John Steinbeck. The First Watch. The Ward Ritchie Press, 1947.

Price: US$3842.59 + shipping

Condition: Fine

Description: A Limited Edition, 1 of 60 copies (and some out of series copies), this copy unnumbered, 10 copies were reserved for Steinbeck, 50 copies were for distribution by the Cohns. Small octavo, 6 (2) pp., original buff printed wrappers with hand ties, pictorial title page lettered in black and red, wanting publisher s glassine envelope. Published by The Ward Ritchie Press for the Author and Marguerite and Louis Henry Cohn (Los Angeles), Christmas 1947. A fine copy. This copy has notable provenance, originally being owned by Ward Ritchie, with his personal book label present. This work was privately printed at the Ward Ritchie Press as the Cohns' Christmas greeting for the year. The Cohns are notable for being the owners of House of Books in New York, one of the pioneering Booksellers in modern first editions. (Louis Henry and Marguerite Cohn Hemingway Collection, University Of Delaware.) According to Goldstone & Payne A26a: This elusive "A" item is a letter from Steinbeck to Arnold Gingrich, editor of "Esquire," thanking him for sending a watch as a gift, the letter is full of Steinbeck's typical humor noting that he had expected a watch when he graduated from high school, but none was forthcoming, and since he didn't actually graduate from Stanford University he likewise hadn't received a watch as a gift. Please contact us for shipping costs if ordering from outside the UK.

Seller: GEORGE HANCOCK RARE BOOKS PBFA, BATH, United Kingdom

Steinbeck, John. The First Watch. Marguerite and Louis Henry Cohn, New York, 1947.

Price: US$4349.99 + shipping

Condition: Fine

Description: Original hand tied buff wrappers. One of 60 copies, unnumbered. Fine condition in fine gorgeous silk lined custom clamshell case. ; 64mo 3" - 4½" tall

Seller: curtis paul books, inc., Northridge, CA, U.S.A.

Steinbeck, John.. The First Watch.. NY, Marguerite and Louis Henry Cohn, 1947, 1947.

Price: US$8925.00 + shipping

Description: NY, Marguerite and Louis Henry Cohn, 1947, first edition, wrappers. Softcover. First and only edition, No. 7 of only 60 copies printed by Ward Ritchie, with its original white paper envelope which is also No. 7, the first 10 copies went to Steinbeck with the remainder going to the Cohns (House of Books) for Christmas gift presentation, this elusive "A" item is a letter from Steinbeck to Arnold Gingrich, editor of "Esquire," thanking him for sending a watch as a gift, the letter is full of Steinbeck's typical humor noting that he had expected a watch when he graduated from high school, but none was forthcoming, and since he didn't actually graduate from Stanford University he likewise hadn't received a watch as a gift, Goldstone & Payne A26a, Morrow 199 and 200. Fine.

Seller: James M. Dourgarian, Bookman ABAA, Concord, CA, U.S.A.