East of Eden by John Steinbeck - 1952

First Trade Edition/First Printing with the correct statement to the copyright page and "bite" for "bight" on page 281; A Very Good or better book in a Very Good dust jacket. SIGNED and inscribed by the author to the title page. Housed in a handsome custom clamshell box. An outstanding copy of this seminal novel by one of the great authors in the history of western literature; basis for the fine 1955 film starring James Dean and Jo Van Fleet (academy award winning performance); very scarce in this condition and signed. This copy has been inscribed by Steinbeck to William P. McCracken Jr., a lawyer and an aviator, perhaps best known as the first federal regulator of commercial aviation (bio of McCracken laid in). This copy is in Very Good or better condition with a square, tight binding, clean light green boards with crisp, clean lettering, and bright pages throughout with only a hint of edge toning; the copy does show a couple of light stains to the front board, minor rubbing to the spine ends and edges, a couple of age spots to the exterior text block, and some light pencil notations to the front free paper from a previous bookseller. Housed in a clean, crisp , and bright very good dust jacket that shows some moderate sunning to the spine and edges, a faint damp stain to the front panel, some mild rubbing and chipping to the spine ends, edges, and corners with minimal loss of material, some light creasing to the folds, and one 32mm closed tear to the front panel at the spine fold. Overall, even with the minor flaws, a remarkably well preserved copy featuring the unique inscription from Steinbeck; a bucket list item for the Steinbeck fan or the 20th Century Literature collector! Not price clipped ($4.50 intact) and not ex-library; will ship well protected in a sturdy box.