Renowned author of ""The Godfather."" Ball point endorsement on the reverse of an 8.75"" x 3.5"" check made out to him for $21.48 by the William Morris Agency and dated April 8, 1970. The memo on the reverse of the check reads: ""Refund of 10% commission on interes[t] [d]iscount charge of $214.80 made by G. P. Putnam's sons 1969 payment of $10,000 re: 'The Godfather.'"" Signed, ""Mario Puzo"". Fold and punch cancellations (away from signature) and bank stamp just touching one letter of signature, otherwise in excellent condition. Putnam's sons published the first edition of the Godfather. The Godfather was later developed into a trilogy of popular and highly acclaimed films directed by Francis Ford Coppola released in 1972, 1974 and 1990. Puzzo co-wrote the screenplay with Coppola. Very scarce to find anything related directly to the godfather.
Inventory Number: 13152
Mario Puzo, famous for his book The Godfather. ""The Godfather"" later printing. NY: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1969. Hardcover with dust jacket, 6"" x 8.5"", 446 pages. Signed and inscribed in felt tip on the front free end page ""For Nancy, Best, Mario Puzo."" Mild toning and edge wear to jacket, and previous owner's ink name to inside front cover, otherwise in very good condition.
Inventory Number: 13039
American nineteenth century novelist best known for "Moby Dick." Scarce, bold signature, "Herman Melville / Arrowhead, 1872," on heavy stock, 8" x 5". Laid down beneath Melville's signature is that of Mary A. Lathbury, an author associated with the Chautauqua movement, and on the verso are 2 other signatures. To the right of Melville's signature is a surface abrasion, and glue remnants on right edge of the paper. Both defects are well away from the Melville autograph and could easily be matted out. Melville is rare in all formats.
Inventory Number: 12616
In its day, Candy was the most scandalous novel by the satirist Terry Southern, also known for writing Barbarella and Easy Rider. His story, sort of an updating of Voltaire's Candide for the flower power generation. The book wound up being banned and censored all over the globe. Signed Typescript from the first page of ''Candy"", 1 page, 8.5"" x 11"". In part: At eleven-thirty that night, Candy had another bath--a bubble bath this time steeped with pine-fragrance crystals-- and put on the black nightgown she had bought for the occasion..."" Signed at the top ""Terry Southern."" In excellent condition.
Inventory Number: 12316
Science fiction author. Best known for his book "2001: A Space Odyssey". Outstanding Signed Typescript from 2001: A Space Odyssey, one page, 8.5" x 11", of the first page of Chapter One of 2001: A Space Odyssey, beginning with “The drought had lasted now for ten million years, and the reign of the terrible lizards had long since ended...When the first faint glow of dawn crept into the cave, Moon-Watcher saw that his father had died in the night...Now it was light enough to leave. Moon-Watcher picked up the shriveled corpse and dragged it after him as he bent under the low overhang of the cave. Once outside, he threw the body over his shoulder and stood upright-- the only animal in all this world able to do so...”. Signed at bottom "Arthur Clarke” In excellent condition.
Inventory Number: 11943
American novelist best remembered for writing the satiric World War II classic Catch-22. Signed Typescript, 1 page, 8.5 x 11"", of a page of chapter 1 ""The Texan"" of ""Catch 22."": ""It was love at first sight. The first time Yossarian saw the chaplain he fell madly in love with him..."" Although primarily classified as an antiwar novel, Catch-22 is also a critique of bureaucracy in general. The phrase ""catch-22"" has come into common use to mean a cyclical conundrum, or ""no-win situation"" based on its meaning in the book. Signed at the conclusion in black ink, ""Joseph Heller."" In excellent condition.
Inventory Number: 11778
American writer who originated the philosophy of Objectivism. That rational self-interest should be the basis of action and that self-fulfillment is an individual's moral responsibility, with productive achievement is the noblest activity. Famous books include the Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged In 1961, Rand collected her philosophical writings in ""For the New Intellectual"". Document signed, 2 pages, New York, June 16, 1976. A contract permitting the Palo Alto Book Service to print The Moral Factor, a lecture by Ayn Rand at Ford Hall Forum 1976. In part, ""1. The lecture must be published... without any cuts or changes...2. The lecture must be published as a pamphlet of the same format as that previously used by The Objectivist, Inc...6. You will not sell the pamphlet to any political or sectarian bookstores or organizations, or to any organizations which have attacked me or the philosophy of Objectivism.."" Signed ""Ayn Rand"". In excellent condition. In ""The Moral Factor"" Ayn Rand wrote some of her philosophy regarding war and oppressive governments, summed up in her statement : ""Nobody has to put up with aggression and surrender his right of self-defense... When someone comes at you with a gun, if you have one ounce of self-esteem, you will answer him by force..""
Inventory Number: 11266
Science fiction author. Best known for his book "2001: A Space Odyssey". Lot of 2 items. Outstanding Signed Typescript from 2001: A Space Odyssey, one page, 8.5 x 11, of the first page of Chapter One of 2001: A Space Odyssey, beginning with “The drought had lasted now for ten million years, and the reign of the terrible lizards had long since ended...When the first faint glow of dawn crept into the cave, Moon-Watcher saw that his father had died in the night...Now it was light enough to leave. Moon-Watcher picked up the shriveled corpse and dragged it after him as he bent under the low overhang of the cave. Once outside, he threw the body over his shoulder and stood upright-- the only animal in all this world able to do so...”. Signed and dated at the top in blue ink, “Ath C. Clarke -23 Feb 89.” In fine condition. Accompanied by a snapshot photo of Clarke also signed and inscribed on the back in blue ink. 2 items.
Inventory Number: 10405
French writer. Handwritten Autograph Letter Signed, dated December 9, 1982, 1 page, in French. Ionesco writes, " I thank you from all my heart for having accepted to play "Voyage Chez Les Morts" [he is referring to his play Travel to the dead]. I am very happy. Thank you also to Roger Planchon and to our comrades. I wish to see you and embrace you as soon as possible." Boldly signed "Eugene Ionesco". Written in a very bold pen, includes original transmittal envelope. In excellent condition. Great reference to one of his plays.
Inventory Number: 10159
French writer and convicted felon. He produced several autobiographical novels, in which he depicted the rejection of the bourgeois society that had repudiated him. These included his most famous novel ""Our Lady of the Flowers"" [Notre Dame Des Fleurs], ostensibly concerned with the trial of an young assassin. Handwritten Autograph Letter Signed, 2 page, on Terrass Hotel Paris letterhead, no date.. Important content letter about his most famous novel ""Our Lady of the Flowers"". Genet writes in his hand ""Dear Madame, I was very happy to receive your letter in excellent French in fact. But I must regretfully tell you that Freschdun[?] has already translated N D [Notre Dame] des Fleurs in English and it is he who possesses all the rights to that language and for this book... regarding the movie, I have communicated your letter to the owner of the film.. he will write to you and will tell you a price. It is with him that you must deal. But I thank you for all your kindness and I hope to see you soon in Paris. In the meantime, I shake your hand in friendship. Jean Genet"". Genet's letters are generally very scarce, however with one such reference to his book ""Our Lady of the Flowers"" is a great find.
Inventory Number: 10094
Science fiction author. Best known for his book ""2001: A Space Odyssey"". Typed Letter Signed, one page both sides, 8.75 x 11.5, July 30, 1981. Preprinted letter used to respond to '90 percent of the questions I am asked.' Signed on the reverse, 'My favorite book is always the last one! Arthur C. Clarke.' In fine condition, with a few light creases and folds.
Inventory Number: 9782
American Author. Among his works are ""A Farewell To Arms"", ""For Whom The Bell Tolls"", and ""The Old Man & The Sea"". Awarded the Nobel Prize in 1954. Handwritten Autograph Letter Signed, 1 page, on stationary imprinted Finca Vigia, San Francisco de Paula, Cuba, no date [most likely December , 1945]. He writes to columnist Leonard Lyons, in full: ""Take care of yourself, Lenny and my very best to Sylvia. Still feel awfully bad about Mr. Benchley. It will never be the same town to me without him. The kids feel terribly too."" he adds: ""Tell Jimmy Cannon he is writing so damned well he must be bucking for a cerebral hemorrhage [sic]."" Signed ""Ernie"" The reference to ""Mr. Benchley"" is probably Robert Benchley, the popular writer and bon vivant who died in 1945. In very good condition. With his personalized ""HEMINGWAY"" airmail envelope, addressed in the author's hand to ""Leonard Lyons, Esq. / New York Post / Editorial Department .. "" and postmarked Havana, 1945. With a Delivery Copy of a Telegram from Hemingway to Lyons regarding Jimmy Cannon. Also with an copy print of an early photograph of Hemingway.
Inventory Number: 9771
British Author of spy novels. Signed souvenir transcript, 1 page, 8x11", of the first page of Chapter One of The Russia House, beginning with "In a broad Moscow street not two hundred yards from the Leningrad station...the British Council's first ever audio fair for the teaching of the English language and the spread of British culture was grinding to its excruciating end." Signed at the bottom in blue ink "John leCarre" and making a correction and apology to the misspelling of his typed name. In excellent condition.
Inventory Number: 9401
Author. Contract in which Stone aggress to the print and publication of his novel "" The Passionate Journey"" in Sweden. Signed contract, 2 pages, 8 x 13"", dated December 27, 1949. Contract states in part ""The proprietors grant and assign to the Publishers the sole and exclusive right to print and publish, in Sweden in book form only , a translation made at the Publisher's expense in the Swedish language, for sale and distribution throughout the world of the work now entitles, The Passionate Journey.."" Signed boldly in blue ink ""Irving Stone"". In excellent condition.
Inventory Number: 8936
U.S. Author best known for his Pulitzer prize winning ""Roots: the Saga of an American Family"" and as a collaborator on ""Autobiography of Malcolm X."" Signed TIME magazine cover, with himself and ""Why Roots' Hits Home"" on the cover, dated February 14, 1977. Signed boldly in black ink ""Alex Haley"". In excellent condition.
Inventory Number: 8573
U.S. Author best known for his novel about the founding of the Israeli state titled "Exodus" (1959); film, and the movie that was based on it (1961) Signed photo, black/white, 8x10". Signed on lower margin below photo "Leon Uris". In excellent condition.
Inventory Number: 8281
U.S. Author, best known for his "The Bonfire of the Vanities." Typed Letter Signed, 1 page, quarto, on his own blind embossed letterhead, dated June 12, 1969. Wolfe writes: "Many thanks for the Jimmy Breslin clipping---but:::::: it is a different TONY PRO clipping. The one I had in mind came out in the fall of 1963 or in the spring of 1964 and was about a trial of Provenzano in a Federal court in New Jersey, Union city, as I remember it. Provenzano gets convicted of extortion in the story. The story ends with the observation that Tony Pro was wearing a diamond pinky ring and the prosecutor wasn't, but the prosecutor won out all the same." Wolfe signs, "Tom." In excellent condition.
Inventory Number: 7671
U.S. Author. Typed Manuscript Signed, 1page, on gold colored parchment paper. An excerpt from "Armageddon" by Leon Uris. In part: "No people in all of the Western world live closer to their mythology than the German people. Siegfried and other legendary figures, particularly warriors, are deep within the soul of the German people..." Signed "Leon Uris." In excellent condition.
Inventory Number: 1996
