Books and Manuscripts

Portraits and Prayers
New York: Random House, (1934). Second printing. 8vo. 264 pp. Charmingly inscribed by Stein on front free endpaper: “For Alice M. Dodge (or, Hodge)/it is a nice name Alice/Gertrude Stein,” presumably a reference to her partner Alice B. Toklas. Original first printing quarter brown and maroon cloth over photographic cloth-covered boards, original paper spine label; all edges trimmed; ownership signature of composer John St. Edmunds (1913-86) on front free endpaper, dated September 27, 1936, San Francisco; scarce dust-jacket wanting. Wilson A22b: “At least two copies, however, have been examined by the compiler with the second printing notice, but in the first printing binding.”

Together with:

Lectures in America
New York: Random House, (1935). First edition. 8vo. 246 pp. Inscribed by Stein on front free endpaper: “For Jerry Leech/for Petaluma Public Library/Gertrude Stein”. Illustrated with photographic frontispiece portrait of Stein. Original first issue beige cloth-covered beveled edged boards, stamped in black and in red; top edge stained dark grey, other edges trimmed; in original unclipped dust-jacket. Wilson A24a

A handsome copy.