King, Queen, Knave – Vladimir Nabokov
NF/NF

For sale: a rare first hardcover edition, first printing of King, Queen, Knave by Vladimir Nabokov. First Edition stated, 1968 McGraw-Hill. First Printing without any subsequent printing.

The book is in Near Fine condition with clean bright boards, strong title gilt on a square spine, clean page blocks, tight binding, mild spine tilt, strong spine ends, mild edge wear, and lightly rubbed corners. The interior of the book is in Near Fine condition without marks, inscriptions, or  other signs of ownership. The end papers and the interior pages are clean and lightly toned.

The dust jacket is in Near Fine condition with mild surface wear, heavy edge wear and the price on the front flap. Looks great in a new  archival wrap.

The novel is the story of Dreyer, a wealthy and boisterous proprietor of a men’s clothing emporium store. Ruddy, self-satisfied, and thoroughly masculine, he is perfectly repugnant to his exquisite but cold middle-class wife Martha. Attracted to his money but repelled by his oblivious passion, she longs for their nephew instead, the myopic Franz. Newly arrived in Berlin, Franz soon repays his uncle’s condescension in his aunt’s bed.