Updike, John. THE CARPENTERED HEN And Other Tame Creatures.

New York: Harper & Brothers, [1958]. First edition of the author's first book. 8vo. Advance review copy with publisher's slip laid in. This copy is inscribed by Updike on the front free endpaper: "Handling this little book -- my first -- again, I remember (a) my difficulty in thinking of a title -- I tried ten or twenty (b) the way Harper tried to give me a small, stingier volume, with less leading between the lines. I fought back, and think the result is pretty handsome (c) the nice mint-green jacket, a total surprise (d) the magic of holding in my hands a book all mine. John Updike. 6/8/05." Fine in a fine, first issue dust jacket. Housed in a custom-made quarter-morocco slipcase and chemise. It is hard to imagine a more desirable copy of this signal literary debut. Hardcover