Books

New York, New York, U.S.A.: Viking Press, 1952. First Edition First Printing . Hardcover. VG+/Good+. Steinbeck's masterpiece, basis for the 1951 Eli Kazan film starring James Dean. A true FIRST EDITION, First Printing from Viking, 1952, with appropriate statement, uncorrected error on page 281, line 38 ("bite" vs "bight.") in the First State DJ, with orig. price of $4.50 intact on front flap, author's photo to back of DJ with just his facsimile signature beneath. With light green cloth-covered boards stamped with reddish-brown lettering to front & spine, this hardcover 8vo is in VG+ condition: extremely clean & bright, binding strong & straight, hinges secure, pages creamy white with a hint of tanning to edges, but unmarked. Externally, there is a small semicircular stained area to top edge of front board; does not impact interior. Very mild pushing to both ends of spine. The unclipped DJ is Good+, with some tiny chips & short tears, light soil, slight darkening to spine. Nicely…

East of Eden is a novel by American author John Steinbeck. Published in September 1952, it is a saga telling the story of two families—the Trasks and the Hamiltons—with a particular focus on the life of Adam Trask, his twin sons Caleb and Aron, and their complex relationship with each other and their father. The novel explores themes of depravity, beneficence, love, and redemption, and it vividly captures the rural Salinas Valley in California at the turn of the 20th century. Steinbeck considered 'East of Eden' to be his magnum opus.

Identify a first edition of 'East of Eden' by The Viking Press with the date 'September 1952' on the copyright page and the absence of the words 'First Published in September 1952' which would indicate a later printing.