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FAULKNER, William.
The Town.
First trade edition, first printing, in the first binding of red cloth, with the textual error on p. 327 and with "5/57" on the lower inner front flap of the jacket. Presentation copy inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper: "Pat and Donald Klopfer at the Farm, New Jersey 12 January 1959 Bill Faulkner." Additionally signed "William Faulkner" on the title. With a review copy slip laid-in. This copy was sold by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Sotheby's New York, 10 June 1994, lot 75. Donald Klopfer was Bennett Cerf's partner at Random House. In 1925, Cerf had formed a partnership with his friend Klopfer when the two bought the rights to the Modern Library from Boni and Liveright. They made the series quite successful and, in 1927, commenced to publish general trade books which they had selected "at random." Thus began their formidable publishing business, which they later named Random House. The Town was the second of the Snopes Trilogy, coming between The Hamlet and The Mansion. Only one other inscribed copy of The Town has appeared at auction in the last thirty years: the copy inscribed to Faulkner's step-daughter and son-in-law (three years after publication), sold in the sale of the Roger Rechler Library, Christie's New York, 2002.
Octavo. Original red cloth. With the dust jacket. In a quarter morocco slipcase. Slight toning to the spine panel.
