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THREE JOHN STEINBECK CHILDHOOD BOOKS, TWO SIGNED. image 1
THREE JOHN STEINBECK CHILDHOOD BOOKS, TWO SIGNED. image 2
THREE JOHN STEINBECK CHILDHOOD BOOKS, TWO SIGNED. image 3
THREE JOHN STEINBECK CHILDHOOD BOOKS, TWO SIGNED. image 4
Lot 4

THREE JOHN STEINBECK CHILDHOOD BOOKS, TWO SIGNED.

25 October 2023, 14:00 EDT
New York

Sold for US$1,664 inc. premium

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THREE JOHN STEINBECK CHILDHOOD BOOKS, TWO SIGNED.

1. GERRY, MARGARITA SPALDING. The Toy Shop: A Story of Lincoln. New York: Harper & Bros., 1908. 8vo. Publisher's pictorial boards. Light wear to covers.
Presentation inscription "John / from / Miss Bailey / Xmas 1909" to endpaper. Steinbeck would have been 7 when he received this short book about the interactions between a toymaker and his mysterious customer who turns out to be Abraham Lincoln.

2. First Book of Arithmetic. Sacramento: California State Series, 1905. 8vo. Publisher's gray cloth lettered in red.
Ownership signature ("John Steinbeck / Aug 1-1910 / Salinas") to endpaper in ink and pencil. The ink inscription may have been written by one of Steinbeck's parents, as the script is very adult. The pencil is likely by 8-year-old John. The rear endpaper features a pen-and-ink cartoon of Gladys and Glenn (Steinbeck's friend Glenn Graves) in an embrace.

3. ELLIOTT, J.W. Mother Goose's Nursery Rhymes and Nursery Songs. New York: McLoughlin Bros., n.d. 4to. Publisher's light blue cloth lettered and decorated in black and gilt. Joint split, pages thumbsoiled, wear to covers.
Ownership signature ("John Steinbeck") to endpaper.

A charming collection of young Steinbeck's schoolbooks, including titles in literature, math and music. The two signed books from his library represent two of the earliest extant Steinbeck autographs.

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