Weekly Sale

1982. November 15, 1982. Written to three Yale University English professors, accepting an invitation to a 1984 "Commonwealth of Letters" conference in which Achebe's work was slated to receive special attention. "But even without that peculiar attraction the project sounds so rich and so far away that I should have no hesitation in accepting to be there." Signed by the author. Typed on the stationery of Okike, an African journal of new writing that Achebe edited. Notation of one of the professors that the other two had been copied; folded in thirds for mailing with a couple small edge chips; near fine. [#029904] $375
$244

NY, Doherty, (1991). Fine in fine dust jacket with small tear at top of front panel. Signed by the author. [#010437] $20
$10

North Hollywood, Fantasy House, 1974. First separate appearance, as Fantasy Reader 5. Fine in stapled wrappers. [#030499] SOLD

1982. Three original pen-and-ink S. Clay Wilson illustrations for the German edition of Burroughs' Cities of the Red Night. Wilson was one of the group of artists who gained exposure in the underground comix of the 1960s counterculture. After R. Crumb, he is probably the best known of that group, and his images are almost certainly the most extreme: all of the underground comic artists sought to break barriers and defy convention, and Wilson's images are densely packed and full of overt sex and violence to an extreme degree. In this he was very much like Burroughs, whose verbal imagery and subject matter sought to shatter barriers, preconceptions and hypocrisies; the collaboration between the two of them seems in retrospect to have been inevitable. These drawings were displayed at the Los Angeles County Art Museum in the show "Ports of Entry: William Burroughs and the Arts," which sought to convey the influence Burroughs had had on visual arts. Extraordinary images, and probably the best illustrations ever of Burroughs' writings. Burroughs himself appears as a character in one of the images. Two of the images are 5-1/4" x 9", the third is 5-1/4" x 10"; all three are matted and framed to approximately 16" x 19". Fine. [#027316] $15,000
$11,250

London, Jonathan Cape, (1987). The uncorrected proof copy. 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. Production crease near front joint; else fine in wrappers. [#026516] $200
$130

(Toronto), Stoddard, (1986). A review copy of the first Canadian edition. Signed by the author on the front flyleaf. Owner signature on flyleaf as well, along with the stamp, "Review Copy - Not for Resale." Fine in a near fine dust jacket with lamination peeling at the top edge of the front panel. Review slip laid in. This book was criticized by some at publication for not being as overtly political and engaged as his two previous books, which had been focused on the politics of racial discrimination in an unnamed African country very clearly based on South Africa. [#029452] $250
$163

(San Francisco), (McSweeney's), (2006). The advance reading copy of this highly praised "nonfiction novel" based on the life story of Deng, one of the Sudanese "Lost Boys," as told to Eggers. With different cover art from the published book and with blurbs by Khaled Hosseini, Philip Gourevitch and John Prendergast on the rear panel. Uncommon in advance form. McSweeney's is a small press, with little in the way of marketing dollars: its best advertising tends to be the buzz created by its publications, and this book exemplified the process, reaching #25 on The New York Times bestseller list without the benefit of promotional clout. This is the only copy we have handled or seen. Slight splaying to covers and a bit of shelf dirt to the lower edge; else fine in wrappers. [#027358] $450
$293

(Stafford), Northwoods Press, (1980). Poetry about the war. This is the issue in wrappers. Rubbed; near fine. [#010353] $20
$10

NY, Random House, 1939. A review copy of Faulkner's elaborately structured novel, which consists of two distinct stories presented in alternating chapters. The rare review slip, in addition to title, author, price, and publication date, carries a 100+ word synopsis of the novel's themes, in language that differs from that of the jacket copy, and concludes that The Wild Palms is "the most absorbing tale that the author has ever told." The binding is the first state, with the front and spine stamped in gold and green. But for tape shadows to the edges of the boards, a near fine copy in a good dust jacket with the edge tape-strengthened on the verso but still vulnerable with wear and tears at the folds. Very uncommon as a review copy, and a rare glimpse of the marketing of the novel in its own day. [#033165] $750
$525

London, Heinemann, (1924). The first book in the second trilogy making up Galsworthy's Forsyte Saga -- i.e., the fourth book in the series and the first in the Modern Comedy trilogy. The Forsyte Saga and its sequels are considered the masterwork of Galsworthy's career. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1932. Signed by the author, "very cordially," in the year of publication. Moderate foxing to text block; offsetting to front flyleaf; very good in a very good, spine-tanned dust jacket with several small edge chips. There was a signed limited edition of this book, but signed copies of the trade edition, particularly in the pictorial dust jacket, are quite uncommon. [#031391] $375
$244

NY, Knopf, 1973. One of Gardner's best-loved novels, a National Book Award finalist in 1974. Inscribed by the author at Christmas, 1975. Small spot and dent to foredge; else fine in a near fine, spine-faded dust jacket. [#022917] $175
$114

Garden City, Doubleday & Co., 1948. A little sunned and a touch of wear to the spine extremities; near fine in a good, spine-tanned and lightly chipped dust jacket split at the front spine fold and partially tape-repaired on verso. [#028642] $20
$10

(London), Pan/Picador, (1980). The first printing of this British paperback edition. Inscribed by the author to another writer in 1981 with the comment that he truly admires one of the recipient's novels. Foredge tear to prelims; darkening to acidic pages; about near fine in wrappers. [#028438] $20
$10

NY, Knopf, 1991. The advance reading copy of a novel told from the point of view of a Stradivarius violin. One light corner bump; else fine in wrappers, in a slightly worn publisher's cardstock box. Signed by the author. [#012309] $25
$13

1993. Promotional poster for the annual Toronto literary festival, which each year since 1980 brought together the best writers of contemporary world literature. The poster was designed by a leading artist of the day and is one of only a handful of copies signed by all or most of the year's participants. From the collection of the promoter of the festival himself, Greg Gatenby. Designed by General Idea, a collective of three Canadian artists, two of whom died of AIDS in 1994. Approximately 61 signatures. Signed by: Paulo Coelho, William Vollmann, Jane Urquhart, Bobbie Ann Mason, Bharati Mukherjee, Aidan Mathews, Peter Levi, Marilyn Davis, Carol Shields, Ruth Rendell, Mavis Gallant, Barry Callaghan, Rose Tremain, Peter Mayle, Walter Abish, Robert Stone, Priscilla Juvelis, Paul Auster, Barry Unsworth, Rosa Lixsom, Vikram Seth, Austin Clarke, Bapsi Sidhwa, Joan Riley, Yves Beauchemin, James Mackey, Daniel Mark Epstein, and others. 17" x 22". [#029749] $1,000
$700

NY, Crown, (1992). Uncorrected proof copy of this novel by the author of Slaves of New York, among others. Fine in wrappers and signed by the author on the front cover. [#005223] SOLD

(Oakland), Cloud Marauder, 1976. Second, expanded edition of his first book, originally published in 1963. Only issued in wrappers. Signed by the author in full on the title page and inscribed to Peter [Matthiessen] on the half title: "For Peter who has been everywhere -- Here is a book that goes nowhere. Love, Phil." Mildly foxed and faded; very good in wrappers. [#032493] $650
$455

Trumansburg, Crossing Press, (1974). Edited by Dick Lourie. Introduction by Joseph Bruchac. The simultaneous issue in wrappers of this collection featuring eleven contemporary Native American poets, including Leslie Silko, Duane Niatum, Norman Russell, Ray Young Bear, Joseph Bruchac, and others. An early small press effort at showing some of the best writing being produced by young American Indian writers who were, at the time, little-known. A number of these authors are highly regarded as literary figures today without being relegated solely to the "genre" of Native American literature. Spine-faded; near fine in wrappers. [#025224] $20
$10

(Toronto), Women's Press, (1990). First thus, with a new preface by the author. Signed by Maracle. The autobiography of a Canadian Native woman, recounting personal history and political radicalization. First published in 1975 by the Liberation Support Movement Press. This edition has a foreword by Jeannette Armstrong, Canadian Native writer and activist, and the grand-niece of Mourning Dove (aka Christine Quiinstasket), author of Co-Ge-We-A, The Half-Blood, and one of the earliest Native American women writers to be published. Scarce signed, in any edition. Near fine in wrappers. [#031471] $125
$81

NY, Random House, (1997). The uncorrected proof copy of the highly praised first novel by John McPhee's daughter. Fine in wrappers. [#004755] $20
$10

(Reykjavik), McSweeney's, (2005). Includes work by Denis Johnson, Ann Beattie, Roddy Doyle, Harry Mathews, Robert Coover, Brian Evenson, and others. Casebound assortment of items, including a comb. Fine, still shrink-wrapped. [#032958] SOLD

(Greenfield), (Greenfield Review), (1973). Inscribed by the author to poet Richard Eberhart and his wife in the year of publication. Fine in wrappers. A nice literary association. [#003632] $225
$146

NY, Picador, (1996). Advance reading copy of her second book, first novel. Fine in wrappers. [#007930] $20
$10

Lewiston, Confluence Press, (1994). The simultaneous issue in wrappers of this collection of the poet's first five books. Inscribed by the author to another poet -- "fellow scribbler and cloud-herder." Fine. [#023063] $25
$13

[San Francisco], [Four Seasons], 1964. A broadside poem, 9-1/2" x 12-1/2", reproducing Snyder's calligraphy and alluding to Nanao Sakaki, Japanese poet and one of Snyder's mentors, as well as being called "the godfather of Japanese hippies." One of 300 copies sold on the occasion of a reading by Snyder, Lew Welch and Philip Whalen at Longshoreman's Hall in San Francisco on June 12, 1964. McNeil A7. Signed by the author. A fine copy of this early Snyder piece. [#029720] $300
$195

Springfield, Stevenson Campaign Headquarters, 1952. The transcriptions of 56 speeches given by Stevenson during the Presidential election season of 1952, beginning with his welcoming address to the Democratic National Convention on July 21, when he was speaking as Governor of the host state of Illinois and before he was drafted as the Democratic Party's Presidential candidate. The second speech here begins: "I accept your nomination and your program. I should have preferred to hear those words uttered by a stronger, wiser, better man than myself." 54 more speeches follow, all issued as news releases and most on Stevenson Campaign Headquarters letterhead. The final speech was given on November 1 (Election Day was November 4). Stevenson lost to Eisenhower, winning 44% of the popular vote but carrying only 9 states. A chronological record of Stevenson's entire first run for President: each release runs 3-10 pages, so hundreds of pages of Presidential politics from a half century ago, with equal opportunity to note how much things have changed and how much they have not. Photo-reproduced legal-sized sheets; minor edge wear; a few pages detached from corner staples; large coffee ring on the first page of the second news release. In all, a near fine lot, representing these speeches' first appearance in printed form. A number of them were published in book form by Random House prior to the 1952 election, with a Foreword by John Steinbeck. [#032678] $1,500
$1,125

NY, Coward McCann Geoghegan, (1973). The first American edition of his first novel. Inscribed by the author to horror writer Stanley Wiater: "I'm pleased to be one of your Dark Dreamers -- sounds like an accurate description to me!" With Wiater's bookplate. A nice association copy: Wiater has been called "the world's leading authority on horror filmmakers and authors" and has published two books of interviews with masters of horror fiction in the Dark Dreamers series, as well as hosting a television interview series with the same title. He has won the Horror Writers of America's Bram Stoker Award three times; Straub has also been a multiple winner of the Stoker Award. Sunning and foxing to top edge; near fine in a very good, rubbed and edgeworn dust jacket with a small abrasion to the front panel and a chip to the upper rear panel. With Wiater's Gahan Wilson-designed bookplate on the front free endpaper (reportedly the only bookplate Wilson ever designed). [#029176] $750
$525

1937. Dated December 14, 1937, on New York Herald Tribune stationery, and written to the National Broadcasting Company's "Director of Women's Activities," declining a speaking engagement: "I am so sorry to disappoint both you and Dr. Angell, but another speech for anybody is just out of the question. I simply can't do it." Thompson, in addition to writing her regular syndicated column and a column for the Ladies Home Journal, was, in the 1930s, an NBC radio broadcaster. She had also, in this year, separated from Sinclair Lewis. Thompson's signature is scarce. 5-1/2" x 7-3/4". Fine. [#032939] $250
$163

Cambridge, Halty Ferguson, 1979. Of a total edition of 276 copies, this is copy number 214 of 250 numbered copies signed by the author. Fine in saddle-stitched self-wrappers, with the publisher's prospectus laid in. [#030185] SOLD

NY, Norton, (1990). The uncorrected proof copy of his fourth novel. Inscribed by the author. The faintest of spine fading; still fine in wrappers. [#025821] $175
$114

London, Chatto & Windus, 1931. Nathanael West's copy of Huxley's collection of poetry, with West's holograph notes on five of the front and rear endpages. Approximately 250 words, mostly quotes of other writers -- Huxley, Gray, Shakespeare; some light, but most quite serious: "In matters of love it is absurd to stand on your dignity and claim your rights. Such experiences cannot be judged and calculated like a matter of business. One gives as much and as long as one can & one does not bargain. Take what is given to you." West concludes with: "The paths of glory lead but to the grave." The year this book was published, West published his first novel. Later in the 1930s, both West and Huxley were employed as Hollywood screenwriters. West died in 1940 at the age of 37. The provenance of this book leads from West to his brother-in-law, S.J. Perelman, to the writer and bookseller, George Sims, who recounts the circumstances of his purchasing books from Perelman in the early 1970s, presumably including this one. A photocopy of a note from Sims is laid in. Fading to spine, spotting to cloth, short tear to lower front joint; still very good, without dust jacket. Publisher's extra spine label tipped to rear free endpaper. A wonderful glimpse of West's musings and inner life. [#017974] $3,500
$2,625