The Catcher In The Rye.

First edition of the author's first book. Octavo, original black cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author opposite the title page, "To Ned Thompson with all good wishes J.D. Salinger Windsor, VT Nov. 5, 1961." Lightly rubbed, near fine in a bright near fine dust jacket with some toning to the spine and some minor rubbing. Jacket design by Michael Mitchell. Photograph of Salinger by Lotte Jacobi. Salinger's signature is scarce and signed copies of Catcher in the Rye are rare; signed firsts are exceptionally scarce. Until Salinger died in 2010, we had not seen a signed first printing of The Catcher in the Rye since the Phoenix Book Shop sold one from Howard Moss's library in 1984 -- a span of more than a quarter century. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box.