Posts Tagged ‘Roy A. Squires’

Library Addition: Clark Ashton Smith’s Seer of the Cycles

Thursday, May 25th, 2023

Another Clark Ashton Smith first.

Smith, Clark Ashton. Seer of the Cycles. CASiana Literary Enterprises (i.e., Roy A. Squires), 1976. First edition chapbook, #223 of 325 copies, a Fine copy in a slightly worn printed envelope that’s starting to split at the top fold. Fifth volume in the Second Series of Fugitive Poems (Xiccarph Edition). Joshi/Schultz/Connors, Clark Ashton Smith: A Comprehensive Bibliography, I.A.38 (for the Fugitive Poems: Second Series as a whole). Not in Currey. I also have Titans in Tartarus from this series. Bought off eBay for $35.

Library Additions: Three Signed Ray Bradbury Limited Editions

Tuesday, February 28th, 2023

Three signed, limited Ray Bradbury editions from different sources:

  • Bradbury, Ray (text) and Amanda Blanco (photographs). About Norman Corwin. Santa Susana Press, 1979. First edition traycased portfolio, an “artist’s proof” copy of 60 signed, numbered sets, a Fine- copy (there seem to be a couple of drops of moisture staining to the back of the signature page) in a Fine- traycase with a few small spots of staining to the inner right edge (though the case itself has a bit of an odd outward slant to the top and bottom edges). Loose printed cardstock pages, including a multi-page essay celebrating radio essayist Norman Corwin by Bradbury followed by 11 photographs of Corwin by Blanco. An odd, oversized item, and one that doesn’t fit entirely on my scanner, so either the bottom or top is chopped off. Bought for $250 off eBay after a touch of haggling.

  • Bradbury, Ray. That Son of Richard III: A Birth Announcement. Roy A. Squires, 1974. First edition chapbook original, #332 of 400 numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine cloth traycase, inscribed by Bradbury to Lord John Press publisher Herb Yellen: “For Herb -/Good wishes/From/Ray Bradbury/ 9/28/28.” As Yellen later published several Bradbury chapbooks himself, this is an interesting association copy. According to Chalker/Owings, Squires only did 30 traycases, of which 25 were offered to buyers of the “Autograph Edition” (which this is not). Supplements an unsigned copy. Chalker/Owings, page 589. Bought from a PBA Galleries auction for $75 plus shipping and handling.

  • Bradbury, Ray. The Toynbee Convector. Knopf, 1988. First edition hardback, #36 of 350 signed, numbered copies, “printed on special paper and specially bound,” a Fine copy in a Mylar protector and a Fine slipcase, sans dust jacket, as issued. This version is not in the Locus database, but ISFDB says they came out the same month. Most limited editions from mainstream publishers are fairly unimpressive, but this is actually quite a nice production, with patterned boards and an attractive slipcase. Bought for $110.49 off eBay, a considerable discount off the original offering price of $150 (which must have seemed plenty pricey in 1988).

  • Library Addition: Fritz Leiber’s Demons Of The Upper Air

    Tuesday, August 24th, 2021

    Another day, another chapbook:

    Leiber, Fritz. The Demons of the Upper Air. Roy A. Squires, 1969. First edition chapbook original, 143 of 275 copies number in Arabic numerals, a Fine copy in Fine wrappers, additional inscribed “To/Chris/from/Fritz,” in a Fine original printed envelope, and even the original stiff cardboard mailer from Squires! Poetry. Squires always did beautiful work. Chalker/Owings, page 588. Bought off eBay for $50.

    Library Addition: Fritz Leiber’s Sonnets To Jonquil and All

    Wednesday, July 25th, 2018

    Here’s a Roy Squires chapbook I spotted on eBay several weeks ago, waiting as the seller slowly lowered the price week by week before it fell into my price range:

    Leiber, Fritz (and Jonquil Stephens). Sonnets To Jonquil and All. Roy A. Squires, 1978. First edition chapbook, #32 of 265 copies, a Fine copy in a Fine printed tissue dust wrapper with a Very Good- mailing envelope (slightly grubby and slit open at the top). Poems by and for Leiber’s late wife Jonquil Stephens. Chalker/Owings (1991), page 590. Not in Currey, though by period it should be. Bought off eBay for $37.

    Library Additions: Three Ray Bradbury Chapbooks By Roy Squires

    Thursday, December 4th, 2014

    Three more Ray Bradbury chapbooks from small press publisher Roy A. Squires, all bought from Lloyd Currey for $28 each.

  • Bradbury, Ray. Old Ahab’s Friend, and Friend to Noah, Speaks His Piece. Roy A. Squires, 1971. First edition thread-bound chapbook original, #152 of 485 copies, a Fine copy.

    Bradbury Old Ahab

  • Bradbury, Ray. That Ghost, That Bride of Time. Roy A. Squires, 1976. First edition thread-bound chapbook original, #289 of 400 copies, a Fine copy, in mailing envelope. (You can’t see from the scan, but the title is just barely visible through the slightly translucent paper wrapper.)

    Bradbury That Ghost

  • Bradbury, Ray. That Son of Richard III. Roy A. Squires, 1974. First edition thread-bound chapbook original, #164 of 400 “ordinary” copies, a Fine copy, in mailing envelope. With small typed note from the publisher laid in: “Send No Money, Rik. We’ll get squared away at Westercon.” and “RAS” signature.

    Bradbury Son Richard III