Appointment in Samarra by O'Hara, John (Bacall, Lauren) - 1953

New York, NY: Random House/The Modern Library, 1953. First Edition Thus. Hardcover. Good. The first Modern Library edition, as stated on copyright page, of John O'Hara's classic novel, first published in 1934. With a new forward by the author. This is a very special copy- it is inscribed & signed by O'Hara on the half-title page: "To Betty/This wasn't done/with a wave of the/hand either/Love-/(signed) John O'Hara/19 March 1955." The addressee of the inscription is the legendary Lauren Bacall, whose birth name was Betty. At this time, she was married to iconic actor Humphrey Bogart. A most affectionate & familiar greeting from one great American figure to another. An outstanding collectible with very important cultural & literary significance. Without dust jacket. Book in relatively good condition with mild rubbing to front, back covers & spine; moderate sunning to spine; moderate loss of gilt in title stamp of front cover & spine; very mild wear at edges of covers; tiny bumps at corners of same including miniscule loss of cloth; upper & lower edges of spine moderately worn & with some short tears in cloth; very mild rubbing, soiling & scratching at all trimmed edges of text block. Interior fine with only mild browning at margins of page leaves.

Signed & Inscribed by John O'Hara to Lauren Bacall.