Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
STEINBECK, JOHN.. The Short Reign of Pippin IV. New York: Viking Press, 1957, 1957.
Price: US$2500.00 + shipping
Description: First Edition; uncorrected galley proof; spiral-bound in wrappers with publisher's labels on the upper cover; publication date changed in pencil to April from March, and published price changed in pen to $3.00 from $2.95; only very minor wear; an excellent example. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author to a buyer for a book shop chain, "Dear _____ , I couldn't help this. It just came bailing out. I hope it amuses you. Yours, John Steinbeck." A rare proof. All books described as first editions are first printings unless otherwise noted.
Seller: Peter L. Stern & Co., Inc, Newton, MA, U.S.A.
Steinbeck, John. The Short Reign of Pippin IV. The Viking Press, New York, 1957.
Price: US$4500.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: First Edition, First Printing authentically SIGNED by John Steinbeck on the front free endpaper. This ORIGINAL dustjacket has the publisher's $3.00 printed price present on the front flap and is rich in color with minor wear to the edges. The book is in great shape with light wear to the boards. The pages are clean with NO writing or marks in the book. This copy comes from the Steinbeck Family Library that was auctioned off originally to raise money (From the Library of The Steinbeck Family bookplate present) A lovely SIGNED by the author in collector's condition.
Seller: Magnum Opus Rare Books, Missoula, MT, U.S.A.
Steinbeck, John. The Short Reign of Pippin IV: A Fabrication.. The Viking Press, New York, 1957.
Price: US$6000.00 + shipping
Description: First edition of Steinbeck's only political satire. Octavo, original half cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author to his sister on the front free endpaper, "Mary avec l'aimite from John the XXII." The recipient, Mary Steinbeck Dekker was the eldest sister of John Steinbeck. The warmth of this inscription reflects their close and enduring relationship throughout his life. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by William Pene Du Bois. From the library of Mary Steinbeck Dekker. An exceptional association. Pippin IV explores the life of Pippin HÃ ristal, an amateur astronomer in 1950s France, who is suddenly proclaimed the King of France. Unknowingly appointed to give the Communists a monarchy to revolt against, Pippin is chosen because he was descended from the famous king Charlemagne. Unhappy with his lack of privacy, alteration of family life, uncomfortable housings at the Palace of Versailles and his lack of power as a constitutional monarch, the protagonist spends a portion of the novel dressing up as a commoner, often riding a motorscooter, to avoid the constrained life of a king. Pippin eventually receives his wish of dethronement after the people of France enact the rebellion Pippin's kingship was destined to receive. He returns to his home in Paris to find that nothing has really changed.
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
Price: US$6250.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: STEINBECK, JOHN. (1902-1968). American writer and Nobel laureate, who described in his work the struggle of people who depend on the land for their livelihood; his most powerful novels, include: Of Mice and Men (1937); The Grapes of Wrath (1939); and Cannery Row (1945). Unrevised proofs for Steinbeck s ''The Short Reign of Pippin IV.'' n.p. (NY), n.p. (Viking Press), n.d. (before March of 1957), first edition thus, spiral-bound blue paper wrappers. Softcover. About fine condition. See images for condition. # 24 of an unknown number of Author Presentation Proofs, with this copy Inscribed and Signed on the inside front cover. ''Dear Mr. Goodpasture: This small piece of innocent insanity backs up Bridey Murphy. There is an [tale] here somewhere. It s one of those things that just bursts out and astonishes the writer as much as the reader or maybe more. I hope you get a little laughter from it. Yours, John Steinbeck.'' Steinbeck s illusion to Bridey Murphy is interesting. The story of Bridey Murphy was first told in a series of articles by William J. Barker, published in the Denver Post in 1954. In it, housewife Virginia Tighe, claimed to be in a past life an Irish house wife, Bridey Murphy, and under hypnosis told amazing tales of her former life. In early 1956, Doubleday released a book: The Search for Bridey Murphy. These unrevised galley proofs are printed on rectos only, with two publisher labels affixed to front cover. The first is numbered #24 and includes publication information. Below it is another label with three paragraphs about the book. Lower right corner of this is missing, effecting portions of last two lines of text. [See illustration]. The proof has none of the preliminaries set in type nor any of the William Penn DuBois illustrations. Not recorded by Goldstone & Payne. A rather scare item for the Steinbeck specialist.
Seller: Gerard A.J. Stodolski, Inc. Autographs, Bedford, NH, U.S.A.