 1977 to 1994. Crimps to a couple lower page edges; else fine in a fine dust jacket.
159. MEANS, David. Assorted Fire Events. NY: Context Books, 2000. Second printing. Inscribed by Means to another writer. Means has also apparently made two corrections to one of his stories. Fine in a fine dust jacket with a corner crease on the front flap.
160. MEWSHAW, Michael. Year of the Gun. NY: Atheneum, 1984. A novel of an American journalist in Italy in the late 1970s. Inscribed by Mewshaw to George [Garrett] and his wife, Susan, "the novel made into the world's worst movie which nevertheless gave us Sharon Stone." Shallow dampstaining to lower rear board; near fine in a near fine dust jacket with dampstaining to lower rear panel and creasing to the rear flap.
161. (MILLER, Henry). Henry Miller. (Hamburg): Rowohlt (1961). Text in German. Inscribed by Henry to June in the year of publication: "Dear June -/ We made it/ at last! (From/ 1924-1961)/ Now I can take/ a walk on the/ wild side!/ Henry." Miller's inscription presumably refers to the fact that this was the first full-length biography of him, and it includes photographs of June -- thus the two can now (ironically) consider themselves to have "made it." Front cover and first two pages (including the inscription page) are detached. A fair copy only, and although apparently a first edition, the bibliographer states that the spine is white, lettered in black. This copy has a pink spine lettered in white.
162. MILLMAN, Lawrence. Our Like Will Not Be There Again. Boston: Little Brown (1977). The award-winning travel writer's first book, subtitled "Notes from the West of Ireland." Inscribed by Millman to George Garrett and his wife: "To my dear, dear friends George & Susan Garrett, whose support & civility are a considerable comfort to me, fondest regards, Larry Millman/ Oct. 26, 1978." Garrett provides a lengthy blurb for the dust jacket. Foxing to top edge, else fine in a near fine, mildly spotty dust jacket with one small edge snag. Laid in is an article about Millman.
163. MORRIS, Mary. House Arrest. NY: Talese (1996). A novel about a woman trapped in a political investigation on a Caribbean island. Morris has written a number of well-received nonfiction books about women traveling alone in foreign lands. Inscribed by the author to another writer in the year of publication, with the sentiment "Hope you are feeling better soon!" Fine in a fine dust jacket.
164. MORRISON, Toni. Tar Baby. NY: Knopf, 1981. The first trade edition of the fourth novel by the Pulitzer and Nobel Prize-winning author. Inscribed by Morrison to the novelist James Baldwin: "Love to you Jimmy/ Toni." Morrison and Baldwin first met in 1973, when she was an editor at Random House and was negotiating with him to sign a contract for a book. Although no contract came out of that negotiation, a friendship was born: Baldwin wrote to his friend and sometime assistant, David Leeming, that "I dig Toni, and I trust her." Over the years they had considerable contact: they both took part in a symposium on "the nature of a humane society," and she was invited to attend the private screening of the film about him, "I Heard it Through the Grapevine." In later years she visited him at his home in France, and when he died she gave a tribute at his funeral, in which she called him "a brother" and now "an ancestor." The front edge of the front flap has a small sticker shadow; else a fine copy in a very near fine dust jacket, with none of the typical spine fading, in custom chemise and slipcase. A spectacular association copy: inscribed by the first African-American Nobel Prize winner to the preeminent African American expatriate writer of the 20th century, whose writings -- and whose refusal to accept the racial discrimination of his home country -- helped shape the literature of successive generations of black writers, and to elevate African American literature into the mainstream of American literature. We've never seen a remotely comparable association copy of one of Morrison's books.
165. MUNRO, Alice. The View from Castle Rock. (Toronto): McClelland & Stewart (2006). A collection of stories by the Canadian writer. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket, with a sticker removal shadow on the front panel.
166. MURAKAMI, Haruki. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. NY: Knopf, 1997. The first American edition of the magnum opus by this highly praised Japanese novelist, whose influences include Kurt Vonnegut and Richard Brautigan. Originally published in Japan as three separate but related books. Fine in a fine dust jacket, with the Knopf's editor's card laid in.
167. MURRAY, Sabina. The Caprices. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2002. A paperback original, a collection of stories set in the Pacific Campaign of World War II, winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award. Inscribed by Murray to another writer. Page edges darkening; still fine in wrappers with a PEN/Faulkner Award sticker on the front cover.
168. NAIPAUL, V.S. The Mimic Men. NY: Macmillan (1967). The first American edition of this novel, which won the W.H. Smith literary award for an outstanding contribution to English literature. Inscribed by the author to the former President of Dartmouth College. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Books signed by Naipaul are relatively uncommon
169. (Native American). ALEXIE, Sherman. The Business Of Fancydancing. NY: Hanging Loose (1992). The scarce hardcover issue of the first book of stories and prose poems by this Native American writer of Spokane/Coeur d'Alene descent. Inscribed by the author: "For ____/ Wow!/ Sherman Alexie." This title was issued simultaneously in hardcover and softcover; the hardcover was reported to have been issued in an edition of 100 copies. The collection received high praise in a New York Times Book Review article presenting an overview of contemporary American Indian literature, presaging a literary career that has continued to more than live up to the advance billing: Alexie was chosen as one of The New Yorker's 20 best American novelists under 40 and has become, in effect, the first Native American writer to be a cultural superstar. He wrote the screenplay for the award-winning film Smoke Signals, based on stories in his collection The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. His 2002 film based on Fancydancing also won numerous awards, and Alexie has been in great demand as a speaker on college campuses and elsewhere. Fine, without dust jacket, as issued. Extremely scarce; it has been several years since we have seen a copy of the hardcover issue.
170. -. Same title, the issue in wrappers, one of 1000 copies. Signed by the author and dated 1995. Fine.
171. (Native American). ALEXIE, Sherman. How to Create an Agnostic. (n.p.): (University of Washington Libraries) (2008). A broadside poem printed as a keepsake for attendees of a Friends of the Libraries dinner at which Alexie spoke. One of approximately 200 copies. 3 1/4" x 9", with an overwrap on which is printed the author and the title, inserted into matching envelope. Fine in fine wrapper and envelope. Scarce ephemeral piece that was never offered for sale.
172. -. Another copy. Also fine in fine wrapper, but in a near fine envelope.
173. (Native American). (ALEXIE, Sherman). Black Bear Review, Issues 9 and 11. Croyden: Black Bear Publications, 1989-1990. Two issues of a small literary magazine published twice a year, with a nominal circulation of 500. Issue 9 includes Alexie's poem "Architecture," and is signed by Alexie, who has added, "My first accepted poem." Issue 11 features his poem "House Fires," and it is also signed by Alexie. Each issue is fine in wrappers. For both:
174. (Native American). The American Indian Magazine. Vol. IV, No. 1 through Vol. VII, No. 3. Washington, DC: The Society of American Indians (January-March 1916 through Fall Number 1919). Eleven consecutive issues of this Indian publication, the quarterly journal of The Society of American Indians. The SAI was the first modern lobby for American Indians. It was founded on Columbus Day 1911 by a group of educated, prominent, professional Indian men and women, including Charles Eastman (Ohiyesa), a medical doctor and author of Sioux heritage; Arthur Parker, a Seneca anthropologist; and Gertrude Bonnin (Zitkala-sa), a Sioux writer, among others. The magazine contains numerous contributions by these writers and other Indian and occasional non-Indian contributors, and was subtitled "A Journal of Race Ideals," which was later changed to "A Journal of Race Progress." An early effort by Native Americans to stand up for themselves within the context of American society and to advocate on their own behalf. The complete volumes IV, V, and VI, for the years 1916, 1917 and 1918, are bound in three separate volumes in brown buckram. The spines bear library notations and the front pastedowns library accession labels and markings. Various pages are blindstamped with the initials "E.R.O." The three issues for 1919 are in their original wrappers, with some chipping to the spines and a few library notations as well. An uncommon and important Native American journal.
175. (Native American). CARPENTER, Cecelia Svinth. Where the Waters Begin. The Traditional Nisqually Indian History of Mount Rainier. (Seattle): (Northwest Interpretive Association) (1994). An account written by the tribe's unofficial historian, which combines tribal history, legends, biographical sketches and other elements framing the tribe's relationships with the mountain and the local geography. Fine in wrappers.
176. (Native American). HEAT-MOON, William Least. "The San Pedro River, Arizona" in Three Essays. (n.p.): The Nature Conservancy, 1993. One of 500 copies of this collection of three essays: Heat-Moon's essay plus "The Adirondack Mountains, New York" by Bill McKibben and "The Colorado Plateau, Utah" by Terry Tempest Williams. Handsewn in saddle-stitched handmade papers. Minor coffee staining to a few page edges and the lower corner of the coffee-colored cover; thus very good. Still an attractive and uncommon limited edition of these essays by three of the most highly respected nature writers working today. Signed by all three writers. An uncommon and important volume.
177. (Native American). KENNY, Maurice. Dead Letters Sent. NY: Troubador (1958). The very scarce first book by this writer of Mohawk descent. Poetry, introduced by poet and bookseller Samuel Loveman. Kenny studied poetry at NYU with Louise Bogan, and moved to New York in the 1950s, where he lived for several years. In addition to being an award-winning poet, he has been a publisher (Strawberry Press) and editor of a number of small but important literary journals. A fine copy in plain stapled wrappers, in a dust jacket split in two along the spine, with a tear to the front cover and thus only fair. Scarce.
178. (Native American). KENNY, Maurice. And Grieve, Lesbia. NY: Aardvark Press (1960). Another very early collection of poems, apparently his fourth. Sunning near the stapled spine; near fine in self-wrappers. Again, uncommon.
179. (Native American). (RANSOM, W.M.). Soul Siftings. (n.p.): (Ransom, Lampard and Associates)(1968). A poetry anthology edited by Ransom, including a dozen poems by him. Apparently his first book. With photographs by R.V. Crow. Stapled wrappers; dampstaining to rear cover near the spine; very good.
180. (Native American). SEALS, David. The Powwow Highway. (Denver): (Sky Books)(1983). A "road novel," written by a former member of AIM, the American Indian Movement, and the basis for the highly successful film. After the success of the film, the title was brought out by a mainstream publisher more than a decade later; this, the true first edition, is virtually unobtainable. Anti-blurb by Kurt Vonnegut: "I've never read this book. I don't know this writer. You can't use my name." Foxing to page edges and endpages; reading crease near spine; line through price; small sticker removal shadow. Very good in wrappers. Exceptionally scarce in any condition: we have only seen the first printing once before.
181. (Native American). (VIZENOR, Gerald). Escorts to White Earth. (Minneapolis): Four Winds Press, 1968. A celebration of 100 years of the White Earth Reservation. Compiled, edited and introduced by Vizenor. Shot from typescript; only issued in wrappers. Faint stain inside front cover; near fine in wrappers. An early, very uncommon work by Vizenor, and one of his first books to deal with Indian subject matter; his first several books were collections of haiku.
182. (Native American). (VIZENOR, Gerald). Odd Fodder. (St. Paul): (Fodder Editions)(1983). Fodder Editions Number Three, containing three stories: "White Noise" by Vizenor, "The Man of Sorrows" by Jonis Agee, and "The Fellin Sisters" by Lon Otto. Slightly dusty; near fine in stapled wrappers. Quite scarce.
183. (Native American). WELCH, James. Riding the Earthboy 40. NY: World (1971). The first book by this author of Blackfoot-Gros Ventre heritage, who was one of the most important and accomplished Native American writers of the post-1968 generation. Welch was a respected poet and an award-winning novelist, and wrote, with great power and sensitivity, fiction focused on both contemporary Indian life (e.g., Winter in the Blood) and historical material (the award-winning Fools Crow). Riding the Earthboy 40, a collection of poems, was never properly distributed as the publisher folded at the time of publication. It was re-published five years later in a revised and expanded form by Harper & Row. This is the first edition. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
184. NG, Fae Myenne. Steer Toward Rock. NY: Hyperion (2008). Her second novel, after Bone. Laid in is a letter from the publisher, thanking the recipient for providing a jacket blurb. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
185. NICHOLS, John. The Milagro Beanfield War. NY: Holt Rinehart Winston (1994). The first printing of the 20th anniversary edition of his third book, the first in his New Mexico Trilogy, one of the classics of contemporary Western literature. Also the basis for a well-received movie that was produced and directed by Robert Redford. Inscribed by Nichols with a self-caricature: "To ___, May you always have the courage and the idealism to fight for what you believe in! Abrazos y venceremos! John Nichols." Fine in a fine dust jacket.
186. NUNN, Kem. Tapping the Source. NY: Delacorte (1984). Nunn's powerful first book, one of the great hard-boiled novels set in the surfing subculture of Southern California. Nominated for the National Book Award. Near fine (without the frequently encountered remainder speckling) in a near fine, mildly spine-faded dust jacket with wear at the spine extremities. From the library of one of the writers whose blurb appears on the dust jacket.
187. NUNN, Kem. Unassigned Territory. NY: Delacorte (1987). His second book. Fine in a near fine, modestly edgeworn dust jacket. Again, from the library of a writer whose blurb appears on the jacket.
188. NUNN, Kem. Pomona Queen. NY: Pocket (1992). His third novel, another example of California noir. Inscribed by Nunn to another writer (who had provided jacket blurbs for Nunn's first two novels) and his wife: "...whose friendship and hospitality have been an enrichment and a delight." Fine in a fine dust jacket.
189. NUNN, Kem. The Dogs of Winter. (NY): Scribner (1997). His fourth book, which returns to the surfing culture of his first novel. Inscribed by Nunn to another writer, who has provided a dust jacket blurb, and his wife: "in the midst of cosmic disturbances," to which Nunn has added a drawing of surf. Fine in a fine dust jacket.