Signed by Crews

The Knockout Artist [First + 2 Proofs]

Crews, Harry

Publication: New York: Harper & Row, 1988. First Edition.

Notes: A boxing novel, collected here in three versions by the collector Tom Garner and housed in one of his distinctive clamshell boxes: the first edition, a proof in dark tan wrappers prepared from typescript; and a beige-tan proof using typeset pages.

First: 269 pages; dark tan proof, 368 pages; beige proof, 247 pages.

The Ahearns, in their Author Price Guide identify another proof, bound in yellow wrappers, and paginated to 382 (the dark tan proof was not listed in the APG). The changing page numbering suggests that the book may have been revised during the proof stage, but I did not immediately find any differences in the text.

Edition + Condition: First edition (first printing). The first edition is near fine in a very near fine dust jacket. It is inscribed, "Tom, All of us need more Bolivia marching powder—Blood pump. Harry Crews." The dark tan proof is near fine and inscribed, "For Tom, Harry Crews." The beige proof is near fine (a couple of minor pen marks in the text) and is inscribed, "Tom—take the lightning rod out of your hand or get ready for the heat. Harry Crews."

The dark tan proof seems quite scarce. A nice group of books.

Item No: #364492

Price: $400