Uncorrected Proofs/Advance Copies, Addendum
ADDENDUM
684. BURGESS, Anthony. Time for a Tiger. London: Heinemann (1956). Uncorrected proof copy of the first novel by the author of A Clockwork Orange, among many others. This copy is inscribed by the author and with a holograph translation in his hand of the dedication, which is printed in Malayan characters. Spine slightly cocked; near fine in wrappers. Scarce.
685. GADDIS, William. The Recognitions. NY: Harcourt Brace & World (1955). Advance reading copy of the author's massive, elaborate and experimental first book, now considered a postwar classic but widely excoriated at its first publication. Gaddis has since come to be considered one of the most important postwar American writers, and two of his four novels have won the National Book Award. But his first novel was only resurrected a number of years after its original publication, by virtue of the singular efforts of one lone Greenwich Village literary critic. The first edition is quite scarce, as is the softbound advance reading copy. This copy is signed by the author. Mild soiling and rubbing; very good.
686. McMURTRY, Larry. Lonesome Dove. NY: Simon & Schuster (1985). Uncorrected proof copy of his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. McMurtry was an established and successful novelist before the publication of this book, but Lonesome Dove was in very real terms a "breakthrough" book: not only was his literary "immortality" established by the winning of the Pulitzer Prize but the book was so commercially successful that McMurtry's novels are now bestsellers upon publication, by virtue of the size of their first printings-- which typically run into six figures. A massive proof, and quite uncommon. Near fine.
687. O'BRIEN, Tim The Things They Carried. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1990. His award-winning fifth book, a collection of related stories which is widely considered one of the best, if not the best, fictional treatment of the Vietnam war and has earned comparison to The Red Badge of Courage. This copy is signed by the author, and is in a trial dust jacket which was never issued by the publisher; together with an advance excerpt from the book, in stapled wrappers and also signed by O'Brien; and with a copy of a third trial design for the dust jacket which was also discarded. Reportedly only two copies were prepared with the trial artwork for these jackets. A rare advance state of one of the most important books of the last decade, and perhaps the finest volume of fiction to come out of the Vietnam war. Together with a signed copy of the first edition, in the published dust jacket. All elements fine.
688. PYNCHON, Thomas. V. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1963. Advance reading copy of Pynchon's first novel, winner of the William Faulkner Foundation Award for best first novel of the year. This copy belonged to novelist John Cheever and bears his ownership signature. A well-read copy, with the rear wrapper missing; only good. But an extraordinary association copy of this landmark debut.
689. SMILEY, Jane. Barn Blind. NY: Harper & Row, 1978. Uncorrected proof copy of the first novel by the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning A Thousand Acres. Smiley's most recent novel, Moo, had a first printing announced at 100,000 copies; this proof, which is in an unusual, almost square format, probably had a printing of 100 copies, perhaps fewer. Near fine in wrappers.