A SEPARATE PEACE: A NOVEL - ADVANCE COPY

New York: The Macmillan Company, 1960. First American Edition. Advance copy of the Knowles' first book, the story of a friendship between two 16 year old boys at a New England prep school, just before America's involvement in World War 2. While the first printing of the trade edition has been estimated at 3,000 copies, these unbound sheets, typically called "f&g's" (or folded & gathered sheets), are typically produced in tiny numbers, perhaps a half-dozen or so (cf.Ken Lopez Catalog 125, item 228). The first state dustjacket, primarily sent to reviewers, and thought by the author and publisher to make the title look too much like a children's book, was suppressed and replaced before it was widely distributed. The novel won the William Faulkner Award for Best First Novel, and was adapted into film by Peter Yates in 2004. Scarce in this format; we note one other example in the auction record, offered together with an inscribed copy at the Rechler sale (Christie's, 11 October, 2002, lot 186). First Printing. Octavo (20.25cm); publisher's unbound signatures, laid into the pre-publication state dustjacket, measuring 1/4" taller than the sheets; [viii],186,[2]pp. Publication date (Feb.8, 1960) neatly rubber-stamped at upper margin of title page; some trivial wear to extremities, faint foxing to text edges and preliminary leaves; Near Fine. Dustjacket clipped on both corners of front flap, showing modest wear to extremities, several short tears and attendant creases, with a shallow chip to crown, and some faint, scattered foxing; Very Good. Housed in a custom clamshell case.