[Rarebooks] FS: Theodore Dreiser, likely the Finest copy in existence

[Charles Agvent]

DREISER, Theodore. THE HAND OF THE POTTER. New York: Boni & Liveright, 
1918. First Edition. Cloth-backed boards. First issue of the First 
Published Edition of Dreiser's only play with all three points; there 
was also a pre-publication copy which obviously was printed in a very 
small number. Twenty-five copies of this issue were signed on the title 
page by the author. This copy is SIGNED on the verso of the half-title 
page above the ads. Quite likely the Finest copy in existence, bright 
and clean in a similar dustwrapper.

Boni and Liveright printed this book early in 1918, but it was not 
actually published until September 1919 because it was being considered 
for production on the New York stage. Laid in is a TYPED LETTER SIGNED 
from publisher Horace Liveright dated 26 September 1919, the month of 
publication, forwarding the book to the noted collector Lafayette 
Butler. Liveright states, "Instead of persuading Mr. Dreiser to finish 
the trilogy, I have succeeded in getting him to finish THE BULWARK," 
mentioning that the novel would be published the following September. In 
fact, unknown to Liveright at the time, Dreiser had stopped working on 
the novel to begin work on AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY, and he would not resume 
work on it for twenty-five years. THE BULWARK was not published until 
1946, after Dreiser's death. This is an absolutely stunning copy of this 
first collaboration between Dreiser and Liveright in a bright, fresh 
dustwrapper that was in Butler's private collection for 80 years, from 
the time it was published until we purchased it in the summer of 1999. A 
small sticker with a crossed-out price is on the spine presumably placed 
there by the publisher. (#009089)        $3,500.00

http://www.charlesagvent.com/shop/agvent/009089.html

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