CALIFORNIA LA BELLA
Rare signed true first edition of this novel of Mexican immigration to the United States from one of Bolivia's most celebrated writers.
Very good.
Price: $750.00
CALIFORNIA LA BELLA
"[Un d]ocumento histórico y humano de una América [...] lleno de oro, de progreso, y de voluntad" ("[An] historical and human document of an America [...] full of gold, progress, and a force of will.") — Ricardo León, from his prologue
A social novel with romance overtones set in the Santa Clara Valley during the mission period of California's early statehood, the story of CALIFORNIA LA BELLA revolves around a love triangle between Resurrección, the beautiful daughter of an Italian immigrant of questionable background, and her two suitors: the kind but naive Pablo Guilarte, recently arrived from Mexico, and the more sinister Ralph Quinones, whose plans to kidnap Resurrección are foiled only when he is arrested for running an illegal business. Alarcón, who was teaching and living in California when he began the novel (but finished and sold it during a trip to Spain, hence the imprint), weaves alternating plot lines with commentary on the dangers of opium, sympathetic accounts of Ralph's difficult life, and descriptions of California's history and landscape.
Almost certainly a presentation binding from the author's own copies, it is inscribed to the college where the author was teaching at the time. Alarcón was forced from his native Bolivia in 1920 due to the political situation there. He settled in California and stayed for more than a decade until his eventual and celebrated return.
A later edition (though possibly issue) with a different cover (dated 1928 and featuring a gaucho) is often mistaken for this, the true first (with the American flag motif cover). OCLC notes 18 scattered holdings, with half in California. Decidedly scarce in the marketplace, especially so signed, and rare with such a strong provenance from the author.
Read more: Ronald Hilton, A Bibliography of Latin America and the Caribbean, 111.
The Object
First edition. Madrid: Renacimiento, (1926). 7.25'' x 5''. Full Spanish style leather with original color pictorial wrappers bound in. All edges marbled. Text in Spanish. With a prologue by Ricardo León. 234, [6] pages. Inscribed by Alarcón on the half title page: "To the Library of the Co- / llege of the Pacific. / Affectionately / Abel Alarcón." Bookplate of the College of the Pacific ("Gift of the author"). Lightly ex-library with neat card pocket (checked out only once) and tipped in date due sheet. Library blindstamp to title page. Occasional penciled marginalia. Else clean and sound overall.
The Fine Print
We work hard to meet our ethical responsibility to describe our material accurately. All items are guaranteed as described and may be returned for any reason within 30 days. Please notify us before mailing a return.
We guarantee the authenticity of our items. All materials are original (meaning not facsimiles or reproductions) unless otherwise noted. First editions (meaning first edition, first printing) are explicitly stated. TPM is a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America and upholds their Code of Ethics.
All photographs are of the actual item for sale. We're happy to provide additional images on request.
All domestic orders ship gratis. For orders under $250, free USPS media mail shipping is included; orders $250 and over ship USPS Priority. International orders over $500 also ship gratis. Expedited, overnight, as well as other carriers (UPS, Fed-Ex, etc.), may carry additional costs beyond quoted rates. All orders receive tracking information and a direct contact in case of any questions.
International buyers are responsible for any customs, taxes, and related import fees. Please note that we are unable to accomodate requests to misrepresent, misdeclare, or otherwise falsify customs documents when shipping internationally. We appreciate your understanding.
We accept all major credit cards, Paypal, Venmo, check, money order, and bank wire. We are happy to bill institutional buyers' needs. Sales tax will be added to applicable purchases. Items subject to prior sale.
If for any reason you are dissatisfied with your purchase, please contact us. We prioritize our long-term relationships far above any individual purchase, and we want you to love your item as much as we loved cataloguing it.