NY, Dodd, Mead, (1951). John Barth's copy of this scarce John Burroughs Medal-winning account of the Chesapeake Bay. Signed by Barth and with his address stamp on the front flyleaf. Laid in is a 1954 typed letter signed from Klingel to Barth, thanking Barth for the letter he had written to Klingel about the book and telling Barth to "Please feel free to use any material in the way of information you wish." Klingel adds a long paragraph weighing the merits of various specific coastal regions against Barth's (here unstated) needs. Barth's first novel, The Floating Opera, was published in 1956 and featured a fictionalized version of The James Adams Floating Theatre, which toured the Chesapeake Bay from 1914 to 1941. One page is flagged with a turned corner; several pages have a bit of extra paper due to a production flaw. Spotting to top stain; a very good copy in a very good, price-clipped dust jacket with several small edge chips and a strip of dampstaining at the lower rear edge. The letter is folded in sixths and near fine. Apparent source material for Barth's first book, signed, and with the accompanying rare signature of a John Burroughs Medal-winning author. [#033601] SOLD