Catalog 93, V-Z
415. VAN ALLSBURG, Chris. The Polar Express. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1985. A modern children's classic, winner of the Caldecott Medal for the best illustrated children's book of the year. This copy is fine in fine dust jacket (with the Caldecott Award sticker affixed to the front panel) and signed by the author. A very scarce book in the first edition, and especially so signed: Van Allsburg reportedly does not often sign books.
416. VAN GULIK, Robert. The Chinese Nail Murders. NY: Harper & Row (1961). Small bookstore stamp rear pastedown; penciled owner name on flyleaf; slight splaying to front board; near fine in a very near fine dust jacket.
417. (VAN GULIK, R.H.) Dee Goong An. An Ancient Chinese Detective Story. (Tokyo): (Self-published) (1949). One of 1200 numbered copies of this translation, signed by Van Gulik. This was the first "Judge Dee" mystery to appear in English, and led the translator to try his hand at contriving original mysteries based on the character, which became a highly successful and critically applauded mystery series in the 1950s and 1960s. Penciled owner name on flyleaf. The "Translator's Postscript" to the book anticipates Van Gulik's later efforts to recreate this genre with original writings. Bound in pictorial boards that are rubbed at the spine extremites; near fine, lacking the plain white dust wrapper.
418. VOLLMANN, William T. Whores for Gloria. NY: Pantheon (1991). First American edition. Fine in a fine dust jacket and signed by the author.
419. VONNEGUT, Kurt, Jr. Happy Birthday, Wanda June. NY: Delacorte (1971). One of Vonnegut's scarcest titles, a play that opened off-Broadway in 1970 and later made it to Broadway for a successful, although relatively short, run. Illustrated with photographs from the Broadway production, and with an introduction by Vonnegut explaining the genesis and personal relevance of the play. Signed by the author in 1997, with a self-caricature. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with one edge tear and rubbing along the folds. A sweet copy of this this remarkably elusive book.
420. VONNEGUT, Kurt, Jr. Breakfast of Champions. (NY): Delacorte (1973). The uncorrected proof copy of this novel, Vonnegut's fiftieth birthday present to himself and his recurring characters. Tall sheets, bound in green wrappers. Near fine, and very scarce.
421. -. Same title, Le Breakfast du Champion. (Paris: Seuil, 1975). First French edition. Inscribed by the author in 1976. Fine in wrappers.
422. VONNEGUT, Kurt, Jr. Wampeters, Foma & Granfalloons. (NY): Delacorte (1974). The uncorrected proof copy of this collection of essays, speeches and opinions. Spine slightly faded; near fine in wrappers.
423. VONNEGUT, Kurt. Slapstick. (n.p.): Delacorte/Lawrence (1976). The uncorrected proof copy of this novel, the closest he claims to have come, at that time, to writing an autobiography. This is the first of his books to be authored under the name of Kurt Vonnegut rather than Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., and this, the second issue proof in yellow wrappers, reflects that change (there was an earlier proof in green wrappers which still bore the "Jr."). This copy is warmly inscribed by the author in the month after publication (and incidentally on the author's birthday): "For ____ -- / THE SORT OF/ AFFECTIONATE,/ ZONKED OUT/ SUPER SPECIALIST/ WHO MAKES NEW/ YORK THE CAPITAL/ OF THE WORLD./ Kurt Vonnegut/ Nov. 11, 1976." A great inscription to a well-known book collector, reflecting Vonnegut's recognition of the collector's obsession. Fine in wrappers.
424. VONNEGUT, Kurt. Bluebeard. NY: Delacorte (1987). The uncorrected proof copy. Signed by the author on bookplate tipped to inside front wrapper, giving the publication date of the book. Fine in wrappers.
425. VONNEGUT, Kurt. Timequake. NY: Putnam (1997). The advance reading copy of his most recent novel, in which Vonnegut and his fictional alter-ego, Kilgore Trout, each touch on stories they would have liked to have told and, in doing so, tell another, about the whole in life being the sum of the parts one attends to. Fine in wrappers.
426. (VONNEGUT, Kurt). HUDGENS, Betty Lenhardt. Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. A Checklist. Detroit: Bruccoli Clark, 1972. A useful checklist of published works by Vonnegut, prior to the publication of the bibliography. Fine copy without dust jacket (as issued?) and signed by Vonnegut.
427. (VONNEGUT, Kurt). KLINKOWITZ, Jerome and SOMER, John. The Vonnegut Statement. (n.p.): Delacorte/Lawrence (1973). The uncorrected proof copy of this collection of original essays about Vonnegut. This copy is signed by Vonnegut and inscribed by Klinkowitz. Fine in tall wrappers. Uncommon.
428. (VONNEGUT, Kurt). CÉLINE. Rigadoon. NY: Penguin (1975). Review copy of the paperback edition, for which Vonnegut provides the introduction. Pages yellowing; else fine in wrappers, and signed by Vonnegut.
429. WAKOSKI, Diane. Greed. Parts 3 and 4. Los Angeles: Black Sparrow, 1969. The second installment of her Greed sequence, and an early Black Sparrow Press book. One of 150 numbered hardcover copies signed by the author. Very slight sunning to boards; else fine in a rubbed, acetate dust jacket.
430. WAKOSKI, Diane. The Magellanic Clouds. Los Angeles: Black Sparrow, 1970. One of 250 hardcover copies signed by the author. This copy is additionally inscribed by the author to another writer: "For __ - with hopes that/ the intelligence, energy/ and imagination/ you have will create/ the beautiful poems/ you want to write/ - highest hopes.../ Diane." Fine in a rubbed acetate dust jacket.
431. WAKOSKI, Diane. Greed. Parts 5-7. Los Angeles: Black Sparrow, 1971. The third installment of the Greed sequence. One of 200 numbered hardcover copies signed by the author. Fine in a rubbed, acetate dust jacket.
432. WAKOSKI, Diane. Smudging. Los Angeles: Black Sparrow, 1972. One of 250 numbered hardcover copies signed by the author. Fine in a near fine acetate dust jacket.
433. WAKOSKI, Diane. Greed. Parts 8, 9, 11. Los Angeles: Black Sparrow, 1973. One of 250 numbered hardcover copies signed by the author. Edge-sunning to boards; else fine in an acetate dust jacket. Laid into this copy is a broadside poem by the same name, serving as prospectus. 10" x 14". One of 100 numbered copies, signed by the author. Folded once; edge-sunned and edgeworn from where it overhangs the book; about very good. For both:
434. WAKOSKI, Diane. Waiting for the King of Spain. Santa Barbara: Black Sparrow, 1976. One of 250 numbered hardcover copies signed by the author. Fine in a rubbed acetate dust jacket.
435. WALCOTT, Derek. Selected Poems. NY: Farrar Straus (1964). The second regularly published book by the West Indian writer who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1992. Fine in a lightly spine-sunned dust jacket rubbed along the front flap fold; near fine.
436. WALKER, Mary Willis. Under the Beetle's Cellar. NY: Doubleday (1995). Advance reading copy of this thriller by the author of Zero at the Bone and the Edgar Award-winning, The Red Scream. Signed by the author. Laid in is a page of publisher's hype and an (unused) reply card for comments. Fine in wrappers.
437. WALLACE, David Foster. The Broom of the System. (NY): Penguin (1987). The simultaneous paperback edition of his first book. Inscribed by the author in the year of publication: "____/ Thank you for your/ help with this project -/ David Foster Wallace/ 4/2/87." Pages browning with age, as is usual for this title. Corner crease front cover; near fine in wrappers.
438. WATSON, Larry. White Crosses. NY: Pocket Books (1997). The advance reading copy of the latest novel by the author of Montana 1948. Fine.
439. WELDON, Fay. Wicked Women. NY: Atlantic Monthly Press (1997). Advance reading copy of the first American edition of this collection of stories by the author of The Life and Loves of a She-Devil, among others. Fine in wrappers.
440. (WELSH, Irvine). "The Rosewell Incident" in Children of Albion Rovers. (Edinburgh): Rebel, Inc. (1996). A collection of novellas by six Scottish writers, including Welsh, Alan Warner, and four others. Fine in wrappers. Quite scarce, we are told.
441. WELTY, Eudora. Delta Wedding. NY: Harcourt Brace (1946). Her fourth book, second novel. Near fine in a very good dust jacket, with minimal edgewear and a small streak of staining on the rear panel. A nicer-than-usual copy of this book which, although a postwar publication, uses the thin, cheap paper typical of wartime book production.
442. WHITE, Edmund. The Farewell Symphony. NY: Knopf, 1997. The uncorrected proof copy of the first American edition of the third and final volume of his autobiographical trilogy, which began with A Boy's Own Story. Fine in wrappers.
442. WHITE, Randy Wayne. North of Havana. NY: Putnam (1997). The latest Doc Ford mystery novel. Fine in a fine dust jacket and signed by the author.
443. WILBUR, Richard. "The Pardon." (n.p.: n.p., n.d.). Fair copy of this poem, inscribed by Wilbur in 1971, with two holograph corrections. One typed sheet; folded in thirds; else fine.
444. WILLIAMS, William Carlos. "The Winds." (n.p.: n.p., n.d.). Fair copy of this poem, signed by Williams with his late, jagged signature. One typed sheet, folded several times; owner signature in the top left corner; near fine.
445. WILSON, A.N. Paul. The Mind of the Apostle. NY: Norton (1997). The advance reading copy of the first American edition of this biography, which continues in the sequence begun with the author's controversial, bestselling and critically acclaimed volume, Jesus. Fine in wrappers.
446. WINSLOW, Don. The Death and Life of Bobby Z. NY: Knopf, 1997. The uncorrected proof copy of the first American edition of this mystery, which was first published in the U.K. as a paperback original. One tiny tear to the front edge of the rear cover; else fine in wrappers.
447. WINTERSON, Jeanette. Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit. NY: Atlantic 4onthly Press (1987). The first American edition of author's highly praised first novel, winner of the Whitbread Prize. Only issued in wrappers. This is the first issue, which states "First Edition" and "First printing," does not have a number line, and has a price of $6.95. A later edition appeared to be a first, but added a number line (ending in "1") and had a $10.95 price. Two creases to front cover; near fine.
448. WODEHOUSE, P.G. Autograph First Day of Issue Stamp. Stratford, CT: August 14, 1964. An envelope and 5¢ stamp honoring William Shakespeare. Signed by Wodehouse. 6 1/2" x 3 3/8" envelope bearing a likeness of Shakespeare, the stamp and the cancel. Fine.
449. WOLFF, Tobias. In the Garden of the North American Martyrs. NY: Ecco (1981). The first collection of stories by the author of This Boy's Life, among others. Inscribed by the author in 1982. Fine in a fine, price-clipped dust jacket, with a "$10.95" price sticker: the earliest jacket for this title was printed with a $14.95 price but the book was never sold at that price. The price was lowered to $10.95 and the first copies used the old jacket, price-clipped, with a sticker. Later the jacket was reprinted with the $10.95 price.
450. WOOLF, Virginia. A Room of One's Own. London: Hogarth Press, 1929. A short essay, but one of her most important works, which retains its freshness and relevance today, nearly 70 years later. Laid in is the Hogarth Press prospectus for other titles in the Uniform Edition, and there is some offsetting to the front flyleaf from it; otherwise this is a fine copy in a fair dust jacket chipped at the crown and totally split along the front spine fold. An uncommon and important book, and especially scarce in any dust jacket.
451. WRIGHT, James. Two Citizens. NY: FSG (1973). His first collection published after his Collected Poems won the 1972 Pulitzer Prize. Very near fine in like dust jacket.
452. YATES, Richard. The Easter Parade. (n.p.): Delacorte/Lawrence (1976). Less common than one might suppose, many of the copies that show up being book club editions. A fine copy in a spine-faded, otherwise near fine dust jacket.
453. YATES, Richard. A Good School. (NY): Delacorte/Lawrence (1978). Faint foxing to cloth and slight bowing to boards; near fine in a spine-faded, near fine dust jacket.
454. YEATS, William Butler. Typed Note Signed. (n.p.: n.p., n.d.). A brief paragraph conveying an autograph; in part: "I always mean to answer all letters, but sometimes my correspondence gets too great for an unmethodical man." Yeats has also appended a holograph postcript: "Your bit of ancestral history is very interesting, - our streams join somewhere in Butler stock." One sheet, folded in eighths, with some faint offsetting and a bit of light chipping to the bottom edge, not affecting any text; very good.
455. YEATS, William Butler. The Yeats Reader. NY: Scribner (1997). The uncorrected proof copy of this compendium, edited by Richard Finneran. Short tears to both edges of the front spine fold; near fine in wrappers.
456. ZWINGER, Ann. John Xántus: The Fort Tejon Letters, 1857-1859. Tucson: U. of Arizona Press (1986). A compendium of letters assembled by this award-winning natural history writer. Fine in a fine dust jacket.