Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
UPDIKE, John. The Dance of the Solids. (Scientific American, [New York], 1969.
Price: US$750.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: First edition. 12mo. [24]pp. Illustrated with twelve full-page illustrations. Stapled brownish-orange wrappers printed in red. A few soil marks on front cover and considerable spotting on rear cover along the spine, a very good copy. The publisher states: "The following verses were composed after the author had read the September 1967 single topic issue of Scientific American devoted to Materials. The poem first appeared in the January 1969 issue of Scientific American.". One of John Updike's more elusive publications only issued for distribution to Scientific American subscribers.
Seller: Between the Covers-Rare Books, Inc. ABAA, Gloucester City, NJ, U.S.A.
Updike, John.. The Dance of the Solids.. Scientific American., New York, 1969.
Price: US$875.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: First separate edition. (24pp. ) (6" x 6" square) One of 6200 copies printed as Christmas cards to be issued alongwith W. H. Auden's "A New Year Greeting." (Auden item absent as is the card sleeve housing the two pieces. ) Close to fine in mustard-colored stapled wrappers with orange titles. (Tiny trace of shelf wear) One of the author's more elusive titles. (B); 6' x 6" square; 24 pages
Seller: WAVERLEY BOOKS ABAA, Santa Monica, CA, U.S.A.
Updike, John. THE DANCE OF THE SOLIDS [SIGNED] A Poem. Scientific American, New York, 1969.
Price: US$895.00 + shipping
Description: First Edition. Softcover. Signed on front cover by Updike. First separate edition of this poem. Small square 6"x6" booklet, together with W.H. Auden's A NEW YEAR GREETING, a companion booklet of the same size. The 2 booklets were included in the December 1968 issue of Scientific American. They were included together in a sort of paper wallet (not included here). Although 6,220 (!) of these were printed, very few have survived, and both are collector's items - especially the Updike. There is a tiny crease halfway down the spine of the Updike, but it is otherwise fine, and the Auden is also fine. Offered as a pair. PLEASE NOTE that all our First Editions are also First Printings, unless we specifically note otherwise. All our dust jackets are protected in clear mylar covers. 2 stapled booklets, both fine. Housed together in a large sturdy archival folder with 4 folding protective inner flaps.
Seller: Bert Babcock - Bookseller, LLC, DERRY, NH, U.S.A.
Updike, John. The Dance of the Solids. Scientific American Magazine, New York, 1969.
Price: US$1000.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: Certainly Updike's scarcest "A" item, this 24 page, 6" x 6" square chapbook (along with a similar one by W.H. Auden) was sent out by Scientific American Magazine as a holiday greeting in 1969. In mustard wrappers with red lettering, it has illustrations by 6 different illustrators. It was written after Updike read the single topic Sept. 1967 Scientific American devoted to "Materials". The poem was originally published in the Jan. 1969 Scientific American, and later in 1969 in Updike's "Midpoint and Other Poems". Top corner of the front wrapper and the first few pages have a slight corner curl, Else Fine.
Seller: Dale Steffey Books, ABAA, ILAB, Bloomington, IN, U.S.A.
UPDIKE, John. The Dance of the Solids. (Scientific American, [New York], 1969.
Price: US$1200.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: First edition. 12mo. [24]pp. Illustrated with twelve full-page illustrations. Stapled brownish-orange wrappers printed in red. A fine copy. The publisher states: "The following verses were composed after the author had read the September 1967 single topic issue of Scientific American devoted to Materials. The poem first appeared in the January 1969 issue of Scientific American. ." One of John Updike's more elusive publications only issued for distribution to *Scientific American* subscribers.
Seller: Between the Covers-Rare Books, Inc. ABAA, Gloucester City, NJ, U.S.A.
Updike, John. The Dance of the Solids. Scientific American, 1969.
Price: US$1200.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: NY: Scientific American, 1969. First (only) edition. Softcover. Square 16mo. Fine copy, signed by the author. When signing he thought a lot about where he should sign, and decided to sign on the first page where his writing began, which is page 3. Comes in specially made custom cloth slipcase.
Seller: Bookbid, Beverly Hills, CA, U.S.A.
UPDIKE, John. The Dance of the Solids. (Scientific American), [NY], 1969.
Price: US$1500.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: The first separate edition of this physics-themed poem. One of 6200 copies printed as Christmas cards to be issued with W.H. Auden's A New Year Greeting (not present). 24 pages, illustrated. Fine in stapled wrappers. Lacking the cardboard sleeve that combined the two booklets, but in a custom three quarter leather clamshell case from the Praxis Bindery. This copy is inscribed by the author: "For ___/ Merry Christmas 1995/ John Updike [with a drawing of holly leaves and berries]." While the print run of this item was not particularly small, especially when compared with the many limited editions Updike has done, the nature of its distribution -- as a freebie to Scientific American subscribers -- suggests that most copies would have been lost or discarded. Unless otherwise noted, our first editions are first printings.
Seller: Ken Lopez Bookseller, ABAA (Lopezbooks), Hadley, MA, U.S.A.