[Rarebooks] Stars in California; two (three, actually) nice Jeffers books

[Peter B. Howard]

(1)

CALIFORNIANS
1916


CALIFORNIANS.  New York: The Macmillan Company, (October) 1916  Decorated 
blue cloth, gilt; t.e.g.   Despite a narrow, partial split in the rear 
endpaper, and a rub on the top edge of one corner, this is one of the best 
copies we have ever seen, in restored dust jacket, the spine of jacket 
repaired without base imprint, silked.  First edition, one of 1200.   In 
the corner of the front free endpaper, in pencil, inscribed to his teacher 
by the poet in a manner rarely seen & certainly never used after this time:

             "Evans from Jeff."

"Evans" was Lyman G. Stookey, professor.  Jeffers was Special Assistant to 
Stookey when he was 21, in 1908, at USC Medical School.  A meaningful 
association, inscribed to an admired teacher.

$6500.00




(2-3)

STARS
(1930)



STARS.  The Flame Press, Ward Ritchie, 1930.  Black paper boards, 
label.  Exceptionally fine.  First edition, first binding.  With the 
errata, indicating 72 of 80 copies (in all) survived the first printing.

             With an autograph letter on WR's Marka and Ward Ritchie 
imprinted stationery, 34 Emerald Bay, Laguna Beach, California 92651, from 
Ward Ritchie, February 23, 1978, to Thomas Goldwasser, then at Serendipity 
Books Inc., as we bought this copy.

"Dear Tom:

         Enclosed a copy of Stars.   It is in as perfect condition as any 
copy. The fragile black cover papers blemished at the edges as I bound the 
copies. To the best of my recollection I bound up about fifteen copies and 
had given away six (from which Alberts got his information) when Larry 
Powell called my attention to the many spelling errors.  I must have sent 
some copies to Jeffers since he sent me an inscribed copy.  How many I do 
not know. Of the reprint I do have a note that I sent him half the edition.

             About twenty years ago, when we were moving from our house in 
La Canada, H. Richard Archer, who was then at the Clark Library, came up to 
help with moving and since the Clark was collecting W.R. imprints I let him 
take a large cardboard box full of my early printing.  There must have been 
some of the Stars material in it because I have heard of several bits of 
unbound material that has been sold.

             This is the first copy I ever sold, though I did give a set of 
the sheets to the Huntington Library and a bound copy to Occidental.  Send 
it back if there are any questions.  With regards, Ward Ritchie / P.S. Are 
you interested in my next hand press book?"

    [with]


STARS.  The Flame Press, Ward Ritchie, 1930.  Original printed blue 
wrappers, tied.    Exceptionally fine, unopened!!     First edition, second 
printing, corrected, second binding.  One of  110 copies. Inscribed "Dear 
Herbert Heron: I was wrong about these verses. I think they were printed in 
the 'Bookman' and somewhere else, except here.  Yours, Robinson Jeffers."


Pair:   $12,500.00



Peter B. Howard
Serendipity Books
1201 University Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94702
voice: (510) 841-7455
fax: (510) 841-1920
e-mail: pbhoward at serendipitybooks.com
http://www.serendipitybooks.com