A JOSEPH HELLER SIGNED CATCH-22

JOSEPH HELLER (1923-1999). An American novelist, Heller is best remembered for his 1961 novel, Catch-22. He also wrote We Bombed in New Haven, Something Happened, Good As Gold, God Knows and Picture This. SB. 568pp. No date. No place. A Catch-22 signed “Joseph Heller” in blue ballpoint ink on the endpage page. This classic novel is an Everyman’s Library edition printed in 1995. Light wear to the top and bottom of the dustjacket, but in fine condition.

THE BOYS WILLIAM AND CHARLES MARSH SIGN THEIR PRESIDENTIAL BIOGRAPHY, OUR PRESIDENT HERBERT HOOVER

HERBERT HOOVER (1874-1964).  Hoover was the Thirty-first President.

SB. 45pg. 1930. No place [presumably Connecticut].  A book, Our President Herbert Hoover, signed by the eleven year old author William Marsh, Jr. and his younger brother Charles.  The Marsh brothers inscribed on the copyright page, in their youthful handwriting, “Best wishes to Mr. Paul E. Tanner, from the author William J. Marsh Jr. July 11, 1930 Helper Charles Marsh August 28, 1930”.  This may be the Presidential biography with the youngest authors.  Some contemporary newspaper articles note that the President is anxiously awaiting his copy.  It is in the original gray dustjacket, though  the jacket’s spine in missing.  There is some minor staining on the inside.  A great Presidential artifact.

THE 1968 FEDERAL BUDGET BOOK SIGNED BY LBJ AS PRESIDENT

LYNDON B. JOHNSON (1908-1973). Johnson served as the 36^th President.

Signed book. 475 pages. 1967. Washington. The 1968 budget signed “Lyndon B. Johnson” as President. Officially entitled The Budget of the United States Government For The Fiscal Year Ending June 30 1968 and published by the Government Printing Office, the budget is bound in three-quarter green leather with marbled-paper sides.  President Johnson signs his name on page 38 at the end of “Part 1 The Budget Message of the President”, and before the actual budget is presented. In this annual budget message, delivered on January 24, 1967, Johnson claims that “This budget for fiscal year 1968 reflects three basic considerations: In Vietnam, as throughout the world, we seek peace but will provide all the resources needed to combat aggression. In our urgent domestic programs we will continue to press ahead, at a controlled and reasoned pace. In our domestic economy we seek to achieve a 7th year of uninterrupted growth, adopting the fiscal measures needed to finance our expenditures responsibly, permit lower interest rates, and achieve a more balanced economy”. Referring to “hard choices” made in constructing the budget, it, for example, calls for a $21.9 billion military funding bill to Congress that would have brought the cost of the war to $46.2 billion. When the Defense appropriations were finally approved on September 20^th of that year, Congress reduced such spending by $1.6 billion. Given that Congress has not passed an annual budget by its mandated deadline since 1997, this document is a fascinating window into Federal finances at the twilight of the Johnson administration and a relic of a bygone congressional process. It is in excellent condition and a rare book signed by Johnson as the Commander In Chief.

MADELEINE L’ENGLE SIGNS A WRINKLE IN TIME

MADELEINE L’ENGLE (1918-2007). L’Engle was the author of young adult fiction, and she is best remembered for A Wrinkle In Time.

SB. 211pg. A Wrinkle In Time inscribed “for Arlean Lambert, with best wishes for happy tessering Madeleine l’Engle” on the yellow endpage. This is the tenth printing done in 1965 and the dust jacket has the Newberry Medal on it. The interior pages are in fine condition. The dust jacket has some chipping and wear, including the lower inch missing from the spine.

POET ROD MCKUEN SIGNS A COPY OF HIS COMING CLOSER TO THE EARTH TO A COUPLE

ROD MCKUEN (1933-2015).  McKuen was an American poet and author.

SB. 163 pgs. Rod McKuen’s book of poetry, Coming Closer to the Earth, inscribed and signed “Josh & Kath – be good to each other or else love Rod McKuen” on the first front end-page. McKuen drew a little tree below his signature. The book lacks a dust jacket. It has staining on the cloth covering the spine, as well as on the some of the pages, and minor damage to the binding. This edition was published by Simon and Schuster in 1978.