Donald E. Westlake. The Mercenaries. New York: Random House, [1960]. First edition. Signed by Westlake on th...
Description
Donald E. Westlake. The Mercenaries. New York: Random House, [1960]. First edition. Signed by Westlake on the title page. Laid in is a typed letter signed by Westlake. Pages tanned, as usual. Dust jacket has sunned spine and short tear and crease to rear panel. Very good. Author's first book.More Information:
First edition, first printing. Signed by Westlake on the title page. Octavo. 208 pages. Black cloth over printed paper boards. Binding lightly faded. Laid in is a typed letter signed by Westlake as well as a note from a Random House editor with Westlake's signature added at the bottom.
The typed letter signed by Donald E. Westlake(1933-2008) is on his personal stationery. The note, dated 1/21/02, reads in part: "I'm tardy in answering because I've been struggling, post 9/11, with a novel full of brutal scenes. I'd much preferred to have been working on a comedy. Anyway, it's done at last, and I've come up for air, and to say thanks." Transmittal envelope included.
The note on Random House notepaper is from Mystery Editor Lee Wright (1904-1986), who writes: "Dear Louis: Remember Hammett's Ned Beaumont? Here's the 1960 version of the romantic gangster. Ever, Lee." Beneath this note from the editor who published this book, Westlake's first, is Westlake's signature.
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