Books

New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1925. First Edition. First Printing. Hardcover [duodecimo]. Green cloth blindstamped to front with gilt lettering to spine. 218 pp. About Very Good, with gently pushed corners and spine ends, forward cock to spine (although it stands up straight by itself), boards lightly rubbed and soiled, cloth creased to rear board, text block mildly soiled and foxed.. True first printing of one of the most enduring and momentous novels of 20th century American literature, with all relevant points: Scribner's seal and 1925 to copyright page; "chatter" on p. 60; "northern" on p. 119; "sick in tired" p. 205; "Union street station" on p. 211. All these would be reset and corrected for the second printing.

"The Great Gatsby," penned by F. Scott Fitzgerald and published in 1925, is a classic American novel set in the Jazz Age, exploring themes of wealth, love, decadence, and the American Dream. Narrated by Nick Carraway, the story unfolds in the summer of 1922 on Long Island, New York. Carraway, a Yale graduate and World War I veteran, moves to West Egg, a fictional affluent area, to pursue a career in finance. He becomes neighbors with the mysterious and fabulously wealthy Jay Gatsby. Gatsby, known for his lavish parties, remains enigmatic and elusive to most of his guests. His grandiose gatherings aim to attract Daisy Buchanan, Nick's cousin and Gatsby's former lover. Daisy is married to Tom Buchanan, a wealthy and arrogant man with a volatile nature. Through Nick's eyes, the story reveals Gatsby's obsession with Daisy, stemming from their past romance. Gatsby, born poor, amassed his fortune through questionable means to win Daisy's love. His opulent lifestyle, however, is a facade masking his deep longing for the past and his desire to relive the romantic moments shared with Daisy before World War I separated them. As the plot unravels, tensions escalate among the characters. Tom, suspicious of Gatsby's intentions, exposes his criminal connections and tries to discredit him. Daisy, torn between her love for Gatsby and her social status, struggles with her feelings. Tragedy strikes as the complex web of relationships culminates in a devastating climax. In a sequence of events involving Tom, Gatsby, Daisy, and others, the consequences of their actions and the underlying tensions between old money and new wealth come to a head. Fitzgerald's masterpiece is a scathing critique of the American Dream, revealing the emptiness and moral decay lurking beneath the glamorous facade of wealth and excess. It explores the disillusionment of the Jazz Age, portraying characters driven by ambition, greed, and unattainable dreams. "The Great Gatsby" remains a poignant and timeless portrayal of the human condition and the pursuit of happiness in a society marked by materialism and superficiality.

The initial release of "The Great Gatsby" by Charles Scribner’s Sons occurred in April 1925. This first edition is highly prized among collectors and can be identified by distinct features, such as a typographical error on the dust jacket that spells "jay Gatsby" with a lowercase "j," later corrected by hand in ink or with a stamp. Other distinguishing points in the first edition include specific textual errors on pages 60, 119, 205 (lines 9-10), and 211 (lines 7-8). The cover of this first edition, designed by artist Francis Cugat, is renowned in American literature. It showcases disembodied eyes and a mouth against a blue skyline, with reflections of nude women in the irises. Fitzgerald was reportedly so taken with the artwork, completed before the book, that he modified portions of the text to better integrate it.