John Irving THE 158-POUND MARRIAGE 1974 Modern 1st Ed Signed First Edition

I'm Jim Camp, the guy behind the synaesthesia press. I'm a letterpress printer, a publisher of limited-edition books and broadsides, and a lifelong book collector. I've been at this for close to 40 years, and most of what I'm offering here has lived on my shelves for decades.

Now it's time for these books to move on to new homes. Oh, and don't be afraid to make an offer! New York: Random House, 1974. Green cloth spine over light green paper boards; light toning at edges; minor bumping at spine ends. Dust jacket shows some light rubbing and mild wear at extremities; still presents clean and bright in protective sleeve.

Inscribed on the front free endpaper: For Robert Gee, whom I have much enjoyed. Was John Irving's third novel, appearing four years before. The World According to Garp. Would propel him into international prominence.

Here, Irving explores sexual politics, academic life, jealousy, and moral unraveling through the lens of two intertwined marriages - already displaying the thematic daring and structural ambition that would define his later work. Signed and warmly inscribed copies from Irving's early period are increasingly scarce.

This example, inscribed in a personal tone, offers both literary substance and collectibility - a strong piece from the formative stage of a major American novelist's career. A signed early Irving that predates the fame - and that's always the sweet spot. I'm also the publisher behind.

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