Clark, Tom

The World of Damon Runyon (Two Editions + Ephemera)

ISBN: 0060107715
New York, NY: Harper & Row, 1978. Uncorrected Proof; First Edition. Softcover; Hardcover. Uncorrected Proof signed by Tom Clark & with hand-written editor's note; first edition signed by Tom Clark. "Damon Runyon was a listener and a watcher, a peripatetic student of life who possessed a diamond cutter's powers of attention, the dispassionate curiosity of a scientist, the investigative energy of a great reporter, and the local knowledge of a denizen of the streets. He was a kind of Broadway Boswell, a bright reflector of the Golden Age of guys and dolls, gangsters and stars- many of whom were first glamorized and made into legend by his writings." (from Preface, pg. vi UP; pg. ix FE) A biography of the life & times of Damon Runyon (1880-1946), the great American newspaper reporter & short story writer. The author, Tom Clark (1941-2018), was a brilliant & prodigious Beat-&-Beyond poet, novelist, editor & as here biographer who is the archetypal exemplar of our category of "The Prolific & Underappreciated." Clark's biographies are always very readable & informative, his subjects varied, mostly among American writers (Jack Kerouac, Charles Olson et al.). Here are two rare editions of this fast-moving chronicle full of colorful characters: (1) Uncorrected Proof produced prior to November 1978 (noted as "Probable publication date" on front cover) in light yellow wraps. The pages are copied & include facsimile hand-written marginalia, references where illustrations would be placed, etc. On the title page, below his printed name, Clark has hand-written his signature in green ink. Loosely included is a single sheet of editor Fran McCullough's stationary with her printed reference at lower margin next to hand-written note in pencil "(editor of/ Damon Runyon)"; & note hand-written in thick dark ink: "Mr. Clark-/ The flaps have been/ done. A blurb now/ can't go on- except in ads./ (signed) -D. Pinekney(?)." McCullough is included in Clark's acknowledgements, the writer of the note we presume to be McCullough's assistant. (2) Hardcover in unclipped dust jacket, first edition as stated on copyright page, first printing as indicated by years-&-numbers sequence at bottom of same. The dust jacket flaps here indeed have no blurb as editor's note in (1) mentions; & there are illustrations on DJ front cover & throughout the book by Clark (also a talented artist) which appear to be based on vintage images of Runyon & the many famous/ notorious "guys and dolls" he knew & wrote about. On the title page, at bottom margin, Clark has hand-written his signature in black ink. Two rare editions of this bright & busy biography for the Clark & Runyon collector. (1) in very fine condition with only light rubbing to front, back covers & spine; a bit of wear & a few tiny bumps at edges & corners of same; waving & creasing at spine (typical of an UP); very slight rubbing to edges of text block. Interior very fine with only small, faint creases at upper corners of page leaves. Ephemera very fine with horizontal crease where once folded in two; light wear & a few tiny bumps at edges & corners; printing, writing on recto only. (2) Book in very fine condition with only a bit of wear to edges & corners of front, back covers & spine; one very small stain-discoloration at middle of blue cloth spine-edge front cover; mild rubbing & spotting to edges of text block. Interior very fine with only tiny bumps at lower corners of a few page leaves. Dust jacket fine with very slight rubbing & occasional tiny spots to front, back covers & spine; mild wear & some tiny bumps, creases at edges & corners of same; several very small, closed tears at upper spine-edge & corners; mild browning & rubbing to thin upper & lower edges of flaps. Very Fine / Fine. [Item #3770]

Price: $80.00