Books

New York: The Viking Press, 1952. First edition, first printing. Hardcover. Very good/Very good. 8vo. Apple green cloth blocked in black and deep red. "First published" statement on the copyright page, and date on the title page. Cloth sunned along the edges and spine but a very good copy. The first state dustwrapper has the price of $4.50 on the flap and Steinbeck's portrait on the rear panel. The top inch of the spine and the bottom edge have been professionally restored giving a near fine appearance with only light age toning, especially to the spine. The rear free endpaper and pastedown have penciled notes made by a former owner, apparently references to important passages in the book. . .

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.