Sweet Thursday.

John Steinbeck's personal first edition copy of his “rhapsody in blue about the rare and raffish characters who live on Cannery Row” (New York Times) with his signed bookplate and a beautifully written autograph note of provenance entirely in the hand of his wife, Elaine. Octavo, original cloth. From the library of John and Elaine Steinbeck with Steinbeck's signed bookplate and an autograph note on Elaine's letterhead detailing the book's provenance which reads, "Once long ago my husband had just finished a massive book East of Eden and all the evils of the world were out of his system. Now he was asked to write a play, based on Cannery Row. Now Cannery Row was a book about the lives of fishermen along the Western Coast of California where John was born & loved very much. ! So where did he now choose to write such a play? Why - along the eastern coast, in Sag Harbor. In the summer of 1953 we rented a little house - right over the bridge here - 2 houses on the left, over the bridge. We also rented a little boat so we could putt-putt around. We fell in love with it - village - sea - shores - coves - all of it. And John had a wonderful time writing. But instead of turning Cannery Row into a play, he wrote a new Book!!! And here it is! Sweet Thursday! A first edition. My own copy from the hands of John Steinbeck! 1st book he wrote in Sag Harbor!! Wrote it here before we even moved here!!" Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Paul Galdone. Housed in a custom half morocco and folding chemise slipcase.