(n.p.), (n.p.), ca. 1989. A photocopied typescript of an early draft of Pynchon's first novel after Gravity's Rainbow: a span of seventeen years had passed by the time Vineland was finally published. 519 double-spaced pages, with textual variations from the published version. This version of the manuscript reportedly dates from a period about a year before the book was published in February, 1990. It represents a version of the text that is markedly different from that which was published and is an exceptional rarity in that regard. Pynchon reportedly insisted that no proofs or advance reading copies be done of this title, and the only printed pre-publication states that exist are a handful of f&g's (folded and gathered sheets) of the first edition and copies of the published edition that had a promotional sheet inserted. This version of the manuscript, which Pynchon apparently rewrote considerably, was never produced in printed form. From the very first sentence to the very last sentence, there are major, substantive differences between this draft and the text of the published volume. Reportedly, five copies of this draft were photocopied, double-sided, and bound with a cardstock cover; we know of two copies of these loose sheets, printed on rectos only, which presumably would have preceded the double-sided bound copies. This set shows signs of having been read: the top sheet is slightly creased and worn, and the edges of the pages are a bit dust-soiled and slightly rough. Overall, the condition is near fine. We sold this set in 1999 and bought it back this year: no copies have been made of it, by our buyer or ourselves. While only a photocopy, this is doubtless the most textually significant Pynchon item we have ever seen offered on the market, and copies of this draft are likely to be scarcer than any of the proofs of any of Pynchon's other books. Basis for the acclaimed 2025 Paul Thomas Anderson film One Battle After Another, by consensus the most successful film adaptation to date of a Pynchon novel. [#036650] $10,000