Elmwood, Raven Editions, 1988. One of only 14 presentation copies of this roughly 10,000 word essay on the arc of Ford's mother's life and their relationship, a shorter version of which had appeared in Harper's. Issued in a total edition of 140 copies, only 40 of which were hardbound: 26 lettered copies and 14 presentation copies. This, Copy No. 3 of the 14 presentation copies, is signed by Ford, and with a frontispiece by noted artist Russell Chatham, hand-shaded and signed by Chatham as well. Although not called for, this copy is signed twice by Ford, once on the colophon and once on the half-title. Designed and printed letterpress by Carol Blinn at Warwick Press. Hand-bound in quarter leather and decorated paste paper over boards. Nearly imperceptible bowing to boards; very near fine.
[#028916]$2,000
Elmwood, Raven Editions, 1988. A limited edition of this essay, a shorter version of which had appeared in Harper's. Issued in a total edition of 140 copies, of which only 40 were hardbound: 26 lettered copies and 14 presentation copies. This is number 10 of 14 presentation copies signed by the author, with a frontispiece by noted artist Russell Chatham, hand-shaded and signed by Chatham as well. Designed and printed letterpress by Carol Blinn at Warwick Press. Hand-bound in quarter leather and decorated paste paper over boards. A fine copy of a beautiful production.
[#911170]$2,000
Los Angeles, 20th Century Fox, 1940. The revised shooting final screenplay, dated December 15, 1939, although with 24 pages of colored inserts dating from January and February, 1940. Machine stamped "copy #1," belonging to the producer Darryl F. Zanuck. This was one of the two screenplays that O'Hara worked on from September to December 1939 and shared screenplay credits for, in this case with Karl Tunberg and Don Ettlinger. The movie was produced by Zanuck, and starred Vera Zorina, Erich von Stroheim and Peter Lorre. Quarto; mimeographed pages with blue revision sheets inserted. Near fine in printed studio wrappers. Rare.
[#025153]$2,000
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 the front cover and several abrasions or scrapes to the spine; a good copy in a very good, later issue mailing box, being the red, pink, and navy issue, listing 96 cartoons.
[#035616]$2,000
[c. 1990]. Two typescript drafts of Edgerton's fourth novel. One draft is warmly inscribed by Edgerton to Dudley Jahnke "with greatest appreciation for your help in the book business -- and music business -- and all else" and dated "28 March 90." Killer Diller deals with a struggling musician who forms the Killer Diller Blues Band, thus the reference to Jahnke's help with the "music business." Comb-bound in cardstock covers and titled in Edgerton's hand. This draft reproduces a number of the author's changes, which are especially heavy at the beginning of the book. A note in Edgerton's hand on the first page states that "The copy gets cleaner in a few pages." Near fine. The other draft, approximately 250 loose photocopied sheets from a dot matrix printer original, reproduces heavy editing by "SR," with SR's title page. This draft differs substantially from the bound draft, and the opening of the book [at least] is entirely different. Fine. Together with an envelope, hand-addressed by Edgerton to Dudley Jahnke, the recipient of both drafts. The novel, in a form that varies from both drafts above, was published by Algonquin Books in 1991. It was the basis for a limited release film in 2004 which won an award at the Heartland Film Festival. Edgerton, in addition to being a Guggenheim Fellow, has won the North Carolina Award for Literature. An interesting look at a work-in-progress by an important North Carolina author.
[#027598]$1,750
[Eugene], University of Oregon, 1954-57. Four volumes: Kesey's college yearbooks for his four years at the University of Oregon, where he would later teach a graduate writing course, and where his archive resides. In Oregana '54, Kesey is pictured as a member of Stizer Hall, as a member of the freshman wrestling team, and at the WRA Festival. Rubbing to the edges; very good. Oregana '55 pictures Kesey as a member of Skull and Dagger, in the shadows of a stage production, and as a member of Beta Theta Pi. Some foxing and mustiness; very good. In Oregana '56, Kesey is pictured as a member of the Druids (an organization of the most outstanding men in the junior class); a member of the Order of the O (charged with enforcing campus traditions); a columnist for the Oregon Daily Emerald; a cast member of Macbeth; a member of Beta Theta Pi (a mark on this page reverses the names of two rows of men); and a member of the wrestling team. Minor foxing to covers; near fine. Lastly, his senior yearbook (Oregana '57), shows Kesey as a member of the wrestling team and as a narrator in a "Vodvil" skit. It's uncommon to encounter a complete set of these yearbooks; we've had such a set only once before. A few stains to rear endpages, some rubbing to covers; overall very good.
[#032927]$1,750
(Jamaica), (Jamaica High School), (1928). The final issue of The Oracle that Bowles would appear in, before graduating from Jamaica High School. Contains (from Jeffrey Miller's bibliography) C41-C43: two poems ("Tailpiece" and "Spire Song") and a credit as editor of the Poet's Corner. In addition, there are multiple references to Bowles throughout: lines describing his academic career; a prophecy for his future (he also chaired the prophecy committee, so perhaps wrote his own prophecy); a class chart that claims Bowles is a day dreamer who thinks he is a poet, would like to be a "futuristic artist," is often seen with a dazed expression, and whose hobby is literature. His class photo appears on page 11. There is a page for autographs that has one signature; the innermost pages have separated from the staples and are laid in. Edge-sunning to covers; very good in stapled wrappers.
[#036213]$1,500
1982. A typed letter signed by Butler to poet Tom Clark, regarding Clark's review of Butler's first book. In 1981, Butler, who would later win the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for his collection A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain, published his first book, The Alleys of Eden. It was reviewed by Clark in the February 11, 1982 Los Angeles Times, with the headline "Vietnamization of a Deserter's Mind." On May 12, Butler wrote to Clark, saying, in part: "I have received twenty major reviews of the book but none of them was more sensitive or insightful than yours. The best literary criticism actually explains an author to himself. That's what your review did. I understand my own book better after reading your review and I want to thank you for that." The letter is signed "Bob Butler." Included here is Clark's original, 3-page manuscript review, signed by Clark: "...Desertion, Butler seems to say, is an inevitable act, made necessary by the human state. Every small movement is an abandonment of the past, with death looming over everything as the greatest desertion of all..." Clark's review makes it clear that Butler's protagonist -- an Army intelligence officer who ends up deserting out of self-disgust over his involvement in the torture and death of a Viet Cong prisoner -- is an analogue for the larger society, which deserted both Vietnam and those who fought there, leaving both the Vietnamese and the veterans as "displaced persons," in both countries. Clark's review is penned on the back of copies from a book about Celine and folded in half; near fine. A photocopy of the published review is included, as is a first edition of the book [NY: Horizon (1981)], which is fine in a near fine dust jacket. Butler's letter is folded for mailing; else fine in a near fine envelope. An insightful review of one of the best novels to come out of the Vietnam war, and the author's appreciative response.
[#024022]$1,500
Kingston, Kingston Publishers, (1992). The true first (Jamaican) edition of Campbell's autobiography which deals, to a great degree, with the obscenity case brought against him and the Two Live Crew for their lyrics on their album "As Nasty as They Wanna Be." The album was declared obscene and illegal to sell; Campbell and two others were arrested after performing songs from the album at a club in Florida. They were acquitted after Henry Louis Gates, Jr., among others, spoke on behalf of their lyrics. This book was published in Kingston, Jamaica, with a "Parental Advisory" notice on its cover, because it was thought that it might not be publishable by an American publisher. When it was finally published in America, after the trial and appeal had ended, it became a bestseller, but the Jamaican edition, which is the true first, is scarce. OCLC lists only 6 copies of the Kingston edition. Light wear to spine and corners; near fine in wrappers.
[#034789]$1,500