Books

Edelstein A2. A flawless copy (resists being opened) in flawless glassine jacket in near fine green cardboard slipcase in the original packaging. Colophon: "This first edition of Ideas of order is strictly limited to 165 copies, signed by the author. Twenty copies, numbered I-XX are printed on Duca di Modena, an Italian handmade paper, for presentation purposes; 135 copies, numbered 1-135 on Strathmore permanent all-rag paper, are for sale, and 10 copies, marked out of series, are for review. Published by J. Ronald Lane Latimer & Charles I. Hudeburg at their Alcestis press in July, 1935. This copy is number 107. [signed] Wallace Stevens. Designed and Printed by Lew Ney with Inkunabula Type Set by Hand and the Type Has Been Distributed" Original printed cream stiffened wrappers; in publisher's slip-case and still housed in the original mailing carton. Annotation for A2. A: "The book has just arrived and gives me the greatest possible pleasure. It must have taken no end of time and put you and Mr. [Willard] Maas to no end of trouble. But here it is, and it strikes me, quite regardless of its contents, as being a very good job. Too bad that I can't read it. Of course if I were to read any of these things again I should jump out of my skin. "Let me say this: you have been generous in sending me ten copies, and while that seems to have been our agreement, I had forgotten it until Mr. Ney reminded me of it. The chances are that you cannot possibly come out whole, even if you sold the whole edition without difficulty and received the full price for each copy. If I am right about this, and my guess is that I am, don't think of sending me any money. The book is a handsome piece of work, and as it probably will be your first book I should be very glad to go along with you without any royalties or anything of the sort. In fact, it would jolt me to think of royalties under the circumstances. (Letter", pp. 283-284: letter to J. Ronald Lane Latimer. August 10, 1935) This copy of "Ideas of Order" is in pristine condition. A short closed, unobtrusive tear causes the slipcase to be graded in near fine condition. Provenance: Wallace Stevens>Elsie Stevens>Holly Stevens. The purchaser will receive a letter of provenance from a Stevens family member. ; 8vo; 5 p. l., 5-63, [1] p., 5 l. pages.