Steinbeck, John (1952) ‘East of Eden’, US signed limited edition

John Steinbeck (1952) ‘East of Eden‘, US signed limited edition. One of 1,500 copies of which 750 went for private distribution. Signed by the author on the limitation page. House in the original paper slipcase and the glassine dust jacket.

Condition: a fine and lovely copy. Green cloth binding without any bumps. The title plate on the spine without any rubbing nor fading as often seen. Visibly unread. The original cardboard slipcase is present with usual shelf wear and some offsetting to the sides. The glassine dust jacket has chips to the edges. Most importantly the book is in absolutely fine condition.

‘East of Eden‘ is together with ‘The Grapes of Wrath‘ and ‘Of Mice and Men‘ Steinbeck’s best loved novel and which contributed the most to his 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature. The second half of the novel was famously adapted as a 1955 Hollywood blockbuster film starring James Dean directed by Elia Kazan. Steinbeck himself treated his work preceeding East of Eden as an apprenticeship and preparation for this magnum opus where he put his heart and soul. The book is dedicated to the author’s two sons Thom and John Jr and it was Steinbeck’s intention to describe the Salinas Valley accurately to them.