THE SHUNNED HOUSE by Lovecraft, H. P - 1928

Athol, Mass.: W. Paul Cook / The Recluse Press, 1928. First edition sheets, one of only 100 copies bound by Arkam House in 1961 of Lovecraft's first book of fiction. W. Paul Cook planned to publish "Shunned House" in the first issue of his magazine, The Recluse, but in 1928 he printed approximately 300 sets of sheets with an introduction by Frank Belknap for a separate book edition instead. He neither published nor bound the sheets. In 1934, Robert Barlow (later to be Lovecraft's literary executor) reportedly received 225 copies of the sheets, distributing around 50 over the next few years, some unbound and others in various bindings. Arkham House subsequently obtained approximately 150 useable sets of sheets and issued 50 unbound copies circa 1959 and 100 in black cloth boards in 1961, this being one of the copies in black cloth boards. State "A" of the copyright cancel label per Currey. Slim, small octavo black cloth boards lettered in gilt on spine. Near fine with tiny scratch to bottom front board and spine lettering rubbed as usual but still wholly readable. Issued without dust jacket. [Joshi 1-A-5. Currey C(2)]. LOVECRAFT'S FIRST BOOK