Weekly Sale

[Washington, DC], [U.S. Air Force Lithograph Series], [1985]. Number 36 in the U.S. Airforce Lithograph Series. Two images of an American aviator with a stylized map of Vietnam between the two. In the image on the left, the flyer is in uniform; on the right he is dressed in the garb of a POW. "I am an American fighting man" are the first words to the Code of Conduct for the U.S. Fighting Man. Much of that code of conduct concerns what his behavior will be if he becomes a prisoner of war. Number 201 of 500 copies signed by the artist, Jay Ashurst. The artist's printed signature is on the lithograph; the numbered edition has the actual signature in addition. This copy is also signed by four high-profile Vietnam POWs: Brigadier General Robinson "Robbie" Risner, USAF; Colonel Carlyle "Smitty" Harris, USAF; Captain Eugene "Red" McDaniel, USN; and Colonel Warren "Bob" Lilly, USAF. All four were aviators who were shot down and captured and served long terms in North Vietnamese prisons -- three of them over seven years, the fourth just under six. Despite the relatively large limitation, we have found little evidence of copies being available; a copy such as this, signed by four prominent, high-ranking former POWs, is by all appearances exceedingly scarce. The provenance and the names of the POWs have been detailed on the verso. 16" x 20". Very small, shallow stain top margin, one nick along bottom edge, else fine, in original mailing envelope that now bears a bookseller's mailing label. [#031529] $565
$396

Buenos Aires, Goyanarte, (1956). A novel based on the US-backed overthrow of the Arbenz government in Guatemala in 1954 -- a Cold War-related move against a left-leaning nationalist government that did much to set the stage for the next three decades of tensions between the U.S. and the various Central American republics. Asturias, for his open criticism of Yanqui interventionism, was awarded the Lenin Peace Prize in 1966 -- the highest such honor conferred in the old U.S.S.R. The following year--in what may be construed as a battle for the hearts and minds of his constituency -- he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, the West's highest international honor. A major novel by one of the most important writers of the postwar era, whose ability to integrate indigenous myths and social protest was a major accomplishment that helped shape the contemporary Latin American novel. Abrasions to front flyleaf and front cover; ink marks to three pages of text; some wear to top edge and creasing to spine; still a respectable copy in self-wraps. [#007850] $265
$172

Garden City, Doubleday, 1968. The limited edition of Barth's innovative fifth book, his first that was not a novel. This is a collection of "fiction for print, tape, live voice." Number 44 of 250 numbered copies signed by the author. Fine in a fine slipcase. [#911339] $175
$114

NY, Viking, (1975). His eighth novel, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the title published just before he received the Nobel Prize. Also nominated for the National Book Award. One of an unspecified number of copies signed by the author on a tipped-in leaf, done for Kroch's and Brentano's First Edition Circle. Fine in a fine dust jacket -- bright, unworn and unfaded. A poorly manufactured volume, which is perfectbound and uses cheap paper, making attractive copies of this title much scarcer than one would expect. [#911160] $1,000
$700

1988. An original drawing by Wilson for Burroughs' 1989 book Tornado Alley. This image was included in the exhibition "Ports of Entry: William Burroughs and the Arts" that was mounted by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 1996, and it is reproduced on page 140 of the exhibition catalog. Interestingly, the illustration in the book does not show some of the work that Wilson did, as it was done using nonrepro blue pencil which does not show up when photographed: Wilson's edits didn't appear in Tornado Alley and they don't appear in Ports of Entry, but they are quite visible in the work itself. Wilson, one of the great artists of the underground comix of the 1960s and beyond, whom R. Crumb has said was a major influence on Crumb's own work, collaborated with Burroughs on a number of projects. This is not only a significant work of art, and a significant association with Burroughs, but it is also signed by Wilson, who has added, "To Nelson" next to his signature: Wilson gave this work to his friend Nelson Lyon, who loaned it to the exhibition and is listed in the book as one of the lenders to the exhibit. This is, in effect, a three-way association: Nelson Lyon was the co-producer of Burroughs' Dead City Radio, a 1990 album of Burroughs reading his work (including pieces from Tornado Alley) against a background of experimental music by various artists. 9-3/4" x 6-3/4". Matted and framed. Fine. A notable association copy, and an artifact of one of the great collaborations that Burroughs engaged in. [#028091] $7,500
$5,625

(Santa Cruz), (Kayak), (1970). Carver's first regularly published book, a collection of poems, issued in an attractive edition of 1000 copies designed and printed by George Hitchcock and illustrated with prints by Robert McChesney. Bound in yellow wrappers printed in green. (A few copies were bound in white wrappers printed in green.) Signed by the author. Fine. [#912361] $750
$525

NY, Holt Rinehart Winston, (1971). The uncorrected proof copy. Signed by the author. Tall, comb-bound galley sheets. Edge-tanned, else fine. [#031230] $115
$75

Franklin Center, Franklin Library, 1987. By general consensus, Chatwin's best book -- a "novel of ideas," as the publisher puts it, of Australian aborigines, and the questions about man that arise from the vast gulf that separates the culture of contemporary, Western civilized man from that of the wandering tribes of Australia, whose "dream tracks" or "songlines" delineate both a physical and a psychic geography. The correct first American edition, published by the Franklin Library for subscribers as part of their Signed First Editions series. An attractively designed book, in black leather stamped in brown and gold, in a pattern suggestive of the Australian aborigines' "songlines" that give the book its title. With a special introduction for this edition, which does not appear anywhere else. Signed by the author. Chatwin's signature is uncommon; reclusive while alive, he died three years after the publication of this book, at the age of 49. Fine, in the publisher's original shrinkwrap. [#004547] $40
$20

Princeton, Kitchen Sink Press, 1991. The sixth issue of this alternative comics anthology, signed by contributors Doug Allen, Skip Williamson, John Petrie, Daniel Gillespie Clowes, and Monte Beauchamp. The theme of this issue is alcohol and alcoholism, with illustrated stories and comics by more than a dozen writers and artists. Clowes illustrated Petrie's and Beauchamp's piece on alcoholic cartoonists -- an early work for him. Light general wear; near fine in wrappers. [#033208] $150
$98

[Seattle], Incunabla, 2007. The lettered limited edition of this poster, a broadside excerpt from Crowley's 1981 novel Little, Big, issued in conjunction with what was to be the 25th anniversary edition of Crowley's World Fantasy Award-winner, which is still a work-in-progress and has yet to be published. A 24" x 37" poster, with art by Peter Milton, whose haunting drawings, etchings, engravings and prints are to grace the new edition. When Little, Big was first published, Ursula Le Guin famously wrote that "all by itself it calls for a redefinition of fantasy"; Thomas Disch called it "the greatest fantasy novel ever." The literary critic Harold Bloom listed three books by John Crowley, including Little, Big, in his book The Western Canon. Bloom is listed as providing an introduction to the anniversary edition of the novel. One can get a sense, from this poster, of the aesthetic of the anniversary volume. One of 26 lettered copies, this being letter "L," signed by John Crowley, artist Peter Milton, editor John Drummond and book designer John D. Berry. Rolled; else fine. A scarce artifact of a prolonged publishing project and labor of love, associated with one of the best-loved and most highly regarded fantasy novels of all time. [#029580] $750
$525

Elmwood, Raven Editions, 1987. The first separate edition of this story by Dubus, expanded from its magazine publication back to its original length. An attractive limited edition, designed and printed by Carol Blinn of Warwick Press. Copy No. 34 of 60 numbered copies, of a total edition of 70 copies signed by the author. Unmarked, but from the library of Robert Stone. Fine, without dust jacket, as issued. [#033672] $500
$325

Gorham/Portland, [University of Southern Maine], 1971. Poster advertising two dates for a showing of a film "featuring a history of experimental cartoon work and animation" by Charley Murphy and Stan Vanderbeek, and "a new film by Kenneth Anger," plus a "surprise film." 14-1/2" x 16". Black on gold; near fine. [#033333] $100
$65

Gorham/Portland, [University of Southern Maine], 1971. Poster advertising two showings of films by Kenneth Anger, Harry Smith, Stan Brakhage, Ed Emshwiller, and "one unannounced film on an American Mythical Event," to be held on two campuses of the University of Southern Maine. Anger's films were his landmark Scorpio Rising and his 1969 Invocation of My Demon Brother, which had a soundtrack by Mick Jagger and won a Film Culture award in 1970 for best experimental film. Brakhage's films included the Dog Star Man sequence and two others from the early 1960s, one of which includes a typo in its title ("Theigh" instead of "Thigh"). 19" x 24". An attractive and compelling design, four color on what we believe to be the more common white background; near fine. [#033336] $125
$81

NY, McGraw-Hill, (1965). His third book, a novel. Inscribed by the author. Very good in a very good dust jacket. An early book by this writer whose first novel was a Houghton Mifflin Literary Fellowship Award winner. [#029317] $60
$30

NY, McGraw-Hill, (1965). The first trade edition of the author's third book, from the author's own library and signed by him. Near fine in a fine dust jacket. [#033463] $200
$130

NY, Dutton, (1978). The second issue of the uncorrected proof copy, in tall green wrappers. Erasures and label removal shadow on the front cover; small label affixed to spine; near fine. Not as scarce as the mustard-colored proof, but many times scarcer than the white advance reading copy. [#032782] $1,000
$700

Middleton, Wesleyan University Press, (1980). The author's first book, poetry in the Wesleyan series, this being the hardcover issue. Warmly inscribed by the author to his then-wife, the poet Ai (although the address used is "darling"). Fine in a very good dust jacket. [#012867] $60
$30

NY, HBO/Cannon Video, (n.d). The 1975 Academy Award-winning movie based on Kesey's novel, in VHS format. Signed by Kesey on the case, over the picture of Jack Nicholson, who himself won an Academy Award for the lead role. The placement of the signature may have been a statement on Kesey's part: he was known to have strongly opposed the casting of Nicholson as McMurphy (thinking a more physically imposing actor, such as Gene Hackman, would have been more appropriate), and he reportedly considered having his own name taken off the movie in protest. Kesey's son, Zane, said that this was the only copy of the movie he had ever heard of being signed by his father, because of how thoroughly unhappy he was with the film. Fine in a very good, rubbed case, with a small sticker removal abrasion. [#028935] $750
$525

(Prague), Odeon, (1979). A Czech edition. A little edge-toning; near fine in a very good, rubbed dust jacket with light edge creasing. [#023513] $40
$20

(n.p.), Grand Street, (n.d.). Offprint from the literary journal Grand Street, inscribed by the author to Pauline Kael, "with gratitude, respect, admiration, and _____ (fill in the blank)" and dated January, 1991. Klawans was the longtime film reviewer for The Nation, winner of a National Magazine Award for his reviews, and author of Film Follies: Cinema Out of Order and Left in the Dark, a collection of reviews. Slight wear; near fine in stapled wrappers. [#034560] $50
$25

(NY), Signet, (2002). The uncorrected proof copy of this mass market paperback original -- horror fiction, with no fewer than five appearances of Stephen King comments about Little's books on the covers and the inside pages, as well as blurbs or review excerpts by Dean Koontz, Richard Laymon, and others. An unread copy, with a hint of a binding crease to the rear panel, else fine in wrappers. [#033479] $45
$23

Seattle, Jawbone Press, 1981. One of 50 hardcover copies, of a total edition of 1000. This copy is signed by the author. Fine, without dust jacket, as issued. [#913625] $100
$65

San Francisco, Arion Press, 1992. A limited edition of the title essay from The Cabin. One of 500 copies. This copy is warmly inscribed by Mamet in 1996 "with all appreciation for your granting me a most lovely weekend at Dartmouth." Fine in self-wrappers. [#021641] $170
$111

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] $95
$48

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] $60
$30

London, Gollancz, (2017). The advance reading copy of McAuley's science fiction novel of a genetically-edited woman hiding out with a hostage in the newly established Antarctic Peninsula, in a world where the climate has changed dramatically faster than the politics of power, ethnicity or gender. Signed by McAuley. Fine in wrappers, with an announcement for the book signing laid in. [#033888] $100
$65

(Thomaston), (Northwoods), (1984). Inscribed by the author to Peter [Matthiessen] in 1994: "Here's why I gave up on poems and cast my lot with fiction." Fine in wrappers. [#032102] $40
$20

1958. An autograph letter signed from Miller to editor and publisher Pascal (Pat) Covici, regarding R.K. Narayan's book The Guide. A full page, plus one margin, of Miller's writing in pencil, praising Narayan's book and asking about others. Two passages are bracketed in red, presumably by Covici, and marked "excerpt." In the second of these, Miller writes, "I was amazed that a man of his world could exhibit such a modern technique. To boot, he's a born story teller. With a fine sense of the tragi-comic." Dated in Big Sur, 6/13/58. Another hand has added, "File H. Miller." Browned, else fine. Good literary content. [#033645] $500
$325

NY, Knopf, 1972. Acclaimed first book by this Pulitzer Prize-winning author. Fine in a very near fine dust jacket with just a faint label removal shadow to the front cover and a touch of dustiness to the rear white panel. [#915381] $175
$114

(Thetford), Self-Published, (2001). The uncorrected proof copy, published by Nichols himself in an edition of 100 copies. Inscribed by the author to Peter Matthiessen and with an autograph note signed laid in, written across the top of a photocopied letter to friends about the writing of the work. This proof covers "Part One - Revised" and "Beginning Part Two." As best as we can tell, Simple Gifts remains unpublished. Nichols died in 2010. The Vermont author was a neighbor and friend of Grace Paley and of Peter Schumann, the founder and director of the Bread and Puppet Theater. The letter is folded and near fine; the proof is fine in wrappers. [#032506] $190
$124

NY, Norton, (1995). The uncorrected proof copy of the first American edition of this nonfiction overview of life in the 18th century British navy, intended in part as a companion volume to his Aubrey/Maturin series. Small thin quarto, heavily illustrated (although the proof reproductions are of poor quality). One slight corner crease; else fine in wrappers. [#014909] $40
$20

(n.p.), Midnight Paper Sales/Fox Run Press, 2004. An excerpt from Ondaatje's novel Anil's Ghost, printed in an edition of 200 copies as a benefit for Sri Lankan tsunami victims. "Arranged" by Ondaatje, Schanilec and See from Ondaatje's text and an image inspired by a drawing by Anicka Schanilec. Signed by Ondaatje, Schanilec, and See. One sheet folded to make four pages. 7" x 3-1/2". Fine. An elegant and uncommon item. [#033524] $300
$195

(London), Faber and Faber, (2003). The advance reading copy of his Guardian Prize- and Booker Prize-winning first novel. Extremely slight corner bump; still fine in wrappers. [#024593] $60
$30

London, Heinemann, (2001). The uncorrected proof copy of the British edition. Fine in wrappers. [#911899] $100
$65

NY, Scribner's, (1992). The uncorrected proof copy of her second book of fiction and first novel. Winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award. Fine in wrappers. [#911919] $500
$325

Los Angeles, Bauer Benedek, (1987). Photocopied screenplay for the spooky thriller directed by John Schlesinger, who also did The Day of the Locust, Marathon Man, The Falcon and the Snowman and others. In an agency binder, with a cover letter from the agency to a novelist laid in. Fine. [#019022] $95
$48

[NY], [Bantam], [1990]. Point of sale display for this title. (No book included.) Cover art: 14" x 16" at longest point, meant to attach to display rack. Rubbed, mild edge wear; near fine. Suitable for framing if cropped. [#023606] $60
$30

NY, Simon & Schuster, (1993). Harold Bloom's copy of the uncorrected proof copy of Roth's novel, winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award and Time magazine's Book of the Year; also voted one of the best works of American fiction in a quarter century in a New York Times Book Review survey. Bloom is perhaps most famous for his controversial book The Western Canon, which argued against "the Balkanization of literary studies" and presented an exhaustive list of what he considered to comprise the canon. Six Philip Roth books made it onto Bloom's list, including this title. With a typed note signed by Roth, from two years prior, laid in, in which Roth raves to Bloom about Douglas Hobbie's first novel, Boomfell. The note is folded, else fine. The proof has Bloom's notations on the front cover and summary page; handling apparent to covers; very good in wrappers. A good association copy between one of the leading novelists of his time and one of the leading critics of the day. [#032317] $1,500
$1,125

NY, Holt Rinehart Winston, (1980). Inscribed by the author to Pauline Kael "who has the dubious distinction of having first put my name and writing between hard covers. With admiration, Rich Setlowe." Setlowe was, among other things, the longtime film reviewer for Variety, and Kael quoted his review, in 1970, of Michelangelo Antonioni's film Zabriskie Point in her own New Yorker review of the same, which was later collected in Deeper Into Movies. Some dust soiling to page edges and covers; near fine in a near fine dust jacket. [#034581] $150
$98

NY, Harper & Row, (1980). The first book by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Thousand Acres. Signed by the author. Small spot lower page edges; else fine in a very near fine, price-clipped dust jacket with minor wear at the spine base. [#912776] $500
$325

NY, Knopf, 1984. Her third novel. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket. [#912779] $100
$65

(San Francisco), (San Francisco), (1963-1964). Three broadsides: Gary Snyder's Nanao Knows, Lew Welch's Step Out Onto the Planet, and Philip Whalen's Three Mornings. Each reproduced by photo-offset from the author's own calligraphy and printed in an edition of 300 copies on the occasion of a reading at Longshoreman's Hall, San Francisco, June 12, 1964. Each broadside is signed by its author. Snyder, Welch and Whalen first met when they attended Reed College, a progressive school in Oregon; the friends later became three of the most influential poets of the Beat generation. The Welch is sunned with two creases; the Snyder and Whalen have some light creases and edge sunning and are also signed by an unknown hand in an upper margin, with "much happiness." A very good set. 9-1/2" x 12-1/2". Publisher's postcard prospectus laid in. [McNeil A7.] [#034473] $700
$490

[various], [various], 1981-1997. Five various editions of the author's first book, all from the author's own library. Five paperbacks: three first printings (Houghton Mifflin 1981; Penguin 1987; Mariner 1997) and two later printings (Picador and Penguin, both 1987). The Penguin edition has a rear cover crease; otherwise the lot is near fine or better. [#033841] $150
$98

Boston, Boston Publishing Company, (1986). A volume in "The Vietnam Experience" series, with text by Stone and photographs by various photographers. Unmarked, but from the author's own library. Bar code label lower spine; slight edge rubbing; near fine, without dust jacket, as most copies were issued. [#033846] $50
$25

Dickinson, Dickinson State College, 1974. Tate served as poetry editor for this annual publication, and here contributes an insightful and amusing three-page introduction. The collection includes, among other things, Stratis Haviaras's first poems in English. Spine-sunned, near fine in wrappers, with the stamp of a previous owner inside the front cover. [#030830] $40
$20

Lincoln, University of Nebraska Press, (2003). A biography of novelist Mildred Walker, written by her daughter, Ripley Hugo, who was both the wife of poet Richard Hugo and a neighbor to poet and novelist James Welch and his wife Lois. This copy is inscribed by Ripley Hugo to the poets Dara Wier and James Tate: "For Dara, for Jim - I wish you an odd read, but someday to hear what you think of it. Hugs and kisses/ Ripley." Laid in is a note to Dara and Jim from Lois Welch: "For Dara & Jim - separate roofs, one heart. I trust you'll like this, perhaps because of Ripley's odd dedication. Much love, Lois." Fine in a near fine dust jacket. A remarkable multiple literary association copy: Richard Hugo was a mentor to a generation of poets and other writers who came of age in the 1960s and 70s, including James Welch; the Welches were longtime friends with Tate and Wier. [#034424] $125
$81

(Northampton), Tundra, 1991. A book of sketches by Totleben, one of the key artists associated with Swamp Thing and the horror anthology Taboo. Published as Number Two in the Tundra Sketchbook Series, the press that was an offshoot of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle phenomenon. Fine in wrappers. [#034609] $75
$38

Kittery Point, William Dean Howells Memorial Committee, 1987. One of 150 copies printed of a lecture Updike gave at Harvard as part of the 150th anniversary of Howells' birth. Published in a slightly altered form in The New Yorker, this is the first separate appearance, with an Author's Note by Updike. Approximately 40 pages of text; fine in self-wrappers with complimentary slip from the publisher laid in. Updike won the Howells Medal years later, in 1995, for Rabbit at Rest; the medal is given out for the best work of fiction in America during a five-year period. One of Updike's scarcest "A" items. [#028555] $1,500
$1,125

(Toronto), (Aya Press), (1982). Number 407 of 500 numbered copies signed by Jane Urquhart and by Tony Urquhart, the artist. 18-3/8" x 4-3/4". This is the second issue, in gray cloth. Pages uncut; two very slight corner taps; else fine. [#914603] $275
$179

[San Francisco], [Auerhahn Press], 1964. A broadside poem. One of 125 copies. 8-1/2" x 12", fine. [#019387] $40
$20

[1921]. May 30 [1921]. Written to Herbert Fay, Custodian of Lincoln's Tomb. One 8-1/2" x 11" sheet of white lined paper, written on both sides. This letter refers to White Eagle's being in charge of an exhibit in Chicago for the Custer Battlefield Highway Association and to his efforts to contact an Apache named Dr. Montezuma, who lived in Chicago, in order to provide Fay with a photograph for his collection. Folded in sixths for mailing. Near fine. [#003296] $650
$455

Taunton, MA, 1803. The handwritten court documents for a paternity/child support case in Massachusetts in 1803, filed on behalf of a girl who (as best as we can tell) would have been 11 years-old at the time of "begetting," against a man of (we believe) 19. Two pages: the first is the complaint made by Attorney [Nicholas] Tillinghast on behalf of Sally White, in part: "Complains Sally White of Taunton aforesaid Singlewoman that at about the last of May or the first of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and two, she was begotten with child by Charles Baylies of Dighton is a County Labourer and the same child has since been born alive and is a Bastard, wherefore she prays This Hon. Court to examine this complaint and to adjudge the said Charles to be the reputed father...." The Court's examination of Sarah White, taken under Oath, follows, recording White's answers to five questions: 1. Are you with Child of a Bastard? Yes. 2. Who is the Father of the Child? Charles Baylies of Dighton. 3. Where did he beget you with child? At my father's house. 4. About what time did he beget you with child? About the last of last May, or some time in the beginning of June. 5. Upon the Oath you are about to take, have you any Doubt about Charles Baylies being the Father of the Child. No. The document is then signed by Sally White. Bastardy Law in Massachusetts at the time was designed only to relieve the State of the burden of the child, rather than as an arm of punishment for acts of fornication (or of rape, although age of consent in Massachusetts at the time was 10 years old). If we are correct about the participants, both Baylies and White would marry others: she would bear seven additional children, and die at the age of 32. Two pages, approximately 6" x 8", previously folded together as a docket and labeled with White's name and complaint on the outside. The attorney's statement is edge-torn at two folds; else both papers are near fine. [#033602] $750
$525