THE LONG VALLEY. Signed by Steinbeck, John - 1938

New York: The Viking Press, 1938 First edition, first issue. [His first book published by Viking]. An excellent near fine example neatly signed by the author in black ink on the front free endpaper: "John Steinbeck / 1945" 8vo., 303pp., terra cotta & beige buckram boards. A very nice copy of this important Steinbeck short story collection [13] which includes the classic 'Saint Katy the Virgin', 'Flight', 'Johnny Bear', the 4 stories comprising 'The Red Pony'. The binding is bright, the endpapers clean & free of the endemic darkening & spotting found in most copies, the brown topstain is unfaded. In a very good or better first issue correctly priced, corners unclipped dust jacket showing light use with one small chip at the crown professionally restored. The jacket features the Elmer Hader illustration of the red pony overlooking the Salinas Valley, 'The Long Valley' of the title. Goldstone & Payne A11a, Morrow 90A. Only 8000 copies printed - much fewer than Grapes at 50000 or East at 100000. A title seldom found signed.. Signed by Author. 1st Edition.