The Donkey and the Darling (Original manuscript of the short story, inscribed by the author to editor and author Jean Stein)

N.p.: N.p., 1970. Original manuscript of Terry Southern's short story. Boldly inscribed by the author in manuscript ink to author and editor Jean Stein on the title page: "To darling Jean, this personally inscribed copy of 'The Donkey and the Darling,' now on prominent display at your basic Museum of Modern Art in downtown Gotham, the Empire City, in the room next to the fab work of big Ed Munch ('The Scream,' etc) and not, repeat not, to be missed (I hope, I trust, I pray!) by a certain ultra fab Ms. Jean Stein!!! / Yours as per ever, XXX Ter."

Manuscript missing the last page (ending on page 35), amounting to approximately two and a half paragraphs of missing text.

Southern's only children's book, an infamous parody of children's tales, originally written in 1958 for the children at the U.N. nursery school in Geneva where his wife worked, and first published by Obscure Publications in 2005. From 1967 to 1977 artist Larry Rivers worked with Universal Limited Art Editions (ULAE) to create a limited series of 35 portfolios of 52 lithographs to accompany the text. Ultimately completed in 1977, the project was ULAE's most expensive and difficult publication to date. Southern's inscription refers to a portfolio of this illustrated edition held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.

Editor, publisher, art patron, and author Jean Babette Stein is best known for her three remarkable oral histories: "American Journey: The Times of Robert Kennedy" (1970), "Edie: American Girl" (1982), and "West of Eden: An American Place" (2016). Stein also worked as an editor for "The Paris Review" under George Plimpton (where Stein and Southern first became acquainted), and co-edited the literary and visual arts magazine "Grand Street" with Walter Hopps.

36 leaves, with last page of text numbered 35. Early xerographic duplication, rectos only. Pages Near Fine, housed in a Very Good plus blue folder with a clear mylar front cover.