Cat's Cradle by VONNEGUT, Kurt - (1963)

London: David Nutt, 1914. First edition. From an edition of 1,000 copies, this is one of 200 in the sixth binding state. This was one of two binding states that were done by the Dunster House Bookshop in 1923 in Cambridge, MA when the remaining first edition sheets were sold off by Simpkin Marshall. Signed by Frost on the front endpaper, dated "Amherst 1924," and with a notation as to the name and location of the cottage in England where Frost wrote the poems for this, his second book. A fine copy in leaf-green cloth, gilt-titled. Book label from the Hampshire Bookshop of Northampton, MA on rear paste-down. (Crane A3, Binding F).

NY: Knopf, 1931. Second edition, third binding. This edition contains fourteen new poems, while dropping three from the original edition. The complete printing of the second edition consisted of 1,500 copies, which were bound over a period of thirteen years. This copy is inscribed by Stevens on a preliminary blank. The inscription reads: "The basis of poetry is response" and is dated "Sept. 14, 1943." If one could condense Stevens's particular approach to literary creation into a single sentence, this could certainly be it. For Stevens, the pursuit of the real in poetry -- his Supreme Fiction -- is rooted in its immediacy: "Part of the res itself and not about it. / The poet speaks the poem as it is, / Not as it was." Poetry, in Stevens's view, is language used in response to life as it is lived, making this an extraordinary inscription. Stevens signed very infrequently, and inscriptions appear even less often. As a basis for comparison, the Neville copy of this edition, which sold in 2004, was… Read More

New York: Knopf, 1961. First edition. Cloth backed boards. A fine copy in fine unfaded dust jacket, with the publisher's review slip. Percy's first book.

Zurich: Rascher & Cie.. 1919. The first German edition of Joyce's play Exiles and the first of his works to be published in translation in any language. One of 600 copies printed: Joyce was living in Zurich at the time and he paid for the publication of this book out of his own pocket. This copy is inscribed by the author: "To J.R. [sic] Watson, Jun / with grateful regards / James Joyce / 8. ix. 1919." J.S. Watson, Jr. was at the time the co-owner of the modernist literary journal The Dial, which he bought from Martyn Johnson with his friend and fellow Harvard graduate, Scofield Thayer. Watson became president of the magazine and Thayer became its editor. The "grateful regards" refers to a gift of $300 that Watson had sent Joyce earlier in the year at the urging of Thayer, who had himself sent Joyce $700. These sums bailed Joyce out of dire financial straits, allowed him to settle a court case against him, and helped him support the theater group that he had associated with in Zurich, the English… Read More

Amsterdam: Anthos, 1998. Signed first edition of rare English language Dutch edition of Irving's novel. The true first edition of Irving's novel, preceding the release of the US and UK editions. SIGNED presentation from Irving to motorcycle legend Cook Neilson, who took the photo of Irving that was used for the dust jacket of the book: "For Stepp and Cook - with my appreciation and affection - John Irving, April 1, 1998." Together with AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED by Irving on his stationery to Neilson laid in, in which Irving says that Neilson's photos will also be used on the UK edition, and jokes that another photo, to be used for the American and Canadian editions is more flattering, because it doesn't show Irving's face. Closes with mention of a nearby school in Vermont. Neilson was a preeminent motorcycle journalist and editor of Cycle Magazine. As a motrocyclist, Neilson won the Daytona Superbike race in 1977 on a Ducati. He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of… Read More

New York: Random House, 1965. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Dust Jacket Included. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Signed by Author. First Edition. Presentation Copy. This is TC's Aunt Lucille Faulk Ingram's own copy with a Random House " Compliments of " printed card taped to the front pastedown on which is written in a presumed secretarial hand in blue ink: " .the author, who wishes you a Merry Christmas". On the front fly, aunt Lucille Ingram has neatly inscribed in red ink: "Given to Lucille Ingram by Truman Capote". She has also signed the back endpapers twice. Near fine in a very good dustwrapper with some old tap e remains visible. [old tape removed]. A very special copy of one of Capote's highlights. Of All of the cousins Truman lived with as a child, Lucille Faulk Ingram & her daughter were his closest kin. As a fledgling writer looking for solitude, it was in the comfort of Lucille Ingram's home that Truman began to write his first novel, Other Voices, Other Rooms.

New York: Random House, 1951. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Dust Jacket Included. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Signed by Author. First Trade Edition, First state, with dark grey top-edge in the First Issue Dust Jacket [E. McKnight Kauffer misspelled, $3.00 price]. 8vo., 286pp. A fine copy. [No indication of edition stated as called for]. Nicely signed by Faulkner in black fountain pen at the top of the front free endpaper. Quarter-bound in black cloth over sea green cloth with gilt lettering to the spine. A very nice example of this work; a play, with long narrative sections, continuing the story of Temple Drake introduced two decades earlier in 'Sanctuary'. Faulkner's first book after winning the Nobel Prize. "I Decline to accept the end of man. He is immortal, not because he alone among creatures has an inexhaustible voice but he has a soul, a spirit capable of compassion and sacrifice and endurance". W.F. - Nobel Speech. While signed limited editions abound, signed trade editions are very uncommon as… Read More

London: Chatto & Windus, 1930. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Dust Jacket Included. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Signed by Author. Signed First English Edition of the author's first novel. The first of Faulkner's titles to appear in England. Preface by Richard Hughes [who also wrote the preface for The Sound And The Fury in 1931, which appeared in similar format]. 8vo., 326pp., 4 pages of ads. One of 2000 copies printed from new plates. Publisher's green cloth stamped in gilt on the spine, top edge stained green. An extremely nice copy in the original cream coloured dustwrapper lettered in red & black showing very light use. Signed by Faulkner in full on the dedication page in black fountain pen, "William Faulkner". The dustwrapper states: "NOT A 'WAR BOOK" on front panel with the Hughes quotation on the back: ". if I were asked who seems to me at the moment the most interesting novelist in America, I should not hesitate in naming one who is not only unknown in England but practically unknown in America also -… Read More

Zurich: Rascher & Cie.. 1919. The first German edition of Joyce's play Exiles and the first of his works to be published in translation in any language. One of 600 copies printed: Joyce was living in Zurich at the time and he paid for the publication of this book out of his own pocket. This copy is inscribed by the author: "To J.R. [sic] Watson, Jun / with grateful regards / James Joyce / 8. ix. 1919." J.S. Watson, Jr. was at the time the co-owner of the modernist literary journal The Dial, which he bought from Martyn Johnson with his friend and fellow Harvard graduate, Scofield Thayer. Watson became president of the magazine and Thayer became its editor. The "grateful regards" refers to a gift of $300 that Watson had sent Joyce earlier in the year at the urging of Thayer, who had himself sent Joyce $700. These sums bailed Joyce out of dire financial straits, allowed him to settle a court case against him, and helped him support the theater group that he had associated with in Zurich, the English… Read More

Paris: Aux Editions Eliane Norberg, 1951. First edition thus. Signed, De Luxe limited edition. Sumptuous, full leather Artesian binding by Jacques Blanchet. From an edition of 202, number 72 of 180 printed on Velin d' Arches. Published Paris: Editions Eliane Norberg, 1951. Folio, 10 1/2" x 13 1/4" x 2 7/8" thick, 302pp., illustrated with full page engraved plates and fine textual engravings from copper - all with tissue guards, and two leather engravings (cover and verso) in 6 colors by Robert Fonta. Full dark blue satin morocco over 1/4" thick boards with chamfered corners and leather inner hinges attached to thick, duplex flyleaves and gray leather pastedowns. Gilt block paneled titles on spine, top edges tinted blue with gilt embossed edge design stamped into the page block. Front cover and verso decorated with unique, six-color leather inset engravings by Fonta, Signed on the half title by the Bazin: "Hommage amical / de l'auteur / Herve Bazin." Presentation… Read More