Description
Signed first edition of Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, in the scarce first state dust jacket.
Octavo, [vi], 1037pp, [5pp, blank]. Original gray cloth, title in blue on spine and front cover. The first printing, with “Set up and electrotyped. Published May, 1936” on copyright page, with no mention of other printings. Solid text block, internally clean. Light rubbing at heel of the spine. Faint offsetting to front free endpaper. A near fine example.
Includes the publisher’s first state dust jacket, with all points, including the $3.00 retail price on the front flap, and “Gone With The Wind” appearing in right side column of the “Macmillan Spring Novels” advertisement on back panel. Light wear with small chips primarily along corners and edges. A few short closed tears at spine. Vibrant spine with little to no sunning, color fully intact on front panel. A near fine example, with no restoration work.
Housed in a custom brown cloth clamshell, title in gilt on black morocco label affixed to spine.
Signed by the author, Margaret Mitchell, on the front free endpaper.
A truly exceptional copy.
This copy is from the collection of Louis N. Freedman, Macmillan’s Pacific Coast representative in San Francisco. Freedman (1902-1985) hosted visiting authors at the family home, including Margaret Mitchell, John Steinbeck, and William Saroyan. His son, Russell Freedman, later a Newbery Medal-winning author, recalled growing up in a household filled with books, literary conversation, and his father’s collection of signed first editions.
