Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs (1962 Grove Press Sixth Printing)

Early American hardcover edition of William S. Burroughs’ landmark Beat novel, published by Grove Press in 1962. Stated Sixth Printing on the copyright page. Although the copyright is dated 1959—the year of the original Olympia Press edition in Paris—the first American Grove Press hardcover was not published until November 1962. The Grove edition was the book’s first American publication and its first hardcover appearance.

This sixth printing is particularly interesting because it belongs to the very early run of Grove hardcovers. Bibliographic research identifies printings three through seven by Roman numerals on the rear jacket and indicates that the first seven printings were likely all produced within approximately the first year of the American publication. Beginning with the eighth printing, Grove changed the jacket by adding its GP-244 catalog number and a ZIP code to the publisher's address.

Original black cloth hardcover with gilt spine lettering and black topstain, retaining the striking original black-and-yellow Grove Press dust jacket. The jacket retains its original $6.00 price on the front flap. Your copy also has the earlier 64 University Place, New York 3, N.Y. address rather than the later ZIP-code address.

The hardcover itself is quite attractive, with clean black cloth, strong gilt lettering, solid binding and well-preserved black topstain. Interior pages appear clean and bright. The original dust jacket remains complete and presents extremely well from the front, with strong color and no major loss to the artwork. Jacket shows edge wear, rubbing and small chips, with the most noticeable wear and creasing at the head of the spine and corners. Rear panel has expected toning. Original $6.00 price remains intact. A very presentable early Grove hardcover of one of the defining works of the Beat generation.