Oct 24 at 10:30 AM - Sale 2683 -

Sale 2683 - Lot 226

Estimate: $ 1,000 - $ 1,500
Gaddis Jr., William (1922-1998)
The Recognitions, Signed First Edition and Advanced Proof.

New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1955. First edition, octavo; signed by Gaddis in blue ink below the title; bound in publisher's black cloth blind-stamped with the ouroboros, spine gilt-lettered; with unclipped publisher's jacket, (minor edgewear to jacket, stain to verso affecting spine, soiling; edges of boards just rubbed); 8 3/8 x 5 1/2 in.

[Together with] An advanced reading copy of the first edition, octavo, in publisher's black and cream printed wrappers (spine toned and creased); contained in a black cloth slipcase; 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 in. (2)

William Gaddis's first and longest book, The Recognitions, was originally conceived as a parody of Goethe's Faust, and became a belated bestseller after the success of his second novel, JR (1975). The Recognitions is now widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest post-modern American works, making the Times list of the 100 Best English-language Novels from 1923 to 2005.