THE SHADOW OVER INNSMOUTH ...
Everett, Pennsylvania: Visionary Publishing Co., 1936. Octavo, pp. [1-16: blank] [1-12] 13-158 [159-176: blank] [note: first and last leaves are used as front and rear paste-downs], illustrations by Frank A. Utpatel, original black cloth, front and spine panels stamped in silver. First edition. An early copy with four leaves in signature 3 reversed and bound out of sequence: 69-72; 45-68; 41-44. As these books were bound by hand, this is probably a binding error, not a printing error. Of two known bindings, this copy has title on front panel stamped in upper and lower case letters. Lovecraft's first published book, preceded by THE SHUNNED HOUSE (1928) that was printed, but not circulated beyond a tiny circle of Lovecraft's friends. Publisher William H. Crawford has stated that approximately 400 copies were printed, of which about 200 were bound, the remainder destroyed at a later date. Binding and typography were wretched and a handful of the earliest copies had corrections in Lovecraft's hand. The errata leaf and printed dust jacket, prepared after publication according to Crawford, accompany this copy. The errata leaf has numerous additions in Lovecraft's hand. The dust jacket is Currey's variant 2 (no priority established) with lettering in silver and yellow-green illustration. "A fine story of supernatural adventure and discovery, despite the unfortunate surprise ending which does much to spoil what went on before." - Bleiler, The Guide to Supernatural Fiction 1039. Sullivan (ed), The Penguin Encyclopedia of Horror and the Supernatural, p. 272. Survey of Modern Fantasy Literature IV, pp. 1624-26. In 333. See Barron (ed), Horror Literature 3-132. See Tymn (ed), Horror Literature 4-160. Bleiler (1978), p. 127. Reginald 09259. Joshi I-A-11. A fine copy in very good pictorial dust jacket with light wear at edges and some general soiling. A very nice copy overall. The errata leaf is rarely found with additions by Lovecraft. Provenance: "R. Hodgkins / Los Angeles" embossed stamp at lower right corner of the front panel of the jacket. (24154). Item #24154
Price: $10,000.00