Fine Books & Manuscripts

[DASHIELL HAMMETT]. SYMONS, Julian (1912–1994). Julian Symons’ Personal Handwritten Manuscript, Typescript, and Long Galley Proofs for His Dashiell Hammett Biography. Includes an original manuscript by Symons (144 pp., bound in plain yellow covers) heavily corrected in the author’s hand with a loose page laid in (most likely by Symons) of the Bookdealer (May 9, 1985) with a column highlighting a recent auction sale at Christie’s that sold the final typescript for Dashiell Hammett’s The Glass Key, quoting Symons as listing this novel as the dozen greatest whodunits describing it’s “plot as cunning as Christie, writing as good as Hemingway while offering throughout indirect, intelligent comment on American politics, life and social morality”. –– [Together with:] the author’s typescript including 100 pp. of text + 43 pp. of selected bibliographies, textual revisions, and notes. Heavily corrected, loose leaves, corner stapled by chapter, SIGNED on first page by Symons [and with] his long galley proofs SIGNED BY SYMONS (134 sheets, heavily corrected with marginalia). –– [Also with:] a review copy of Dashiell Hammett for HBJ Album Biographies (FIRST EDITION, AUTHOR’S PERSONAL COPY SIGNED on ffep) and the uncorrected proof.