A Confederacy of Dunces [First Printing in First State Wrapper] by Toole, John Kennedy; Percy, Walker (Foreword) - 1980

Baton Rouge and London: Louisiana State University Press, 1980. True first edition in first state wrapper; 1980 at title page, and copyright page without additional printings stated. One of only 2,500 of the first printing. Signed and inscribed by Thelma Toole on signature clipping adhered at front endpaper: "June 14, 1981, Regards, from Thelma Ducoing Toole". Beautifully signed and underscored with a flourish. Tan full cloth boards, black stylized spine titles, fine. Pages fine; no writing. Bind fine, square. Dust wrapper, light shelf wear; unclipped 12.95, protected in new clear sleeve. Rare first state wrapper correctly has the stars in the black night sky background; and is without the Chicago Sun-Times blurb at back panel. Near fine first edition in same wrapper. Mrs. Toole was the mother of John Kennedy Toole, author of "A Confederacy of Dunces". It was through her great efforts that her late son's satirical novel was finally posthumously published with assistance from professor and author Walker Percy. The unique satire soon garnered much acclaim and then the Pulitzer, twelve years after her son took his life in despair from rejection of this very novel. He did this at 31 years of age in 1969 after facing consistent rejection from nearly every American publisher. "A masterwork of comedy... pungent slapstick, satire and intellectual incongruities... make for a grand comic fugue!" - NYT. Presented here is "a great slob of a man in violent revolt against the entire twentieth century!" This book's unusual path to success began in 1976 when John Kennedy Toole's mother Thelma, using a walker, hobbled into the office of novelist Walker Percy at Loyola University. She was followed by a chauffeur carrying a manuscript that she told Mr. Percy was a ''masterpiece''. Percy reluctantly agreed to read it. He became entranced as he read, and decided that the novel was ''a major achievement, a huge comic-satiric-tragic one-of-a-kind rendering of life in New Orleans.'' After several more publishers rejected the book, Louisiana State University Press agreed to take a chance with a first printing of only 2,500. The soon to be Pulitzer Prize winner went on to 50,000 copies in hard cover and nearly 600,000 in paperback within three years. Manufactured in the United States of America. 338 pages. Insured post.. Signed. First Edition. Hardcover. Fine/Fine. Illus. by Lindlof, Ed (Wrapper Illustration). 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" Tall.