Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Price: US$2897.18 + shipping
Description: First edition in English, signed limited issue, copy I of 26 lettered copies, specially bound and signed by Genet in turquoise ink. The Balcony was first published in French in 1956. Copies in such superb condition are notably uncommon. Octavo. Original quarter brown cloth, beige paper boards, titles to spine and front board in gilt. The binding sharp, internally crisp; a fine copy.
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom
Price: US$3219.09 + shipping
Description: First edition in English, signed limited issue, copy Q of 26 copies lettered and signed by the author in turquoise ink, specially bound. This copy is from the libraries of two eminent collectors, with their bookplates to the front pastedown: Robert A. Wilson, proprietor of the famous Phoenix Bookshop in Greenwich Village, and Donald G. Drapkin, whose collection was sold with Christie's in 2005. Robert A. Wilson's New York Times obituary described the Phoenix as a "sanctuary for new poetry, an important trading post for first editions and a hangout for his, and his customers', literary idols", including many of the Beat poets. The Balcony was first published as Le Balcon in French in 1956. Three distinct versions exist, published in 1956, 1960, and 1962. This, Frechtman's first English translation of the play, was based on Genet's second version of the play (1960). Peter Zadek directed the first English-language production of the play at the Arts Theatre Club in London in 1957. It has since attracted many prominent directions, and was adapted into a film of the same name, directed by Joseph Strick (1963). Octavo. Original quarter brown cloth, beige paper boards, titles to spine and front board in gilt, colophon to front in pink and grey. Head of spine gently bumped, gilt to spine a touch dulled, very pale occasional damp stains to lower boards, else a near-fine copy, firm and clean.
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom