OLD AHAB'S FRIEND, AND FRIEND TO NOAH, SPEAKS HIS PIECE: A CELEBRATION - INSCRIBED TO DON CONGDON
[Glendale, CA: Roy A. Squires, 1971]. First Edition. Distinguished copy of this Melville-inspired poem, inscribed to Bradbury's long-time editor and literary agent Don Congdon. Bradbury was one of Congdon's first clients, after he left his job at Simon & Schuster in 1947 to set up his own agency. It was Congdon to whom Bradbury dedicated Fahrenheit 451, and who negotiated the publication of some of Bradbury's best-known works. A superb association. Item #3534
First Printing, trade issue, one of 485 copies (this being copy no.102). Slim octavo (25cm); letterpress printed string-tied wrappers, a variant tied with goldenrod string and title printed in dark brown on front wrapper; [16]pp. Inscribed by the author on the first blank page: "Don - This first copy which came to me today - printed by a friend in Glendale here - lovely, eh? / With friendship from Ray Bradbury / July 23, Apollo Year Three!" Faint splash mark to lower left corner of front wrapper, else Near Fine, lacking the original envelope.
Price: $400.00