Blood Meridian; or, The Evening Redness in the West
New York: Random House, (1985). First Edition. Hardcover. First printing, octavo size, 347 pp., inscribed by Cormac McCarthy. Fine / fine. Item #CNJZ0037
Cormac McCarthy (born Charles Joseph McCarthy, Jr., in 1933), is aknowledged by many as one of the greatest contemporary American writers. His first novel, "The Orchard Keeper", won a 1966 William Faulkner Foundation Award for notable first novel; "All the Pretty Horses" would win the National Book Award in 1992, and "No Country for Old Men", conceived as a screen play (and later turned into a novel) won four Academy Awards. He has (to date) authored twelve novels, three short stories, five screenplays and two plays.
This work, "Blood Meridian" was McCarthy's fifth novel; although receiving only lukewarm praise upon publication, it is now viewed as his magnum opus, and is thought by many to be the "the Great American Novel". This the first edition, first printing, warmly inscribed by McCarthy on the half-title page thus: "For Ken / This one's for you / All best / Cormac".
___DESCRIPTION: Quarter red cloth over red paper-covered boards, gilt lettering and publisher's device stamped onto the spine with red rules, inscribed by McCarthy in blue ink as set forth above on the half-title page, stated First Edition on the copyright page (which per Zempel denotes the first printing for Random House); octavo size (8 3/8" by 5 5/8"), pagination: [i-x] [1-2] 3-337. Dust jacket has the original price of $17.95, artwork on the front panel a painting by Salvador Dali ("The Phantom Cart") upon a red ground with light red lettering, black-and-white photo of the author on the back panel, summary of book on both flaps.
___CONDITION: Volume fine, with clean boards, straight corners without rubbing, a strong, square text block with solid hinges, the interior is clean and bright, and entirely free of prior owner markings; still with a bit of that "tight", unread feel. The unclipped jacket fine overall, clean and not sunned (the red colours on the spine as deep as on the panels), with a modicum of edgewear. A stunning example of this seminal McCarthy novel with a wonderful inscription.
___PROVENANCE: We acquired this book from a collector who purchased it from an ABAA member who confirmed the signature, details available upon request.
___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs; please inquire for details.
___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.
Price: $20,000.00