presentation copy of the author's first novel

The author's first novel, inscribed by him on the title page: 'for David, / in good humour / William Gaddis'. A tale about forgery, which Gaddis worked on for seven years as a parody of Goethe's Faust.

First edition, inscribed by the author; 8vo; front hinge cracked, else internally fine; publisher's black cloth, gilt lettering to spine, device in blind to upper cover, light rubbing to extremities, with the unclipped first issue dust-jacket priced $7.50 with '383 Madison Avenue' on the lower rear flap, slight chipping to spine ends and corners with associated creasing, minor creasing to extremities, light toning to panels, else very good.