Hillerman, Tony

The Ghostway

ISBN: 0060153962
New York, NY: Harper & Row, 1985. First Trade Edition. Hardcover. Signed by Tony Hillerman. "A car thief, a killer, an infected hogan, a ghost kept from its journey into death's underworld: the search for a lost girl leads Tribal Policeman Jim Chee to a case of false identity and the ultimate revenge- murder. The Navajo "Big Reservation" is a land of snakeweed and buffalo grass, a searing wind that blasts sand against your face, and a wilderness of desolate mountains and canyons that offer the perfect hiding places. When the Federal Witness Protection Program sends a felon there without informing the Tribal Police, it touches off a chain of treachery and killings. The crime is the business of the FBI, not the Navajos, but the Feds lack the knowledge of Jim Chee in understanding the clues: a ghost-infected hogan, a corpse buried with its hair unwashed, a sacred bundle left where it wouldn't be left." (front flap) The popular novel in the Jim Chee detective series by Tony (Anthony Grove) Hillerman (1925-2008), the award-winning, extremely prolific & beloved American author. Offered here is the first trade edition, preceded the previous year (1984) by a limited edition. Hardcover in unclipped first-issue dust jacket (with $13.95 price & "02134185" printed on front flap), "First Harper & Row Edition 1985" as stated on copyright page, first printing as indicated by number sequence thereon. On the title page, below his printed name, Hillerman has hand-written his signature in bold black ink. By the way, a "hogan" is a traditional dwelling & ceremonial structure of the Navajo people of Arizona & New Mexico. An essential Hillerman collectible in its rarest original trade form, greatly enriched by the late acclaimed author's signature. Book in very fine condition with only mild wear & a few tiny bumps, creases at edges & corners of front, back covers & spine; one tiny dark spot at upper right edge of front cover (quite possibly a miniscule flaw as issued); very light browning, occasional spotting to edges of text block. Interior very fine with only a few tiny spots, rubbings (also likely as issued) at blank white paste-downs & endpapers; otherwise substantially mint. Dust jacket very fine with very light rubbing, faint scratching, occasional spotting & just a bit of fading to front, back covers, spine & flaps; a touch of wear & some tiny bumps, creases at edges & corners of same; several very short, mostly closed tears at upper spine-edge, corners with tiny loss of paper. Very Fine / Very Fine. [Item #5500]

Price: $150.00