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TBCL The Book Collector's Library - Capote - Spring - 2009

C A P O T E

Earliest Capote Ever....

Truman Capote [Truman Streckfus Persons], [September 30, 1924 – August 25, 1984] was born in New Orleans , the son of a salesman & a 16-year-old beauty queen. His father, Archulus "Arch" Persons, worked as a clerk for a steamboat company. Persons never stuck at any job for long & was always leaving home in search for the new opportunities. The unhappy marriage gradually disintegrated, & Capote's parents divorced when he was four. Truman Mother, Lillie Mae Faulk Persons, had three sisters; Mary Ida Carter & Lucille Faulk Ingram of Monroeville, Ala., & Marie Rudisill, aka [Tiny] of Beaufort, S.C. After the divorce, his mother, moved off to New York , leaving young Truman, then 4, with his three spinster Monroeville cousins, the Faulks: Jenny, Callie, & Sook. Next door were A. C. & Frances Finch Lee & their daughters Alice & Harper. Harper became one of Truman's playmates, & a lifelong friend. Truman wrote copiously about cousin Sook. She became the model for the loving, elderly spinster in several Capote's pieces: A Christmas Memory, A Thanksgiving Visitor & The Grass Harp. Capote's mother, Lillie Mae, wrote letters & telephoned to her son, often crying that she had no money & no husband. When his mother married again, this time to a well-to-do businessman, Capote moved to New York , & adopted his stepfather's surname in 1935. Outside of the cousins Truman lived with as a child, Lucille Faulk Ingram & her daughter were his closest kin. As a fledgling writer looking for solitude, it was in comforts of Lucille Ingram’s home that Truman began to write his first novel, Other Voices, Other Rooms & so it began.

Several of the items in this collection are the Lucille Faulk Ingram Family Copies & include the following:

Capote's True Original Birth Certificate

Truman Capote's original Birth Certificate - issued in the parish of New Orleans & registered the 3rd day of October, 1924 & showing the birth of Truman Streckfus Persons, September 30th, 1924.

A unique document. A bit tattered but still quite bright & clean. In 1928, when Truman was 4, the Certificate was given by Capote's mother, Lillie Mae Faulk Persons [soon to be Capote] to her sister, Lucille Faulk Ingram for safekeeping. Lillie Mae was off to New York to make a new life leaving Truman to the care & nurturing of his Monroeville relatives. $35000

Inscribed by Capote To His Aunt, Lucille Faulk Ingram

Capote, Truman. A CHRISTMAS MEMORY. Signed. New York : Random House, 1966. Beige boards with teal blue spine. First trade edition. Book fine. In original slipcase, with pasted-on printed photograph on the cover. No DJ, as issued. Presentation Family Copy: Inscribed by Capote to his Aunt & Cousin: “For Lucille and Cecilia with much love from Truman.” In near fine or better condition. An extraordinary Example. $18750

Outside of the cousins Truman lived with as a child, Lucille Faulk Ingram & her daughter were his closest kin. As a fledgling writer looking for solitude, it was in comforts of Lucille Ingram’s home that Truman began to write his first novel, Other Voices, Other Rooms & so it began.

Inscribed By Capote - [Joanne Carson]

Capote, Truman. ONE CHRISTMAS. INSCRIBED [Joanne Carson]. New York: (1983). First Edition. "For John and Joy, two very / special people./ Please look after my dearest / little friend [Joanne] for me. / Love, / Truman." John was a film director doing interviews with Joanne Carson - Johnny's second wife & Truman's best friend in the world. $5500

Inscribed By Capote - [Joanne Carson]

Capote, Truman. A CHRISTMAS MEMORY. INSCRIBED [Joanne Carson]. Random House n.d. (1966). Hardcover. Early trade edition. Gilt titled black boards, red slipcase with pasted on TC photo. A near fine copy. No DJ, as issued. INSCRIBED on the third free endpaper, "For John and Joy / Merry Christmas, / '82 / Truman Capote." This is a Joanne Carson association copy. John was a film director doing a series of interviews with Joanne Carson - Johnny's second wife & Truman's best friend in the world. Joanne arranged for Truman to inscribe copies of A Christmas Memory & One Christmas for John. A copy of an explanatory note in Joanne's hand accompanies this book. "In Hollywood , California , in 1982, I directed a mini series of interviews with Joanne Carson, Johnny Carson's second wife." That year John was given an inscribed copy of "One Christmas." The next year, as John continues, "I was given a different book also signed by Truman, 'A Christmas Memory.' It was his last Christmas before his untimely death. Every time he would visit Hollywood he would stay at Joanne Carson's guesthouse in Hollywood Hills on Sunset Blvd. He died in her guesthouse on August 25, 1984. Joanne and Truman were best of friends and he always spoke very highly of her. I'll never forget that during the interview Joanne would ask Truman's opinion about different female stars of the past, such as Marlene Dietrich, Marilyn Monroe, Greta Garbo and Ava Gardner. In 1982, the move '10' was still, once in a while, the Hollywood buzz. When Joanne asked Truman about his opinion of Bo Derek he stopped and looked around the set. Joanne asked him again, thinking perhaps he didn't hear her and Truman slowly looked over at Joanne and said 'Bo Derek who?' If you remember his slow, deliberate mannerisms, can't you just see him doing that? A photo of Joanne Carson, Truman Capote, and John is included with this book along with Joanne's handwritten note. $4500

FROM THE LIBRARY OF TRUMAN CAPOTE

Capote, Truman. THE GREEN WITCH. Greenwich, Conn. High School Writings. May, 1947. FROM THE LIBRARY OF TRUMAN CAPOTE stamped on the cover. His Copy. With the original catalogue card from the Gotham Book Mart who sold much of the Capote Library items in the 1980's. $2750

Inscribed by the young Capote to his younger cousin Cecilia [Faulk Ingram]

[Capote, Truman]. ANIMAL STORIES BY GEORGES DUPLAIX. Inscribed. New York : Simon and Schuster, 1944. Rare Family Copy. First Edition Inscribed by the 20 year old Capote to his younger cousin Cecilia. 'To Cecilia, the cutest girl who ever sat in my lap, with love, Truman, Christmas, 1944." Folio. 92 pp. A wonderful copy in original pictorial boards, expertly restored by our paper conservationist. This unique example is complete with Cecilia's childhood pencil drawings & her ownership name. $3500

IN COLD BLOOD Advance Review Copy.

Capote, Truman. IN COLD BLOOD. A True Account of a Multiple Murder and Its Consequences. ADVANCE COPY FOR BOOKSELLERS. New York : Random House, 1965. Black top stain. FIRST TRADE EDITION. Signed by the Author. Perhaps the title that he will be best remembered for. SIGNED by Truman Capote on a specially bound-in page. A beautiful fine copy in dustwrapper. One of an undisclosed number of copies prepared for Kroch & Brentano's First Edition Circle in Chicago with the original K&B special printed bookmark. An elusive issue in spectacular collector’s condition. $1850

Presentation Copy to TC's Aunt, - Aunt Lucille Faulk Ingram

Capote, Truman. IN COLD BLOOD. A True Account of a Multiple Murder and Its Consequences. FAMILY COPY. New York : Random House, 1965. FIRST EDITION. Black top stain. Presentation Copy. This is TC’s Aunt Lucille Faulk Ingram's own copy with a Random House " Complements of " printed card taped to the front pastedown on which is written in a presumed secretarial hand in blue ink: " ...the author, who wishes you a Merry Christmas". On the front fly, Aunt Lucille Ingram has neatly inscribed in red ink: “Given to Lucille Ingram by Truman Capote". She has also signed the back endpapers twice. Near fine in a very good dustwrapper with some old tape remains visible. [old tape removed]. A very special copy of one of Capote’s highlights. $6500

Original 5x7 sepia photograph of Capote with his Aunt Mary Ida Carter - A very nice image from Capote’s Aunt Lucille Ingram’s family photos. It was in Lucille Ingram’s home that Truman began to write his first novel, Other Voices, Other Rooms. SOLD

Original 2 x 3 B&W photograph of Cecilia Inrgam & Truman. Very Good. It was in aunt Lucille & cousin Cecilia Ingram’s home that Truman began to write his first novel, Other Voices, Other Rooms. SOLD

Capote, Truman. OTHER VOICES, OTHER ROOMS. REVIEW COPY. New York . Random House, 1948. First Edition. First Book. Lovely copy in beige cloth with red lettering on spine & fine dustwrapper showing light use. Marguerite Young blurb on back. Publisher's slip with January 19th, 1948 publication date laid in. $1150

Capote, Truman. A TREE OF NIGHT AND OTHER STORIES. New York : Random House, 1949. First Edition. Lovely copy in dustwrapper. $450

Capote, Truman. THE GRASS HARP. A PLAY. New York: Random House (1952). Uncommon First edition. One of 500 copies printed. 8vo, illustrated with scenes from the 1952 production, original boards, dustwrapper. Near fine in very good or better dustwrapper. $475

Capote, Truman. THE GRASS HARP. New York: Random House (1952). First edition. First state binding, bound in beige cloth with burgundy & green lettering to the spine. Tops of the leaves are stained a reddish-gray. Near fine copy in dustwrapper. $475

Capote, Truman. THE GRASS HARP. London: Heinemann, [1952]. Uncommon First UK edition. 8vo, illustrated with scenes from the 1952 production, original boards, dustwrapper. Very good or better in a very good dustwrapper showing some moderate chipping at the extremities. $300

Capote, Truman. LOCAL COLOR. New York: Random House [1950]. 8vo, 92pp. First edition of Capote's impressions of New Orleans, Hollywood, Tangiers, New York, among other places, with photographs by Cecil Beaton, Cartier-Bresson, Hoynigen-Huene, Alexander Liberman, among others 8vo, illustrated with photographs, original cloth-backed boards, dustwrapper. Very nice copy. Uncommon. $750

Capote, Truman. BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S. New York: Random House, 1958. A fine copy in a near fine dustwrapper. SIGNED. The true first edition of the book bound in bright yellow cloth with black label on spine. An attractive, tight copy of a book that is becoming exceedingly difficult to find. Basis for the 1961 film directed by Blake Edwards, starring Audrey Hepburn. A collection of the title novella & three short stories: "House of Flowers," "A Diamond Guitar" & "A Christmas Memory." George Axelrod scripted the Blake Edwards film of the title novella - one of the most romantic films of all time, starring Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard before he was accused of a crime he didn't commit, & Mickey Rooney. RARE Signed. SOLD

Capote, Truman. BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S. New York: Random House, 1958. A fine copy in a near fine dustwrapper. The true first edition of the book bound in bright yellow cloth with black label on spine. An attractive, tight copy of a book that is becoming exceedingly difficult to find. Basis for the 1961 film directed by Blake Edwards, starring Audrey Hepburn. A collection of the title novella & three short stories: "House of Flowers," "A Diamond Guitar" & "A Christmas Memory." George Axelrod scripted the Blake Edwards film of the title novella - one of the most romantic films of all time, starring Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard before he was accused of a crime he didn't commit, & Mickey Rooney. Great Copy. SOLD

Capote, Truman. IN COLD BLOOD. A True Account of a Multiple Murder and Its Consequences. New York : Random House, 1965. Black top stain. FIRST TRADE EDITION. Signed by the Author. Perhaps the title that he will be best remembered for. A fine fresh copy. SOLD - Capote, Truman. A CHRISTMAS MEMORY. New York : Random House, 1966. First Edition. The SIGNED LIMITED EDITION. 1 of 600, AS NEW, in bright red (matching #'d) slipcase & publisher's acetate cover as issued. Very Nice indeed. Sold

Capote, Truman. A CHRISTMAS MEMORY. New York: Random House, 1966. First Edition. The SIGNED LIMITED EDITION. 1 of 600, FINE, in bright red (matching #'d) slipcase & publisher's acetate cover as issued. Very Nice indeed. SOLD

Capote, Truman. THE THANKSGIVING VISITOR. New York: Random House, [1967]. 8vo, 63pp. Original beige boards with red cloth spine. FIRST EDITION. One of 300 numbered specially printed & bound & signed by the author. A fine copy in the publisher's near fine slipcase. A memoir of Capote's boyhood in rural Alabama inspired by his cousin Sook Faulk. Small limitation. $750

Capote, Truman & Arlen, Harold. HOUSE OF FLOWERS. New York: Random House, [1968]. First Edition. Fine in near fine [p/c] dustwrapper. Bright yellow top stain. Scarce in this condition. A lovely copy of this musical collaboration first produced in 1954 but not published until its Off-Broadway revival in 1968. Lyrics by Capote & Arlen, who wrote the music. Probably Capote's scarcest book. $625

Capote, Truman. THE DOGS BARK: Public People And Private Places. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1974. First UK Edition. Black cloth stamped in gilt at spine, in black glossy dustwrapper. Fine/Fine. 419pp. Collection of non-fiction pieces from various occasions, very much the best of its sort, elevating celebrity & camp to high art through felicity & deftness of touch. $125

Capote, Truman. MUSIC FOR CHAMELEONS: New Writing. New York: Random House, [1980]. First edition. 8vo, black cloth. Fine in [p/c] dustwrapper. 14 journalistic pieces including a portrait of Marilyn Monroe, "A Beautiful Child". $95

Capote, Truman. MIRIAM. CREATIVE EDUCATION, INC. MANKATO 1982; First Separate Edition. SIGNED. A special, illustrated edition of Capote's "classic story of loneliness." With 5 black & white illustrations by Sandra Higashi. Fine in pictorial printed boards, without DJ as issued. SIGNED by Capote. Rarely found signed. In custom slipcase. $475

TBCL Custom Cases are available in Cloth, Nuba & Leather.
Standard Case Titles include: Several of the titles appearing on this page. Please inquire. Other Custom Cases can be made to order.