The Red Pony (signed by Steinbeck) by Steinbeck, John - 1945

New York: The Viking Press, 1945. First Illustrated Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Wesley Dennis. Signed by Author. SIGNED by STEINBECK at the half-title page! An uncommonly nice-looking copy of a justifiably famous collection of four stories, illustrated profusely, including at endpapers, by Wesley Dennis in a four-color offset lithography process. No additional copies of this edition currently available to the trade, this being the First Illustrated Edition with all four stories. The panoramic, sweeping illustration at endpapers is breathtaking. Housed in a clean, Good condition cardboard slipcase, illustrated paper label complete and neatly affixed. Cracking along hinges, tips, slight bubbling left of paper label, some scuffing to its tips, sunned along edges, else still strong. Sturdy, attractive, tightly bound, internally clean hardcover copy, with unbruised tips, neat and tidy paste-downs; not ex-library, with neither highlighting nor underlining. Tan linen cloth covers with green-ruled border to front cover, sharp and distinct gilt lettering to spine. Slight bumping to spine head and foot. A true collectible of lasting value. All three edges stained in blue, blue ruled border to front cover, single dot of lighter color at front upper tip, ever so slight forward cock to spine, else about Near Fine in condition. Composed of four interlocking stories, The Red Pony can be traced back to the fact that Steinbeck's father, John Ernst, brought an actual "Red Pony," the foal Jill, home to a very young junior in 1906."The Gift" is followed by "The Great Mountains" is followed by "The Promise" and which is followed by "The Leader of the People." Critical reception was largely positive, with critics noting Steinbeck's obvious familiarity with his topic, his penchant for using scenes of sudden, shocking import to make points, but also his mastery of ordinary experiences and characters with style and preciseness. 131 pp. Additional postage may be required for oversize or especially heavy volumes, and for sets.