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STEINBECK, John.
A Russian Journal
With Pictures by Robert Capa.
First edition, first printing. An astonishing presentation copy to Nathaniel Benchley inscribed by Steinbeck on three full pages, "Well now, Capa and I went to Russia, a big country (bigger from left to right than from up to down) but none the less big. It is said that the Russian nation comprises one fifth 1/5 of the world. Capa and I are willing to uphold this saying. Capa says 1/3rd and I say 1/7th. But Capa is an Hungarian. Any way we went to Russia and then I wrote this book and (as any fool can plainly see) There are problems between the by cuspid [sic] and the lino type. The result is that I have to reconstruct Russia. And be with the South the way it is. [?] I find myself in the position of trying to defend Russia against the Viking Press who have, by leaving pages blank, engaged in a Red Hunt! I say - down with Viking down with Harold Guinzburg, Alice, Tom, Peanut, Camille, P. Covici JS, M. Best JS Arriba los libros [ ] El Alma Sola".
Large octavo. Original yellow/grey/tan cloth backed blue boards, titles to upper board and spine in blue, top edge stained blue. With the dust jacket. An excellent copy. Some pages of preliminary matter and text (pp. 4, 5, 8, 9 and 12) unprinted and blank - see below.
