The Fountainhead.

First edition, early printing of Rands’s breakthrough work and her first major literary success. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, "To Barbara- for a very heroic achievement- with love- Ayn April 9,1956." Born in Winnipeg, Barbara Weidman met Nathaniel Branden because of their mutual interest in Ayn Rand's works. They became personal friends of Rand in 1950, and when they married in 1953, Rand and her husband, Frank O'Connor, served as the matron of honor and best man. She earned her M.A. in philosophy, and authored a thesis on free will, under the direction of Sidney Hook at New York University. Nathaniel and Barbara Branden became founding members of an Objectivist movement that sought to advance Rand's ideas. Barbara and Nathaniel Branden co-wrote Who Is Ayn Rand? in 1962. Barbara Branden's essay in the book was the first biography of Rand. When it was written, Rand considered Barbara Branden to be one of the most important proponents of Objectivism. After consultation with the Ayn Rand Institute of Irvine, California, the consensus is that this book was intended for Barbara Branden. In the spring of 1956, Barbara was studying at New York University, looking to earn a Master’s in Philosophy. She had just finished her Master’s Thesis, titled “Human Freedom and Human Mechanism,” which she read to a crowd in Ayn Rand’s presence. She submitted the thesis and earned her master’s in early spring of 1956. The inscription, “for a very heroic achievement,” is likely intended for her graduation. Very good in very good dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box made by the Harcourt Bindery. One of the finest association copies feasible.