Catalog 151, V-Z
272. (Vietnam War). FALL, Bernard B. Street Without Joy. Harrisburg: Stackpole (1961). A review copy of Fall's classic study of French policy and tactics in Southeast Asia and the American penchant for following in the footsteps of the French, duplicating their erroneous assumptions and mistakes. Perhaps the single most insightful volume on the Indochina war(s). Published by a press more noted for its sporting handbooks than for its general trade books, which often issued titles with first printings as small as 1000 copies. The first edition of this title is scarce, although it was revised and reissued a number of times in the early and mid-Sixties as the American involvement in Vietnam grew. In addition to the review slip, there is a ribbon-copy letter from the director of advertising to "Dear Reviewer," which calls Street Without Joy "a timely publication because of the current position in Laos and the stand which President Kennedy has taken..." and adds that this "is the only book on the Indochina War to be published in the English language." To read the book is to be struck by a slowly-building horror -- the realization that much of Fall's description of the failure of various tactics, strategies and policies in Vietnam was written before the United States employed those same tactics and strategies there. The book was published barely two months after the inauguration of President Kennedy, who commented that if Vietnam "were ever converted to a white man's war, we should lose it as the French had lost a decade earlier" -- prophetic words from an early moment in the American adventure in Southeast Asia. Near fine a good, spine-faded dust jacket with shallow chipping at the spine extremities and splitting to the folds. An important book, scarce in an advance issue.
273. -. Another copy. Signed by the author. Modest handling, with a nick to the lower board edge; near fine in a very good dust jacket with shallow chipping to the top edge. "Recommended by the Contemporary Affairs Society" sticker to front cover. Fall traveled to Vietnam as a reporter, historian and analyst repeatedly in the 1960s, and was eventually killed when he stepped on a landmine while on patrol with a group of U.S. Marines in 1967. Books signed by him are relatively uncommon, and signed first editions of his most famous, and probably most important, work are extremely scarce.
274. -. Same title, the third edition (1963). Inscribed by the author to a Major Talbott in 1965, "with sincerest regards." Page edges foxed, handling to boards, light wear to spine ends, phone number (?) on title page; about very good, lacking the dust jacket.
275. -. Same title, the first printing of the fourth edition (1964), which was heavily revised and updated to include early U.S. actions in Vietnam. Inscribed by Fall one month after publication to a Major Weber, "with best wishes" and dated 11/5/64. There is also an ownership signature of Walt Gray, a Major in the U.S. Air Force, dated April, 1965. Fall's books were sought after on military bases and often passed around among officers, as this would appear to have been. The fourth edition of this title was the last, and it included the most references to the U.S. involvement in Vietnam. Near fine in a rubbed, very good dust jacket with slight sunning to the spine. Laid into this copy is a Time magazine obituary of Fall from March, 1967.
276. (Vietnam War). FALL, Bernard B. Viet-Nam Witness. NY: Frederick A. Praeger (1966). One of the several important books on Southeast Asia which Fall wrote or co-edited during the '60s, as American involvement in Vietnam was escalating. Perhaps more than anyone, Fall was in a unique position to recognize the mistakes as they were being made, and he documented them in a string of books which stand without parallel in that war and rank collectively among the great works ever written on any war. Inscribed by Fall to David Schoenbrun, "the true [Viet-Nam Witness] from way back, with the sincere admiration of Bernard B. Fall/ D.C. May 1966." Schoenbrun was a broadcast journalist with CBS from 1947 to 1963 -- one of the reporter's known as "Murrow's boys," who worked under Edward R. Murrow. Murrow made Schoenbrun his chief Paris correspondent, and from there he visited, and covered, Vietnam. Fine in a very good, spine-faded dust jacket with chipping at the corners and spine ends and one internally mended edge tear.
277. -. Another copy. Inscribed by Fall to W.W. Kulski in May, 1966: "A mon cher maitre et a ma 'Tante' W.W. Kulski, ces quelques pages avec mon affectueuse admiration [To my dear master and to my 'Aunt,' W.W. Kulski, these some pages with my affectionate admiration]." Fall has also added a footnote to the dedication page: "The Vietnam desk officers at State, 1957-1963." At the time of inscription, Wladyslaw Kulski was a professor of Political Science at Duke University; earlier in his career he had served as a Polish diplomat. Kulski's penciled underlinings in text; foxing to top edge; near fine in a mildly spine-faded dust jacket with modest edge wear, about near fine.
278. (Vietnam War). FALL, Bernard. Hell in a Very Small Place. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1967. Fall's account of the siege of Dien Bien Phu, written a dozen years after the fact, is the definitive account of the battle, and benefits from the hindsight afforded by time so that his perspective also sheds light on the later American strategy and tactics in Vietnam. A combination of compelling individuals' accounts and superb military history and analysis. One of the classics of the war, published in January, a month before Fall's death. Shelf wear to the lower boards; very good in a very good, rubbed dust jacket with shallow wear to the crown.
279. (Vietnam War). HERR, Michael. Dispatches. NY: Knopf, 1977. Herr, reporting for Rolling Stone and Esquire from Vietnam, was -- along with such now-legendary figures as Tim Page, Sean Flynn and Dana Stone -- one of the young writers who brought the 1960s counterculture and the New Journalism to war reporting, describing Vietnam as the "first rock-and-roll war" and influencing the way future generations would see the conflict -- mostly by writing his reports largely from the perspective of the foot soldiers in the war rather than that of the strategists and commanders. Herr's dispatches were eagerly awaited at the time, and are now viewed as classics of war reporting. They helped shatter the official picture of an orderly progression to the war and define the "credibility gap" that made Vietnam war reporting so different from that of earlier conflicts. This copy is inscribed by the author "with regards and best wishes." Fine in a fine dust jacket. One of the small handful of classics of Vietnam War literature -- considered by many the best nonfiction work to come out of the war -- and a book that is almost never found signed or inscribed; this is only the second signed copy we've seen since the book was new.
280. (Vietnam War). LEDERER, William J. Our Own Worst Enemy. NY: Norton (1968). Exposé of America's "self-inflicted defeats," particularly in Vietnam, by the co-author of The Ugly American. Inscribed by the author: "For ___ and his ____* -- who saw me through a rough two weeks at Bread Loaf -- and therefore are 'our own best friends'. Affectionately, Bill Lederer/ Bread Loaf, Vt/ 27 August, 1968. *[footnote not legible]." Fine in a near fine, mildly spine-faded dust jacket.
281. (VONNEGUT, Kurt). Happy Birthday, Kurt Vonnegut. (NY): (Delacorte Press) (1982). A festschrift for Kurt Vonnegut on his sixtieth birthday. Issued in an edition of 500 copies and privately distributed. With original contributions by John Irving, John Updike, E.L. Doctorow, Richard Yates, Irwin Shaw, Norman Mailer, Garry Trudeau, Truman Capote, Jerzy Kosinski, Bernard V. O'Hare and many others, including family members. Compiled by Jill Krementz. Although not called for, this copy is signed by Vonnegut and dated on his 79th birthday. Laid in is a copy of the 1982 seating chart (Updike sat with Vonnegut; John Irving sat with Morley Safer). Faint spot to cloth at spine base; still fine in a fine slipcase. Uncommon signed, and with the seating chart.
282. WALKER, Alice. In Love & Trouble. NY: HBJ (1973). One of the two dedication copies of her first collection of stories. Inscribed by Walker on the dedication page: "and with my love, Alice Walker/ Jackson, Miss./ 9/13/73." The dedication reads, in part: "for Muriel Ruykeser and Jane Cooper, who listened to what was never said." This copy belonged to Jane Cooper. Fine in a fine dust jacket, in folding chemise and slipcase. A scarce book in its own right, preceding The Color Purple by five years, this is without question the most significant copy of it to appear on the market.
283. WALLACE, David Foster and COSTELLO, Mark. Signifying Rappers. NY: Ecco Press (1990). A nonfiction book about rap music. His first book of nonfiction, after one novel and a collection of short stories. Signed by Wallace. For all that Wallace's fiction was admired and emulated, five of his six books published from 2000 on were nonfiction, and some have suggested that because his nonfiction was so relatively accessible compared to his fiction, it may comprise a more lasting legacy for him. Only issued in wrappers. Fine.
284. WALLACE, David Foster. Girl with Curious Hair. NY: Avon Books (1991). The first printing of the Avon paperback of his 1989 collection of stories. Inscribed by Wallace to another author "with thanks" in 1992. Modest reading wear; about near fine in wrappers.
285. WALLACE, David Foster. Infinite Jest. Boston: Little Brown (1996). A huge book (nearly 1100 pages), which impressed many critics and readers with its scope and its satirical critique of popular culture as well as with the author's erudition. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket. In the wake of the author's tragic suicide, this will likely stand as his magnum opus.
286. WARNER, William W. Distant Water. The Fate of the North Atlantic Fisherman. Boston: Little Brown (1983). Second book by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Beautiful Swimmers. Inscribed by Warner to another writer and his wife in 1990: "Herewith some odd sagas of a maritime world, once not so very far over the horizon from Outerbridge Reach, with all best wishes." Fine in a near fine dust jacket with several small edge chips. Laid in is an autograph letter signed by Warner, conveying the book to his fellow author, in part: "This is the one that gave me gray hair and a bad back, since the field work was arduous and I screwed up in organizing the writing. Let me immodestly say that all the above notwithstanding, it got a National Book Critics Circle nomination. What a balm that was!... Please do not feel obliged to wade all the way through it. For your nautical background purposes Chapter III has much to say about stormy seas. So, too, does Chapter V, which is about the North Atlantic in general..." Water droplets to ending; folded once, near fine.
287. WARNER, William W. At Peace with All the Neighbors: Catholics and Catholicism in the National Capitol, 1787-1860. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press (1994). Inscribed by Warner to another writer whose blurb appears on the dust jacket: "with gratitude for those kind words of yours, which went right to the top of the list, not to mention your interest and encouragement over the years." Further inscribed by Warner to the recipient's wife, with recommendations on two specific chapters to read. A fine copy in a very good dust jacket with one chip along the upper edge of the rear panel and several creases and tears.
288. WELSH, Irvine. Trainspotting. London: Secker & Warburg (1993). The uncorrected proof copy of his first novel, highly acclaimed upon publication and later the basis for the phenomenally successful movie that became a cultural milestone of the 1990s. The first edition of this book is scarce -- preceding the movie and its associated cultural uproar by a couple of years, it was issued in a hardcover edition reported at only 600 copies; the proof, needless to say, is many times scarcer; we have seen it only a handful of times. This copy is signed by Welsh. Shallow corner creases; almost fine in wrappers.
289. WELSH, Irvine. Porno. (London): Vintage (2003). Fourth printing of the paperback edition. Inscribed by Welsh to another writer: "Some writing returned with thanks, borrowed from yourself many moons ago. May all good things come your way" and signed "Irvine." Food stains to the first few pages; light cover creasing; very good in wrappers.
290. WESTLAKE, Donald E. "STARK, Richard." The Dame. NY: Macmillan (1969). An Alan Grofield hard-boiled novel by Westlake, under the Stark pseudonym, which he used for both the Grofield and Parker series. Signed by the author as both Stark and Westlake. Fine in a very near fine dust jacket with a snag at the spine crown.
291. WHITE, Celeste. The Last Good Fairy. (Shasta): Keswick House (2006). "Limited Collector's Edition" of this novel that was published as a tribute to book arts and to found art, with each copy being decorated individually by the author/artist with semi-precious stones, pearls, charms, and decorative glass. This copy is inscribed by White to "the incomparable George Garrett." In the Acknowledgements, Garrett is saved for last, called "incomparable," and identified by the author as the person "who gave me my first break." Fine copy, bound in blue cloth, all edges gilt; attached to the spine are two pieces of dichroic glass, two pieces of turquoise, and two pearls.
292. (WHITE, E.B.). "A Winter Walk" in St. Nicholas. (NY): (Century Co.) (1911). A description of snowshoeing in the woods with his dog, Don. White's first appearance in print, winner of the magazine's Silver Badge. White was 11 at the time. Approximately 300 words. Spine chipped; very good in wrappers. A fragile pre-World War I vintage magazine, which is uncommon these days outside of bound sets.
293. (WHITE, E.B.). JONES, Roy E. A Basic Chicken Guide for the Small Flock Owner. NY: Morrow, 1944. Includes an illuminating introduction by White. White had been writing for The New Yorker since 1929, and writing essays for Harper's in a column entitled "One Man's Meat" between 1938 and 1943. In 1939 he moved from New York to Maine, and his writings tended to cover rural issues thereafter, albeit often with universal implications, as in the case of his classic children's book, Charlotte's Web. Printed to wartime standards, this is still a fine copy in a near fine, price-clipped dust jacket with several short edge tears.
294. WILEY, Richard. Soldiers in Hiding. Boston: Atlantic Monthly (1986). The author's first book, winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award in 1987. Inscribed by the author to another writer in 1987. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
295. WILHELM, Kate. Oh Susannah! Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1982. A fantasy novel by the award-winning author. Wilhelm's 1976 novel, Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang, was a Nebula Award nominee and won the 1977 Hugo Award; her 1979 novel, Juniper Time, is one of David Pringle's hundred best science fiction novels. This is the author's copy of the galley sheets, with her holograph corrections throughout. Mostly small changes, which were then reviewed by a copyeditor. With a notation on the front page that the corrections had been transferred to the master. Printed on rectos only, on cheap proofing paper, 12 1/2" x 9 1/2", folded once. Modest edge wear but overall very good. A unique item. Together with a copy of the first edition.
296. WILLIAMS, Charles. Talk of the Town. (NY): Dell (1958). A paperback original by one of the best of the hard-boiled neo-noir writers of pulp fiction in the 1950s, on a par with the likes of Jim Thompson and David Goodis. Light crease to spine fold, tiny nick to crown; near fine.
297. WILLIAMS, Joy. The Quick & the Dead. NY: Knopf, 2000. Her fourth novel, on which a Brett Easton Ellis blurb declares the author to be the rightful heir to Flannery O'Connor, and Don DeLillo calls the book "a work of maverick insight and rash and beautiful bursts of language." Inscribed by Williams to another writer and his wife: "my friends" and signed "Joy" and dated in the year of publication. Also signed in full by the author on the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
298. YEVTUSHENKO, Yevgeny. Stolen Apples. Garden City: Doubleday, 1971. A collection of Yevtushenko's poetry, translated by eight different authors including John Updike, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, James Dickey, Richard Wilbur, Stanley Kunitz and Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Inscribed by Yevtushenko "with admiration." Dampstaining to the front board and a few spots to the foredge; very good in a near fine, price-clipped dust jacket.