Lot 14: BALDWIN, James (1924-1987). Go Tell It On the Mountain. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1953.

8 o. Original pictorial wrappers (some light wear and soiling). Provenance : Edward Parone (presentation inscription; signature and blindstamp on front free endpaper). FIRST EDITION, ADVANCE ISSUE IN WRAPPERS, with the rejected cover design. PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY BALDWIN TO EDWARD PARONE on the half-title: "For Eddie--because I'm happy to find that we can talk to each other -- Jimmy." [ With: ] BALDWIN, James. Two typed letters signed ("Jimmy") to "Eddie" [Edward Parone], Corsica and n.p., n.d. Together 5 pages, 4 o, light bond typing paper, few separations along folds, affecting a few letters slightly. Two revealing letters to Parone discussing life in Europe and his writing. The first letter, from Corsica: "I'm nearing the end--I hope--of a new novel [ Giovanni's Room ]; and when I've come to the end of it, I shall be coming home again; to do the research for yet another novel... Have just come back from Paris, [ Go Tell It On the ] Mountain's just been published there, good press, much excitement, everything looks very promising--but, Lord, I really felt very strange and lost there." The other letter: "The news about my novel [ Giovanni's Room ] is bad: they fear censorship troubles, it seems that no-one else will touch it unless I 'tone' it 'down'. Which I might be willing to do if I had any idea of what they meant--they obviously don't mean taking out the dirty words, there can't be more than half a dozen. 'Toning down' the book will mean, I'm afraid, no book--and I'm certainly not going to murder my own child." (3).