[Rarebooks] FS: Superb binding on signed novel by the late Mark Harris

[Charles Agvent]

Mark Harris [Finkelstein] died last week at the age of 84.  His best 
known work, “Bang the Drum Slowly” (1956), was made into a film starring 
Robert DeNiro as the slow-witted catcher dying of cancer who finds his 
baseball talents in his dying days thanks to the encouragement of his 
teammates.  The following is a signed copy of one of his lesser known 
titles in an exceptional binding by master binder Anthony Gardner.

HARRIS,  Mark  [ANTHONY GARDNER]. SOMETHING ABOUT A  SOLDIER  in a
fine  custom  binding  by Anthony Gardner. New York:  MacMillan  1957.
First  Edition.  INSCRIBED  and  SIGNED by the  author  on  the  front
endpaper  in  1961 for collector Saul Shapiro, whose bookplate  is  on
the  front  pastedown.  Mr.  Shapiro  collected  signed  Modern  First
Editions  with  a Jewish connection (the author, a character,  subject
matter,  etc.)  which  he  would have signed by the  author  and  then
rebound  by  a variety of fine binders. This title has an  exceptional
binding  by  British  craft bookbinder Anthony Gardner in  full  brown
morocco  with elaborate blindstamping, gilt rules and lettering with a
design  featuring  small  gilt circles and stars on  each  cover.  The
front  panel has a red morocco onlay in the shape of a cross set  over
the  back  of  a  standing soldier while the rear  cover  has  a  blue
morocco  cross  over  the  back of a standing woman. At  the  top  and
bottom  of both covers is an abbreviated version of the American  flag
accomplished  in  red,  white,  blue, and  gold  morocco  onlays.  The
marbled  endpapers resemble splatters of blood on a bluish background.
Bound  at  the rear is the rear panel of the original  dustwrapper  as
well  as  a  colophon page imaginatively accomplished in a  circle  in
Gardner's  fine  calligraphic  hand explaining the  symbolism  of  the
binding  and  dating it to 1962 as well as numbering it as  the  641st
fine  binding  created  by  Gardner  in his  career.  Laid  in  is  an
AUTOGRAPH  LETTER  SIGNED  by  the binder  explaining  in  detail  his
philosophy  of  binding  as well as his fees and relaying  some  facts
about  his  career  including  the number of books he  has  bound  for
royalty. Fine in a superb custom binding.                     $2500.00

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us with any wants or offerings.  Thank you.

CHARLES AGVENT
291 Linden Road
Mertztown, PA  19539-8750
Voice/Fax: 610-682-4750
agvent at erols.com
Visit our home page:  http://www.erols.com/agvent