New York: The New Yorker Magazine, 1948.
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Softcover. The complete story "A Perfect Day for Bananafish" in *The New Yorker* for January 31, 1948. Quarto. A newsstand edition, not obscured by a mailing label. Wrappers worn at the extremities, a small split at the foot of the spine, and very light waviness to several rear pages, very good. One of Salinger's best and most famous stories, and the first to feature the Glass family, centering on Seymour, the brilliant but troubled eldest sibling of Franny and Zooey. One of the most important stories of Salinger's career – William Maxwell at *The New Yorker*, which had previously published only one other Salinger story, liked the initial draft but asked Salinger to revise it. Whereas he had previously just taken his writing elsewhere upon any initial rejection, this time he decided to work with editors Maxwell and Gus Lobrano. Upon its publication he was immediately hailed as an important new and singular voice in American fiction. The partnership with *The New Yorker* was sufficiently agreeable on both sides that the magazine signed him to a first-refusal contract, a great coup for any young writer. This story was later collected in *Nine Stories* but is scarce in its original format, particularly in collectible condition. A particularly desirable issue.
Item #350845