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Catalog 153, A

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1. ABBEY, Edward. The Monkey Wrench Gang. Philadelphia: Lippincott (1975). His most famous novel, inspired by, and in turn helping to inspire, environmental direct action. A comic novel with a serious core, it both described and exalted such environmental groups as Earth First! and others that followed in their wake. Abbey was perhaps the single most famous, and one of the most outspoken, advocates for waging war against those who would despoil the environment for profit by both physically sabotaging their efforts and also engaging them in a media battle by means of theatrical, attention-getting public relations actions. This copy is inscribed by the author to noted Tucson book collector and bookseller, Ben Sackheim: "To Ben Sackheim from his friend Ed Abbey." Ben Sackheim was a successful New York advertising executive who had a second career as a bookseller in Tucson, Arizona. Among his many projects over the years, he was an early and important supporter of the Loujon Press, which published Henry Miller, Charles Bukowski and others in the mid-1960s. A nice association copy, and one seldom sees good association copies of Abbey books, let along of his most important novel. Fine in a fine dust jacket.

2. -. Same title, the limited issue of the Tenth Anniversary Edition. Salt Lake City: Dream Garden Press, 1985. This edition was illustrated by noted cartoonist R. Crumb, famous for his underground comix of the 1960s. It includes a chapter not in the original edition, and is thus a textually significant edition of the book as well. One of 250 numbered copies signed by Abbey; laid in is a signed limited print by R. Crumb: "You can't never go wrong cutting fence." Fine in a fine slipcase.

3. AI. Cruelty. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1973. The hardcover issue of her highly praised first collection of poems. Signed by the author, at length: "The original title of the ms. Cruelty was Wheel in a Ditch, which symbolized the spirit of man (the circle or wheel from Ezekiel) trapped, but Houghton Mifflin thought it was too prosey so they called Galway & said Mr. Kinnell what do you think. After they read him the table of contents he suggested Cruelty. Unfortunately the reviewers always damned the book because of that, but the good ones were more numerous than the bad. Best wishes, Ai. Jan. 29, 1992. [Drawing of a heart with two arrows.] This heart has two arrows because love pierces." Corner crease to front flyleaf, else fine in a fine dust jacket with a dust jacket blurb by Galway Kinnell. An important first book with a lengthy and revealing inscription by this recently deceased poet who won the 1999 National Book Award for her collection Vice.

4. (AGEE, James). Remembering James Agee. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press (1974). The uncorrected proof copy, in the form of ringbound galley sheets, printed on rectos only. Edited and introduced by novelist David Madden. Laid in is a copyedited photocopied typescript of what appears to be the jacket text, as well as four 8" x 10" photos of Agee: two alone; one with Delmore Schwartz and Alma Mailman; one with Mia Agee, Charlie Chaplin and Oona Chaplin. Agee was the author of the classic Let Us Now Praise Famous Men and the Pulitzer Prize-winning A Death in the Family; he was also the preeminent film critic of the day in the 1940s and the screenwriter for The African Queen. Contributors to this anthology include Robert Fitzgerald, Walker Evans (who collaborated on Let Us Now Praise Famous Men), John Huston (who directed African Queen), Dwight Macdonald, and others. All elements near fine or better. Rare; with the photos and typescript, likely unique.

5. ALVAREZ, Julia. Seven Trees. (North Andover): Kat Ran Press, 1998. Autobiographical poems by Alvarez, with lithographs by Sara Eichner, issued in an attractive limited edition of 50 numbered copies signed by the author and the artist. 11 1/2" x 16 1/4"; hardbound in handmade flax paper by David Bourbeau of the Thistle Bindery. The second publication by this press, an elaborate production that sold for nearly $1000 at publication and has been out of print for years. Eichner has since become one of the more collectible artists working today. An attractive and uncommon volume. Fine, in clamshell case.

6. ANDERSON, Maxwell. Winterset and Autograph Letters Signed. Washington: Anderson House, 1935. Signed by the author and additionally inscribed in the year of publication to actor Harold Gould. Together with two autograph notes signed from Anderson to Gould: in one Anderson agrees to sign Winterset and adds "I'm still grateful for your performance in a play which didn't turn out so well." (From December 1934 to January 1935, Gould had had a part in Anderson's play Valley Forge.) In the second letter, which transmits the signed copy, he thanks Gould for his appreciation -- "which is the best one gets in this world." The book is a little sunned; near fine in a very near fine dust jacket. The notes are folded; else fine. Winterset, based in part on the Sacco and Vanzetti murder trail, won the first ever New York Drama Critics Circle Award; it was adapted for film the following year. A very attractive copy and an excellent association copy.

7. (Anthology). A Road Runs Through It. Boulder: Johnson Books (2006). A limited edition issued as a fundraiser for the conservation organization Wildlands CPR. A collection of essays aimed at documenting the destruction caused by roads through federal lands and ways of preserving the remaining roadless wilderness in the U.S. Of a total edition of 59 copies, this is one of 50 numbered copies accompanied by a set of six original wood engravings by Montana artist Claire Emery. Signed by all 26 living contributors, including Annie Proulx, Barry Lopez, Peter Matthiessen, David Quammen and William Kittredge, among others. Leatherbound, fine, with accompanying leatherbound clamshell case for the wood engravings.

8. ASHBERY, John. Three Poems. NY: Viking (1972). A review copy of the hardcover issue of this important volume of three long interconnected prose poems, widely considered something of a modern masterpiece. Ashbery -- winner of the National Book Award, the Pulitzer Prize, and virtually every other award given out in this country for poetry -- is one of the most important American poets of the 20th century. Fine in a near fine, spine-faded dust jacket with a closed edge tear on the upper rear panel. Review slip and author photo laid in. An important book, and uncommon in an advance state.

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