About this Item
Stated 'First Edition, Published October 1940'. This one is hard to let go of said the collector to the seller. The very, very rare first edition of Helen Norris' first book (there is only One other for sale on the Internet). There is NO other signed copy for sale. I guess you could make an argument that this singularly unique book belongs in Alabama and not New York. The signature (see photo) is on the first front end paper. It reads simply: 'Cordially, Helen Norris.' It was probably signed for a Mabel White because her colorful bookplate is across the way on the front inside cover. Nice bookplate without any handwriting, picture of a ship and a seagull in flight. Printed at the bottom of it '1943 Personal Label Co., N.Y.'. Never seen that before. So, very fortunately for posterity, this book has been very well taken care of by Mabel and then by myself over the last ten or so years. You can see the green covers (contact me if you want to see others) in the photos. The front cover has one small brown spot a little above the red design which is in excellent shape. The red lettering on the spine is nicely bright. The green of the spine is lighter than that of the front and rear. There's a little bit of a tannish hue on the edge of the spine adjacent to the rear cover, at least when held under the light. I don't think it's soiling, just what exposure to the sun (under the jacket) might have produced. The rear cover has one small spot identical-looking with the one on the front and, like the front, is very clean. The corners, impressively, are in excellent shape. The top edges have a half dozen or so little brown 'freckles', what you might see with some dust exposure, but the top page edge has none of it. All three page edges are very clean, and there isn't any rubbing on any of the cover edges. The positives pile up. The spine ends look very good. The top one has a sliver of tanning, the bottom one has maybe a little crinkle. No tears, no wear of any significance anywhere. The book has a very solid feel in your hands. It is nicely square and it is very solidly bound from cover to cover. The covers are perfectly bound. There is no soiling, foxing, or wear on the inside covers or end papers. The pages do not have any soiling or creasing. There are no markings. The aforementioned bookplate is the only attachment. Some kind of little square sticker was removed from the top corner of the signed page leaving behind a shadow of itself (see photo). The author's signature is the only writing to be found anywhere in the book. I've always had the jacket in a fitted protective cover. I think it's a well-above average condition 1940 jacket. You have three photos to judge for yourself. There's a little wear at the spine ends, not too bad. There's sun toning to the spine and rear cover, maybe one small light spot of soiling on the rear. There are the expected tiny losses at the corners, a pretty small amount of smooth rubbing/scuffing at the middle edge between the front cover and flap, and one small tear off the front bottom edge. The flaps look very good, red lettering, no tears, thin strip of toning at the top edges. The jacket is NOT price-clipped, not clipped at all. Helen Norris, a native of Montgomery and a graduate of the University of Alabama was a novelist, a short story writer and a poet ( Poet Laureate of Alabama from 1999 to 2003). She won four O. Henry Awards, a Pushcart Prize, two Andrew Lytle awards, the Penwomen's Biennial Award for best novel, and was a finalist for the Pen/Faulkner Award. Her two poetry books of were each chosen Poetry Book of the Year by the Alabama State Poetry Society. Something More Than Earth, her first published book, was launched with a party attended by Margaret Mitchell. She stopped writing after the birth of her children and published her second novel in 1958. In the 1980s she resumed her writing career publishing another novel, four short story collections and her poetry. Seller Inventory # 003769
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Bibliographic Details
Title: Something More Than Earth (Only Signed Book)
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company, Boston
Publication Date: 1940
Binding: Hardcover
Illustrator: Jacket drawing by Edward Shenton
Condition: Near Fine
Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good
Signed: Signed by Author(s)
Edition: 1st Edition
