Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
WILLIAMS, William Carlos. An Early Martyr and Other Poems. The Alcestis Press, New York, 1935.
Price: US$1000.00 + shipping
Description: 8vo. 68, [3] pages. Original printed French-fold wrappers. First edition, number 95 of 135 copies on Strathmore Permanent All-Rag Paper signed by Williams on the colophon from an edition of 165. "[Ronald Lane] Latimer published for me An Early Martyr, superbly, lavishly printed on rag paper, dedicated to John Coffee, who had been arrested and sent to Matteawan Hospital for the criminally insane . The poem 'An early martyr' tells about it, the factual details. The title poem is, in effect, a dedication" (WCW's Autobiography and I Wanted to Write a Poem, quoted in Wallace). "Williams knew the incongruity of having his American poems published in such a formatâ"he had lectured and written on the importance of getting poems out to as many people as cheaply as possible-but he also knew that there was really no choice. People like Latimer weren't knocking down his door with offers to publish him every day. It would have to be a limited edition, then, or none" (Paul Mariani, William Carlos Williams: A New World Naked, p. 369). Wallace A16. A very good copy of this fragile book, the spine a bit browned, the covers with light toning and a few smudges; this copy lacks the glassine and slipcase
Seller: Riverrun Books & Manuscripts, ABAA, Ardsley, NY, U.S.A.
William, Carlos William. An Early Martyr. The Alcestis Press, New York, 1935.
Price: US$1100.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: Limited 117 of 165, signed on limitation page by Williams. Stiff, white wraps with black lettering on front cover and spine, in glassine DJ. Spine of DJ is gone. Newspaper clipping of Williams photograph is laid in.
Seller: The Book Lady Bookstore, Savannah, GA, U.S.A.
WILLIAMS, William Carlos.. Early Martyr.. The Alcestis Press, New York, 1935.
Price: US$1250.00 + shipping
Description: 68 pp. Tall 8vo. Publisher's stiff paper wrappers in glassine. First edition; marked "Publisher's Presentation" in ink below colophon. It is difficult to determine which of the limitations this copy came from, but the entire edition was only 165 copies. Just about fine in the original glassine, which has yellowed as usual. An outstanding example of a very scarce book. Signed by Williams on the colophon page.
Seller: Jeffrey H. Marks, Rare Books, ABAA, Rochester, NY, U.S.A.
Williams, William Carlos. An Early Martyr. Alcestis Press, New York, 1935.
Price: US$1500.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: First Edition. in wraps as issue, owner's signature and date on front free end paper. Signed limited; "Out of Series"
Seller: Lyons Fine Books, Neenah, WI, U.S.A.
Williams, William Carlos. An Early Martyr and Other Poems. New York: The Alcestis Press, 1935.
Price: US$1500.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: First edition, first printing. Inscribed by Williams to Norman Macleod: "To / Norman Macleod / - with expectations / of the best for the new / novel - / William Carlos Williams / Oct 29/40". Publisher's indigo cloth, lettered in silver. Very good, with some light sunning and a slight lean to the spine, a touch of fraying to the spine ends, small spot to the rear board, light offsetting to the endpapers, otherwise clean interior. A very sturdy copy, signed by the author. Williams inscribed this copy of In the Money to his long-time friend and fellow poet Norman Macleod. In this inscription, Williams references Macleod's second novel, The Bitter Roots, which was published in 1941. The two men maintained a long-term correspondence, and Williams edited several of Macleod's collections of poetry. An fan of the younger poet's verse, Williams professed his admiration poetically with "A Poem for Norman Macleod." In addition to writing his own poetry and prose, Macleod founded the Briarcliff Quarterly magazine and was the first director for the Poetry Center at the 92nd Street Y. In the Money is the second volume in Williams' trilogy featuring the Stecher family. Inspired by his wife's family history and his experiences working in pediatrics, Williams uses this trilogy to examine the life of a European immigrant family in New York, and specifically focuses on Flossie, the Stecher's young daughter whose birth begins the trilogy. In the Money follows Flossie's father Joe Stecher as he establishes a printing company and moves to the suburbs of New Jersey as an endeavor to cultivate a more middle-class life for his family. This novel is preceded by White Mule (1937) and followed by The Build-Up (1952).
Seller: B & B Rare Books, Ltd., ABAA, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Williams, William Carlos.. An Early Martyr and Other Poems.. The Alcestis Press, New York, 1935.
Price: US$2250.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: Limited to 165 copies. A beautiful, spotless copy in stiff cream frenchfold wrappers, covering glassine, as issued. 68pp. SIGNED by Williams on the colophon, unnumbered and unannotated. A stunning copy. Q15657
Seller: Compass Rose Books, ABAA-ILAB, Kensington, CA, U.S.A.
Williams, William Carlos. An Early Martyr and Other Poems. The Alcestis Press, New York, 1935.
Price: US$5000.00 + shipping
Description: First edition, limited to XX copies "for presentation purposes" [this is copy XIII], printed on Duca di Modena special Italian handmade paper, signed by William Carlos Williams. 68pp. 8vo. ONE OF TWENTY COPIES "FOR PRESENTATION" This copy is inscribed by Williams on the front flyleaf: "Katherine I. John / from her friend / W. C. Williams". John was Williams' secretary and typist. Wallace A16 Slightly rubbed at tip of lower spine, few tiny, faint soil spots to covers, else the covers are fresh and bright; the text has an extremely faint damp mark at bottom margin, at inner corner of a few pages (barely visible, except at the closest of examination), else a near fine, bright copy First edition, limited to XX copies "for presentation purposes" [this is copy XIII], printed on Duca di Modena special Italian handmade paper, signed by William Carlos Williams.
Seller: James Cummins Bookseller, ABAA, New York, NY, U.S.A.