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(n.p.), (n.p.), 1961/1962. Mimeographed typescripts of two one-act plays, which were collected in his 1962 volume entitled Children is All. Inscribed by Purdy on the title page of Cracks to the poet Quentin Stevenson "with the sincere admiration of James" and additionally signed, James Purdy. Purdy was a controversial author whose works explored gay themes at a time when this was taboo; his popularity and critical reception suffered as a result, but many of his more celebrated contemporaries considered him a genius and a great writer, among them being Tennessee Williams (who wrote a blurb for the book publication of Children is All); Edward Albee (who produced Purdy's play Malcolm); and Gore Vidal, who called him "an authentic American genius" and wrote in the New York Times article entitled "James Purdy: The Novelist as Outlaw" that "Some writers do not gain wide acceptance because their work is genuinely disturbing. Purdy is one of them." As best we can determine, OCLC lists only two copies of the former typescript and one of the latter in institutional collections. Another collection lists "photocopies" of these two plays, but these productions predate plain paper photocopying. Children is All (1961) runs 41 pages; Cracks (1962) runs 16 pages. Each is near fine; stapled in the upper left corner. Scarce works by a writer Jonathan Franzen called "one of the most undervalued and underread writers in America." [#031486] $1,500

NY, William Morrow & Co., (1997). Advance Reading Copy. Very Good in wrappers. [#707899] $20

NY, Viking Press, (1981). Advance Uncorrected Proof. Very Good in wrappers. [#707903] $20

NY, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, (1987). Advance Uncorrected Proof. Very Good in wrappers. Slight crease to cover. [#707905] $20

Garden City, NY, Doubleday, 1974. Very Good in Very Good DJ. Remainder spray on bottom edge. [#707906] $20