[Rarebooks] FS: First Edition of Ralph Ellison's INVISIBLE MAN with an absolutely superb inscription

[Charles Agvent]

One of many fine African-American items on our web site.  We have 
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ELLISON, Ralph INVISIBLE MAN
Random House New York (1952) First Edition. Author's first book, a 
National Book Award winner and a landmark novel of the twentieth 
century. Typical, for this title, flaking of the white spine lettering 
but still very readable. The cloth is a little darkened, most noticeably 
on the spine, and there is some staining on the fore-edge of the front 
free endpaper that contains the following magnificent and very early 
INSCRIPTION SIGNED by the author: "For David -----,/that 
artist-technician, who has/made unheard music hearable,/this small 
effort to make the un-/seen seeable./Sincerely/Ralph Ellison/March 24, 
1952." The recipient was a violinist who played under Arturo Toscanini 
as a memberof the NBC Symphony and a very close friend of Ellison's who 
was technically savvy with computers and audio equipment. It was he who 
retrieved Ellison's final manuscript from the author's computer after 
his death. Dustwrapper with some edgewear but very presentable. Very 
Good or better in dustwrapper with a superb inscription!  $15,000.00
-- 

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