Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - August - 2007 Issue
Literature, Cinema, and Eclectic Offerings from James Pepper Rare Books
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Everyone must have a copy of the first edition of Margaret Mitchell's Gone With Wind. There must have been as many printings of the first edition as some books have total copies printed in the first edition. However, few have this book in its first state, published in May of 1936, and this is one of the most collectible pieces of 20th century American literature. Item 94. $9,500.
A copy of the first edition of the first book by John Cheever is also hard to find, but you will find one in this catalogue. The Way Some People Live. A Book of Stories by John Cheever was first published in 1943. Item 36. $1,500.
Item 129 is The Great Superman Book by Michael L. Fleisher. Pepper describes this as "a definitive encyclopedia of all things Superman with over 1,000 entries, 472 illustrations…" Wouldn't it be great to have a copy that was signed by Superman? That, of course, is impossible. This is the next best thing -- it is signed by Lois Lane. She played Lois in the first Superman movie serials in 1948, and starting with the second season, in the TV series opposite George Reeves. She also played small roles in later Superman films, including, most recently, Superman Returns in 2006. Ms. Neill has signed this copy with both her real name and as "Lois Lane." $225.
The website for James Pepper Rare Books is www.jamespepperbooks.com. The telephone number is 805-963-1025.
