The Bruce Kahn Collection - Ken Lopez Bookseller

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The Bruce Kahn Collection
12. BURROUGHS, William. Naked Lunch. (NY): Grove Press
(1959)[c. 1962]. The first American edition of this classic novel of the
Beat generation, which was not published in the U.S. until three years
after its Paris publication, and until a legal challenge to its banning was
successful. Such authors as Norman Mailer testified as to the literary
value and accomplishment of Burroughs’ work. Basis for the 1991 David
Cronenberg film featuring Peter Weller, Judy Davis, Ian Holm, Julian
Sands, and Roy Scheider. Fine with the topstain bright, in a fine, unrubbed
dust jacket. A superb copy, and seldom found this way. $2000
13. CAIN, James M. The Postman Always Rings Twice. NY: Knopf,
1934. Cain’s first novel, and a milestone of hardboiled literature that was
the basis for the classic 1946 film featuring Lana Turner and John Garfield
(as well as at least three other versions). A Haycraft-Queen Cornerstone.
Fine in a fine dust jacket, with topstain impossibly bright; essentially a
flawless, perfect copy. While it is pretty much an unalterable rule that
somewhere in the world there will always be a better copy, this copy breaks
the rule. $27500
14. CAIN, James M. Serenade. NY: Knopf, 1937. Cain’s second
novel, another hardboiled classic. Fine in a beautiful, fine dust jacket. A
spectacular copy. $5000
15. CAIN, James M. Mildred Pierce. NY: Knopf, 1941. His third
novel, a noir-ish tale that became the basis for the excellent Michael Curtiz
film with Oscar-winner Joan Crawford in the title role as the hard-working
mother of an ambitious harlot, also with Eve Arden and Ann Blyth (both of
whom were nominated as Best Supporting Actresses), Zachary Scott, and
Butterfly McQueen. Fine in a fine dust jacket. An incomparable copy.
$6500
16. CAIN, James M. The Moth. NY: Knopf, 1948. Fine in a fine and
bright, price-clipped dust jacket. A relatively common book in uncommon
condition. $500
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