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Darren Sutherland
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Lot 37
NUMBER ONE OF ONLY 10 COPIES OF THE GRAPES OF WRATH SPECIALLY BOUND FOR STEINBECK. STEINBECK, JOHN. 1902-1968. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: The Viking Press, 1939.
25 October 2023, 14:00 EDT
New YorkSold for US$28,160 inc. premium
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Katie Allen
Associate Specialist
NUMBER ONE OF ONLY 10 COPIES OF THE GRAPES OF WRATH SPECIALLY BOUND FOR STEINBECK.
STEINBECK, JOHN. 1902-1968. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: The Viking Press, 1939.
8vo. Publisher's half-blue morocco over cloth, spine with tan label, lettered and decorated in gilt, slipcase. Very minor offset to endpapers, some sunning to inscription; slipcase thumbed and toned at extremities.
Provenance: Melvyn and Helen Gahagan Douglas (presentation inscription from the author); collection of David Heyler; by descent.
RARE EDITION OF ONLY TEN COPIES SPECIALLY BOUND BY VIKING FOR STEINBECK IN 1939, to help raise money for migrant causes on behalf of the "John Steinbeck Committee." This copy numbered "number 1" by Steinbeck was for Helen Gahagan Douglas, the head of the organization formed under Steinbeck's name to aid migrant workers, and is signed and inscribed: "Helen and Melvyn Douglas / with admiration for your courage and devotion / John Steinbeck / 1939 / Los Gatos." Steinbeck has added "Number 1" in ink at the upper right corner of the colophon page. The publication of The Grapes of Wrath was an international literary and political sensation, bringing the plight of America's migrant community to public attention. The book—and its author—were the subject of much scrutiny, as many conservatives accused Steinbeck of embellishing or inventing entirely the events of the novel.
The "John Steinbeck Committee" was formed by Helen Gahagan Douglas, producer, political activist, and future congresswoman from California, who led a Hollywood effort to raise money for migrant relief. "To aid their cause, [Steinbeck] had ten copies of Grapes leather bound with an extra page tipped into the front that said, 'This book, one of an edition of ten, made and bound at the request of John Steinbeck for presentation to ______.' After the books were auctioned off at a banquet, he filled in the name of the purchaser and signed his own" (Benson, The True Adventures of John Steinbeck, p 424).
A true Steinbeck rarity, widely unknown. We trace only one other copy in the auction records: an uninscribed copy that likely went unsold at the event; we have also seen one other copy in the trade, inscribed for Edward G. Robinson and his wife. Not in Goldstone & Payne or Morrow.
8vo. Publisher's half-blue morocco over cloth, spine with tan label, lettered and decorated in gilt, slipcase. Very minor offset to endpapers, some sunning to inscription; slipcase thumbed and toned at extremities.
Provenance: Melvyn and Helen Gahagan Douglas (presentation inscription from the author); collection of David Heyler; by descent.
RARE EDITION OF ONLY TEN COPIES SPECIALLY BOUND BY VIKING FOR STEINBECK IN 1939, to help raise money for migrant causes on behalf of the "John Steinbeck Committee." This copy numbered "number 1" by Steinbeck was for Helen Gahagan Douglas, the head of the organization formed under Steinbeck's name to aid migrant workers, and is signed and inscribed: "Helen and Melvyn Douglas / with admiration for your courage and devotion / John Steinbeck / 1939 / Los Gatos." Steinbeck has added "Number 1" in ink at the upper right corner of the colophon page. The publication of The Grapes of Wrath was an international literary and political sensation, bringing the plight of America's migrant community to public attention. The book—and its author—were the subject of much scrutiny, as many conservatives accused Steinbeck of embellishing or inventing entirely the events of the novel.
The "John Steinbeck Committee" was formed by Helen Gahagan Douglas, producer, political activist, and future congresswoman from California, who led a Hollywood effort to raise money for migrant relief. "To aid their cause, [Steinbeck] had ten copies of Grapes leather bound with an extra page tipped into the front that said, 'This book, one of an edition of ten, made and bound at the request of John Steinbeck for presentation to ______.' After the books were auctioned off at a banquet, he filled in the name of the purchaser and signed his own" (Benson, The True Adventures of John Steinbeck, p 424).
A true Steinbeck rarity, widely unknown. We trace only one other copy in the auction records: an uninscribed copy that likely went unsold at the event; we have also seen one other copy in the trade, inscribed for Edward G. Robinson and his wife. Not in Goldstone & Payne or Morrow.