(Dijon: Printed by Maurice Darantiere, 1924). First edition. 12mo. xvii, (iii), 279, (2) pp. Presentation copy, inscribed by Harry Crosby on front blank to his friend Alexander Steinert: " To Alec From Harry a Paris ce 22 Octobre 1924." Author's special binding of quarter brown calf over marbled paper-covered boards, black morocco spine label, stamped in blind and in gilt, corners and rear fore-edge worn; top edge gilt; marbled endpapers; original wrappers bound in; Chateau de Kerbastic postcard laid in, addressed to Steinert, and signed "G.T." (presumably French composer Germaine Tailleferre), dated October 24, 1924. Minkoff A-1

Rare first edition presentation copy of Harry Crosby's first book, inscribed to his friend Alexander Steinert (1900-82). Steinert was a composer, conductor, and pianist from Boston, who first met Harry at Harvard, where they both attended. While at Harvard, both men spent more time partying together than studying, with Steinert recalling about Crosby, "He was in the fun department. I think of him in the category of gaiety, an aristocrat to his fingertips. He was quick-witted, zany." (Wolff, Black Sun: The Brief Transit and Violent Eclipse of Harry Crosby, p. 68). Following their graduation, they remained friends in Paris, where Steinert studied at the Paris Conservatoire. In 1927 Steinert won the Prix de Rome for his impressionistic tone poem, Southern Night. In 1926, when Steinert married Slyvia Curtis, Harry was his best man.

Together with:

Reboux, Paul
Trente-deux poemes d'amour
Paris: Ernest Flammarion, (1921). Presentation copy, inscribed by Harry Crosby to Alexander Steinert on verso of front free endpaper: "To Alex Notre f___ grand m_____ With a Merry Christmas and a little advice From Harry and Caresse A Paris, ce 22 decembre 1924." 12mo. Tan flexible leather, stamped in gilt; top edge gilt, other edges untrimmed; marbled endpapers; original wrappers bound in.