Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
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), [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.