Between the Covers

Hardcover. Holograph short story. Octavo. 71pp. in manuscript, followed by nine blank leaves. Patterned papercovered boards. Light wear at the spine and a faint partial ringmark on the cover, final two leaves of the manuscript have a small marginal stain not affecting text, near fine. Inscribed by William Humphrey to Chatto and Windus publisher Ian Parsons and his wife on the front fly: “For Ian and Trekkie with love Christmas, 1961.” On the verso of the title page, Humphrey has written: “this edition is limited to 1 copy.”

In 1964, “The Ballad of Jesse Neighbours” would be nominated for the Edgar Allan Poe Award for best mystery short story, and in 1969 Parsons’ firm would publish William Humphrey’s *A Time And A Place: Stories of the Red River Country*, and this would be the first story in the collection. The manuscript contains a number of changes in the text, most revising single words or phrases, and differs somewhat from the published version. Also included is Parsons’ copy of the *A Time And A Place*, with his penciled owner Signature on the front fly. Near fine in a modestly edgeworn, very good or better dust jacket with a small interior tape reinforcement at the spine base.

Humphrey was born in Texas and much of his work was set there. He was well-known in his time—his first novel was widely acclaimed, and in the 1950s *Vogue* magazine included him in its “Gallery of International Charmers Among Men,” alongside Marlon Brando, John F. Kennedy, Sir Edmund Hillary, and Leonard Bernstein.

A lovely and unique copy of a notable Texas writer’s short story, with an excellent association.

Item #469886