The Kingdom Of Earth With Hard Candy : A Book Of Stories

by Tennessee Williams Publisher : New Directions Book Year : 1954 Edition : First Printing : Limited Condition : Fine Binding : Hardcover Slipcase : Yes Signed : Yes Price : $18499.95

Item Description :

NEW DIRECTIONS BOOK, 1954. LIMITED SIGNED FIRST EDITION. Original Slip case. Spectacular Near Mint Condition. Perhaps Finest Example of Handful of Remaining Copies in Existence. Half-linen and Patterned Boards. Spine Stamped in Gilt - The rarest first edition by Tennessee Williams. Of the original 100 signed editions of Kingdom, 90 copies were destroyed. There are only 10 numbered copies known, most of which were retained by the publishing house and by the author. One of the scarcest Williams items. Offered here is a superb copy in original publisher's slipcase. First edition, limited issue. One of a stated limitation of 100 numbered copies signed by the author, intended for the author's personal use and the remainder reserved for use by the publisher. ("A BOOK OF STORIES" by Tennessee Williams. As the publisher feared "Kingdom" would be considered obscene, he refused to release it to the general public. Williams insisting that it be included, compromised and accepted a very limited private edition in slip case.) The volume is comprised of sheets printed from the same setting of type used to print Hard Candy (A13.1.a), but it includes the additional story "The Kingdom of Earth" which is not listed on the contents page. The specially produced edition offered here contains an extra gathering of ten leaves at the end of the volume and a new title leaf which is pasted on the stub of the excised original. 8vo., half-linen and patterned paper boards; spine stamped in gilt; Perfect, tight front inner hinge without any cracking (a usual flaw in this book, as the additional story caused the bulk to be too great for the binding.) Excellent near mint in equally impressive publisher's cardboard slipcase. Williams' conceived the idea for "Kingdom of Earth," on a trip to Mexico during the summer of 1940. This rare and suspenseful Williams psychodrama. The waters of the swollen Mississippi River are rising when ex-showgirl Myrtle relocates to a farm on the Delta with her new husband, Lot. Soon she finds herself caught in a bitter feud between Lot and his brother Chicken, while the river threatens to destroy their home–and lives–at any moment.



Images :

Rare Library collection . . . more than 40 years in the making . . . available now for the first time ... each item in the collection was individually researched and secured based on its own merits - Rare Books, First Edition Books, Signed Books, and Antique Books.
RARE BOOKS INCLUDING : FIRST EDITIONS . SIGNED and ANTIQUE BOOKS . ART and COLLECTIBLES