The Catcher In The Rye.

First edition of the author's first book. Octavo, original black cloth. Inscribed by the author, "To Leonard Brooks with best wishes J.D. Salinger Aug. 14, 1951". Lightly rubbed, spine gilt nice and bright, a near fine copy in a bright near fine dust jacket with some toning to the spine and some minor rubbing. The publication date for The Catcher in the Rye was July 16, 1951, this copy was signed less than a month after its release. 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. Full provenance will be provided. Housed in a custom quarter morocco box.