THE OUTSIDER AND OTHERS ... Collected by August Derleth and Donald Wandrei.
Sauk City, Wisconsin: Arkham House, 1939. Large octavo, pp. [ivi] vii [viii-x] xii-xiv [1-2] 3-553 [554: blank] [555: colophon] [556-558: blank] [note: last leaf is a blank], original black cloth, spine panel stamped in gold. First edition. The Gerry de la Ree copy with proof dust jacket. The first collection of Lovecraft's writings and the first Arkham House book. "...his works remain one of the most remarkable literary products of their day and an enormously influential contribution to the genre, their influence extending not only to Lovecraft's many correspondents but to such significant modern writers as Ramsey Campbell and Brian Lumley." - Barron (ed.): Horror Literature 3-132. [Reference: Anatomy of Wonder (2004) II-680. Barron (ed), Horror Literature 3-132. Bleiler, The Guide to Supernatural Fiction 1040. Jones and Newman (eds), Horror: 100 Best Books 43. Tymn (ed), Horror Literature 4-162. See Anatomy of Wonder (1981) 2-61. See Survey of Science Fiction Literature I, pp. 97-101 and III, pp. 1284-88. Joshi I-A-15]. A fine copy in blue proof dust jacket. Provenance: Gerry de la Ree's copy with a signed inscription to him by artist Virgil Finlay on the front free endpaper: "To Gerry de la Ree -- / In memory of HPL, a friend / and correspondent whose best works / are published herein. My dust / jacket for this volume has become / even more of a rarity than the book / itself. / Virgil / Finlay." The proof jacket is inscribed by Finlay to de la Ree on the front flap: "For Gerry de la Ree, / This prepublication / proof of my dust jacket / for 'The Outsider.' / Virgil Finlay." See de la Ree, "The Story Behind a Dust Jacket," Fantasy Collector's Annual -- 1974, pp. 5-7. A small Arkham House "compliments" card signed by August Derleth is laid in. Enclosed in a custom quarter leather clamshell box with leather spine label. (36127). Item #36127
Price: $37,500.00