RED PONY by STEINBECK, JOHN

DENNIS, WESLEY. STEINBECK,JOHN. THE RED PONY. NY: Viking 1945 (1945). Tall 8vo (6 3/4 x 9 5/8"), tan cloth with green rules, pictorial paste-on, all edges green, Fine in publisher's tan slip case with mounted pictorial label (case with slight split, sound and VG), housed in a custom cloth box. First published in 1937 with no illustrations and with 3 stories. This is the 1st illustrated edition, with an additional story not in the 1937 edition. THIS COPY IS INSCRIBED BY STEINBECK ON THE TITLE PAGE: "FOR JOYCE WITH LOVE / [signed] JOHN STEINBECK / HORSES AREN'T MUCH FOR SMARTNESS - BUT THEY'RE NICE. MAYBE THAT'S WHY. ALSO SIGNED "JOHN STEINBECK" ON THE FLYLEAF. The book belonged to Jules and Joyce (Gates) Buck with their bookplate laid in. Joyce was the wife of American film producer Jules Buck who had collaborated with Steinbeck on the screenplay for Elia Kazan's "Vivia Zapata." Illustrated with wonderful full page and smaller color lithographs as well as pictorial endpapers by Wesley Dennis (printed by Kipe). Inscribed trade editions are rare, this signed, inscribed association copy is extra special.