The Road, first limited and first illustrated edition, lettered issue
Suntup Press, Irvine, Ca, 2019
Limited edition, lettered issue, one of 26 copies lettered A-Z, this being copy X. Hardcover, 23.5 x 15.5 cm, 241 numbered pages. Hand sewn Coptic binding with waxed linen threads, boards covered in Italian ardesia stone slate. Title and author’s name embossed on front panel, publisher’s name and logo on the back one. Housed in a brown and dark grey cloth covered clamshell box with leather box lettered in gilt on the spine and printed reproduction of the “The Road” wood engraving by Richard Wagner on front panel. Without dustjacket as issued. Frontispiece has the same engraving by Richard Wagener glued to the page. Introduction by Joyce Carol Oates. Seven illustrations by Ryan Pancoast. Signed by Oates, Pancoast and Wagener on a colophon page at the end of text pages. Laid in are promotional card, a broadside of 25 x 17,7 cm. reproducing a novel’s paragraph and dated “MMXX”, and a publisher’s note advising to carefully handle the fragile ardesia boards, using “the enclosed gloves” which are actually included.
CONDITION: fine in fine box. Promotional material near fine.
PROVENANCE: purchased from First and Fine in 2022.
Published on November 13, 2019, in a print run of 26 copies, at $1,650.
Suntup Press also released a numbered issue consisting in 250 copies.
COLLECTING TOPICS: This is, together with Suntup Press lettered issue of Blood Meridian, the smallest limitation of a McCarthy’s title. Two copies were listed at the end of 2019, soon after the publication, at $ 2,400 and 2,600. Since then the price have skyrocketed. A fourth copy were privately offered at $9,500 in spring 2024. A fifth was sold for $11,500. Rare Book Hub lists no copies at auction. A scarce and sought after format.
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