Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
John Updike. Hoping For A Hoopoe. Victor Gollancz, 1959.
Price: US$10.12 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: 1959. No edition stated. 82 pages. Cream jacket over black cloth with gilt titles to spine and front. Pages have slight foxing, tanning and minor thumbing. Text block edges heavily foxed. Boards have some moderate edge wear, with slight bumping to corners and minor bumping to spine ends. Boards a little rubbed and marked overall. Gilt is bright. Boards are slightly bowed. Clipped jacket has light edgewear with small tears and creasing. Jacket is slightly rubbed and marked overall. A few light scratches. Jacket moderately foxed overall.
Seller: World of Rare Books, Goring-by-Sea, SXW, United Kingdom
Updike, John. Hoping for a Hoopoe. Victor Gollancz, 1959.
Price: US$19.32 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: This is the first British edition of Updike's first book. Condition: Black cloth binding, tight with sharp corners, fresh and as new. . The text pages are in excellent condition - clean and white with no writing, stains, foxing or tears. The dust jacket is price-clipped with 3 closed tears (18mm, 38mm & 28mm), spine a little sunned, otherwise in very good condition. The dust jacket is housed in a protective archival mylar sleeve (removed for the photograph of complete DJ).
Seller: Polyanthus Books, London, United Kingdom
Updike, John. Hoping for a Hoopoe. Victor Gollancz, London, 1959.
Price: US$20.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Black cloth bds with gilt title (unworn with sharp cnrs) 82 pages, quite foxed. DJ has some short tears at edges and dust spotting. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall
Seller: Ariel Books IOBA, Auckland, New Zealand
John Updike. Hoping for a Hoopoe. Victor Gollancz, 1959.
Price: US$25.77 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Tear in rear od dustjacket on inch long Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall
Seller: Yare Books, Great Yarmouth, United Kingdom
Updike, John. Hoping for a Hoopoe. Victor Gollancz, 1959.
Price: US$30.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: INSCRIBED/dated by Hoover. Boards lightly soiled and marked. 11th printing. No dj.; 96 pages
Seller: Isaiah Thomas Books & Prints, Inc., Cotuit, MA, U.S.A.
John Updike. Hoping for a Hoopoe. Victor Gollancz Ltd, London, 1959.
Price: US$40.00 + shipping
Description: First Edition, First Impression. 5.5 x 8.75in. vii. 82pp. Publisher's cloth boards. FINE/AS NEW in Fine/As New dust jacket protected in a removable archival cover. An exceptionally flawless copy. As pictured.
Seller: North Books: Used & Rare, St. Louis, MO, U.S.A.
John Updike. Hoping for a Hoopoe. Victor Gollancz Ltd, 1959.
Price: US$45.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: "HOPING FOR A HOOPOE" by John Updike. 1959 1st UK Edition; London; Victor Gollancz Ltd. The book comes with its original, un-clipped dust jacket. First published as "The Carpentered Hen and Other Tame Creatures" in the United States, this is the first British edition of Updike's first book. Condition: Clean covers and spine with no stains; sharp corners. Tight binding. No cracks. No loose pages. The text pages are in excellent condition - clean and white with no writing, stains, foxing or tears. Name/address stamped in ink at the lower-right corner of the rear pastedown. Three pages have a crease at the upper-outer corners. The dust jacket is un-clipped with the price showing on the front flap; some light soiling to the front and back covers; clean flaps; small tears at the spine heads; larger 3" tear between starting at the bottom between the front cover and front flap that has been repaired on the back-side with clear tape. Overall in very good condition.
Seller: CraigsClassics, Hudson, NH, U.S.A.
John Updike. Hoping for a Hoopoe. Victor Gollancz, London, 1959.
Price: US$50.24 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: 82pp + ix prelims. Collection of fifty-five poems. Black cloth covered boards with gilt lettering on face and spine. Light toning to top page edges. SIGNED by the author on title page. Author's first book of poetry. Unclipped dust jacket (price 12/6) with small vertical tears to top edge of back cover. Slight shelf wear of dust jacket all round. Now protected in archival film.
Seller: The Bookshop at Beech Cottage, Newbury, United Kingdom
Price: US$56.50 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First UK edition. Jacket price clipped, edges lightly foxed. 1959 Hard Cover. viii, 81 pp. Author's first book, originally published in the United States as The Carpentered Hen and Other Tame Creatures. This edition includes an author's note not included in the American edition. CONTENTS: Duet, with Muffled Brake Drums; Ex-Basketball Player; Player Piano; Shipbored; An Ode; The Clan; Why the Telephone Wires Dip and the Poles are Cracked and Crooked; The Population of Argentina; Even Egrets Err; Scenic; Tune, in American Type; Lament, for Cocoa; Recitative for Punished Products; V. B. Nimble, V. B. Quick; Song of the Open Fireplace; March: A Birthday Poem; Sunflower; Poetess; Pooem; Capacity; An Imaginable Conference; The Story of My Life; The Newlyweds; Humanitites Course; English Train Compartment; Time's Fool; Philological; To an Usherette; Sunglasses; Cloud Shadows; A Modest Mound of Bones; Youth's Progress; Dilemma in the Delta; A Wooden Darning Egg; Mr. High-mind; The One-Year-Old; Superman; Publius Vergilius Maro, the Madison Avenue Hick; In Memoriam; Planting a Mailbox; Tsokadze O Altitudo; Little Poems; Tao in the Yankee Stadium Bleachers; Due Respect; Tax-Free Encounter; Room; The Sensualist; Snapshots; Mountain Impasse; A Bitter Life; Glasses; A Rack of Paperbacks; Popular Revivals, 1956; Ode III.ii : Horace; A Cheerful Alphabet of Pleasant Objects.
Seller: Yesterday's Muse, ABAA, ILAB, IOBA, Webster, NY, U.S.A.
UPDIKE, John.. HOPING FOR A HOOPOE: POEMS.. Victor Gollancz,, London,, 1959.
Price: US$57.97 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First U.k. Edition. Hardback. Dust Jacket. 8vo. pp viii, 82. Original publisher's black cloth, lettered gilt at the spine. The publisher's own retained copy with their stamp on the title page reading Ôarchive copyÕ. Fine in very good indeed d/w with very small number '59' at rear top inside corner of jacket, written by Gollancz on their file copies to note the year of publication. Fine in very good indeed dust jacket. Very slight surface wear, no cips, nicks or loss. No inscriptions, not price-clipped.
Seller: Burwood Books, Wickham Market, United Kingdom
John Updike. Hoping for a Hoopoe. Victor Gollancz Ltd, 1959.
Price: US$62.50 + shipping
Description: 82 pages. 5-3/4 by 8-7/8 inches. Poems. British edition of the author's first book, printed in the United States as The Carpentered Hen and Other Tame Creatures. First British edition. Gilt lettering on spine a bit darkened, thus near fine. In a dust jacket with some toning to spine, else near fine.
Seller: Eureka Books, Eureka, CA, U.S.A.
Updike, John.. Hoping for a Hoopoe. Poems.. Victor Gollancz Ltd, London, 1959.
Price: US$65.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: First British Edition, First Impression. A Fine copy in black textured paper covered boards, in a Fine dustwrapper, price-clipped. 82pp. The British Edition of Updike's first book, published in America as The Carpentered Hen [1958, New York: Harper & Brothers]. 82pp. Q14585
Seller: Compass Rose Books, ABAA-ILAB, Kensington, CA, U.S.A.
Updike, John. Hoping for a Hoopoe. Victor Gollancz Ltd., London, 1959.
Price: US$67.87 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: first U.K. Edition of Updike's first book; the USA first edition was published under the title of "The Carpentered Hen"; black publisher's cloth; lettering in gilt on spine and on front cover; white and light red dust jacket; lettering in black on spine and on front cover; hinges are tight, no foxing; d.j. would be catalogued as fine except for being price clipped; no prior owners' signatures or inscriptions.
Seller: Reeve & Clarke Books (ABAC / ILAB), South River, ON, Canada
Updike, John. Hoping for a Hoopoe. Victor Gollancz, London, 1959.
Price: US$92.50 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: 96 pages. First English edition, first printing with the "12/6" price present on the bottom of the front flap. His first book, a collection of light verse issued in the U. S. as "The Carpentered Hen". Most were written when he was a young art student in England & a "Talk of the Town" reporter for The New Yorker, which published over 40 of them. Fine book in a fine dust jacket. A beautiful copy!
Seller: Fireproof Books, MINNETONKA, MN, U.S.A.
John Updike. Hoping For A Hoopoe. Victor Gollancz, 1959, 1959.
Price: US$95.00 + shipping
Description: Cloth. First Edition. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Very fine copy in like jacket. Beautiful copy of the Author's First Book.
Seller: Jeff Bergman Books ABAA, ILAB, Flemington, NJ, U.S.A.
Updike, John. HOPING FOR A HOOPOE. Victor Gollancz, London, 1959.
Price: US$95.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First UK edition, first prnt. Includes "Author's Note" not in the US edition (which was published by Harper & Bros. as The Carpentered Hen and Other Tame Creatures in 1958). 3x5 inch card laid-in signed by Updike. Upper board corners just tapped, foxed page edges; dustjacket with interior foxing which is apparent on the outside. Tight copy in Very Good condition in a Very Good dustjacket with an archival cover. Updike's first poetry collection.
Seller: REVERE BOOKS, abaa/ilab & ioba, Fernandina Beach, FL, U.S.A.
UPDIKE, John.. HOPING FOR THE HOOPOE. POEMS BY JOHN UPDIKE.. Victor Gollancz., London,, 1959.
Price: US$100.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: 8vo. pp viii. 82. Original publisher's black cloth lettered gilt at cover and spine. The publisher's own retained copy with their stamp on the title reading page. Fine in very good indeed d/w with very small number '59' at rear top inside corner of jacket, written by Gollancz on their file copies to note the year of publication. Fine. First U.k. Edition. Hardback
Seller: Nicola Wagner, aptos, CA, U.S.A.
Updike, John. HOPING FOR A HOOPOE: POEMS. Victor Gollancz Ltd, London, 1959.
Price: US$100.00 + shipping
Description: First British edition of the author's first book, entitled "The Carpentered Hen" in the States. Fine in dust jacket.
Seller: Quill & Brush, member ABAA, Middletown, MD, U.S.A.
UPDIKE, John. Hoping for a Hoopoe. Victor Gollancz, London, 1959.
Price: US$125.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: First English edition of the author's first book, published in America as *The Carpentered Hen and Other Tame Creatures*. Fine in fine dustwrapper with very light wear.
Seller: Between the Covers-Rare Books, Inc. ABAA, Gloucester City, NJ, U.S.A.
UPDIKE, John.. HOPING FOR A HOOPOE. Poems.. Lond. Victor Gollancz Ltd., 1959.
Price: US$131.00 + shipping
Description: (rep) Or.cl. Dustjacket. 82pp. Dj sl.torn else a Very good copy. With inserted sticker signed by the author. The first edition of the author's first book. American novelist, poet, & short story writer John Updike is best known for his Harry 'Rabbit' Angstrom books which chronicles the life a middle-class everyman. He gave the mundane a sensual beauty.
Seller: The Antique Bookshop & Curios (ANZAAB), Crows Nest, NSW, Australia
Updike, John. Hoping For a Hoopoe (Signed First Edition). Victor Gollancz, London, 1959.
Price: US$132.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First Printing. Signed by the author to a laid-in decorative bookplate. The book would be near fine, but for some foxing to the top edge of the text block, and minor pushing at the extremities. The price-clipped dust jacket -- now protected by a removable Brodart archival cover -- is very good, with some toning, light soiling, and edgewear, causing a few small edge tears (professionally repaired) and small nicks to the head of the spine/top front corner. Overall a nice collectible copy of the author's first book, published in the U.S. as The Carpentered Hen. Please be sure to check out the other John Updike titles in our inventory. We ship all of our books bubble-wrapped in sturdy, very well-padded boxes, so they are guaranteed to arrive in the exact same condition as when they left. Please feel free to email with any questions/offers/trades and thank you for supporting small independent booksellers everywhere.
Seller: Dexter's Book Cellar, Stratford, CT, U.S.A.
Updike, John. Hoping for a Hoopoe. Victor Gollancz, 1959.
Price: US$140.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: Hardcover in jacket. There is a line of light browning spotting across center of back panel of jacket and a couple marks of the same below the line. Signed by Updike on the front endpaper.
Seller: Jay W. Nelson, Bookseller, IOBA, Austin, MN, U.S.A.
UPDIKE, John. Hoping for a Hoopoe. Victor Gollancz, London, 1959.
Price: US$150.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: First English edition of the author's first book, published in America as *The Carpentered Hen and Other Tame Creatures*. A little mustiness thus near fine in fine dust jacket.
Seller: Between the Covers-Rare Books, Inc. ABAA, Gloucester City, NJ, U.S.A.
Updike, John. HOPING FOR A HOOPOE. POEMS. Victor Gollancz, London, 1959.
Price: US$155.00 + shipping
Description: 1st Edition. Hardcover. An excellent copy of the First British Edition of the author's First Book and first book of poetry, published in the United States as, The Carpentered Hen. A fine example in black cloth, gilt titles to the spine in fine, lovely, fresh dustwrapper. 8vo. 82 pp. Beautiful example.
Seller: TBCL The Book Collector's Library, Montreal, QC, Canada
Price: US$180.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: A handsome first UK edition/first printing with little foxing at top of textblock, else Fine in alike dust-jacket with slight soiling and a small closed tear at top front. Signed and inscribed author John Updike directly on front free endpaper. First published in the US as The Carpentered Hen; "This is one of the most sparking collections of light verse for many a long day, and it may well come to rank among the classics of the genre. John Updike is an original: his humor is fresh and sponaneous, and the most improbable subjects can tickle his fancy." (from the dust-jacket) ; 8vo; Signed by Author
Seller: Books Tell You Why - ABAA/ILAB, Summerville, SC, U.S.A.
UPDIKE, JOHN. Hoping for a Hoopoe. Victor Gollancz, London, 1959.
Price: US$200.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: First British Edition. This collection of poems was Updike's first book, published in the U.S. in 1958 as The Carpentered Hen and Other Tame Creatures. Adds a very short Author's Note. Fine in fine dustjacket. A gorgeous as new copy.
Seller: Fireproof Books, MINNETONKA, MN, U.S.A.
UPDIKE, John. Hoping for a Hoopoe. Victor Gollancz, London, 1959.
Price: US$200.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: First English edition of the author's first book, published in America as *The Carpentered Hen and Other Tame Creatures*. A little foxing on the foredge else fine in fine dustwrapper. Signed by Updike. A very nice copy.
Seller: Between the Covers-Rare Books, Inc. ABAA, Gloucester City, NJ, U.S.A.
Updike, John. Hoping for a Hoopoe. Victor Gollancz, London, 1959.
Price: US$225.00 + shipping
Description: First British edition. Signed by John Updike on front free endpaper. [xii], 82 pp. Bound in publisher's black cloth lettered in gilt. Fine in dust jacket with light rubbing, tiny closed tear in the top of the front panel, else Fine. Updike's first work of poetry, published in the US as The Carpentered Hen and Other Tame Creatures, with an extra "Author's Note."
Seller: Burnside Rare Books, ABAA, Portland, OR, U.S.A.
UPDIKE, John. Hoping for a Hoopoe. Victor Gollancz, London, 1959.
Price: US$225.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: First English edition of the author's first book, published in America as *The Carpentered Hen and Other Tame Creatures*. Fine in fine dustwrapper with a single tiny tear. Signed by Updike. A lovely copy.
Seller: Between the Covers-Rare Books, Inc. ABAA, Gloucester City, NJ, U.S.A.
UPDIKE, John. Hoping for a Hoopoe. Victor Gollancz, London, 1959.
Price: US$250.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: First English edition of the author's first book, published in America as *The Carpentered Hen and Other Tame Creatures*. Fine in fine dustwrapper. A beautiful copy.
Seller: Between the Covers-Rare Books, Inc. ABAA, Gloucester City, NJ, U.S.A.
John Updike. HOPING FOR A HOOPOE. Victor Gollancz, 1959.
Price: US$251.70 + shipping
Condition: New
Description: New. In shrink wrap. Looks like an interesting title! 1.73
Seller: BennettBooksLtd, North Las Vegas, NV, U.S.A.
Updike, John. Hoping For A Hoopoe. Victor Gollancz, London, 1959.
Price: US$275.00 + shipping
Description: A collection of light verse inscribed by John Updike on the front free endpaper in blue ink: "Here it is The Carpentered Hen [underlined] for the Scranton Public Library and Marjorie Rees. John Updike." In black cloth, the book is in fine unread condition but for natural browning to the pages and a touch of a bump to the lower spine. The dustjacket is complete and in fine condition but for a touch of sunning to the spine and light soiling and wrinkling (at the upper edge). Overall a very nice copy.
Seller: Parrish Books, Sandy, OR, U.S.A.
John Updike. Hoping For A Hoopoe. Victor Gollancz, 1959.
Price: US$292.63 + shipping
Condition: New
Description: Brand New!
Seller: Save With Sam, North Miami, FL, U.S.A.
Updike, John. Hoping For a Hoopoe. Victor Gollancz, London, 1959.
Price: US$295.00 + shipping
Condition: As New
Description: 82 pages. First English edition, first printing with the "12/6" price present on the bottom of the front flap. Signed by Updike on the title page. His first book, a collection of light verse issued in the U. S. as "The Carpentered Hen". Most were written when he was a young art student in England & a "Talk of the Town" reporter for The New Yorker, which published over 40 of them. As new book in an as new dust jacket. A beautiful copy!
Seller: Fireproof Books, MINNETONKA, MN, U.S.A.
UPDIKE, John. Hoping for a Hoopoe. Victor Gollancz, London, 1959.
Price: US$500.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: First English edition of the author's first book, published in America as *The Carpentered Hen and Other Tame Creatures*. Fine in fine dustwrapper. Inscribed by the author to Herb Yellin: "for Herb Yellin, a real gem. John U." Herb Yellin was the founder and publisher of Lord John Press and the most frequent of Updike's fine press collaborators. He named his press after noting that the list of authors he wanted to publish all shared the same first name, chief among them John Updike, his favorite. *Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu* became the press's first book in 1977 with 10 more to follow over the next 23 years. Yellin's friendship with Updike grew with each new limited edition benefitting his already enormous Updike collection, with Updike himself contributing copies of new editions of his books - often inscribed. In a 2010 interview with Yellin he noted that Updike ".liked that if anything ever happened to his own collection, he had my collection on the opposite side of the country." A notable association.
Seller: Between the Covers-Rare Books, Inc. ABAA, Gloucester City, NJ, U.S.A.