E-list # 181

Boston, Little Brown, (1963). Salinger's fourth and last book, two long stories of the Glass family. This is the third issue, with the dedication page tipped in after the title page. Spotting to top edge; boards mildly sunned and splayed; very good in a very good, spine-sunned dust jacket with a little wear to the spine. [#024185] $250

Boston, Little, Brown, 1951. Salinger's classic first book, a coming-of-age novel that has influenced successive generations of young people with its adolescent hero's rejection of the "phoniness" of the adult world around him combined with the authenticity of his voice. Salinger's book retains the freshness it had when first published, and it stands as one of the great fictional accomplishments of 20th century American literature, included on every list of the 100 best novels of the century, and listed as number 2 on the Radcliffe list and number 6 on the Waterstone's list. Minor foxing to top and bottom edges of text block; offsetting to hinges from binder's glue; a very near fine copy in a near fine dust jacket with offsetting to the front flap, tanning to the spine, slight rubbing to the spine folds and light wear to the crown. A very nice copy with distinguished provenance: it was a gift from publisher Alfred A. Knopf to a young writer who was interviewing him for a biography, and who later went on to win the Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction in the 1980s. Letter of provenance available. [#028107] SOLD

Chicago, Consolidated Book Publishers, (1942). Salinger's first book appearance, this being the first issue (1942), the state without the head and toe bands. Rubbing to covers; near fine in a near fine, lightly faded mailing box, (printed in red, black and orange rather than the later red, white and blue), which has a revised page count stamped over the original page count. The "2" in the copyright date, which in our experience is always battered, is more clearly visible in this copy than in most other copies of the first issue that we have seen. [#914680] $2,500

NY, Various, (1958-1967). The first four books by Southern -- creator of Dr. Strangelove and screenwriter of Easy Rider -- each inscribed by him to his friend, the bandleader, composer, and musician Artie Shaw. Flash and Filigree (NY: Coward McCann, 1958; the scarce first issue) is inscribed "To Artie and Casey with love and all best wishes/ Terry S." Laid in is an autograph note signed to Artie from Terry. The Magic Christian (NY: Random House, 1960) is inscribed "To Artie and Casey with love and best wishes for much happiness. Terry." Candy (NY: Putnam, 1964 -- first thus, and first hardcover edition) is inscribed "To Artie and Case, with love and kisses (your so-called 'soul' or 'french' kiss, natch!) / Terry." Red Dirt Marijuana (NY: New American Library, 1967) is inscribed: "To Art/ with all best, Terry." The books are near fine or better in near fine or better dust jackets; each with its own, matching, custom clamshell case. [#033653] $12,500

NY, Covici Friede, (1936). A powerful novel of migrant farm workers rising up against landowners. Written at a time when much contemporary fiction was geared toward proletarian aspirations, Steinbeck's novel could have been a mere propaganda piece; instead, it is an exploration of ideals, social protest and social justice, and the relationship of mob behavior to individual values and, as such, still resonates with relevance decades later. Owner signature, cloth dust-soiled and spine-faded, foredge foxed. A good copy only, lacking the rare dust jacket. [#023624] SOLD

NY, Knopf, 1986. The second novel, and first in 36 years, by this Southern writer who was renowned as a master of the short story. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize. Fine in a fine dust jacket. [#912851] SOLD

NY, McDowell, Obolensky, (1959). A collection of short stories that takes its title from the opening lines of Anna Karenina -- "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way" -- which aptly describes one of the major themes of Taylor's writing. Pencilled owner name on pastedown under front flap; else fine in a very good dust jacket which has very slight rubbing and wear to the spine ends, much less than usual, and is internally tape-strengthened at the crown. [#021732] SOLD

NY, Knopf, 1977. A collection of stories by the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer. Inscribed by the author in Memphis in the month of publication. Fine in a near fine, price-clipped dust jacket with one edge tear. [#023087] SOLD

NY, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, (1969). A review copy of this collection by an author whose reputation has been built largely on the strength of his stories and who won, in the last years of his life, both the Pulitzer Prize and the PEN Faulkner Award. Inscribed by the author in 1990: "For ___ ___/ with all good wishes/ and with much appreciation/ for the cordial and the kind/ words of your letter./ Peter Taylor." Spotting to top stain; else fine in a near fine dust jacket. [#021357] SOLD

NY, Farrar Straus Giroux, (1969). A collection by an author whose reputation was built largely on the strength of his stories and who won, in the last years of his life, both the Pulitzer Prize and the PEN Faulkner Award. Reviewed in Newsweek by Geoffrey Wolff, to whom this copy belonged. With Wolff's ownership signature a handful of Wolff's marginal comments and markings. Mottling to boards, some play to the text block; a very good copy in a good, sunned and (coffee) stained dust jacket with moderate edge wear. [#029005] SOLD

(n.p.), Palaemon Press, (1982). "A sort of story, a sort of play, a sort of dream." Copy No. 30 of 100 copies offered for sale (of a total edition of 140), signed by the author. Fine in saddle-stitched wrappers and fine dust jacket. [#033489] SOLD

NY, Harcourt Brace, (1954). The third book and second story collection by a writer considered a contemporary master of the form and one of the key figures in Southern literature in the 20th century. Taylor was born in Tennessee, where much of his fiction is set, and he is one of the writers who was strongly influenced by the Fugitive movement in Southern writing and counted several of the leading writers of that movement as his mentors. Taylor's biographer credited him with establishing the dysfunctional family as a major subject in American literature. Inscribed by Taylor in 1968. Trace wear to board edge; else fine in a rubbed, thus very good, dust jacket. [#019351] SOLD

NY, Farrar Straus Giroux, (1990). A chapbook printing a single story from his then-forthcoming first book, In a Father's Place. Issued as a New Year's greeting, preceding the book by several months. Signed by the author. Fine in self-wrappers. [#916926] $35

NY, Knopf, 1982. The second of his humorous books featuring writer Henry Bech, an Updike alter-ego. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket. [#912093] $40

NY, Knopf, 1994. Inscribed by the author to Edward Hoagland: "For Ted/ a new trip for you/ warm regards as always, John." A nice association. Fine in a near fine, spine-faded dust jacket. [#033494] SOLD

Worcester, Metacom, 1990. A story that originally appeared in The New Yorker but was revised and given a foreword by the author for this edition. Of a total edition of 176, this is copy 47 of 150 numbered copies, signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket. [#030232] SOLD

NY, Knopf, 1968. The first of his novels to be both a critical and a substantial commercial success. Inscribed by the author: "For ___ ___/ with every good wish in her new environs/ John Updike." Foxing to cloth and edges of text block; mild splaying to boards; very good in a near fine dust jacket that is also foxed, mostly on verso. [#030163] $325

NY, Knopf, 1968. The first of his novels to be both a critical and a substantial commercial success. A little sunning to the board edge and the spine; very near fine in a fine jacket. [#912073] $100

Cambridge, Halty Ferguson, 1976. Of a total edition of 276 copies, this is copy number 16 of 250 numbered copies signed by the author. Fine in wrappers. This copy is also inscribed by Updike -- he has personalized the signature on the colophon in a different color ink -- and it includes a brief signed note by Updike on the prospectus, with a hand-addressed mailing envelope. By all appearances, Updike informed the collector of the existence of this edition by sending him a prospectus with a note saying "I thought you should be aware of this" and then the collector ordered the book and Updike personalized the signature for him. A mini-footnote to the relatively early years of Updike's being a highly collected author with numerous signed limited editions to his credit, with a glimpse of Updike's active involvement in helping a collector build his collection. [#031523] $350
On Sale: $228

NY, Knopf, 1992. Inscribed by the author: "For ___ ___/ a great collector of me (and others)/ All best, John U." Top stain a tad faded, else fine in a fine dust jacket. [#030236] $100

(Logan), (Perfection Form Co.), (1979). An educational pamphlet consisting of the title story of Updike's 1962 story collection, with exercises based on the story. DeBellis & Broomfield A75-a2: the cream-colored variant (no priority established between a1 and a2). Uncommon. Fine in stapled wrappers. [#031527] $100

NY, Knopf, 1979. A review copy of this collection of stories. Fine in a fine dust jacket with author photo laid in. [#912088] $35

(London), Andre Deutsch, (1990). The first British edition of the concluding volume in the Rabbit series. Signed by the author on a bookplate tipped to the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. [#912106] $80

NY, Knopf, 1990. The concluding volume in the Rabbit series. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award. This is the first trade edition; the true first was issued by the Franklin Library. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Not uncommon, but perfect copies are harder to come by than one might think. [#019643] $70

NY, Knopf, 1971. The second book in the his highly praised Rabbit Angstrom series. Nominated for the National Book Award. Signed by the author. Top stain a bit faded, else fine in a very near fine, very slightly spine-faded dust jacket. [#912077] SOLD

NY, Knopf, 2002. A novel loosely based on the life of Lee Krasner and her marriage to Jackson Pollock. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket. [#912121] SOLD

(Hamburg), (Rowohlt Verlag), (1990). The first German language edition. Signed by the author. Minor foxing to page edges and one small corner bump; near fine in a near fine dust jacket. [#030215] SOLD

NY, Knopf, 2006. Inscribed by the author: "For ___ ___/ warm regards to a faithful book-buyer/ Cheers,/ John Updike." Fine in a fine dust jacket. [#030274] SOLD

(Warwickshire), Sixth Chamber Press, 1987. A limited edition of this story. Of a total edition of 201 copies, this is copy "N" of 26 lettered copies signed by the author. Quarterbound in leather and marbled paper boards; fine in slipcase. An attractive production, uncommon in the lettered issue. [#911255] $450

NY, Knopf, 2001. A volume in Knopf's "Everyman Library," collecting Bech: A Book, Bech is Back, Bech at Bay, and adding "His Oeuvre." Inscribed by the author: "For ___ ___/ warm regards, John Updike/ 4/19/01." Fine in a fine dust jacket. [#030267] $200

NY, Knopf, 1966. The first issue of this collection of stories, with the transposed lines on page 46. Signed by the author. Light splaying to boards; else fine in a near fine dust jacket. [#912072] $300

NY, Knopf, 1977. First thus, with a new introduction by the author. Inscribed by Updike to fellow author Nicholas Delbanco and his wife, Elena: "For Ellen [sic] & Nick, I'm so pleased you have this edition/ John/ 4/29/78." A strip of sunning to spine crown, else fine in a very near fine dust jacket with sunning to the spine lettering. [#030048] SOLD

NY, Knopf, 1959. Updike's second book and first novel, nominated for the National Book Award and winner of the Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Foundation Award of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, for a novel which, despite not being a commercial success, was nonetheless "a considerable literary achievement." Signed by the author. With the bookplate of diplomat and ambassador John Moors Cabot on the front flyleaf: Cabot lived on Cape Ann, one town over from Updike. Fine in a near fine dust jacket, with a bit of rubbing to the front panel and a closed but crooked tear to the lower rear panel. In a custom three quarter leather clamshell case from the Praxis Bindery. [#030845] SOLD

NY, Knopf, 1959. His third book and first collection of stories. Fine in a near fine, lightly rubbed, price-clipped dust jacket. A very nice copy. [#027123] $225

(NY/West Stockbridge/Prague), Thornwillow Press, 2002. One of the more attractive and lavishly produced limited editions in the Updike oeuvre. Three stories that appeared in the New Yorker ("Personal Archaeology," "Free," and "The Guardian") plus an Author's Note. Bound in full black leather with raised bands and gilt stamped spine; marbled endpapers; illustrated with tipped-in photographs; and laid into a velvet-lined black linen clamshell case. This is copy number 149 of 250 numbered copies, signed by Updike, by the photographer Mariana Cook, and by the designer Luke Ives Pontifell. This copy is additionally inscribed by Updike: "for some generous patron of the 2003 St. John's Fair/ with thanks, John Updike." Fine. [#030861] SOLD

NY, Knopf, 1997. The uncorrected proof copy of this novel that was initially published to mixed reviews: Margaret Atwood, in The New York Times Book Review, loved it; David Foster Wallace, a self-proclaimed Updike fan, wrote a scathing review of it in The New York Observer. Fine in wrappers. [#912111] $50

Franklin Center, Franklin Library, 1997. The Franklin Library edition of this novel, which was initially published to mixed reviews: Margaret Atwood, in The New York Times Book Review, loved it; David Foster Wallace, a self-proclaimed Updike fan, wrote a scathing review of it in The New York Observer. Signed by the author, with a special introduction by him for this edition. Leatherbound, page edges gilt, with a silk ribbon marker bound in. Fine. [#013863] SOLD

NY, Knopf, 1987. Short stories. Signed by the author. Slight foxing to foredge and (faded) top stain; near fine in a fine dust jacket. [#030213] SOLD

NY, Knopf, 1987. A collection of stories. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket. [#912097] $70

[Sacramento], (CoTangent Press), [1993]. A limited edition of a story from Thirteen Stories and Thirteen Epitaphs, preceded, in 1990 by a CoTangent edition of one handwritten folio copy, and issued here with revisions. This is Copy No. 23 of 200 copies signed by Vollmann and by the designer, Ben Pax. Illustrated by Vollmann. Fine in sewn wrappers and dust jacket. [#912137] $650

(London), Andre Deutsch, (1990). The first book in his ambitious Seven Dreams series, a project that attempts to remythologize, through fiction, the history of North America. Signed by the author. Toning to page edges and one slight corner tap; very near fine in a fine dust jacket. [#912141] SOLD

(London), Andre Deutsch, (1991). A collection of stories. Shallow creasing to foredge of prelims; very near fine in a fine dust jacket. [#912142] $40

(London), Deutsch, (1991). A collection of stories. Signed by the author. One corner tapped; else fine in a fine dust jacket. [#024235] $150

London, Jonathan Cape, (1997). The advance reading copy of the first British edition. Fine in wrappers. [#011047] SOLD

NY, Putnam, (1997). The advance reading copy of this 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. [#007237] SOLD

(Edinburgh), Rebel, Inc, (1996). A collection of novellas by six Scottish writers, including "The Rosewell Incident" by Welsh. This copy is signed by Welsh. Fine in wrappers. [#912161] $80

London, Cape, (1996). The lettered limited edition. Three novellas -- "tales of chemical romance." One of 15 lettered copies signed by the author and produced for private distribution. Consists of the first wrappered edition and colophon quarterbound in black leather and pink boards, with marbled endpages. Although the colophon states there were 15 lettered copies, this is letter "T." Fine. [#912162] $375

London, Secker & Warburg, (1993). The uncorrected proof copy of his first novel, 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 is many times scarcer; we have seen it only a handful of times. This copy is signed by Welsh. Shallow corner creases; very near fine in wrappers. [#911191] SOLD

NY, St. Martin's, (1985). The second of his acclaimed Hoke Moseley crime novels. Signed by the author. Fine in a near fine, mildly spine-sunned dust jacket with trace rubbing to the flap folds. A very nice copy. [#913495] $550

Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1985. His fourth book and second collection of short fiction. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket with trace rubbing to the flap folds. [#915716] $60

NY, Ecco, (1981). The scarce first issue of the author's first collection of short fiction, with the dust jacket with a "$14.95" price. The price was lowered to $10.95 prior to publication and the later jacket was printed with the lower price. Signed by the author. Faint foxing to cloth; near fine in a near fine, lightly spine-tanned dust jacket with a closed edge tear at the upper front spine fold. [#915757] SOLD

NY, Ecco, (1981). The first paperback printing of his first collection of short fiction. Signed by the author. Fine. [#915714] SOLD

NY, Knopf, 2004. The uncorrected proof copy of this novel, billed as his first, discounting Ugly Rumours, which was published in London in 1975. Signed by the author. Fine in wrappers. [#915728] SOLD

(Vineburg), (Engdahl Typography), 1989. A limited edition of this story. One of 200 numbered copies, the first 50 of which were signed by Wolff. Although this is copy number 155, it has been signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket. [#915719] $400

NY, Knopf, 1996. A collection of short fiction. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket. This is the full collection, not the limited advance edition that printed only the title story. [#915724] $50

Derry & Ridgewood, Babcock & Koontz, (1989). A short story printed in a handsome limited edition by the Coffee House Press. With a frontispiece illustration by Gaylord Schanilec. Of a total edition of 240 copies, this is one of 200 numbered copies signed by the author. Clothbound, fine without dust jacket, as issued. The first limited edition by the author of This Boy's Life, The Barracks Thief, and others. [#915717] SOLD

Derry & Ridgewood, Babcock & Koontz, (1989). A short story printed in a handsome limited edition by the Coffee House Press. With a frontispiece illustration by Gaylord Schanilec. Of a total edition of 240 copies, this is one of 40 Roman-numeraled copies signed by the author and the artist. Fine without dust jacket, as issued. [#915718] SOLD

(NY), Delacorte, (1984). The uncorrected proof copy of his next-to-last novel. Uncommon, especially compared to the proof of his preceding novel, Liars in Love. Tiny numbers in the upper corner of about a half dozen pages throughout the book seem to be marking some kind of countdown (+:22, -2:00, -1:50, -1:30, -1:20, -1:00). The number 10 is written on the spine crown; handling apparent to covers, otherwise a near fine copy in wrappers. [#032840] SOLD