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Summer books to chill
your palate and your spine.
Here's another collection of recently acquired items covering areas of particular interest to many, including signed copies, cartoons and a bit of weird fiction, as usual.
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Junkie
William Lee (William R. Burroughs)
This is a First Edition copy of Burroughs' first book, a novel closely based on his personal experiences with heroin. Published as part of an Ace Double in 1953 (backed with Narcotic Agent by Maurice Helbrant) this is a relatively uncommon book from Burroughs' days long before Naked Lunch and ill-advisedly (for her) playing William Tell with his wife . The front covers for both titles are crisp and bright, with some minor creasing. The spine shows creases both from reading and from less-than-ideal binding. There is one modest piece of loss to the bottom of the spine (or the top, depending on which title you're looking at). Overall a very nice copy of a famous and notorious book. $750.00.
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The Future of Drinking
Gilbert Seldes
(With Drawings by Don Herold)
Published in 1930 during the early days of Prohibition, this is a delightfully ironic look at the struggle between "the fanatic religion against drinking and the equally fanatic religion of compulsory drunkenness". Rich with delightful illustrations by Herold. The book is Near Fine, with slight age-toning and the fragile paper jacket is also Near Fine with minor chipping, one closed tear and a bit of age-toning as well. A lovely book best enjoyed while sipping your favourite beverage, alcoholic or otherwise. $75.00.
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High-Rise
J.G. Ballard (Inscribed)
Another one of Ballard's desperately unhappy, horrifying and violent views of humanity. This is a fine 1975 First Edition from Jonathan Cape, inscribed by Ballard on the title page. Uncommon signed and as lovely as this, and rare enough in any condition. Appalling goings-on in a high-rise apartment complex populated by typically nasty and unlikeable Ballard characters. The perfect book to read on those days when you're feeling just too darn happy.
$1,200.00.
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The Anatomy of Criticism
Northrop Frye (Signed)
The 1957 First Edition, published by Princeton University Press, by one of the 20th Century's preeminent literary critics and creative thinkers. Signed by Frye on the title page, very scarce thus. The fragile paper dust jacket has some loss to the spine ends and wear to the extremities. There is also as-expected sunning to the spine. The book itself is Fine and unmarked. Overall, this is an excellent copy of one of the cornerstone works of literary criticism of the past one hundred years. You can argue with me about that, but you can't argue with Northrop Frye. He'd mop the floor with you. $1200.00.
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The Gentleman's Companion
Charles H. Baker Jr.
This is the 1946 Crown reprint of an exemplary guide to better living for all manner of gentleman. Volume I is an exotic cookery book and Volume II an exotic drinking book. Of the drinks volume, the cover text reads: "a personally collected regiment of world-famous lovely liquid masterpieces from the Orient & Occident, & the South Seas". What can one possibly add to that, save that the books are Very Good in a Near Fine slipcase? Note that there is obvious discolouration to the Exotic Drinks Book, doubtless caused by a carelessly handled Martini or Singapore Sling. $200.00
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Hell House
Richard Matheson
Four people move into the "Mount Everest of haunted houses" to unearth its secrets. A similar attempt by a previous research group ended in madness and death. This is a Fine, 1971 Viking First Edition copy of one of the great haunted house books. The lovely jacket is Near Fine with gorgeous cover art as you can see, marred only by one closed tear to the back cover and an overzealous price clipping to the front flap, perhaps evidence of poltergeist activity. The basis for a not-bad 1973 film adaptation and for myriad nightmares. $100.00.
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Happiness is a Dry Martini
Johnny Carson
While we're on the subject of liquor and all those cool summer drinks, here's a modest gem from 1965. It's a Near Fine hardcover copy of the late Tonight Show host's collection of mildly off-colour, slightly politically incorrect jokes with fetching illustrations by Whitney Darrow Jr. There are no recipes but there are lines like this: "Happiness is being served with a paternity suit on your 75th birthday". You get the idea. Cheaper than a martini in some flashy hipster bar. $20.00
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Drawn and Quartered
Charles Addams
Forward by Boris Karloff
A delightful collection by the great American cartoonist and New Yorker staple. Indeed, most of these cartoons first appeared in that magazine. This is a First Paperback Edition from 1946, of the earlier Random House hardcover book. Bizarre, offbeat and awfully funny, many of the cartoons feature various members of his eponymous family. There are even some hockey cartoons. A charming book in lovely condition. $25.00
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Falling Angel
William Hjortsberg
Very Good First Edition copy of a remarkable crime/horror novel. This was the basis for the not-entirely-successful film version, Angel Heart, with Mickey Rourke and Robert De Niro. (Although thinking about De Niro's peeling hard-boiled eggs still makes my skin crawl.) This book is a richly disturbing humdinger that manages to walk the line between the conventional private eye novel and the mind-shatteringly weird. Private detective Harry Angel is hired to find a missing person and finds himself hip deep in voodoo, Black Magic and even more bizarre stuff. The book is in splendid shape, though the jacket shows some wear to the extremities and some overall rubbing. In addition, some misguided soul has used Scotch tape to repair a tear to the front cover. Tsk tsk. Still, desirable, relatively uncommon, and creepy, creepy, creepy. $60.00
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This One's Trouble
Peter Sellers
And here's this book again, which I am going to leave on here until somebody buys a copy. So if you never want to see this listing again, you know what to do. $15.00.
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