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Our February Catalogue contains 119 items by three American Authors: THOMAS MERTON, JOHN STEINBECK, and THORNTON WILDER. Included are archives, juvenilia, letters, signed books, and scarce material, nearly all new arrivals. Future catalogues will feature strong collections of Illustrated 16th & 17th Century books; 19th Century American Literature; exceptional Signed Books; individual author collections of Carl Sandburg, Robert Frost, Dorothy Parker, etc; and much more. You may also use our OUR FAST SEARCH ENGINE
| 012339 WILDER, THORNTON. THE MERCHANT OF YONKERS: FINAL SETTING TYPESCRIPT WITH CORRECTIONS IN WILDER'S HAND: TWO COPIES. * TWO carbon sets of the complete typescript of Wilder's play later revised by Wilder into a Broadway hit THE MATCHMAKER, which in turn was transformedinto the monster musical HELLO, DOLLY!. Each of the sets contains nearly identical corrections in ink by Wilder, approximately forty or so, ranging from filling in a lightly inked letter to adding a line of stage direction.In addition there are several other pencil corrections throughout each apparently in a different hand.* Near Fine or better and highly uncommon. (Thornton Wilder, Modern Firsts, Autograph, Literary Firsts, Manuscripts, Signed, Musicals, Theater) |
$5000.00 Order |
| 011268 WILDER, THORNTON. THE MERCHANT OF YONKERS WITH AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED (ALS). * New York and London: Harper & Brothers 1939.* First Edition.* Wilder based MERCHANT on a play by Johann Nestroy dating back to Vienna of 1842. Initially a flop, MERCHANT was revised by Wilder into a Broadway hit THE MATCHMAKER, which in turn was transformed into the monster musical HELLO, DOLLY!. Laid in is a superb 4-page AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED (ALS) as "Thorny" to Margaret [Rollins], wife of book designer and official printer for the Yale University Press, Carl Rollins. Dated 1 August 1964, after Carl's death, the letter is written in a small and close hand and totals more than 1200 words with excellent content including: an operation on his face; elaborate praise of Rome ("the beauty of Rome is ... in little thingsthat it's left to us to piece together"); and most importantly, his own work. "I am myself astonished at all the human suffering that glances out from every corner of it [THE EIGHTH DAY].... HELLO, DOLLY is emerging as some kind of phenomenon.... What an odd story it is. THE MERCHANT OF YONKERS a failure ... so back on the shelf. Ruth Gordon single-handed pushes through a revival in England. It changes its name [THE MATCHMAKER] --a 3 year run. It changes its name again [HELLO, DOLLY]. And will be with us for a long while.... (I haven't seen it, but they tell me that it's still the same text that animates the show.) Now the title song is to servethe President's campaign. The producer refused it to Goldwater...." A few ink smears to letter. Nice copy in handsome dustwrapper with internally reinforced 3/4" closed tear on the rear panel near the head of the spine.* Fine in Near Fine dustwrapper with remarkable letter by Wilder. (Modern Firsts, Autograph Letter, Plays, Theater, Signed, High Spot, Musicals) |
$3000.00 Order |
| 005438 WILDER, THORNTON. OUR TOWN. * Avon, CT: Limited Editions Club 1974.* Quarto (8-1/4" x 11-3/4") bound in full brown corduroy with an oval leatherspine label. With an introduction by Brooks Atkinson and a note by the author. Illustrated by Robert J. Lee with four double-page color plates, three full-page monochrome plates, and eighteen marginal sketches printed in a rosy terra-cotta. One of 2000 numbered copies SIGNED by the artist and by the author, the only limited edition of this play and certainly the easiest and least expensive way to obtain a signed copy. This copy was acquired directly from the Connecticut publisher and is unnumbered and as bright and fresh as the day it was published. Monthly Letter laid in.* Fine in Fine slipcase. (LEC, Fine Press, Illustrated, Signed, Modern Firsts, Pulitzer, Plays, Theater, Limited Editions) |
$375.00 Order |
| 012334 WILDER, THORNTON. OUR TOWN. * New York: Coward-McCann (1938).* First Edition.* Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a touchstone of American theater. After reading this play, Albert Einstein wrote a letter to Wilder comparing OUR TOWN to Homer's ODYSSEY and Shakespeare's HAMLET, stating: "That an American of the present day can create with such delicacy and detachment touches the soul like a miracle." A tight, crisp copy in a beautiful dustwrapper with minor wear to the spine tips and a superficial scratch and tiny closed tear on the rear panel. The cloth is mildly sunned at the spine and to the very top edges of both covers with no effect on either the front cover or spine blue paper label.* Lovely copy in brilliant dustwrapper. Hard to improve on this. (Modern Firsts, Pulitzer Prize, Plays, Theater, Thornton Wilder, High Spot, Drama) |
$2500.00 Order |
| 014158 WILDER, THORNTON. OUR TOWN. * Avon, CT: Limited Editions Club 1974.* Quarto (8-1/4" x 11-3/4") bound in full brown corduroy with an oval leatherspine label. With an introduction by Brooks Atkinson and a note by the author. Illustrated by Robert J. Lee with four double-page color plates, three full-page monochrome plates, and eighteen marginal sketches printed in a rosy terra-cotta. Copy #802 of 2000 numbered copies SIGNED by the artist and by the author, the only limited edition of this play and certainly the easiest and least expensive way to obtain a signed copy. Mild sunning to the spine.* About Fine, lacking the slipcase. (LEC, Thornton Wilder, Illustrated, Signed, Modern Firsts, Pulitzer Prize, Plays, Theater, Limited Editions) |
$250.00 Order |
| 014716 WILDER, THORNTON. OUR TOWN. * New York: Coward-McCann (1938).* First Edition.* Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a touchstone of American theater. After reading this play, Albert Einstein wrote a letter to Wilder comparing OUR TOWN to Homer's ODYSSEY and Shakespeare's HAMLET, stating: "That an American of the present day can create with such delicacy and detachment touches the soul like a miracle." This copy is INSCRIBED and SIGNED by the author upon publication on the title page: "For Jack from Thornton/with all his best/Jay Six/April 1938." Jay Six was a ranch in southeast Arizona that Wilder frequented. Two years prior, in 1936, John Kennedy and his older brother Joe had their first paying jobs at the ranch.Alas, THAT Jack was not there in 1938. Tight, crisp copy with the typical mild sunning along the cloth edges; bookplate of someone named Comstock on the front pastedown hidden by the inside dustwrapper flap. The dustwrapper is complete but for a small chip at the heel of the spine affecting the last two letters of "Coward" and "McCann." Other than that there are just a few scrapes to the rear panel and light edgewear.* Near Fine in a Very Good dustwrapper. (Modern Firsts, Pulitzer Prize, Plays, Theater, Thornton Wilder, High Spot, Drama, Signed, Inscribed) |
$6000.00 Order |
| 014717 WILDER, THORNTON. OUR TOWN. * New York: Coward-McCann (1938).* First Edition.* Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a touchstone of American theater. After reading this play, Albert Einstein wrote a letter to Wilder comparing OUR TOWN to Homer's ODYSSEY and Shakespeare's HAMLET, stating: "That an American of the present day can create with such delicacy and detachment touches the soul like a miracle." This copy is SIGNED by the author shortly after publication on the half-title page: "Thornton Wilder/New York City/May 1938." Typical mild sunning along the cloth edges and on the spine which has mild wear to the heel. The dustwrapper is complete with minor chipping to the head of the spine and light edgewear. Uncommon to find simply signed rather than inscribed.* Near Fine in a Very Good dustwrapper. (Modern Firsts, Pulitzer Prize, Plays, Theater, Thornton Wilder, High Spot, Drama, Signed) |
$7500.00 Order |
| 014718 WILDER, THORNTON. OUR TOWN. * New York: Coward-McCann (1938).* First Edition.* Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a touchstone of American theater. After reading this play, Albert Einstein wrote a letter to Wilder comparing OUR TOWN to Homer's ODYSSEY and Shakespeare's HAMLET, stating: "That an American of the present day can create with such delicacy and detachment touches the soul like a miracle." Typical mild sunning along the cloth edges and on the spine. The dustwrapper is price-clipped with a half-inch closed tear to the top of the rear panel, a small nick at the center of the spine, and general light wear.* Near Fine in a Very Good dustwrapper. (Modern Firsts, Pulitzer Prize, Plays, Theater, Thornton Wilder, High Spot, Drama) |
$1500.00 Order |
| 014719 WILDER, THORNTON. OUR TOWN. * New York: Coward-McCann (1938).* First Edition.* Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a touchstone of American theater. After reading this play, Albert Einstein wrote a letter to Wilder comparing OUR TOWN to Homer's ODYSSEY and Shakespeare's HAMLET, stating: "That an American of the present day can create with such delicacy and detachment touches the soul like a miracle." Typical mild sunning along the cloth edges and on the spine; small owner blindstamp to half-title page. The dustwrapper is complete but for some chipping to the spine tips with a few tape repairs internally to the spine and some edgewear to the front and rear panels.* Near Fine in an about Very Good dustwrapper. (Modern Firsts, Pulitzer Prize, Plays, Theater, Thornton Wilder, High Spot, Drama) |
$350.00 Order |
| 014720 WILDER, THORNTON. OUR TOWN. * New York: Coward-McCann (1938).* First Edition.* Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a touchstone of American theater. After reading this play, Albert Einstein wrote a letter to Wilder comparing OUR TOWN to Homer's ODYSSEY and Shakespeare's HAMLET, stating: "That an American of the present day can create with such delicacy and detachment touches the soul like a miracle." With none of the sunning typically found on the covers. The dustwrapper is complete with only mild chipping to the spine tips.* Fine in a Near Fine dustwrapper. (Modern Firsts, Pulitzer Prize, Plays, Theater, Thornton Wilder, High Spot, Drama) |
$2250.00 Order |
| 014721 WILDER, THORNTON. OUR TOWN. * New York: Coward-McCann (1938).* First Edition.* Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a touchstone of American theater. After reading this play, Albert Einstein wrote a letter to Wilder comparing OUR TOWN to Homer's ODYSSEY and Shakespeare's HAMLET, stating: "That an American of the present day can create with such delicacy and detachment touches the soul like a miracle." Just a touch of sunning to the top edge and the spine with virtually no wear to the dustwrapper which has a mildly sunned spine.* Fine in a Fine dustwrapper. (Modern Firsts, Pulitzer Prize, Plays, Theater, Thornton Wilder, High Spot, Drama) |
SOLD Order |
| 014722 WILDER, THORNTON. PICCOLA CITTA [OUR TOWN] WITH AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED (ALS). * Rome: Franco Campitelli (1944).* First Edition.* Apparently the First Italian Edition of Wilder's American classic. Laid in is a two-page AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED by the author on one sheet to Dr. Giancinto Buttiglioni, an editor of an Italian literary magazine. The letter is dated 1954 but it is clear that Wilder made a mistake as the envelope addressed in Wilder's hand as Lt. Col. T. N. Wilder is postmarked 1945. Wilder apologizes for his delay in answering as he has been traveling in and out of Jugoslavia. "When I entered intelligence work in the Army three years ago I was instructed to refrain from all literary activity and all public use of my name- In our service we are directed to cultivate a passion for anonymity. Hence, all broadcasting, lecturing, and any publication initiated by me is out of the question." He goes on to compliment Buttiglioni on his new review and in general on the quality of the work "published in the weeklies at Rome." An interesting insight into Wilder's literary life during his intelligence work during World War II. Also laid in is a lengthy autograph letter in Italian written in pencil by Buttiglioni to a recipient identified only as "D. B." The envelope for Wilder's letter, with his printed signature, is stamped "Passed Without Examination by Base Censor" (privilege of a spy), and a small portion above this stamp is cut away. The spine of the book has been glazed.* Very Good or better. (Modern Firsts, Pulitzer Prize, Plays, Theater, Thornton Wilder, High Spot, Italian, Signed, Autograph Letter) |
$1000.00 Order |
| 014714 WILDER, THORNTON. "SEALING WAX" IN OBERLIN LITERARY MAGAZINE, VOLUME VIII, #6. * (Oberlin, OH): April 1916.* First Edition.* Printed thick brown stapled wraps (6-1/2" x 9-3/4"). A supernatural ghost story of three pages by Thornton Wilder preceding his first book by ten years. Wilder was enrolled at Oberlin College from 1915 to 1917, and it wasthere that he began to write short plays. This is the fourth of six pieces Wilder published in the college's literary magazine, which likely had a publication run of not more than two or three hundred copies, as the total enrollment and faculty of the school at the time was not more than five hundred. Some insect damage to the very outer fore-edge of the lower half of the covers and many text pages not even approaching the text.* Still Near Fine and scarce. (Modern Firsts, Fiction, Literary Firsts, Thornton Wilder, First Book, Literary Magazines, Periodicals, Supernatural, Ghost Story) |
SOLD Order |
| 014731 WILDER, THORNTON. SIGNED CHRISTMAS CARD. * First Edition.* Undated, in full: "Selah! Just back from the gira. Big conversations soon. Greetings Thornton."* Near Fine (Modern Firsts, Christmas Card, Plays, Theater, Thornton Wilder, Signed, Autograph) |
$100.00 Order |
| 012341 WILDER, THORNTON. SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH. * A 6-3/4" x 9-1/4" formal portrait of Wilder in middle age or beyond by an unidentified photographer INSCRIBED and SIGNED by the subject in the lower right corner: "For Rosalind/Ivan/with the/regards and/thanks of/Thornton Wilder." A couple of minor smudges to two words and written on a portion of Wilder's dark suit but still quite clear and bold. Signed photos of Wilder of quality are distinctly uncommon.* A few minor dings. Near Fine (Thornton Wilder, Modern Firsts, Photograph, Signed Photograph, Autographs, Signed, Inscribed, Theater) |
$1500.00 Order |
| 014738 WILDER, THORNTON. SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH. * Cohasset: August 1946.* First Edition.* A postcard-sized photograph of Wilder in performance in THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH. SIGNED and INSCRIBED by the author on the verso to a woman "who took wonderful care of me."* Fine (Modern Firsts, Signed Photograph, Plays, Theater, Signed, Thornton Wilder) |
$500.00 Order |
| 014739 WILDER, THORNTON. SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH. * First Edition.* An 8" x 10" photograph of Wilder and Carol Stone in a scene from THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH. INSCRIBED and SIGNED by both performers to June. Wilder has dated his inscription August 1946, and Stone has added "Many happy return engagements."* Fine and quite unusual. (Thornton Wilder, Modern Firsts, Photograph, Signed Photograph, Autographs, Signed, Inscribed, Theater) |
$1750.00 Order |
| 014746 WILDER, THORNTON. THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH: PRODUCER'S COPY OF THE TYPESCRIPT FROM THE ORIGINAL PRODUCTION. [1942].* First Edition.* The typescript, in a hardcover binder, from the original 1942 production ofWilder's Pulitzer Prize-winning play which ran for 359 performances on Broadway at the Plymouth Theatre. This is producer Michael Myerberg's copy and contains in addition to the script of the play the wardrobe inventory, property plot and cue sheet, sound and electrical cues, switchboard hook ups, light chart, and flyman cue sheet. Myerberg's pencil notes are scattered throughout.* Very Good (Thornton Wilder, Modern Firsts, Pulitzer Prize, Literary Firsts, Manuscripts, Theater) |
SOLD Order |
| 014745 WILDER, THORNTON. THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH: TYPESCRIPT. [1975].* The typescript, bound in flexible wraps, from the 1975 revival of Wilder's Pulitzer Prize-winning play which ran for seven performances at the Mark Hellinger Theatre. This is actor Lee Sherman's copy with his SIGNATURE and blindstamp on the title page. Sherman played three roles in the production--the doctor, first conveener, and Fred Bailey--which starred Elizabeth Ashley. A number of pages contain Sherman's pencil notes. There is an ink signature on the title page that bears a little resemblance to Thornton's or possibly his sister Isabel's, but we cannot verify it to belong to either.* Near Fine (Thornton Wilder, Modern Firsts, Pulitzer Prize, Literary Firsts, Manuscripts, Theater) |
$500.00 Order |
| 014703 WILDER, THORNTON. THEOPHILUS NORTH. * New York: Harper & Row (1973).* First Edition.* Copy #194 of 275 numbered copies SIGNED by the author.* Fine in Fine glassine and lightly soiled, Near Fine slipcase. (Signed, Modern Firsts, Limited, Thornton Wilder) |
SOLD Order |
| 014704 WILDER, THORNTON. THEOPHILUS NORTH. * New York: Harper & Row (1973).* First Edition.* INSCRIBED and SIGNED by the author on the title page to publisher William Targ.* Fine in Fine dustwrapper. (Signed, Modern Firsts, Inscribed, Thornton Wilder) |
$250.00 Order |
| 002971 WILDER, THORNTON. THE WOMAN OF ANDROS. * New York: Albert & Charles Boni 1930.* First Edition.* Small binding imperfection to rear board. Touch of wear to dustwrapper edges.* About Fine, bright copy in close to Fine dustwrapper. (Modern Firsts, Fiction, Literary Firsts, Thornton Wilder) |
$150.00 Order |
| 004219 WILDER, THORNTON. THE WOMAN OF ANDROS. * New York: Albert & Charles Boni 1930.* First Edition.* Small bookseller ticket of The Seven Arts in Carmel on the rear pastedown. Small chip to bottom front panel of dustwrapper which has mild wear to spine tips.* Close to Fine in Near Fine, price-clipped dustwrapper. (Modern Firsts, Fiction, Literary Firsts, Thornton Wilder) |
$100.00 Order |
| 014712 WILDER, THORNTON. THE WOMAN OF ANDROS. * New York: Albert & Charles Boni 1930.* First Edition.* Scarce Advance Copy of this early Wilder title bound in plain brown wraps larger than the published book (8-1/4" x 9-1/2") and printed on rectos only. The text begins on a page numbered "1" and ends on page 157 whereas in the published edition the text begins on page 7 and ends on page 162. A quick examination does not reveal any textual changes though they may exist.* Very Good and quite scarce in this format. (Modern Firsts, Fiction, Literary Firsts, Thornton Wilder, Advance Copy, Uncorrected Proof) |
SOLD Order |
| 014747 WILDER, THORNTON. THE WOMAN OF ANDROS. * New York: Albert & Charles Boni 1930.* First Edition.* INSCRIBED and SIGNED by the author to Arthur Brisbane McGee "with the best wishes/of/Thornton Wilder/Capt., A-C/Miami Beach, Fla./July 1942." Lacking the spine of the dustwrapper.* Very Good in most of dustwrapper. (Modern Firsts, Fiction, Literary Firsts, Thornton Wilder, Signed, Inscribed) |
$125.00 Order |
| 012340 WILDER, THORNTON (CARL VAN VECHTEN). STUDIO PHOTOGRAPH BY CARL VAN VECHTEN OF THORNTON WILDER FROM THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH. * Fine 7" x 9-3/8" portrait of Wilder with Van Vechten's blindstamp at the bottom and his ink stamp on the verso along with his ink notations: "Thornton Wilder: The Skin of Our Teeth" and "xxv.ll.7/Aug 18 '48." This image shows Wilder standing with the lapels of his trenchcoat in his hands and staring off into the distance. This pose seems to be less common than the one of Wilder seated on a chair.* Fine (Thornton Wilder, Modern Firsts, Photograph, Carl Van Vechten, Modern Photography, Theater) |
$2500.00 Order |
| 014467 WILDER, THORNTON (JEAN CHARLOT). THE BRIDGE OF SAN LUIS REY. * New York: Limited Editions Club 1962.* Tall octavo (6-3/4" x 11") bound in natural buckram with a silhouette frieze of the Bridge's doomed pedestrians stamped in black on both covers, backed in fine imported black morocco leather. Introduction by Granville Hicks. Illustrated with sixteen original lithographs by Jean Charlot printed in seven colors. Copy #355 of 1500 SIGNED by the artist on the colophon page. Monthly Letter laid in. Small stain on front pastedown from previous bookplate.* About Fine in slipcase. (LEC, Fine Press, Illustrated, Signed, Modern Firsts, Limited Editions, Lithographs, Jean Charlot, Pulitzer Prize) |
$150.00 Order |
| 014743 WILDER, THORNTON; ROOSEVELT, ELEANOR; HEPBURN, KATHERINE; STOUT, REX; FERBER, EDNA; ET. AL. DEMOCRATIC WOMEN'S DAY PROGRAM. 27 Sept. 1940.* First Edition.* THORNTON WILDER's copy of the 27-page script of the transcript of this radio broadcast SIGNED by him in pencil at the top left corner of the first page. Other participants were Marc Connelly, Frank Kingdon, Alice Duer Miller, Elmer Rice, Robert Sherwood, Frank Sullivan, and Hendrick Van Loon. The broadcast was hosted by Eleanor Roosevelt and presented under the auspices of the Democratic Committee. Accompanied by a TYPED LETTER SIGNED addressed to George from Wilder's sister Isabel: "Thornton wondered if you would be interested in having as a minor item, this enclosed script of a recent broadcast. All the material was originally each speaker's and then rewritten by a staff radio writer. The changes drove each poor perfomer mad in several incidences, as as [sic] they read on the air, the [sic] made slight revisions more in keeping with their own character. The signature is my brother's own, although done under pressure it does not look completely original!" Scarce item.* Near Fine (Thornton Wilder, Modern Firsts, Eleanor Roosevelt, Katherine Hepburn, Script, Signed, Edna Ferber, Rex Stout, Presidential) |
SOLD Order |
| 014744 [WILDER, THORNTON] [SINATRA, FRANK] CAHN, SAMMY. LOVE AND MARRIAGE FROM OUR TOWN. * New York: Barton Music Corp. (1955).* First Edition.* Quarto (9" x 11-1/2") in illustrated wraps depicting Frank Sinatra in the foreground (with a pipe!) and the town in the background; 4 pages. Lyrics by Sammy Cahn; music by James Van Heusen. The hit song from the NBC-TV Producers Showcase production of Wilder's classic play, also starring Paul Newman and Eva Marie Saint.* Light wrinkling. Very Good (Modern Firsts, Thornton Wilder, Frank Sinatra, Sheet Music, Sammy Cahn, Paul Newman, Theater, Music Lyrics) |
$50.00 Order |
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CHARLES AGVENT
291 Linden Road
Mertztown, PA 19539
610-682-4750
agvent@erols.com
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