SHOPGIRL
Inscribed advance issue of Martin's bestselling novel — a beautiful association copy inscribed to London bookseller Roger Katz.
Fine.
Price: $500.00
SHOPGIRL
"The overhead lights reflect in the glass countertop and mingle in the gray and black of the gloves, resulting in a mother-of-pearl swirl that sometimes sends Mirabelle into a shallow hypnotic dream."
Katz was the manager of Hatchards bookshop for almost twenty years, during which time he came in contact with and befriended numerous writers, including Steve Martin. Accorder to Katz, he was "[i]ntroduced to Steve Martin by Ed Victor at the Ivy. He was looking for a novel, but couldn't remember the title or author. From his description I realised the book was Houellebecq's ATOMISED. I told him there would be a copy at Hatchards with my compliments. He came the next day, bought a number of books, & left me his own bound proof copy of his novel (later a film) SHOPGIRL" (quoted in Maggs Catalogue 1510). These "advance reading cop[ies] from uncorrected proofs" were specially bound by the publisher for promotional distribution to independent bookstores in the US. Those copies, however, were issued with a blank leaf signed by Martin bound in before the half title. That this copy lacks such a blank and that Martin had one in London strongly suggests this copy came from his own author's copies, if not his own personal copy itself. Martin is a reluctant signer and genuinely inscribed books from him are uncommon, especially with so nice a provenance.
Read more: Maggs Bros., "The Writer's Bookseller: The Library of Roger Katz," Catalogue 1510.
The Object
First edition. New York: Hyperion, (2000). 8.25'' x 5.5''. Publisher's full red gilt cloth. No jacket, as issued. Metallic grey endpapers. [6], 130, [6] pages. Inscribed by the author on the half title: "To Roger / Hand corrected galleys - / not the final. / But I hope you / enjoy it - / Steve / Martin." Bright, sharp, clean, and sound.
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