The Pastures of Heaven.

New York:: Covici, Friede,, 1935.. 4th Issue of the First Edition. A Very Good plus copy with some light foxing to the boards in Very Good unclipped dust jacket with chipping to the head & foot of the spine, a small damp spot near bottom of spine and a closed tear. Previous owner name on front jacket flap. A very uncommon copy of Steinbeck's uncommon second book in a very collectible state. "The Pastures of Heaven" is a short story cycle consisting of twelve interconnected stories about a valley, the Corral de Tierra, in Monterey, California, which was discovered by a Spanish corporal while chasing runaway Indian slaves. Enchanted by the valley's natural beauty, the corporal names it Las Pasturas del Cielo or "The Pastures of Heaven." The stories are written in classic Steinbeck style; the lives of the families that relocate to the valley are portrayed with a mixture of humor and poignancy. A recurring theme in the book is the pain caused when people try ineptly to help or to please others.The text sheets for this 4th issue are from the original 2500 sets printed by Brewer, Warren & Putnam for the 1932 First Edition of this title of which only 1000 sets were bound and only 650 copies sold. BW&P sold the remaining 1850 sets to Robert Ballou in 1932 who published approximately 1000 sets in 1932. Of the 850 remaining original printed sets, Ballou published an undetermined number of copies in the third issue. That number was probably in the 500 copies range and in 1935 Ballow sold the remaining copies (350?) to Covici Friede and this 4th issue appeared in 1935.