Gravity's Rainbow (Unrevised Proof, Hardcover, Softcover, Audio Casette, Provenance Statement)

The Viking Press, 1973. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. A set of three editions - unrevised proof, hardcover first edition and softcover first edition - plus two items comtemporary to book publication from Viking publicity executive. 1) A two-page statement of provenance that recounts discussions at Viking about how to market and price Pynchon's 760-page book and publicize it as "no one at that time had ever published a major literary talent in hard/soft cover at the same time". 2) Cassette, running time approx 12 minutes of Prof Irwin Corey's acceptance speech for Pynchon at the National Book Award for the reclusive Pynchon who refused to acknowledge or accept the award. The hardbound copy is fine with just a trace of toning along the edges of teh white dw flaps. The softcover copy has a slightly faded spine. The unrevised proof is in blue wrappers, marked "Office Copy" in blue ink on front cover, has a paper clip still in place top edge (with attendant trace of rust to ffe), and has slight sun fading spine and partially fornt cover. Galley no. left blank, Pub date penned-in "Feb. 28" and Price penned-in "15.00 cl. / 4.95 pa" A rare trio of books made unique by the Viking House provenance and Corey's remarks in Pynchon's stead, no other copies of which are known to exist. (Also included is a copy of Smoke Signals, New York Book Fair issue, August 1984 which includes a brief article about - and transcript of - Corey's bizarre comments on Pynchon's behalf.).