To Kill a Mockingbird
Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1960. Book Club Edition. Octavo, publisher's black textured paper over gray textured paper-covered boards, spine stamped in white, top edge stained yellow, original illustrated dust jacket.
Presumed first book club edition of American novelist Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning coming-of-age story. Loosely based on her observations of her family and neighbors, Lee's enormously popular novel remains to this day an accessible vehicle for examining the history and complexity of race relations in the American south. As Lee was relatively unknown as an author in 1960, there were only 5000 copies of the book printed for the July 11th, 1960 release date. Unpredictably an immediate hit, the book went on to have 14 printings in the first year and was chosen for three American book clubs, selling more than 2.5 million copies. Back cover author photo by Lee's close childhood friend Truman Capote. (Notably, the character Dill is based on the author and provocateur). Dust jacket designed by Shirley Smith. Likely first printing with Truman Capote blurb to upper flap of dust jacket, no mention of the Pulitzer Prize, and no other printings listed on copyright page. Light toning to endpapers from binder's glue, small ink streak in red marker to upper pastedown and both boards; unclipped dust jacket with moderate chipping and edgewear, approximately 2" closed tear to upper panel, splitting to upper joint, small cellotape repair to lower panel, and some staining and soiling. Good overall. Item #13565
$225.00