Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Raymond Carver (1938 -1988):. WINTER INSOMNIA. California: Santa Cruz Kayak Books, 1970.
Price: US$108.87 + shipping
Description: Carver's first formally published book (following "Near Klamath" ) A collection of poems, designed & printed by George Hitchcock and illustrated with prints by Robert McChesney. Issued in an edition of 1000 copies pictorial card wrappers; [6],7-56pp, with front wrapper and eight prints. A generally clean sound copy but with an ugly stain to the foot of the first 12 pages. See illustrations for defect
Seller: John L. Capes (Books) Established 1969, STAITHES, United Kingdom
Raymond Carver. Winter Insomnia [Limited edition]. Kayak Books, Santa Cruz, California, 1970.
Price: US$172.92 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: 56pp. Printed in a limited edition of 1000 copies. Collection of twenty-nine poems. Nine colour illustrations by Robert McChesney. Yellow and green illustrated front cover with black lettering. Black lettering also on spine. Dusty rear cover in places. Slight fading to print of four lines of poem on p38. Otherwise in fine condition. Appears unread. Scarce in UK.
Seller: The Bookshop at Beech Cottage, Newbury, United Kingdom
Price: US$220.00 + shipping
Description: One of 1,000 copies. Octavo (21.75cm); variant bound in yellow pictorial card wrappers; [6],7-56pp, with front wrapper and eight prints by Robert McChesney. A Fine copy of Carver's first regularly published book, a collection of poems, many of which first appeared in the pages of Chelsea, The Transatlantic Review, Beloit Poetry Journal, Midwest Quarterly, and The Levee, et al.
Seller: Lorne Bair Rare Books, ABAA, Winchester, VA, U.S.A.
CARVER, Raymond. WINTER INSOMNIA. (Kayak) (1970), (Santa Cruz), 1970.
Price: US$250.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: Printed yellow and green wraps. Carver's first regularly published book and second book overall, a collection of poetry published in an edition of 1000 copies. Illustrated with color prints by Robert McChesney.
Seller: Charles Agvent, est. 1987, ABAA, ILAB, Fleetwood, PA, U.S.A.
Price: US$250.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: Fine in printed wrappers. (Trace of rubbing on printed price at rear cover. ) One of a 1000 copies.
Seller: WAVERLEY BOOKS ABAA, Santa Monica, CA, U.S.A.
CARVER, Raymond. WINTER INSOMNIA. (Kayak) (1970), (Santa Cruz), 1970.
Price: US$500.00 + shipping
Description: Printed yellow and green wraps. Carver's first regularly published book and second book overall, a collection of poetry published in an edition of 1000 copies. Illustrated with color prints by Robert McChesney. This copy SIGNED by the author on the title page. Small strip from the inside front cover adhesed on the front endpaper. Still Fine
Seller: Charles Agvent, est. 1987, ABAA, ILAB, Fleetwood, PA, U.S.A.
CARVER, Raymond. Winter Insomnia. Kayak, Santa Cruz, 1970.
Price: US$600.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: First edition. Yellow and green wrappers. Fine. Signed by the author. One of 1000 copies of the author's second book.
Seller: Between the Covers-Rare Books, Inc. ABAA, Gloucester City, NJ, U.S.A.
CARVER, Raymond. WINTER INSOMNIA. (Kayak) (1970), (Santa Cruz), 1970.
Price: US$625.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: Printed yellow and green wraps. Carver's first regularly published book and second book overall, a collection of poems published in an edition of 1000 copies. Illustrated with color prints by Robert McChesney. This copy SIGNED by the author on the title page.
Seller: Charles Agvent, est. 1987, ABAA, ILAB, Fleetwood, PA, U.S.A.
Carver, Raymond; Robert McChesney [Illustrations]. Winter Insomnia. Santa Cruz, Kayak Books, 1970.
Price: US$650.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: First edition. Signed by Carver on title page. 56 pp. Yellow illustrated wraps. A Fine copy. The short story writer and poet's first regularly published book, an illustrated collection of poetry printed by George Hitchcock's Kayak Books in April 1970 in a limited edition of 1,000.
Seller: Burnside Rare Books, ABAA, Portland, OR, U.S.A.
Carver, Raymond. Winter Insomnia. Kayak, Santa Cruz, California, 1970.
Price: US$950.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: One of only seven known copies of this book of poetry published in the advance white covers. All others in the printing had yellow covers. Very good with some water damage to cover.
Seller: Bookbid, Beverly Hills, CA, U.S.A.
Price: US$3000.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: The rare white issue of Carver's first regularly published book (after Near Klamath, published by the English Club of Sacramento State College). Kayak Books was a small but established publisher, which produced a literary magazine as well as issuing books of poetry. Winter Insomnia is a collection of poems, designed and printed by George Hitchcock and illustrated with prints by Robert McChesney. Issued in an attractive edition of 1000 copies, the overwhelming majority (perhaps more than 99%) were issued in yellow wrappers. William Stull's Carver checklist said that three copies were known in the white wrappers. Since that checklist was published, we have seen three more copies in white wrappers, including this one, bringing the total number of known copies to six. Without knowing exactly how many white copies there were, we can say with assurance that this issue is exceedingly scarce; we've seen dozens, if not hundreds, of the issue in yellow wrappers. This copy is inscribed by Carver: "For Rush - with good wishes. Ray Carver. 3-3-83." Spine and edge sunning to covers; near fine. Unless otherwise noted, our first editions are first printings.
Seller: Ken Lopez Bookseller, ABAA (Lopezbooks), Hadley, MA, U.S.A.