Description
For sale: a rare and exceptional second hardcover edition, first printing of The Poorhouse Fair by John Updike in an archival wrap. Second Edition described as New Edition, February, 1977 Knopf. First Printing, with no subsequent printing and 1977 on both title and copyright pages.
The book is in Near Fine condition with clean, cloth boards with mild fading at edges, strong title ink on a convex spine and author’s name on front board. Also with a tight binding, mild spine tilt, lightly rolled spine ends, a small white mark on the dyed top page block, while the side and deckled bottom edges are surprising clean and bright. Also with mild edge wear, and lightly rounded corners. The interior of the book is also in Near Fine condition with the previous owner’s bookplate on the first free end paper and no other marks, inscriptions or signs of ownership. The end papers and the interior pages are clean and bright.
The dust jacket is In Near Fine condition with mild surface and edge wear. Dust jacket is first state with a $7.95 price on the front flap, and 2/77 date on the rear flap. Looks great in a new Brodart archival wrap.
The hero of John Updike’s first novel, published when the author was twenty-six, is ninety-four-year-old John Hook, a dying man who yet refuses to be dominated. His world is a poorhouse—a county home for the aged and infirm—overseen by Stephen Conner, a righteous young man who considers it his duty to know what is best for others.
