ALL THE PRETTY HORSES (first state proof) by McCARTHY, Cormac - 1992

New York: Knopf. 1992. First printing. Softcover. Beige card covers printed in black. Advance uncorrected proof, the first state with the cover reading "A Border Trilogy" (vs "The Border Trilogy") and with projected publication date of "May 1992" (vs "4 May 1992"). An abused copy, with some soiling and a short tear to front cover and with a large piece of the rear cover rudely torn away. There is also a skinned patch and tears (now neatly repaired) on the rear cover. Light soiling to page edges, some corner creases, just a mite leaned; in all, just fair. Though not indicated, this copy is from the library of noted Canadian novelist and short story writer Leon Rooke, who tells me he once corresponded with McCarthy a little. Like so many writers, he was not overly concerned with the physical aspects of the book, only the text. There are three states of the proof, the second incorporating hand amendations and the third with printed changes. They were all preceded by a rare galley proof of Nov.,1991. This novel, McCarthy's sixth, was his breakthrough book insofar as the market was concerned. Winner of both the National Book Award and National Book Critics Circle Award and the basis for the Billy Bob Thornton film with Matt Damon and Penelope Cruz.; Octavo .