Weekly Sale

(NY), Viking, (1993). The uncorrected proof copy of his first novel, which received considerable praise and helped get him selected as one of The New Yorker magazine's "20 best young American writers." Signed by the author. Fine in wrappers. [#914718] $100
$65

New Rochelle, Elizabeth Press, (1972). One of an unspecified number of hardcover copies, of a total edition of 400 copies. Inscribed by the author to Joseph and Carol Bruchac in 1982, a nice association copy. Slightly spine-faded else fine in publisher's cardboard slipcase, which is near fine. [#025307] SOLD

NY, Random House, (2003). Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket. [#913749] $100
$65

(NY), MR Press, 1962. Poetry with a political edge by this activist poet, written during the volatile era of the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War. Inscribed by Beecher to Will Inman, another poet known for his political and social activism: "For Will Inman/ a poet whose work I like./ John Beecher/ May 22, 1967." Owner name and phone on front flyleaf with inscription on half title; wear to cloth at corners; a near fine copy in a very good dust jacket with a couple small edge chips. A nice literary association copy. [#029630] $80
$40

June 22, 1988. Two pages promising to send an article which will apparently deal with the parallels between American Indian and Japanese ways of living, the life of Maria Sanchez, and "life lived as an entity, all of a piece. The artist as not a soul divided..." Folded in thirds for mailing; holograph corrections. A nice letter, with good content. Signed by the author. Fine. With envelope. [#015471] $95
$48

(Shelburne), Battered Silicon Dispatch Book, 1999. Inscribed by the author in 2000: "How nice to have the Goose Club here." One slight lower corner tap; else fine in a fine dust jacket. [#029350] $60
$30

London, Collins Harvill, 1988. The uncorrected proof copy of a collection of seven stories for which there is no comparable U.S. edition. Five of the stories appeared in Where I'm Calling From -- copyright problems reportedly kept the publisher from reissuing the other stories included in that collection. Tiny, shiny spot to front cover; else fine in wrappers. [#912320] $175
$114

London/NY, Jonathan Cape/Summit, 1977/1978. A hardcover advance proof copy of the American edition of Chatwin's first book, created from a first British edition, with the addition of a U.S. proof dust jacket, featuring quotes from British publications (including Paul Theroux, writing for the London Times). The British trade edition has had its free endpages excised and pasted over the pictorial pastedowns; and the photographs that graced the text of the British edition have also been excised, in keeping with the appearance of the American edition. This copy was obviously sent out and used for review: reviewer's marks and comments in text, and the blank jacket flaps have been filled with the reviewer's notes. The book, apart from the intended excisions and notes, is fine; the proof jacket (again, apart from the reviewer notes), is spine and edge-sunned, with the title and author handwritten on the spine, largely faded; overall near fine. An uncommon issue, presumably done prior to the issuance of an American proof copy and different from the U.K. first edition in ways that parallel the eventual U.S. edition (and U.S. proof). [#031672] $750
$525

1980, 1982. Two letters from Dickey to John Crelan, director of the Boston-based cultural organization Arts and Society. The first (1980) says he may be willing to do a reading; the second says that his teaching schedule only permits local (South Carolina) appearances. Foxing to the first letter; near fine. The second letter is fine, with envelope. [#032641] $150
$98

Santiago, Nascimento, 1960. An early collection of short stories, the fourth book by this Chilean writer, which was not translated into English or published in the U.S. for 17 years. This book precedes any publication of Donoso's work in the U.S. by five years. Pages browning with age but still near fine in self-wraps. A scarce volume, given the Chilean imprint, the fragile binding and the cheap, acidic paper used in production. [#013579] $265
$172

Boston, Godine, (1991). His first book of nonfiction, a collection of essays, which was a finalist for the 19992 Pulitzer Prize in the category of General Nonfiction. Inscribed by Dubus to another author (of children's books) who at the time lived in a neighboring town. Also signed in full by Dubus on the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. A nice literary association, and a reminder that Dubus was famous for being supportive of, and a mentor to, younger writers: for many years he held a weekly writers' workshop in his home, free of charge, as a way (he said) of giving back for all the help he received from his literary friends and colleagues after his traumatic accident. [#030714] $125
$81

NY, Harper & Row, (1971). Her second book. Fine in a fine dust jacket. [#912485] $150
$98

(n.p.), (n.p.), 1988. A 120-page screenplay by Ford for a 1991 film adaptation he did from stories in his collection Rock Springs. The film was directed by Michael Fields and starred Dermot Mulroney, Lili Taylor, Sam Shepard and Valerie Perrine. Apparently a later generation photocopy, as the text is less sharp; also the rectos of the pages tend to stick to the versos of the pages preceding. This copy is signed by the author. Near fine, in maroon binder. [#911203] $1,000
$700

NY, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, (2001). An advance audio excerpt from his then-forthcoming novel The Corrections, along with excerpts of ten other books in FSG's Fall 2001 line-up. Cassette tape, signed by Franzen on a small label affixed to the printed cardstock sleeve. Fine. The Corrections won the National Book Award and is consistently cited as one of the top books of the 21st century's "new canon." An unusual advance issue for a literary novel, and likely the only signed copy. [#029924] $125
$81

NY, D. Appleton-Century, 1936. A novel of "mysterious, exotic French Indo-China" in which "the weird and mysterious working of the Orient descend with harrowing developments... upon all the members of the [archaeological] expedition" that drives the story. Gibbs was a popular novelist of his time; his first book was published in 1901. Small owner stamp front flyleaf; spine lean and trace rubbing to spine extremities; still near fine in a very good, mildly faded and rubbed dust jacket with minor edge wear. Novels set in southeast Asia from this time period are uncommon. This title appears to be especially scarce in its dust jacket. [#029832] $210
$137

Baltimore, Contemporary Poetry, 1944. A collection of poems, one of 1000 copies. A nice association copy, inscribed by the author to a painter, the wife (for a time) of a poet. A fine copy in a worn dust jacket severed at the spine. A fragile wartime book. [#016232] $250
$163

Paris, Vuibert at Nony, (1909). The first edition (1909) of this dense, 508 page, illustrated tome by the French naval officer who developed the Natural Method of training that led to the development of the parcours du combatant (military obstacle course). Both the method and the courses fueled the compulsions of a Vietnamese-French orphan turned Paris fire fighter named Raymond Belle, whose legendary physical prowess inspired his son, David Belle, to turn the methods of "parcours" into parkour, which is undergoing a renaissance more than a century after Hebert's insistence that training be fully functional and involve walking, running, jumping, climbing, lifting, throwing, swimming, balance, and techniques for defense and rescue. As best as we can tell, this was Hebert's first book, and it was followed by a series of volumes on the Natural Method. Here presented in original wrappers, foxed at the edges, pages uncut, and for all practical purposes already separated at the spine into five signatures: a possible candidate for rebinding. [#033038] $750
$525

(Toronto), McClelland & Stewart, (1982). Uncorrected proof copy of her first book, winner of Canada's Seal First Novel Award. Light edge-soiling to lower front cover; else near fine in comb-bound cardstock wrappers. [#006426] $40
$20

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

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

Universal City, Universal Studios, 1970. Gay's screenplay based on Kesey's second novel, after One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, but his first novel to be brought to the screen. The novel concerns the Stamper family, an independent, sometimes ornery group of Oregon loggers. The film was directed by Paul Newman and starred Newman, Henry Fonda and Lee Remick, and it has fallen into undeserved obscurity: it was nominated for two Academy Awards and many consider it one of the last great performances of Fonda's career. This is labeled "Second Draft Screenplay," dated by hand February 10, 1970, with the name of legendary Hollywood editor Dede Allen written on the front cover (Allen is not credited on the film). Bradbound in studio wrappers; a bit dusty, but near fine. [#031417] $490
$319

(NY), Plume, (1996). First thus: a collection of the four early Bachman novels, Rage, The Long Walk, Roadwork and Running Man, but with a brand new introduction by King, "The Importance of Being Bachman." The first omnibus edition, in 1985, had a different introduction by King. Stamp of another writer inside the front cover; fine in wrappers. [#030297] $95
$48

London, Polytantric Press, 1975. Inscribed by the author to Robert Stone and his wife: "I'm gonna read at Bradlys March 14th/ Maybe you guys'll come see me. I miss you." Light corner creasing and lamination peeling; near fine in wrappers. [#033800] $60
$30

Bloomington, Indiana University Press, (1970). The poet's first book. Inscribed by the author to another poet in the year of publication "with love and best wishes, Sandy." Recipient's handmade bookplate on front flyleaf. Near fine, with various portions of the dust jacket clipped and pasted on the boards and endpages. [#022758] $40
$20

London/NY, Putnam/Dutton, 1959/1961. A review copy of the American edition, consisting of the true first (British) edition, copyedited on the title page and front flap to reflect changes to be made in the American edition, with a pencil note on the front flyleaf about the projected change in size. With review slip laid in. Correspondence about Miller between Lawrence Durrell and Alfred Perles, with interjections by Miller. Miller met both Durrell and Perles in Paris in the Thirties. Dusty top edge; fine in a very near fine dust jacket. Together with a copy of the American edition, as issued. Fine in a fine dust jacket. [#027323] $115
$75

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

(London), Turret Books, (1971). The limited issue of the fourth edition, first British edition. One of 100 numbered copies signed by Miller and Alfred Perles, who provides an epilogue. Fine in a fine dust jacket, with announcement of publication laid in. [#017152] $225
$146

NY, Evans, (1975). Inscribed by the author in 1982. Bookplate of another author on the front flyleaf. Near fine in a near fine, rubbed and price-clipped dust jacket. [#031047] $60
$30

The first Japanese edition. Fine in wrappers, with publisher's wraparound band. Signed by the author. [#019574] $60
$30

(NY), HarperCollins, (2005). Inscribed by the author to Robert Stone and his wife: "Thanks for the inspiration! Enjoy." Fine in a fine dust jacket. With an interview with Olson laid in. [#033766] $45
$23

(London), Faber and Faber, (2003). The advance reading copy of his Guardian Prize- and Booker Prize-winning first novel. Fine in wrappers. [#912700] $150
$98

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. [#023936] $375
$244

(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. Children is All (1961) runs 41 pages; Cracks (1962) runs 16 pages. Each is near fine; stapled in the upper left corner. Purdy was a controversial author whose works explored, among other things, 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. Scarce works by a writer whom Jonathan Franzen called "one of the most undervalued and underread writers in America." [#031486] $1,500
$1,125

London, Orion, 2007. 12-month wall calendar used as a promotional tie-in to Rebus's Scotland: A Personal Journey, which was published by Orion in 2005 and, like this calendar, featured photos of Edinburgh by Tricia Malley and Ross Gillespie, with text by Rankin from the Rebus books. 10" x 11". Small ripple to title page and January, else fine. [#029346] $60
$30

Toronto, McGraw-Hill, (1977). A review copy. Review slip tipped to front flyleaf; a fine copy in a near fine dust jacket with one closed edge tear. Author photo and publicity sheet laid in. [#912753] $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

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

(Melbourne), (UTS Community Law and Legal Research Centre), (2002). A critical reader on surveillance and social control in the post-9/11 age, published in Australia in conjunction with two public events, in Sydney and Melbourne, designed to provoke discussion and debate about the subject. Heavily illustrated, with drawings, photographs (including surveillance photographs), collages, cartoons, and including essays, articles, skits, dialogues and political statements. Oblong wrappers. Rubbed; near fine. [#029179] $60
$30

Amherst, Shanachie Press, 1980. A limited edition of a poem by Tate which first appeared in The New American Poetry Review. Of a total intended edition of 135 copies, this is Copy "F" of ten lettered copies reserved for the author and the artist, Stephen Riley, and signed by both of them. With etchings and engravings by Riley, each of these lettered and signed by the artist. Riley was a promising artist in the 1970s known for his fantasy illustrations, here accompanying Tate's surrealist poetry. Reportedly, most of the intended edition was never printed, and it's possible that only the 10 author's and artist's copies and 25 Roman-numeraled copies were actually produced. Loose sheets, 11-1/4" x 15", fine, laid into a near fine slipcase. An attractive fine press production, and one of the rarest pieces by the Pulitzer Prize- and National Book Award-winning poet. [#033654] $2,500
$1,875

(Manchester), Carcanet Press, (1997). The first British edition of his Pulitzer Prize-winning collection, and his first British publication. From the author's library. First published in the U.S. in 1991: a later printing of the U.S. edition (Wesleyan University Press), also from the author's library, is included. Each is fine in wrappers. [#034405] $35
$18

(Berkeley), (Cloud Marauder), (1970). An early collection/collaboration. One of 700 copies printed, this copy being from the library of James Tate. Near fine in stapled wrappers. Uncommon now. [#034411] $85
$43

NY, Knopf, 1965. His first collection of nonfiction, short pieces from The New Yorker and a number of other publications, collected the year after Updike won the National Book Award and was elected to the National Institute of Arts and Letters. Inscribed by the author: "For ___ ___/ Best wishes to a former Beverlyite/ John Updike." Foxing to foredge and cloth, thus very good in a very good dust jacket, which is also foxed, predominantly on verso. Most of the signed copies of this title that show up have been signed on a tipped-in leaf. Inscribed copies are uncommon. [#030159] $190
$124

Cambridge, Halty Ferguson, 1976. Of a total edition of 276 copies, this is copy number 16 of 250 numbered copies signed by the author. Fine in wrappers. This copy is also inscribed by Updike -- he has personalized the signature on the colophon in a different color ink -- and it includes a brief signed note by Updike on the prospectus, with a hand-addressed mailing envelope. By all appearances, Updike informed the collector of the existence of this edition by sending him a prospectus with a note saying "I thought you should be aware of this" and then the collector ordered the book and Updike personalized the signature for him. A mini-footnote to the relatively early years of Updike's being a highly collected author with numerous signed limited editions to his credit, with a glimpse of Updike's active involvement in helping a collector build his collection. [#031523] $375
$244

Newburyport, Wickford Press, 1968. An unsigned limited edition of an essay that first appeared in the New York Times. One of 250 numbered copies. Edge-sunning to covers; coffee splot lower front corner; very good in stapled wrappers. One of Updike's earliest limited editions, done the same year as Bath After Sailing and The Angels. Although the limitation of this title is larger than either of those, we have seen it less often and it appears to be scarcer in the market. [#026894] $565
$396

NY, Knopf, 1963. His second collection of poems. Inscribed by the author. Fine in a near fine, spine-sunned dust jacket with creasing to the base of the spine. [#912067] $375
$244

(n.p.), (n.p.), 1978. Transcript of two consecutive nights of Updike's appearances on The Dick Cavett Show in December 1978. Ten pages and eleven pages, respectively, plus cover sheet. Printed on rectos only. Near fine, in a blue acetate folder that has split along its fold. DeBellis and Broomfield A68. Later collected in Conversations with John Updike. [#030282] $565
$396

(Boston), G.K. Hall and Marquis Who's Who, Inc., (1978). A poem by Updike, published as a holiday greeting card. Signed by the author. Fine, with original (unused) mailing envelope. Together with a presumed proof copy, with the copyright notice handwritten (in an unknown hand) rather than printed on the rear cover. Also fine. Both housed together in a G.K. Hall envelope. A scarce ephemeral piece, especially uncommon signed, and notably rare in the variant with the handwritten copyright notice. [#031524] $1,500
$1,125

(Edinburgh), Rebel, Inc, (1996). A collection of novellas by six Scottish writers, including "The Rosewell Incident" by Welsh. This copy is signed by Welsh. Fine in wrappers. [#912161] $100
$65

(London), Vintage, (2003). Fourth printing of the paperback edition. Inscribed by Welsh to the novelist Robert Stone: "Some writing returned with thanks, borrowed from yourself many moons ago. May all good things come your way" and signed "Irvine." Food stains to the first few pages; light cover creasing; very good in wrappers. [#027778] $60
$30

[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

Derry & Ridgewood, Babcock & Koontz, (1989). A short story printed in a handsome limited edition by the Coffee House Press. With a frontispiece illustration by Gaylord Schanilec. Of a total edition of 240 copies, this is one of 200 numbered copies signed by the author. Clothbound, fine without dust jacket, as issued. The first limited edition by the author of This Boy's Life, The Barracks Thief, and others. [#915717] SOLD