Lee, Harper (1960) ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, US first edition in original dust ajcket + handwritten and signed letter

Nelle Harper Lee (1960) ‘To Kill a Mockingbird‘, US first edition, first printing, published by Lippincott. Together with a handwritten letter, signed by Harper Lee, and the mailing enevlope. One of only 5,000 first edition copies printed. Winner of the prestigious Pulitzer Prize.

Condition of the book: a near fine book in a very good, original and unrestored dust jacket. No previous owner’s inscriptions inside, no bookplates, no stamps. Top page block edge has light foxing, no foxing on the other page block edges. The spine is NOT rubbed out and lettering is vibrant. Minimal shelf wear. The dust jacket is the original wrapper without any restorations. It is the correct first state with the following first issue points as called for: 1) unclipped price of USD 3.95 at the bottom of the front flap 2) no reprint indications at the bottom of the front flap. 3) Truman Capote paragraph printed in green at the top of the front flap 4) Jonathan Daniels blurb at the back flap 5) Rear panel shows Harper Lee photograph credited to Truman Capote. The dust jacket is in very good condition. It has som chipping on the edges of the spine folds. Some creasing and rubbing as shown.

The letter: ALS, one page handwritten on stationary paper, 8.5 x 11, dated December 15, 1990. Letter to Don Salter, in full: “What a beautiful book! I know about Alabama Memories but did not own a copy. Now I have one to keep always. Thank you for this treasure, and most of all, the kindness that prompted the giver. I hope that Christmas brings you and your loved ones great joy, and the next year great abundance.” In fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope, addressed by Lee who incorporates her surname into the return address field. Stamped in Montgomery, Alabama, 14 December 1990. Beautiful and clear handwriting with the Harper Lee signature in full rather than ‘Nelle’ as she signed for friends. Letter is in near fine condition with usual folds to fit into an envelope. Guaranteed authentic unlike many ‘cut out’ signatures or ‘flat signed’ books with questionable provenance at best.

5,000 copies were initially printed. Most of them went to public libraries receiving the usual stamp and readership treatment. Most of the fragile dust jackets have not survived the passage of time. Sometimes dealers supply later print dust jackets or jackets with missing flaps. Those are worthless and to be avoided.

Adapted as a motion picture in 1962 starring Gregory Peck who was immortalised in his role as Atticus and won the Academy Award (Peck and Lee became life-long friends). The film won two more Oscars in the Screenplay and Art Direction categories.