V.

First edition of Pynchon's classic first book. Octavo, original cloth. An exceptional association copy, inscribed by the author on the verso of the front free endpaper in the month of publication, "Aug. 1963. To Bob & Ginny, with affection, Tom." The recipients were Pynchon's Boeing colleague and close friend Bob Hillock and his wife Ginny, dating to the period when the famously reclusive author worked as a technical writer for Boeing in Seattle. Inscriptions from this early in Pynchon's career are of the greatest rarity, particularly addressed to figures from his life before he withdrew almost entirely from public view. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Ismar David. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box made by the Harcourt Bindery. A rare and desirable signed first edition with distinguished provenance.