JUNKIE by (Burroughs, (William S.), as William Lee - (1953)

Ace Books Inc, 1953. Book. Very Good. Soft cover. 1st Edition. 12mo - over 6¾ - 7¾" tall. Very Good Copy First Edition. William Burroughs (William Lee) First Book. Rare in Any Condition. Excellent Copy..

New York: Ace, 1953. 1st Edition . Soft cover. Very Good. Burroughs' first book, published under a pseudonym as one half of an Ace Double (backed with Narcotic Agent by Maurice Helbrant). The front covers of both titles are crisp and bright, with some minor creasing. The spine shows creases both from reading and from less-than-ideal binding. There is one modest piece of loss to the bottom of the spine (or the top, depending on which title you're looking at). Overall a very nice copy of a famous and notorious book, with wonderful cover art.

New York: Ace, 1953. First edition. Near fine.. Uncommonly well-kept first printing of Burroughs's first book, a paperback original Ace Double printed tête-beche with Maurice Helbrant's NARCOTIC AGENT. JUNKIE was Burroughs's first novel, written under pseudonym (using his mother's maiden name), but heavily based on his own experience. Though he'd written (but not published) several books before this, it took the intervention of Allen Ginsberg as editor and quasi-agent to see JUNKIE into print, where it became a cornerstone of both Beat and drug literature. Just about the nicest copy of this fragile production we've seen. 6.5'' x 4.25''. Original pictorial wrappers. Ace D-15, priced at 35c. 150 and 170 pages. Bright and sharp overall with just a small bump to the edge of the spine, and a faint corner crease and tiny indentation to front cover of JUNKIE and a smaller faint crease to lower cover of AGENT. Housed in a custom black quarter-leather slipcase. Overall, handsome.