Faulkner, William

8vo. Folding map in black and red at rear. Publisher's black cloth, stamped in gilt and pink; lightly rubbed. Original dust-jacket; light wear and some minor chips to extremities, some sunning, especially to spine. 

Petersen A17d

FIRST TRADE EDITION. This was the first major Faulkner novel put out by Random House, who promoted him more aggressively than had any of his previous publishers. In his enthusiasm in acquiring Faulkner, Bennett Cerf agreed to have the fold-out map printed in two colors and tipped into the rear of every copy of the first printing of 300 copies—which comprised the deluxe issue—at great expense. Faulkner, for his part, accepted “a number of editorial cuts and simplified punctuation”; and to clarify what would come to be regarded as one of his most difficult texts, he added a chronology and genealogy.