A travel through a McCarthy first editions collection

TRICE LIMITED EDITION OF CITIES OF THE PLAIN: THE NUMBERED ISSUE

Copy 118 of Cities of the Plain, Trice limited edition, numbered issue.

Cities of the Plain, B E Trice limited edition, numbered issue

B E Trice, New Orleans, 1998

First Trice edition, only printing, numbered issue. Number 118 out of 300 copies signed and numbered by the author on a colophon page. Hardcover, 22,4 x 15,2 cm., 291 numbered pages. Quarter bound black leather spine lettered in gilt over marbled boards. Publisher’s full burgundy cloth slipcase with the author’s signature printed in gilt. Without dust jacket as issued (APG, 010f).

CONDITION: still in shrink-wrap, as new

PROVENANCE: purchased from the American collector Milo McCowan in 2021.

Published in October, 1998, in 300 copies at $195.


Trice produced also a “Deluxe issue” in 50 copies.

The limited editions of McCarthy’s books published by Trice, Cities of the Plain and No Country for Old Men have a peculiar history. In an email dated November 21, 2023, Britton Trice told me that the publication of both was delayed by hurricanes. Cities of the Plain publication was announced for May, 1998 and was delayed until September for fabrication issues. It was then delayed again because of hurricane Georges which hit New Orleans. Thus, it was preceded by the Knopf issue limited to 1,000 copies, published in May.

Cities of the Plain was one of Trice’s most successful editions, selling all the 50 deluxe copies and 300 numbered copies. Most of his editions sell only half that number. Britton Trice told Publishers Weekly about the book and his author: 

“It was exciting. He’s known as such a recluse because he doesn’t sign much,” said Trice. “I flew out to El Paso to meet with him and have him sign the books and, true to his word, the meeting was short and sweet.”

PRESENTATION COPIES: Six to ten presentation copies so stated on the colophon page and marked by a slip of paper included in the shrinkwrap, were printed other than the 300 numbered copies and given to the author as was done for others Trice titles. In a conversation with Michael Scott Archer published on December 3, 2001 on Publisher’s Weekly, Britton Trice told him that “the authors of the books […] receive part of the licensing fee as well as six to 10 personal copies”. Britton told me that ten additional copies were done for the publisher. Approximately eight other personal copies were produced for people that assisted in the publication. So, the total number of presentation copies issued is between 24 and 28. I know of only one of them, owned by an American collector.

COLLECTING TOPICS: copies of this numbered issue can be easily found in the market and they are less valuable than those of the Trice sister numbered issue of No Country for Old Men. The prices which they are offered at have raised in the last years though and are today in a range between $800 and $1,500. Copies still unopened and in shrinkwraps seem to be more sought after by collectors and pay premium prices.

Presentation copies are instead definitely scarce.

Cities of the Plain, presentation copy, the colophon page (courtesy of Barry Pershkow).
Cities of the Plain, presentation copy, the spine (courtesy of Barry Pershkow).
Cities of the Plain, presentation copy, the front board (courtesy of Barry Pershkow).


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