Burroughs, Edgar Rice (1920) ‘Tarzan the Untamed’, US signed and inscribed first edition association copy

Edgar Rice Burroughs (1920) ‘Tarzan the Untamed‘, US first edition, first printing, published by McClurg. Presentation copy, inscribed by Burroughs in black ink on the first free endpaper to his brother-in-law, friend and passionate collector Edward Gilbert with a drawing of an empty frame: “PICTURE OF TARZAN  / AFTER HE HAS LEFT / Presented Eddie Gilbert / by the author / Edgar Rice Burroughs / May 23, 1938”.

First state binding in dark olive green lettered in brown on front cover and spine. Pictorial first issue dust jacket lettered in red on front cover and in black on spine with an illustration by John Allen St. John who also provided nine interior sepia plates.

Condition: Book is reasonably square and tight, spine toned, creased and fraying at the tips, closed tear of about 3 cm. along the front joint, colour touch-up to the tear and spine bottom tip, upper text block edge soiled, one single small spot to fore-edge, otherwise boards and lettering are clean. Gutters strong, pages a bit age toned but unmarked, pages 216-217 lightly over opened. Dust jacket unrestored, with mild chipping to upper edge, spine tips and folds extremities, a few short closed tears, front cover rubbed, white spine and back panel mildly soiled. An about very good book and dust jacket.

This novel, the tenth published by Burroughs, raised strong controversies for its alleged anti-German feelings and at the same time brought ERB popularity at its peak.

A book rarely seen signed or inscribed enriched by a drawing by Burroughs and with a nice association.