This Side of Paradise. by FITZGERALD, F. Scott - 1920

New York: Charles Scribner's Sons,, 1920. With an excellent Princeton association Octavo. Original green cloth, spine lettered in gilt and front board in blind. Housed in a blue quarter morocco slipcase. Contents evenly tanned and slightly shaken, spine a little faded and bruised at ends. Overall a very good copy with a few knocks to the boards. First edition, first printing, presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, "Compliments & luck to Whitney Darrow from F Scott Fitzgerald April 2nd 1920 New York City". The inscription is in two parts, Fitzgerald having apparently signed and dated the copy first, before adding the salutation to the recipient above. The recipient was the elder of the two Whitney Darrows (father and son) with each of whom Fitzgerald held a long acquaintance. They were Princeton men and each played key roles in the literary establishment at the college. Darrow senior graduated in 1905 and was instrumental in establishing the Princeton University Press. He ran the press from 1905 to 1917 in a kind of loose partnership with Scribners; upon giving up the Princeton job, he joined the latter firm in an advisory role. The Darrow connection makes a fine association for Fitzgerald's first novel, with its Princeton-educated protagonist. Bruccoli A5.1.a