Fine Literature & Modern Firsts

WILLIAMS, Tennessee (1911–1983). The Glass Menagerie. New York: Random House, [1945]. 8vo. Original publisher’s russet cloth; spine stamped in black and gilt (faint dampstain to lower edges of covers, evidence of bookplate removal to front pastedown); original unclipped dust jacket (few small professional repairs verso, minor watermarks, spine panel gently sunned); morocco–backed folding box with hand–painted onlays of glass horses by the Dragonfly Bindery. FIRST EDITION, of Williams’ first major play that premiered in 1944 and catapulted Williams from obscurity to fame earning him the 1944–45 New York Drama Circle Award. PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY WILLIAMS on front free endpaper: “For Lon Tinkle / Tennessee Williams”. At the time this book was inscribed, Lon Tinkle was a book editor and critic with the Dallas Morning News. He went on to become an award–winning novelist focusing mainly on the Southwest and its history. Tinkle was also very active in the Dallas arts community by founding several art programs including the Margo Jones Theatre, the namesake of Margo Jones (1911–1955) who was the co–director of the acclaimed first staging of The Glass Menagerie which proved to be a breakthrough production for both her and Williams. Crandell A1.1.a.