INVISIBLE MAN

Modern Library. New York. 439 pages.1952. First Modern Library Edition; early printing. Toledano 338.1 spine design 11; $2.45 price intact on DJ flap. For what its worth Modern Library did not publish this title until 1963; despite 1952 being last date printed on the copyright page. Because Modern Library did not place a First Modern Library Edition slug on the copyright of Invisible Man you need to match bindings in trying to figure out whether it is a first. The only problem is the first edition binding was used from 1963-1970; with the same endpaper design. So then you have to go to the DJ; assuming there is no sbn number on back (1969/70). Now comes the ever-important DJ price; the problem is more times than not these are clipped. The first printing DJ is $1.95; then $2.45 and so on and so on. Without a DJ price you can still identify a first printing DJ without the presence of Malamud on DJ verso. This DJ does have Malamud and a $2.45 price present, indicating this is a 1965/66 printing as ML changed prices to $2.45 for new titles in 1965; but kept $1.95 present for existing titles in their line-up. So while the book itself is identical to a first printing; the DJ would suggest this was printed two years or so after the first Modern Library edition. Probably more than you care to know. In any event, blue cloth is bright and clean. Silver titles on backstrip are bright. Binding and hinges are sound. A couple of page corner tips were folded and since flattened out. Minimal shelf-rubbing. Sparse, scant foxing to page edges. DJ shows a couple of rubs along corners/edges. Price intact on DJ flap; with a small price written next to it. This is a very nice crisp copy of the classic and first modern library edition; early printing. NF/VG+.…