MORE PRICKS THAN KICKS by Beckett, Samuel - 1970

London: Duckworth, 1932.. Gray cloth, lettered in gilt. Endsheets slightly tanned, light foxing to top edge, crown of spine a bit rubbed, else a very good copy, without dust jacket. First edition of the author's second book, likely published, according to the author's recollection, in an edition of less than three thousand copies. This copy bears his early presentation inscription: "For Hans Martin, from the author Anthony Powell June 8th 1933 In memory of a delightful visit to Holland and in admiration of the K.L.M. - and its chief." LILLEY A2a.

New York: Sparrow Press, 1955.. Small octavo. Pictorial wrapper and frontis after a drawing by Michael Lekakis. White portions of wrapper slightly darkened, but very good. First edition of the poet's third book, presumably the ordinary unnumbered issue. One of 225 copies from a total edition of two hundred and fifty copies printed at the Divers Press, Mallorca. Rather than being numbered and signed (as were the first twenty- five copies), this copy bears the author's signed, early inscription on the colophon: "for Seamus over & below all numbers."

Concord, NH: William B. Ewert, 1990.. Large octavo. Quarter morocco and gilt lettered Fabriano over boards. Fine. First edition. From an edition of one hundred copies printed on Rives at the Firefly Press and signed by the author. This is designated as one of fifteen copies specially bound for the publisher. This copy is denoted on the colophon as "for the author." Eminescu (1850- 1889) is regarded as one of the chief poets of 19th century Romania.

[Middletown, CT]: Art Laboratory Wesleyan University, 1966.. Small quarto. Cloth and paper over boards, printed label. Narrow loss from left corner of cover label, touching the 'T', a couple of minor rubs, otherwise about fine. First edition in book form. One of thirty copies only, set and printed by hand in Bembo types as a class undertaking: "... printed by the hands of the following on a Washington press, Karl Furstenburg, Alan Thorndike, Bruce Hartman, Wendy Cowie, Kristine Blum, James Patrick, Jeri Cantliffe, James Ruby." This copy (#5) bears Paul Horgan's affectionate year-of- printing presentation inscription to two close Middletown friends and collaborators. One of the multi-Pulitzer Prize winning author's scarcest publications, even within geographical proximity of its origin. OCLC locates five copies: Yale, Newberry, Swarthmore, SMU, and BM Lyon. KRAFT A35.

[New York]: Harper Trophy / HarperCollins, 1999 through 2006.. Fourteen volumes, plus related. Publisher's pictorial and paper boards, except for PENULTIMATE PERIL (plain boards, pictorial dust jacket) and ... AUTOBIOGRAPHY (glazed pictorial boards, dust jacket). Illustrated throughout by Brett Helquist. Volume 6 is priced $8.95. Volume 4 has a small rust-like spot on the fore-edge, volume 9 has soft creases to the lower fore-corners of two leaves, some very minimal shelf- rubbing to a few lower edges, otherwise an excellent set. First editions, all but one being first printings -- the exception, THE AUSTERE ACADEMY (5), is the second printing. All but one volume, THE PENULTIMATE PERIL (12), bear the author's characteristic blindstamp, the first two additionally dated, but the remainder inscribed in various ways to, or embellished for, two close friends, one of whom supplies a name for a character in the final chapter of THE GRIM GROTTO (so referenced in Handler's inscription - "To Kit in Chapter 13… Read More

London: Duckworth, 1932.. Gray cloth, lettered in gilt. Endsheets slightly tanned, light foxing to top edge, crown of spine a bit rubbed, else a very good copy, without dust jacket. First edition of the author's second book, likely published, according to the author's recollection, in an edition of less than three thousand copies. This copy bears his early presentation inscription: "For Hans Martin, from the author Anthony Powell June 8th 1933 In memory of a delightful visit to Holland and in admiration of the K.L.M. - and its chief." LILLEY A2a.

New York: Sparrow Press, 1955.. Small octavo. Pictorial wrapper and frontis after a drawing by Michael Lekakis. White portions of wrapper slightly darkened, but very good. First edition of the poet's third book, presumably the ordinary unnumbered issue. One of 225 copies from a total edition of two hundred and fifty copies printed at the Divers Press, Mallorca. Rather than being numbered and signed (as were the first twenty- five copies), this copy bears the author's signed, early inscription on the colophon: "for Seamus over & below all numbers."

Concord, NH: William B. Ewert, 1990.. Large octavo. Quarter morocco and gilt lettered Fabriano over boards. Fine. First edition. From an edition of one hundred copies printed on Rives at the Firefly Press and signed by the author. This is designated as one of fifteen copies specially bound for the publisher. This copy is denoted on the colophon as "for the author." Eminescu (1850- 1889) is regarded as one of the chief poets of 19th century Romania.

[Middletown, CT]: Art Laboratory Wesleyan University, 1966.. Small quarto. Cloth and paper over boards, printed label. Narrow loss from left corner of cover label, touching the 'T', a couple of minor rubs, otherwise about fine. First edition in book form. One of thirty copies only, set and printed by hand in Bembo types as a class undertaking: "... printed by the hands of the following on a Washington press, Karl Furstenburg, Alan Thorndike, Bruce Hartman, Wendy Cowie, Kristine Blum, James Patrick, Jeri Cantliffe, James Ruby." This copy (#5) bears Paul Horgan's affectionate year-of- printing presentation inscription to two close Middletown friends and collaborators. One of the multi-Pulitzer Prize winning author's scarcest publications, even within geographical proximity of its origin. OCLC locates five copies: Yale, Newberry, Swarthmore, SMU, and BM Lyon. KRAFT A35.

[New York]: Harper Trophy / HarperCollins, 1999 through 2006.. Fourteen volumes, plus related. Publisher's pictorial and paper boards, except for PENULTIMATE PERIL (plain boards, pictorial dust jacket) and ... AUTOBIOGRAPHY (glazed pictorial boards, dust jacket). Illustrated throughout by Brett Helquist. Volume 6 is priced $8.95. Volume 4 has a small rust-like spot on the fore-edge, volume 9 has soft creases to the lower fore-corners of two leaves, some very minimal shelf- rubbing to a few lower edges, otherwise an excellent set. First editions, all but one being first printings -- the exception, THE AUSTERE ACADEMY (5), is the second printing. All but one volume, THE PENULTIMATE PERIL (12), bear the author's characteristic blindstamp, the first two additionally dated, but the remainder inscribed in various ways to, or embellished for, two close friends, one of whom supplies a name for a character in the final chapter of THE GRIM GROTTO (so referenced in Handler's inscription - "To Kit in Chapter 13… Read More