Books

Handsomely bound in finely woven blue cloth stamped brightly in white lettering on the spine. With a touch of wear at the top of the spine ends and at the corners. With reddish topstaining. In a complete original dust jacket designed by Paul Bacon with the price of $5.95 at the bottom of the inside front flap, and a splendid photo of Heller by Seymour Linden on the rear panel. With toning along the flap edges and along the spine of the white dust jacket. This copy has been inscribed in blue ink: "To Bob Taylor-- With all best wishes to you and Visualscope, and with much gratitude for making me look so good on more than one occasion. Joe Heller October, 2, 1961 McCall's." (With a 2-page letter of provenance.) Quoting from the letter of provenance provided by the previous owner: "As far as I know the October 2nd 1961 date is an early one for an inscription of the first printing of Catch-22. It is my understanding that 1961 was the last year Mr. Heller worked at McCall's Magazine as an advertising copywriter. The recipient of the book, Bob Taylor was president of Visualscope at the time of the book's signing. Visualscope had been incorporated in 1955 and was an active player in producing TV commercials, spectaculars staged for sales meetings and public relations. Visualscope depended on free-lance writers, artists and filmmakers. That's where Joe Heller came in. He and Bob Taylor liked each other a good deal, lunched often, and discussed the much needed scripts for Visualscope. Joe Heller is described as a "promotion executive" on the inside flap of the dust jacket for Catch-22, recalling his years with Visualscope and Bob Taylor. Mr. Taylor went on to enjoy a long and splendid association with Tiffany's where he became a valued member of the corporate sales staff. His memorial service in 1988 was attended by Joe Heller, Joan Rivers, Betty Furness and many of his colleagues and friends from Tiffany's and Visualscope." First Edition with "First Printing" stated on copyright page.

Catch-22 is a satirical war novel by American author Joseph Heller, first published in 1961. The novel is set during World War II, from 1942 to 1944, and follows Captain John Yossarian, a U.S. Army Air Forces B-25 bombardier, and the other airmen in the camp, who attempt to maintain their sanity while fulfilling their service requirements so that they can return home.