The City and the Pillar [*SIGNED*] Hardcover - 1948

New York: E.P. Dutton & Company, Inc.. Good in Poor dj. 1948. First Edition. Hardcover. [book is moderately shelfworn, with some light staining and discoloration to the edge of the text block (notably the top edge), a bit of rippling to the pages that suggests the book may have absorbed some moisture at one time (the spine cloth is also a bit wrinkled), and a previous owner's name and address in ink at the top of the front endpaper; the jacket (from a later issue; see Notes) is kind of a mess, with heavy edgewear, fading at the spine, moderate soiling, a 2-inch deep narrow chip at the lower front hinge, small rectangular piece clipped out from the bottom of the front flap, several small pieces of old yellowed tape affixed to edges of rear panel and both flaps, etc.]. SIGNED by the author (signature only) on the half-title page, so at least it's got that going for it -- but otherwise this is a rather badly-treated copy of Vidal's third novel, a notable milestone in gay literature. The book itself is a stated "First Edition," but the dust jacket (which was likely transferred to this copy from an ex-library book) is from a later issue, with laudatory critical notices for the novel slugged in at the top of the front flap and the entire rear flap (the latter replacing a long blurb for Vidal's previous novel, "In a Yellow Wood"). Bargain-priced, in light of its numerous depredations; it'll never be more than what it is, but my best advice, honestly, would be to dress it up with a nice facsimile dust jacket. Signed by Author .