Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Burroughs, William S.. Junkie. Ace Books, 1953.
Price: US$18.00 + shipping
Condition: Fair
Description: 41841. All edges and spine rubbed, stress marks on the spine, binding weak and flimsy but still holding.
Seller: Else Fine Booksellers, Tacoma, WA, U.S.A.
William Burroughs. Junkie (1953 # 41841). Ace Star, 1953.
Price: US$35.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Pub by Ace, Star, 1953, #41841. 60 cents. 1st Edition Thus? NOT exLib. Good-minus cond. mass-market softcover in colorful wraps, w/ very modest spine crease. Moderate creasing & wear to exterior. Pages toned, w/ some dog-ears. Book is complete, intact & unmarked. 126pp + 2pp. Square, straight, tight & clean, overall G- cond. Same or next day shipping. Please email any questions.
Seller: Rivertown Fine Books, McGregor, IA, U.S.A.
William Burroughs. Junkie. Ace Books, 1953.
Price: US$45.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: FIRST THUS. New York: Ace Books, 1953. Paperback. Clean pages. Light wear/rubbing to edges, pages toned with age. Spine creased, creased corner. Good condition overall.
Seller: Singing Saw Books, Portland, OR, U.S.A.
Burroughs, William. Junkie. Ace Books, 1953.
Price: US$59.95 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Book has some very light wear to corner, faint wear to edges, tiny crease at upper right of front cover, small inititials with price of 10c on endpaper. otherwise a sharp copy, very clean with great color, tight binding, clean pages. Photos on request.
Seller: Recycle Bookstore, San Jose, CA, U.S.A.
William Lee. Junkie. Ace Books Inc, 1953.
Price: US$400.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Very Good Copy First Edition. William Burroughs (William Lee) First Book. Rare in Any Condition. Excellent Copy.
Seller: Jeff Bergman Books ABAA, ILAB, Flemington, NJ, U.S.A.
William Lee (William Burroughs); Maurice Helbrant. Junkie; Narcotic Agent. Ace Books, USA, 1953.
Price: US$625.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: 1st Edition. Unusual double book; first publication of William Burroughs' Junkie printed under pseudonym of William Lee. This copy is NEAR FINE; the text is clear, bright, and unmarked except for previous owner's name top fep; binding is in place but pages and edges have browned. The covers are also near fine: absolutely intact , including excellent color and design, but some wear bottom spine; also slight wear top edge of Narcotic Agent; some rubbing on both covers. We have a five star rating because of our fulfilment success and because our descriptions are accurate.
Seller: NightsendBooks, Concord, CA, U.S.A.
BURROUGHS, WILLIAM S.. Junkie. Ace, New York, 1953.
Price: US$750.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First Edition. Paperback original (Ace D-15), bound dos-a-dos with an abridged version of Narcotic Agent by Maurice Helbrant. Burroughs first published book, subtitled Confessions of an Unredeemed Drug Addict. An important literary debut. Very good plus, a nice square and bright copy with minor wear and creasing to spine panel, light crease line at top corner of front panel, and usual tanning to pages.
Seller: Fireproof Books, MINNETONKA, MN, U.S.A.
William Burroughs. Junkie. Ace, 1953.
Price: US$800.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: A nice mass market paperback, with tight binding and an unmarked text.First edition of Burroughs' first book. Ace Double BooksFrom a private smoke free collection.Shipping within 24 hours with a tracking number and delivery confirmation.
Seller: Stock & Trade LLC, Portland, OR, U.S.A.
Beats - Burroughs, William (Lee, William). Junkie. Ace Books, New York, 1953.
Price: US$800.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: True first edition of the author's first book, a paperback original (Ace Double D-15) packaged dos a dos with Narcotic Agent by Maurice Helbrant. Written on the name of William Lee. A solid very good copy with minor wear to spine edge. Binding still tight. Pages toned. A Beat Cornerstone.
Seller: Derringer Books, Member ABAA, Avon, CT, U.S.A.
Price: US$800.00 + shipping
Description: First edition of Burroughs' first book. Ace Double Books D-15. 1 vols. 12mo. Original pictorial wrappers, some waterstaining and warping, mostly along top edge and inside cover. Custom three quarter morocco box First edition of Burroughs' first book. Ace Double Books D-15.
Seller: James Cummins Bookseller, ABAA, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$828.67 + shipping
Description: New York, Ace Books Inc, 1953, 163x106mm, (1-4) 5-149 (150-151), inversé 169-5 (4-1) Narcotic Agent, Maurice Helbrant, broché sous couvertures illustrées.Papier jauni, mouillures claires marginales aux premières pages.Edition originale du premier livre de Burroughs dont il na pas été tiré de grands papiers.Maynard and Miles A1. Sohm 4, p.19., Beat Generation, Centre Pompidou 2016, p.170, reproduit. (103137) Livres
Seller: Chloé et Denis Ozanne, Paris, France
Price: US$1500.00 + shipping
Description: First Edition. Duodecimo. A remarkably sharp copy of Burroughs' semi-autobiographical novel about the New York heroin scene of the early 1950s. Published under the pseudonym of William Lee and bound tête-beche with Maurice Helbrant's Narcotic Agent. Tight binding, with minimal rubbing to vibrant illustrated wrappers; a near fine copy of the author's first novel.
Seller: Harper's Books, ABAA, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$1800.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: Uncommonly well-kept first printing of Burroughs's first book, a paperback original Ace Double printed tête-beche with Maurice Helbrant's NARCOTIC AGENT. JUNKIE was Burroughs's first novel, written under pseudonym (using his mother's maiden name), but heavily based on his own experience. Though he'd written (but not published) several books before this, it took the intervention of Allen Ginsberg as editor and quasi-agent to see JUNKIE into print, where it became a cornerstone of both Beat and drug literature. Just about the nicest copy of this fragile production we've seen. 6.5'' x 4.25''. Original pictorial wrappers. Ace D-15, priced at 35c. 150 and 170 pages. Bright and sharp overall with just a small bump to the edge of the spine, and a faint corner crease and tiny indentation to front cover of JUNKIE and a smaller faint crease to lower cover of AGENT. Housed in a custom black quarter-leather slipcase. Overall, handsome.
Seller: Brian Cassidy Books at Type Punch Matrix, Silver Spring, MD, U.S.A.
William Burroughs. Junkie. Ace Books, 1953.
Price: US$1803.57 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: The first edition, first impression of William Burroughs semi-autobiographical novel about heroin users and dealers in New York in the 1950s. Published under the pseudonym William Lee, the book was initially considered unpublishable until after many rejections he was connected with Ace Books through Carl Solomon (to whom Allen Ginsbergs Howl is dedicated), a printer of cheap, subway pulp fictions. It is printed dos-à-dos with Narcotic Agent by Maurice Helbrant. An excellent copy overall, with just some creasing to the cover and minor losses at spine.
Seller: CASSIUS&Co., London, United Kingdom
Price: US$2209.78 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: EDITION ORIGINALE en partie autobiographique du premier livre de l'auteur, publié sous pseudonyme dans cette collection populaire proposant dans un même volume deux textes imprimés tête-bêche. Exemplaire signé par Burroughs sur le titre « William Lee Burroughs». >>>>>>>>>>>>>Après des études à Harvard dont il sort diplômé en 1944, Burroughs devient détective et travaille avec la pègre de New York. Il vit dans un appartement partagé avec Jack Kerouac et Joan Vollmer, une jeune femme brillante, passionnée de littérature et de philosophie qu'il épousera en 1946 et avec qui il aura un fils l'année suivante. C'est à cette période que le groupe, rejoint par Neal Cassady - le futur héros de SUR LA ROUTE - fréquente Herbert Huncke, petit délinquant et prostitué occasionnel avec qui Burroughs commence à consommer de l'héroïne puis de la morphine. Le 6 septembre 1951, en voyage à Mexico, Burroughs, ivre, tue sa femme d'une balle en pleine tête. Inculpé pour homicide involontaire, iI est arrêté et passe un court séjour en prison avant d'être relâché. Burroughs entame alors des années d'errance en Europe et en Amérique du sud, et c'est en rentrant du Mexique, entre deux défonces, qu'il écrit JUNKIE, dont le personnage d'Herman empreinte les traits d'Herbert Huncke. Après de nombreux refus, Allan Ginsberg par l'intermédiaire de Carl Solomon qu'il avait rencontré lors d’un séjour à l'hôpital psychiatrique impose le livre à son oncle, A.A. Wyn, propriétaire d’Ace Books. Cet éditeur qui publiait des livres de poche bon marché, romans policiers ou d'aventure, sort JUNKIE en 1953 sous le pseudonyme de William Lee, le nom de jeune fille de la mère de l'auteur. Malgré cette diffusion populaire, loin des cénacles littéraires négligeant les romans de genre, le livre qui décrit les paradis artificiels trash des bas-fonds de Greenwich Village connut un fort tirage, et ne tarda pas à devenir culte.
Seller: Librairie-Galerie Emmanuel Hutin, Paris, France
Price: US$3500.00 + shipping
Description: No. D-15. First Edition, a paperback original. INSCRIBED by Burroughs, once on the title page of "Junkie": "For Allen De Loach / With friendship and all best wishes / William Lee Burroughs / April 27, 1974"; and once on the title page of Maurice Helbrant's "Narcotic Agent," printed dos-a-dos with "Junkie": "For Allen De Loach / William S. Burroughs." Burroughs' first book, inscribed to a close friend and important supporter. Allen De Loach edited the mimeo journal "Intrepid" out of Buffalo, New York. Like "Floating Bear," "Intrepid" was a mailing-list-distributed mimeo. Its issue 14/15 was dedicated entirely to the work of Burroughs and was the first serious and comprehensive examination of Burroughs' post-"Naked Lunch" work. De Loach often hosted Burroughs both at his home and for readings and events at SUNY Buffalo, where he also taught. Their friendship continued until Burroughs' death. De Loach also published most of the Beats under his Intrepid Press imprint, including books from Allen Ginsberg, Peter Orlovsky, Ray Bremser, and Burroughs himself. Burroughs, under his William Lee pseudonym, also edited **Buffalo Cold Spring Precinct 23 Bulletin** (Buffalo NY: Intrepid Press 1971). A warm and significant association. Very good in original pictorial wrappers. Some mild, inoffensive creasing and rubbing to the wrapper. Pages mildly toned. Else clean and sound. [Maynard and Miles A1].
Seller: Royal Books, Inc., ABAA, Baltimore, MD, U.S.A.
Price: US$4000.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: William S. Burroughs first book. A paperback original. Signed by Burroughs and additionally signed by Herbert Huncke who is the main character in the book. Portrayed as Herman . Printed back to back with Maurice Helbrant s Narcotic Agent. Both signatures were obtained by me at an event at B. Dalton booksellers in Greenwich Village, NYC. In 1987 for a Burroughs signing. Herbert stood by Burroughs side and he was very excited. In fact at one point he held the book up and announced to the crowd I am the main character in the book . A unique copy. Very good with some creasing. Comes with a clamshell folding box. See photos.
Seller: Rob Warren Books, Richmond, VA, U.S.A.
Price: US$4500.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: 16mo, 149p.; 169pp. A crisp, clean, near fine copy of this notoriously fragile mass market paperback. Notable corner crease and a small inked letter "B" to the front wrap (of "Junkie"), and very mild rubbing to extremities, but no spine cracks, and no loose or torn pages. A very nice example of Burrough's first book, SIGNED and INSCRIBED by him on the title page to Matthew Monaghan, the one-tiime director of the Gotham Book Mart gallery: "For Matthew Monaghan, all the best, William Burroughs." Laid-in is a typed letter (dated October 3, 1974) from James Grauerholz, a close friend of Burroughs who became his business manager and eventual literary executor. In the letter, Grauerholz presents the inscribed copy to Monaghan, and also asks him, "By the way, do you know where [Gregory] Corso is these days? Nobody we know seems to be able to reach him--he may be travelling." Grauerholz had been introduced to Burroughs by Allen Ginsberg, and the fact that Corso couldn't be located by any of these close friends suggests that he probably didn't want to be found around this time! A pleasing copy with comforting and evocative provenance. Maynard & Miles A1a.
Seller: Cleveland Book Company, ABAA, Rocky River, OH, U.S.A.
Price: US$5797.18 + shipping
Description: A first edition, first printing. SIGNED by the Author. In publisher's original pictorial card wrappers. A superb near fine copy, the binding is square and firm, minutely rubbed to the extremities. No creasing to the spine whatsoever. The spine is unusually bright and clear. Browning to the paper, as is usual given the low quality of the paper stock used. A really sharp copy of the semi-autobiographical debut novel. SIGNED on the title page, 'William Burroughs/ for William Lee'. Most copies found are inscribed and addressed to a dedicatee - the nature of the signing is unique. For the first two editions of 'Junkie', Burroughs employed the pseudonym of William Lee. During the period in which the novel was written, the author corresponded regularly with Allen Ginsberg, and it was Ginsberg, struck by the richness of the letters, who pressed him to write the novel. Ginsberg, acting as Burroughs' agent, was instrumental in the publication of 'Junkie', persuading A. A. Wyn, owner of Ace Books to accept the book for publication. Receiving the good news, Burroughs wrote to Ginsberg, 'You really are a sweetheart. I could kiss you on both cheeks. We should get used to calling each other sweetheart. I understand it is the standard for of address between agent and author, but this time I mean it.' Published in pulp form and quality, back to back with Maurice Helbrandt's 'Narcotic Agent', 'Junkie', like the other Ace Books, was mass produced and designed to be disposable - this example is an unusually well preserved example and the first we have seen signed in this way.
Seller: John Atkinson Books ABA ILAB PBFA, Harrogate, United Kingdom
Price: US$8500.00 + shipping
Description: First Printing, a paperback original novel, bound together with Maurice Helbrant's Narcotic Agent. Octavo (16.25cm); original pictorial card wrappers; [4],5-149,[2]; 169pp. Inscribed by Burroughs on the title page to Ted Berrigan: "For Ted Berrigan / Editor of 'C' / All the best / William S. Burroughs / Dec.11, St. Daniel / New York." Modest wear and rubbing to extremities, a few faint creases to wrappers, tanning to text edges, with some dust-soil to upper edge of textblock; preliminary leaf on the Junkie side detached but present, though lacking on the Narcotic Agent side; just Very Good. Burroughs's first book, a semi-autobiographical field report from the seedy underbelly of post-war America, chronicling his experiences using and selling drugs and vacillating between addiction and recovery. While undated, this copy was inscribed in 1964, the year Burroughs made contact with Ted Berrigan, "the bearded, overweight father figure of the Lower East Side poetry scene. He was the editor of C: A Journal of Poetry, and had published one of Bill's experimental texts, "Giver of Winds Is My Name," in the summer of 1964, the first of his texts to use Egyptian glyphs. Berrigan was enthusiastic about his work so Bill gave him another text, "Fits of Nerves with a Fix," which he published that February. Berrigan arranged to publish Bill's own thirty-two-page version of Time magazine, a three-column collaged text using the cover and title page of the November 30, 1962 issue of Time, which had contained the libelous review of Naked Lunch called "King of the YADS" (Young American Disaffiliates), in which it claimed that Burroughs had cut off a finger joint to avoid the draft" (Miles, Barry. Call Me Burroughs: A Life, pp.434-435). Berrigan drew from Burroughs's cut-up technique while writing The Sonnets (1964), his best-known work, and in 1965, he and Burroughs (along with Jayne Mansfield, Edie Sedgwick, Gerard Malanga, and Andy Warhol, et al.) were featured in Ed Sanders's 24-minute film Poem Posters. A cornerstone work of the Beat Generation and a significant copy, acting as a bridge between the Beats and the New York School. Maynard & Miles A1a.
Seller: Captain Ahab's Rare Books, ABAA, Stephenson, VA, U.S.A.