CALDWELL, Erskine (1903-1987) - American Earth

New York, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1931. First Edition. Hardcover. First Printing of this important debut, copies of which in a dust jacket this fine are seldom seen. 8vo: x,314pp. Publisher's tan cloth, lettering and decor stamped in forest green on spine and front cover, illustrated dust jacket priced $2.50. Trivial offsetting from jacket design onto spine cloth, else a Fine, fresh copy in an about Fine jacket with a few tiny nicks at crown. Hanna 563. Flora and Bain, pp. 89, 94. Caldwell's first commercially published book (his third overall). The legendary Maxwell Perkins (Fitzgerald's editor at Scribner's) helped to edit this collection of new and previously published stories of rural life, in the deep South and in Maine, with a third section made up of a long, modernist, autobiographical prose poem called The Sacrilege of Allen Kent. The book was well-received critically (according to Flora and Bain, "Although all of Caldwell's story collections contain interesting pieces, nowhere does he surpass the achievement of American Earth."), and Perkins urged Caldwell to try writing a novel focusing on the rural South, which Caldwell knew best. Caldwell traveled to Wrens, Georgia, and found inspiration helping his father deliver food and medical supplies to the poor tenant farmers and sharecroppers there. The result was Tobacco Road. N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, with dust jackets carefully preserved in archival, removable polypropylene sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. Fine/Fine-.

See/Hide Conditions of Sale

Following conditions of sale apply:
Terms of Sale

We sell only genuine rare and antiquarian books. Every effort has been made to describe them carefully and accurately, and all are unconditionally guaranteed. Fine Editions Ltd is a member of IOBA and subscribes to that association of online booksellers's codes of ethics.

Payment:
All purchases must be paid in advance by check drawn on a U.S. bank, wire transfer, PayPal, or credit card. Libraries and institutions may arrange deferred billing; credit terms are settlement within 30 days of the date of invoice, unless agreed otherwise at time of sale. Bona fide rare and antiquarian booksellers (in other words, those from whom we might be interested in buying) may deduct their reciprocal discount, provided the account is paid in full by check within 10 days of the date of invoice. New York State residents without a current resale certificate (ST-120) on file will be charged 8.875% sales tax. All items remain the property of Fine Editions Ltd until payment is made in full.

Returns:
Any item may be returned if found unsatisfactory for any reason within 10 days of purchase, with prior notification via email. Refunds are limited to the original purchase price, including initial delivery costs. Returns must be carefully packaged and promptly shipped.

Standard shipping (UPS Media Mail) to any address in the United States is free (for direct website orders only), although oversize books and sets may incur charges. For domestic Priority shipping, add $13.50 for the first item and $2.50 for each additional item (with the exception of oversize items and sets). Delivery confirmation and insurance are provided at our expense. All International orders are sent via airmail, with rate depending on weight and size. Most octavo sized-books can be shipped for $28.50 ($26.50 to Canada and Mexico). Priority Mail International shipping is available, beginning at $65. Books weighing more than three pounds (quarto or folio) and sets will incur additional charges. Delivery confirmation and insurance are included.