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Frank Norris. McTeague. A Story of San Francisco. New York: Doubleday & McClure Co., 1899....
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$6,875.00
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Description
Rare presentation copy of Frank Norris' masterpiece
Frank Norris. McTeague. A Story of San Francisco. New
York: Doubleday & McClure Co., 1899.8vo. Original red cloth, stamped in white on covers and spine; quarter morocco slipcase.
FIRST EDITION, FIRST PRINTING. PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR, on the front free endpaper: "To / Juliet Wilbor Tompkins. / Very Sincerely / Frank Norris." Greatly influenced by the realism of Zola, Norris presented in this novel a powerful study of avarice in a seedy section of the Bay Area, and the slow degeneration and dual nature of man, whose finer instincts are overwhelmed by his brute nature. Norris' writings greatly influenced Theodore Dreiser, Sherwood Anderson, and other American realists. The 1924 classic silent film Greed, written and directed by Erich von Stroheim, was based on this novel. McTeague is considered to be Norris' masterpiece. The first printing has the word "moment" as the last word on p. 106.
Juliet Wilbor Tompkins (1871-1956) was an associate editor at Munsey's Magazine from 1897 to 1901. Around 1898, Frank Munsey appointed her the editor of Puritan, another of his magazines; she remained editor until 1901. She also edited the literary magazine called The Wave, to which Norris contributed stories and sketches. She published 14 novels and numerous short stories. This copy is additionally inscribed by Tompkins below the Norris inscription, stating that this copy was contributed to the Exiled Writers Committee in 1940.
Frank Norris presentation inscriptions are very rare, particularly on this title. The only presentation copy to appear at auction since this copy sold at the Slater sale at Christie's in 1982, was sold in 1988.
Condition: Spine slightly dulled with some minor wear at ends; front hinge starting; rear hinge cracked and pulling away, with slight evidence of an early glue repair.
References: BAL 15031; Lohf & Sheehy 10; Wright III, 3989; Zamorano Eighty 58.
Provenance: Juliet Wilbor Tompkins (presentation inscription; and her inscription below donating the copy to The Exiled Writers Committee, dated 1940); Dr. Gerald E. Stater (sold, Christie's New York, 12 February 1982, lot 413); purchased from John Howell Books, San Francisco, 1982. From the William A. Strutz Library.
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Auction Info
2024 June 27 Important English and American Literature: The William A. Strutz Library, Part I, Rare Books Signature® Auction #6295 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
June, 2024
27th
Thursday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 2
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