Junkie. Confessions of an Unredeemed Drug Addict by BURROUGHS, William S. as "William Lee - (1953)

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 Books, 1953. Tight binding, with minimal rubbing to vibrant illustrated wrappers; a near fine copy of the author's first novel.. First Edition. Duodecimo. A remarkably sharp copy of Burroughs' semi-autobiographical novel about the New York heroin scene of the early 1950s. Published under the pseudonym of William Lee and bound tête-beche with Maurice Helbrant's Narcotic Agent.

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.

New York: Ace Books, 1953. First Edition. No. D-15. First Edition, a paperback original. INSCRIBED by Burroughs, once on the title page of "Junkie": "For Allen De Loach / With friendship and all best wishes / William Lee Burroughs / April 27, 1974"; and once on the title page of Maurice Helbrant's "Narcotic Agent," printed dos-a-dos with "Junkie": "For Allen De Loach / William S. Burroughs." Burroughs' first book, inscribed to a close friend and important supporter. Allen De Loach edited the mimeo journal "Intrepid" out of Buffalo, New York. Like "Floating Bear," "Intrepid" was a mailing-list-distributed mimeo. Its issue 14/15 was dedicated entirely to the work of Burroughs and was the first serious and comprehensive examination of Burroughs' post-"Naked Lunch" work. De Loach often hosted Burroughs both at his home and for readings and events at SUNY Buffalo, where he also taught. Their friendship continued until Burroughs' death. De Loach also published most of the Beats under his Intrepid Press… Read More