About this Item
Beautifully signed by Peter Benchley at half-title page: "Peter Benchley, 1/29/74." Stylish signature appears to be shortly before this classic's official publication beginning in February of 1974. Stated First Edition at copyright. Code O44 (044) at page 311 indicating true first printing in first state wrapper with 6.95 at top corner and J. above this. 1974 at title page and copyright page. Full black cloth boards, light shelf wear, rub. Sharp silver spine titles feature shark vignette as would appear through a hull's porthole. Deckled pages near fine, clean. Deep blue endpapers; moderate toning, discoloration at front pastedown, endpaper. Bind good, intact; moderate cant. Original pictorial dust wrapper in deep dark bluish-black, moderate shelf wear, rub, bleed, adhesive; unclipped 6.95, protected in fine clear sleeve. Classic cover art by Paul Bacon of swimmer in bikini above phallic great white image appearing enormously from bottom of image; bold cover and spine titles in red and white over black b.g. Red spine title remains bright. Back panel features portrait by Alex Gotfryd of Benchley in turtle neck and sport coat. Rare near very good signed first edition in same wrapper. Includes rare ephemeral news-clipping from Thursday, March 14, 1974 from Princeton, New Jersey paper entitled: "'Jaws,' Novel Bringing $1,000 Advance, Grosssed $1.25 Million Before First Copy Was Printed." Classic article details the rise of Benchley's novel and the then current filming of the Universal feature soon to set the table for future summer blockbusters. Clipping features photo of Peter Benchley next to painting of Jaws. Very good and folded to set into volume; few acid-free document adhesive repairs to back of clipping. Presented here is the original best tale of a monstrous great white preying upon a small resort town and the terrific voyage of three heroic men to end it. It was just another day in a small Atlantic resort until the terror from the deep came to prey on unwary holiday makers. The first sign of trouble - a warning of what was to come - took the form of a young woman's body, or what was left of it, washed up on the long, white stretch of beach. A summer of terror began! "Pick up 'Jaws' before midnight, read the first five pages, and I guarantee you'll be putting it down breathless and stunned, as dawn is breaking the next day" - Daily Express. Peter Benchley's 'Jaws' first appeared in 1974, creating a legend that refuses to die. For each generation, the ultimate nightmare begins again. Printed in the U.S.A. 311 pages. Insured post. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.
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