Steinbeck, John (1929) ‘Cup of Gold’, US signed first edition – association copy inscribed to the parents

John Steinbeck (1929) ‘Cup of Gold‘, US first edition, first printing, published by Robert M. McBride and Company. Signed and inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper: “To my mother and father | whose patience | and understanding | deserve a much better book | than this one | John Steinbeck”

Provenance: when the parents passed the book was inherited by the Mary Steinbeck Dekker family.

Condition: a near fine book with virtually no wear. Ghosting to the endpapers from the custom made leather protective sleeve. Lacks the original dust jacket is it was discarded by the Steinbecks (see below).

Incredible association to Steinbeck’s proud parents, mother Olive Hamilton (1867- 1934) and John Ernst Steinbeck (1862 -1935). Both parents supported their son financially and emotionally in his literary endeavour throughout the 1920s and early 30s. John, the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature Awardee shows with his inscription not only his gratitude to the parents but also humility and awareness that his debut novel is below his capabilities and literary ambition. Also, it stands to reason that this is the very first copy of Steinbeck’s work that was ever signed and inscribed by him. To whom would a writer inscribe his first copy upon publication, if not to the supportive parents?

The first edition of Cup of Gold was published in an exceptionally low number of just 1,537 copies [Goldstone & Payne, 1974: 19]. The book was issued in a flamboyant piratical dust jacket which Steinbeck disliked. The second edition (1936) already had altered dust jacket art. Steinbeck Sr did some hobby bookbinding at hims home in Pacific Grove. Most likely the dust jacket was either chucked by the writer himself or by Sr who then created this protective leather sleeve.

An amazing association copy of the rarest of all of Steinbecks works.