Suttree, first Modern Library edition.
Random House, New York, 2002.
First Modern Library edition, first printing with complete number line (246897531) on the copyright page. Hardcover, 19 x 12,5 cm., 471 numbered pages. Publisher’s grey cloth lettered in gilt on the spine with torchbearer logo embossed on front board and torchbearer motif on the endpapers. Silver and grayish blue dustjacket lettered in black with a photo of McCarthy by Marion Ettlinger on the front panel, a The Times Literary Supplement blurb on the back one, price “U.S.A. $19.95 Canada $29.95” on the front flap and a list of available Modern Library titles on the verso.
Inscribed in black ballpoint pen by McCarthy on the title page to his friend and collector Philip Murray: “For Philip Murray / From your / old friend / Cormac”. (FM, lot 721).
CONDITION: near fine in a near fine dust jacket. A superior, almost as new copy.
PROVENANCE: from the collection of Philip Murrray, auctioned at Fonsey Mealy in December 2019. Purchased by me from Birmingham book dealer First and Fine in 2020.
Reportedly published on October 22, 2002, at $19.95, in an unknown first print run.
I wasn’t able to uncover both the exact date of publication and the first print run of this edition.
COLLECTING TOPICS: unsigned copies in fine or about fine condition are relatively easy to be found. As far as I remember, this is the only signed or inscribed copy I have ever seen in fifteen years of collecting McCarthy books. Rare Books Hub mentions only this copy gone at auction. Definitely scarce, perhaps rare.
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