Search Results: Signed Books by john updike

[Various places: various publishers, various dates]. Hardcover. Near Fine/Near Fine. A collection of 438 non-English language editions, presentation copies given by Updike to his friend, the collector and publisher of the Lord John Press, Herb Yellin. Of these 388 are Signed, with the majority of them Inscribed to Yellin. Mostly fine, scattered modest wear; these are unread copies that were sent to Updike by his various publishers. Yellin founded the Lord John Press in Northridge, California in the late 1970s as a fine press producing nicely printed signed and limited editions, with the "John" in "Lord John" named in part after Updike. Clearly the relationship was productive and their friendship deepened, with the inscriptions often expressing affection and humor. Nearly a quarter of the titles show Updike expressing an opinion about the artwork: whether it's appropriate to the book, commenting on the aesthetics, and occasionally accessing the pulchritude, or lack thereof, of the various women,… Read More

Northridge, California: Lord John Press, 1977. Hardcover. Fine. First edition. Quarto. Quarter cloth and papercovered boards in cloth slipcase. Fine. Copy A of 26 lettered copies Signed by Updike. From the library of Lord John Press publisher Herb Yellin, who retained the earliest of all the lettered and numbered copies for his collection. A much beloved essay about the last at bat of Ted Williams. *De Bellis and Broomfield* A63.b.

New York / Concord, New Hampshire: Harper and Brothers / William B. Ewert, 2000. Hardcover. Fine/Fine. Two books Signed and/or Inscribed with an accompanying Typed Letter Signed from Updike to Susan Sheehan that reads: "Dear Susan: A pleasure to see you briefly in The Gotham, and a painless pleasure to sign these dear old volumes of mine. Your *Carpentered Hen* is in better shape than my own single copy. You were very definite about just signing them, which I did, on the title page, but I took the liberty of inscribing to you a little bonus book, a small printing of the last Bech story, with charming (and amazingly accurate) illustrations by Arnold Roth. The reading went fine, except I opened with an old man's frog in his throat, which I kept trying to scrape away out of range of the microphone. All best, John Updike." The author's first book, *The Carpentered Hen*, a collection of poems. First edition. Fine in fine, first issue dustjacket with a later (probably publisher's) price-sticker on the… Read More

Northridge, California: Lord John Press, 1990. Hardcover. Fine. Miniature book measuring approximately 3" x 2¼". Quarter cream paper and red cloth boards. Special publisher's presentation binding combining the red cloth and the quarter cream paper of the lettered edition: "*Mites* was the only Lord John Press book for which the presentation issue copies were not bound in the same material." Fine. Publisher's designated "Presentation Copy" facetiously Signed by Updike as "Norman Mailer." From the library of Lord John Press publisher Herb Yellin. *De Bellis and Broomfield* A130.c.

Northridge: Lord John Press, 1990. First edition, limited to 200 numbered and 26 lettered copies signed by Updike. This copy letter "T." 64mo. Type in Monotype Inland Caslon on Frankfurt Cream paper. Designed by Suzanne Watson and printed by Patrick Reagh Printers. Binding by Marianna Blau. Red cloth covered boards in slipcase. Unread copy in Fine condition in a Fine slipcase. Though Updike signed sheets for all copies, he signed I.B. Singer's name on the sheet bound into this copy. Unaware of Updike's signature, the publisher delivered the book to its purchaser who, upon discovering the prank, returned it with the request that Updike also sign this copy which he did with the inscription, "for - all best John Updike." The images are of the book described and not stock photos.

Shillington, PA: Shillington High School, 1950. This is John Updike's girlfriends copy of the 1950 Hi-Life yearbook. Inscribed to her (at John's picture) apologizing for leaving her (?). Included with the book is an inscribed (to the same girlfriend) first edition of Self-Consciousness with an inscribed page tipped in that is inscribed to her and noting that she is mentioned on page 12 of the book. He mentioned how awkward he was trying to dance with her. Laid in is some class ephemera, an 8" X 12" glossy class reunion photo, a newspaper photo of the girls of Berks County, The 4-page Commencement Program, the Annual Band Concert booklet from 1950. . Signed by the Author. First Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good +/No Jacket - As Published. Illus. by Photo-Illustrated. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall.

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1990. First editions. Near fine or better, in fine or near fine jackets.. Complete collection of signed first printings of the 'Rabbit' Angstrom tetralogy. The series that made and maintained Updike's reputation: first, with RABBIT, RUN, introducing the splendors and miseries of the grown-up high-school athlete, his glories behind him and his suburban responsibilities upon him; then the ten-years-after sequel, RABBIT REDUX, in which all the tumult and ferment of a decade arrives tangled and compressed into what even the most stony-hearted and unforgiving of critics must agree is, after all, a novel. The subsequent RABBIT IS RICH won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, as did the following and final RABBIT AT REST, wherein a decrepit Harry Angstrom sets out to make his wife unhappy one last time by sleeping with his daughter-in-law for no particular reason. By the end he is dead or ready to die, granting critics full license to call the book by that most beloved of critical… Read More

[Cambridge, Massachusetts]: Printed in Harvard Yard by The Adams House and Lowell House Printers, 1965. Unbound. Fine. First edition. Broadside. Measuring 10" x 13.25". Slightest bumping at corners, still easily fine. One of 100 numbered copies Signed by the author. The first limited signed edition by Updike, a devastating poem about a lost pet, distributed on a single day at Harvard, and long considered one of the rarest, if not the rarest of Updike's "A" items. Of the 100 copies, 15 are currently held in institutional libraries.

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1960. Hardcover. Fine/Near Fine. First edition. One corner slightly bumped, else fine in a nice, near fine first issue dustwrapper with a couple of very small tears and a little rubbing. Signed by Updike. A nice copy of the first book in the Rabbit tetralogy, and probably the author's most sought after title.

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1960. Inscribed copy in the first issue jacket First edition, first printing, inscribed by the author to the influential New York publisher: "For Ralph Sylvester John Updike". Sylvester (1934-2018) co-founded the publishing house Sylvester & Orphanos with his partner, the notable literary photographer and book dealer Stathis Orphanos (1940-2018). The two published a signed limited edition of Updike's essay collection Impressions in 1985.Impressions contains 11 essays of Updike's art criticism, some of which had never before been published. The artists and topics Updike discusses in that volume include Vermeer, John Henry Fuseli, Adam and Eve, and childhood. Sylvester & Orphanos published 25 limited editions over a period of almost 30 years, beginning in 1976 with their friend Christopher Isherwood's Christopher and his Kind. In addition, Updike sat for Orphanos, later stating that Orphanos's striking photo portrait of him unveiled "the definitive personality [he] always… Read More

Northridge, California: Lord John Press, 1977. Hardcover. Fine. Quarto. Quarter cloth and papercovered boards in cloth slipcase. Fine. Copy 1 of 300 numbered copies Signed by Updike. From the library of Lord John Press publisher Herb Yellin, who retained the earliest of all the lettered and numbered copies from his fine press. A much beloved essay on Ted Williams' last at-bat. *De Bellis and Broomfield* A63.a.

New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 1960-90. . First editions, first printings, each signed by the author on the title-page; 4 vols, 8vo; minor spotting to terminal leaves of third vol., overall internally fine; publisher's cloth-backed boards or cloth, dust-jackets, slight edge-wear around spine of first vol., second vol. price-clipped, otherwise all near fine to fine; presented in 2 matching cloth drop-back boxes lettered & ruled in gilt. A great set of this classic of modern American literature, uniformly signed by John Updike to the title-page of each of the four volumes. Updike's sweeping epic serves as an oft discomfiting mirror to America through the 1960s, '70s & '80s, chronicling the country's shifting moods & impulses via the prism of poor old Harry 'Rabbit' Angstrom, an anti-hero of sorts...

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1960-2000. First editions of each volume in the Rabbit quartet. Octavos, 5 volumes, original half cloth. Each volume signed by John Updike. Each volume is near fine to fine in near fine dust jackets. An exceptional signed set. Updike’s choice of Rabbit Angstrom, in Rabbit, Run, was inspired, one of those happy, instinctive accidents that so often shape a literary career" (Books of the Century, 450). "Taken together, this quartet of novels has given its readers a wonderfully vivid portrait of one Harry (Rabbit) Angstrom . . . The books have also created a Kodachrome-sharp picture of American life . . . from the somnolent 50s . . . into the uncertainties of the 80s" (The New York Times). Rabbit, Run was the basis for the 1970 film directed by Jack Smight starring James Caan as Rabbit Angstrom, Carrie Snodgress as Rabbit's wife Janice, and Anjanette Comer as his girlfriend Ruth. The movie co-starred Jack Albertson as Coach Marty Tothero, Arthur Hill as Rev. Jack… Read More

New York: Harper and Brothers, 1958. Hardcover. Fine/Fine. First edition. One signature fallen slightly forward as usual else fine in fine, first issue dustwrapper with a later (probably publisher's) price sticker over the original price. Inscribed by Updike to Herb Yellin: "for Herb Yellin, John Updike." Herb Yellin was the founder and publisher of Lord John Press and the most frequent of Updike's fine press collaborators. He named his press after noting that the list of authors he wanted to publish all shared the same first name, chief among them John Updike, his favorite. *Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu* became the press's first book in 1977 with 10 more to follow over the next 23 years. Yellin's friendship with Updike grew with each new limited edition benefitting his already enormous Updike collection, with Updike himself contributing copies of new editions of his books - often inscribed. In a 2010 interview with Yellin he noted that Updike "...liked that if anything ever happened to his own… Read More

New York: Harper and Brothers, 1958. Hardcover. Near Fine/Near Fine. First edition. A little age-toning on the boards, near fine in near fine, first issue dustwrapper with two short tears. Inscribed (but not signed) by Updike on the front endpaper to Janet Pott: "For dearest J. in grateful memory of her many kindnesses to two very young Americans in Oxford, 1955." Laid in is an index card, evidently from the recipient's daughter, stating: "This should be in the Updike section. The inscription is from John U. & wife to Janet. And see p. 30. Genetics sometimes plays tricks." The poem on page 30, "Time's Fool," is about Janet's husband, Frederick Alexander Pott. Updike had been befriended by the Potts while in England and the poem and the book express his thanks. Updike's first book, a volume of poems written in Oxford while on a Knox Fellowship, just before returning to the United States to join the staff of *The New Yorker*. A wonderful early association copy of the author's first book.

[NY]: (Scientific American). (1969). The first separate edition of this physics-themed poem. One of 6200 copies printed as Christmas cards to be issued with W.H. Auden's A New Year Greeting (not present). 24 pages, illustrated. Fine in stapled wrappers. Lacking the cardboard sleeve that combined the two booklets, but in a custom three quarter leather clamshell case from the Praxis Bindery. This copy is inscribed by the author: "For ___/ Merry Christmas 1995/ John Updike [with a drawing of holly leaves and berries]." While the print run of this item was not particularly small, especially when compared with the many limited editions Updike has done, the nature of its distribution -- as a freebie to Scientific American subscribers -- suggests that most copies would have been lost or discarded. Unless otherwise noted, our first editions are first printings. First Edition. Softcover. Fine.

NY: Knopf, 1960. Four first editions of the Rabbit Tetralogy + Licks of Love. Includes Rabbit Run, Rabbit Redux, Rabbit Is Rich and Rabbit At Rest. The endsheets in Rabbit Run have been professionally restored and has an author signed page tipped in. It is in VG+ condition in a VG+ first state dustwrapper that is that shows a bit of scuffing to spine ends and a 1/3" hole to spine. All dust jackets are the first state and maintain their prices. The fifth book - Licks of Love is a review copy with slip laid in. Handsome set!. Signed by Author. First Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good ++/Very Good ++.

New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1991. First edition. Quarto, original illustrated boards. Inscribed by the author on the title page, "Happy Birthday John Updike with the greatest respect and admiration Annie Leibovitz March 18, 1992 New York." Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Introduction by Ingrid Sishchy. A very nice association. Legendary photographer of Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, and numerous other magazines since the Seventies, Leibovitz offers a retrospective that shows how far she has come. The early photographs have a documentary feel, even recalling Evans's Depression-era photography or Arbus's sense of the grotesque. They can seem cluttered, but in fact present the right amount of information without feeling posed. The later photographs are cleaner, clearer, and often in color. Props are used effectively to extend the subject's image: Keith Haring painted with the black-and-white abstractions he favored; Christo wrapped; David Lynch with turtleneck up to the hairline;… Read More

Northridge, California: Lord John Press, 2000. Hardcover. Fine. 12mo. Quarter black morocco and rust cloth boards. Fine. Copy letter A of 26 lettered copies Signed by Updike. From the library of Lord John Press publisher Herb Yellin, who retained the earliest of all the lettered and numbered copies from his fine press. *De Bellis and Broomfield* A180.c.

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1990. First Edition. Hardcover. Near fine/near fine. Octavo, 4 volumes. A complete set of Updike's crowning achievement, the Rabbit Angstrom series of novels. All four volumes are SIGNED by Updike, though "Rabbit, Run" is signed on a laid-in bookplate. "Rabbit, Run" has a few minor stains to the top edge and very mild edge-fading, but the dust jacket is nicer than usually found, with just a hint of creasing at the crown, and only the slightest fading to the spine; much less than usual, and scarce thus. That volume and "Rabbit Redux" are price-clipped. All three of the other volumes are fine in fine dust jackets. A very handsome signed set, which makes a stately centerpiece for any Updike or more general modern literature collection.