Search Results, p. 2

NY, Viking, (1983). An author's copy of his controversial and suppressed book about the confrontation between American Indian activists and the FBI in the early Seventies at Pine Ridge Reservation near Wounded Knee that left two federal agents and one Indian dead, and resulted in AIM activist Leonard Peltier being imprisoned for life, convicted of the agents' murder in a case that Matthiessen describes as rife with government malfeasance. Matthiessen, his publisher, and even some bookstores who had stocked the book were the targets of lawsuits brought by two government officials who claimed they were slandered by the hard-hitting book, which made no bones about its advocacy of the Indians' case. Until a landmark Supreme Court decision upholding Matthiessen's (and Viking's) First Amendment rights, the book was shelved with remaining copies of it being pulped; paperback publication, as well as foreign publication, were blocked for nearly a decade. A significant volume, both for the incendiary nature of its content, as well as the First Amendment battle surrounding its publication and suppression. This copy is from Matthiessen's own library. A little Long Island foxing in evidence; near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Letter of provenance available. [#031447] $150

Norwalk, Easton Press, 1997. One of the author's own copies of the leatherbound limited edition of the second novel in the Watson Trilogy, which later became Shadow Country. Unmarked, but from the library of Peter Matthiessen. Shrink-wrapped. Fine. [#032013] $150

NY, Viking, 1961. A chronicle of a trip through the Amazon wilderness, Matthiessen's second book of nonfiction and the first of his numerous personal accounts of travel and exploration, with which he carved out a unique position in American literature. Signed by the author. Fine in a very good, tanned dust jacket, with rubbing to the joints. [#033183] $150

NY, Dutton, 1972. A nonfiction book about Africa, with text by Matthiessen and photographs by Eliot Porter. Signed by Matthiessen and from the author's own library. This is the correct first edition, in brown cloth, in the first issue dust jacket with both the $17.50 price and the introductory $14.95 price, good until October 25, 1972. After the date mentioned, the first issue jackets were clipped so that only the higher price showed; later jackets were unclipped and only had the higher price. This copy is foxed and has a slice-line down the front cloth; a very good copy in a fair, fully sliced dust jacket, now taped back together: very likely sliced when boxed. [#032053] $150

Shelburne, Chapters, (1994). First thus, a paperback edition of his 1973 book, which was itself taken from the text of his 1967 classic Shorebirds of North America. This is Matthiessen's own copy, with a handful of pages bracketed, as though for a reading, and one typo corrected in the epigraph. Near fine in wrappers. [#032383] $150

Paris, Garnier, (1937). Two volumes, rebound in leather. From the library of Peter Matthiessen, and stamped on the spine with the titles, volume number (I and II), "Paris," and the name "D. Love," Matthiessen's second wife. Leather drying on spine; about near fine. [#032387] $150

NY, Random House, (1982). The uncorrected proof copy. From the library of Peter Matthiessen and with his markings and a few notes in the text and on the rear cover, and with the author's address written in a different hand on the "About the Author" page. Several of Matthiessen's annotations mark passages referring to legendary Sioux leader Crazy Horse; Matthiessen's book about the Wounded Knee siege, In the Spirit of Crazy Horse, was published the previous year. Very good in wrappers. [#032410] $150

(Toronto), Stoddart, (1998). Second printing of this collection of essays on economics, environment, and sustainability. Inscribed by the author to Peter Matthiessen and with Matthiessen's markings and notations throughout. Very good in wrappers. [#032432] $150

Norwalk, Easton Press, 2001. A leatherbound limited edition, signed by the author. Unmarked, but from the library of Peter Matthiessen. Still shrink-wrapped; fine. [#032004] $125

Philadelphia, Lippincott/National Audubon Society, (1976). Selections from Audubon magazine, including Matthiessen's piece on the Galapagos. Inscribed to Peter Matthiessen "in appreciation" by the editor, Les Line. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. [#032404] $125

(San Francisco), Sierra Club Books, (1997). The limited edition of this book on the "Legend and Lore of the Great Cat." Copy No. 33 of 500 copies; this copy from Matthiessen's own library. Signed by the editor, Maurice Hornocker. Matthiessen's contribution is an excerpt from his book Tigers in the Snow. Fine in a fine dust jacket. [#032429] $125
On Sale: $81

Bristol, Ampersand, (1984). Matthiessen's first book of short fiction, a collection of stories that date from the Fifties and early Sixties. Printed by a small press at a college in Rhode Island. There were a few special copies being bound in hard covers for people involved with the project; but for the trade, this title was only issued in wrappers. Unmarked, but from the library of Peter Matthiessen. Near fine in wrappers. [#032016] $125

NY, Seven Stories Press, (2012). An anthology, edited by Banerjee. Includes Matthiessen's "In the Great Country," which was first published in Banerjee's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Seasons of Life and Land in 2003. Inscribed by Banerjee to Peter [Matthiessen] and his wife, "with fond memories of our time in the Arctic and Brussels." Banerjee and Matthiessen traveled together to Arctic Alaska three times, and also met at a UNEP climate change symposium in Brussels. Trace edge-sunning; very near fine in a fine dust jacket. [#032092] $125

NY, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, (2008). An exhibition catalog of Arctic landscapes by photographer and ecological activist Subhanker Banerjee, with an introduction by Matthiessen. Inscribed by Banerjee to Matthiessen and his wife, and with a full page autograph letter signed laid in, in which Banerjee expresses deep gratitude for the introduction. Fine, in oblong self-wrappers. Press release laid in. [#032089] $125

Wheaton, Quest Books, (1995). Inscribed by the author to Peter Matthiessen: "Thank you for endorsing my book. I hope to meet you some day." Matthiessen has a blurb on the front flap: "An unusually stimulating and exhilarating book, of profound value to those seeking to clarify the essential nature of everyday existence -- in short, all of us." Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. [#032426] $125

Boulder, Johnson Books, (2003). An investigative account of an egregious case of environmental degradation and the poisoning of thousands of workers by the W.R. Grace Corporation in Libby, Montana, the site of a vermiculite mine that was heavily tainted with asbestos. From the library of Peter Matthiessen. With a two-paragraph blurb of advance praise from Matthiessen, and with a letter from the publisher laid in expressing gratitude and conveying that "of all the copies we sent out, your response [meant] the most to [Peacock]." Fine in wrappers. [#032439] $125

Santa Barbara, Capra Press, 1986. Inscribed by Paulson to Peter [Matthiessen]: "who understands what's at stake! Please help lift our book high enough into the international spotlight so it can fly on its impressive inner strength." Matthiessen, one of more than 100 contributors, has two paragraphs in the "Problem" section. In part: "I can not be optimistic about the future so long as we put second-rate people of stunted vision and no imagination in high office." Near fine in wrappers. [#032414] $100

(Sag Harbor), Canio's Editions, (1997). Poetry, by a writer with experience as both a commercial and sportfishing boat captain. Inscribed by the author to Peter [Matthiessen] and his wife. Matthiessen has provided a blurb for the rear cover. [#032430] $100

NY, Talese/Doubleday, (2008). His fourth novel. Warmly inscribed by the author to Peter [Matthiessen] who has provided a blurb for the dust jacket, calling the book "fascinating and moving" and "a rare novel, wonderfully researched and beautifully written." Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. [#032442] $100

NY, Counterpoint, (2003). A novel of the jazz age, the author's first work of fiction. Inscribed by the author to Peter [Matthiessen], "whose early enthusiasm for this came at a very good time for its author." Matthiessen's blurb for the book appears on the rear panel: "....many moving and exciting episodes and wonderful period detail." Other blurbs from Jim Harrison, Paul Winter, and W.S. Merwin. Bump to rear foredge of board; near fine in a near fine dust jacket. [#032440] $100

NY, Farrar Straus Giroux/Michael Di Capua, (1988). From the library of Peter Matthiessen. "Compliments of the Author" card laid in, along with a typed note signed by the publisher, Michael Di Capua, requesting comment. A Matthiessen blurb for Woiwode's earlier book, Poppa John, appears on the back of the dust jacket. Foxing to top edge; near fine in a near fine, internally foxed dust jacket. [#032415] $100

NY, Norton, (2012). From the library of Peter Matthiessen, who provided a blurb for the back of the dust jacket, in part: "...credit is at long last given to those who deserve it most." Fine in a very near fine dust jacket with just a crimp to the crown. [#032447] $100

London, Harvill Press, (2000). First thus, collecting The Tree Where Man Was Born; African Silences; and Sand Rivers, with an introduction by Matthiessen for this edition. Unmarked, but from the library of Peter Matthiessen. Near fine in wrappers. [#032005] $80

NY, Random House, (1965). Matthiessen's own copy of the advance reading copy of his fourth novel. Nominated for the National Book Award and filmed nearly thirty years later, a tale of various Americans with widely divergent aims whose actions all have unintended effects on a tribe of Stone Age Amazonian Indians. This was the first fictional treatment of one of the themes that has dominated Matthiessen's writings, both fiction and nonfiction, over the last 30 years -- the impact of Europeans on the environment and the indigenous cultures living in relative harmony with it, from a perspective that combines the political, cultural and spiritual. Unmarked, but from Matthiessen's library. Foxing to endpages and page edges; spine creased, with an additional crease to the rear cover; a good copy in wrappers. [#032002] $80

NY, Viking, 1961. Matthiessen's fourth book, third novel. Unmarked, but from the library of Peter Matthiessen. Foxing; offsetting to endpages; top stain faded. Very good in a very good dust jacket. [#032033] $80

NY, Bantam, (1957). The first Bantam paperback printing of his first novel, published as Race Rock in 1954. Unmarked, but from the library of Peter Matthiessen. Spine creased, pages browning, one small edge tear; very good in wrappers. [#032031] $80

Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1989. The uncorrected proof copy. From Matthiessen's library and including his contribution from The Wind Birds. Spine-sunned; very good in wrappers. [#032416] $70

Nacogdoches, Stephen F. Austin State University, 1989. Matthiessen is interviewed by Paul Rea. This copy is from Matthiessen's library; a two-page letter to Matthiessen from the editor, Lee Schulz, is laid in. Near fine in wrappers. [#032072] $60

(Saint Amand), Gallimard, (1967). The first French edition of his third book of nonfiction, recounting the Harvard-Peabody Expedition to New Guinea to study one of the last "stone age" tribes on the planet, which had been entirely free from contact with Westerners or the artifacts of industrial society. Unmarked, but from the library of Peter Matthiessen. A review copy, with "S P" on the rear cover. Very good in wrappers. [#032062] $60

Washington, D.C., National Geographic, (2003). The advance reading copy of this account of a trip through the islands surrounding Antarctica on a research vessel. An uncommon advance copy, this being from the author's own library. Covers rubbed; near fine in wrappers. [#033202] $50