V. a novel by Thomas Pynchon 1963

Pynchon, Thomas: V. a novel by Thomas Pynchon
Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1963; New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2023.
First published by J.B. Lippincott Company, 1963. Republished by Harper Perennial, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers, 2023.
First Edition Thus, First Printing, with full printer’s key ending in "1"

Pynchon’s debut novel, issued by Harper Perennial in 2023. An edition of notably superior production values compared to typical trade issues and distinguished by the presence of the striking iconic pictorial dust jacket designed by Ismar David. The jacket retains the original $40.00 price on unclipped front flap, with design code 0423 printed beneath. The dust jacket presents in Very Good condition, showing the characteristic light toning to the cream background and a gently darkened spine panel, with only minor edgewear and no significant losses; the front panel remains notably bright, preserving the strong contrast of David’s iconic design.

Binding tight, joints firm, hinges sound. Violet-blue casewrapped boards clean and well-preserved, showing only slight rubbing to extremities. Front board with the Harper Perennial device blind-stamped; gilt spine titles sharp and unfaded. Corners display mild softening without bumping. Text block firmly bound, square, and free of lean, with no trace of cocking, reflecting careful handling. Leaves crisp, retaining strong original color with only minimal edge toning. Internally clean throughout, with no previous ownership markings, bookplates, or marginalia. Pages exhibit faint, uniform toning consistent with age and production, without tears, creases, or other defects.

Pagination: pp. VII, 518, II pages. A well-preserved copy of the Harper Perennial Edition, combining the attractive and enigmatic Ismar David dust jacket with a clean, structurally sound copy of the text. A desirable modern reissue of Pynchon’s influential first novel, produced with attention to design and presentation.