Steinbeck, John | The First Watch—an exploration of unfulfilled expectations

Steinbeck, John

The First Watch. [Los Angeles: Ward Ritchie Press for Marguerite and Louis Henry Cohen,] 1947

Small 4to (133 x 105 mm). Title-page printed in red and black and with pictorial vignette of a watch. Original cream-colored printed wrappers. Original mailing envelope; some discoloration from adhesive.

Copy 58 of 60 numbered copies. Of the 60 copies, the first ten were reserved for the author; copies 11-60 were distributed by the Cohens at Christmas 1947. “First Watch” reprints a letter from Steinbeck to Esquire editor Arnold Gingrich. In it, the author thanks Gingrich for a watch, but uses the letter as a vehicle to explore his unfulfilled expectation of such a timepiece for his graduation from junior high, high school, and eventually Stanford (from which he never graduated).

A rare Steinbeck title in fine condition.

REFERENCE:

Goldstone & Payne A26a