BELOVED by Morrison, Toni - 1987

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1987. Very good plus in near fine jacket.. First printing of Morrison's masterpiece, based on the true story of Margaret Garner, a fugitive slave who killed her daughter upon capture in order to prevent her from experiencing the horrors of slavery. A moving and haunting portrait, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, and the central work in Morrison's oeuvre. 9.25'' x 6.5''. Original white cloth, gravestone angel silver-stamped on front board, silver-lettered spine. In original unclipped ($18.95) white dust jacket printed in red and green designed by R.D. Scudellari, with photographic portrait of Morrison on back panel. Fore edge machine deckle. [10], 276, [2] pages. Blacked out ink owner name on front pastedown, hidden by jacket flap. Touch of sunning to spine of jacket, faint toning top edge. Book has mild toning to endpapers, trace shelfwear. Overall bright and clean.