細節
STEINBECK, JOHN. The Moon is Down. A Novel. New York: Viking Press 1942. 8vo, original blue cloth, pictorial dust jacket (rubbed, rear panel a bit soiled); half morocco slipcase. FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE with large period on p. 112, line 11, and without added notation on copyright page, PRESENTATION COPY TO HIS LONG-TIME LITERARY AGENT Elizabeth Otis and her husband, inscribed by the author on front free endpaper: "For Elizabeth and Larry with love, John Steinbeck." Goldstone & Payne A16b.
[With:]
J. STEINBECK. Autograph letter signed ("John" twice) to Elizabeth Otis, Sag Harbor, [c. February 1956]; 1 1/2 pages, folio, in pencil on both sides of a lined legal sheet, slight fold creases, half morocco slipcase. Birthday greetings to his literary agent: "It is my belief that next Friday is your birthday. This is a very formal notice that I am very glad you were born. It has made a great deal of difference to me. Indeed, I can't conceive it otherwise just as one can't conceive being born without eyes...The formality of the enclosed letter [not present] is of course for the file -- the first part for the tax division and the second part to protect the French monarchy story from possible theft [The Short Reign of Pippin IV, published April 1957]. I would really like to do that story and maybe I will and soon, weekends and such. I think even the French would enjoy it. I would change people and party names so there would be no doubt that it is a satire. I think I could sell the idea right now as a musical -- and it would make a good one [the hit musical Pippin was based on the novel]..." Not in Steinbeck: A Life in Letters, ed. E. Steinbeck and R. Wallsten, and presumably unpublished. (2)
[With:]
J. STEINBECK. Autograph letter signed ("John" twice) to Elizabeth Otis, Sag Harbor, [c. February 1956]; 1 1/2 pages, folio, in pencil on both sides of a lined legal sheet, slight fold creases, half morocco slipcase. Birthday greetings to his literary agent: "It is my belief that next Friday is your birthday. This is a very formal notice that I am very glad you were born. It has made a great deal of difference to me. Indeed, I can't conceive it otherwise just as one can't conceive being born without eyes...The formality of the enclosed letter [not present] is of course for the file -- the first part for the tax division and the second part to protect the French monarchy story from possible theft [The Short Reign of Pippin IV, published April 1957]. I would really like to do that story and maybe I will and soon, weekends and such. I think even the French would enjoy it. I would change people and party names so there would be no doubt that it is a satire. I think I could sell the idea right now as a musical -- and it would make a good one [the hit musical Pippin was based on the novel]..." Not in Steinbeck: A Life in Letters, ed. E. Steinbeck and R. Wallsten, and presumably unpublished. (2)