Town and the City Signed First Edition Archives - Raptis Rare Books | Fine Rare and Antiquarian First Edition Books for Sale

"Thanks for driving me home in your Buick in '32, and for your friendship to my father": First Edition of Jack Kerouac's First Book The Town and the City; Lengthily inscribed by Him

The Town and the City.

New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1950.

First edition of the Jack Kerouac's first book. Octavo, original red cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, "Jack Kerouac To Judge Eno- belated Thanks for driving me home in your Buick in '32, and for your friendship to my father-." The recipient, Judge Eno was the father of Kerouac's close friend Arthur Eno who were classmates at St. Joseph's School. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box made by the Harcourt Bindery. An exceptional inscription, rare and desirable.

Price: $15,000.00 Item Number: 139281

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“My philosophy is that you can't explain the world. It's too big and it's too crazy and sometimes it's funny and most of the time it's... strange": First Edition of The Town and the City; Lengthily inscribed by Jack Kerouac

KEROUAC, Jack.

The Town and the City.

New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1950.

First edition of the Jack Kerouac's first book. Octavo, original red cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, "To Dave Creviston To Scribner's With Luck To Dave With Luck (f.s) Jack Kerouac." An interesting inscription as Kerouac submitted this work to Charles Scribner's Sons twice, and was rejected both times before being accepted by Harcourt Brace. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box by the Harcourt Bindery. Founded over a century ago in 1900, the Harcourt Bindery is the oldest and largest traditional bindery in America exclusively devoted to fine traditional leather bookbinding by hand. An exceptional inscription, rare and desirable.

Price: $12,500.00 Item Number: 131371

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First Edition of Jack Kerouac's First Book The Town and the City; Signed by him and close childhood friend in Lowell, Massachusetts, Charles Dudevoir

KEROUAC, Jack.

The Town and the City.

New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1950.

First edition of Kerouac's first book. Octavo, original red cloth. Signed by Kerouac on the front free endpaper and with the ownership name of his close childhood friend and neighbor in Lowell, Massachusetts, Charles Dudevoir. With a note of provenance signed by Charles Dudevoir's granddaughter which reads in part, "Phil - my mother lived in Lowell when she was young - Irene Dudevoir - Her dad, Charles + mother, Martha knew Keroauc... Thanks! Melinda" and a very detailed three-page typed letter of provenance which reads in part, "I bought this book from a very well known dealer out here in California in '97. His name is Jerry Melon... The Kerouac is a very good signature from him as he frequently signed just 'Jack' or JK... there are a few formal copies of the 'Town' signed 'John Kerouac' but a full fledged Jack Kerouac on any book is very rare... I believe the [inset from the granddaughter of Charles Dudevoir] was written to Phil Chaput, a local Lowell dealer who handled many Kerouac estate items along with Jeffrey Weinberg of Waterrow books. Jeffrey Weinberg... in fact lived right across the street from the Kerouacs house and told me that Joe Dudevoir used to mow his lawn and Kerouac's lawn. Charles died in the 1950s according to his daughter-in-law... if you look up the family...

Town and the City Signed First Edition

Price: $15,000.00 Item Number: 139281

Price: $12,500.00 Item Number: 131371

Price: $12,000.00 Item Number: 134655

Price: $1,100.00 Item Number: 138596

Price: $975.00 Item Number: 47652