THE LONG GOOD-BYE - UNCORRECTED PROOF COPY, INSCRIBED BY ROGER MACHELL TO JULIAN MACLAREN ROSS
London: Hamish Hamilton Ltd., 1953. First Edition. Uncorrected proof copy of Chandler's sixth novel with significant provenance. In addition to his skills as a novelist and screenwriter, Maclaren-Ross (1912-1964) was a noted literary critic who wrote with rare acuity on works of Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, Georges Simenon, John Buchan, and M.P. Shiel. A rare proof, with only a single copy (this one) found in the auction record (Bloomsbury, 2008). The apex of 20th century detective fiction, winner of the Edgar Award for Best Novel in 1955, and basis for Robert Altman's 1973 film starring Elliott Gould and Sterling Hayden. Bruccoli A10.1.a; Hubin, p.76; Baird 447. Item #7391
First Impression. Octavo (18.25cm); original dark beige card wrappers, with titles printed in black on spine and front cover; [4],5-319,[2]pp. Inscribed on the front wrapper roughly a month prior to publication by Hamish Hamilton's editorial director Roger Machell to English author and literary critic Julian Maclaren-Ross: "Dear Mr. Maclaren Ross / Please know this is an uncorrected proof and that it does NOT contain fairly extensive revision of detail by the author. I'll send in a finished bound copy as soon as we have one. We publish on Nov. 27th, price 10/6 / Yours sincerely / Roger Machell / 29/10/53." Modest wear, spine sunned, wrappers toned and a bit grubby, with a vertical fold to front cover, with some old (skillful) glue repairs to spine ends and front joint, and four tape ghosts to inner wrappers (affecting the preliminary and terminal leaves); contents clean; Very Good.
Price: $12,500.00