The Auctioning of Glenn Lord's copy of
A GENT FROM BEAR CREEK
The auction starts on eBay at 7PM CDT tonight, and will go for 10 days.
Starting bid will be $19500. One offer is already in hand.
A GENT FROM BEAR CREEK, by Robert E. Howard, Herbert Jenkins (publisher), London, 1937, first edition, with dust jacket. With signature from August Derleth. Being sold on behalf of the family of Glenn Lord.
This is the first published book of works by Robert E. Howard, famed Texas pulp writer, and creator of Conan the Cimmerian. This particular volume was published about one year after REH's death in 1936. This edition was probably printed in a print run of 600-2000, mostly distributed to UK commercial lending libraries, then virtually all copies were destroyed during WWII paper drives. The first edition priced at 7/6 (7 shilling / 6 pence), the 2nd edition is known as “The Cheap Edition”, only 2/6 (2 shilling, 6 pence). Only a dozen or so copies combined of the editions are known to exist. Only this copy for auction is known to have the first edition dust jacket. The V&A Museum in London has a copy of the Cheap edition dust jacket.
This has long been a highly sought-after book fetching a premium price. A copy without a dust jacket sold on eBay for $2500 in December 2002. Allegedly another copy sold in London in 2004 for around $8000. In September 2006 a rather beat up ex-lib copy with no jacket sold on eBay as a Buy It Now for $8500, and was subsequently resold a few days later for over $10K. The rather beat-up copy owned by Darrell Richardson sold for $12K in 2010. A couple other copies have turned up over the last few years, all without dust jacket. There are only about a dozen copies known of this volume, several of those in libraries. There are likely less than ten known copies in private hands. None of those have the dust jacket, or are in this good of condition.
This book is from the private collection of the late Glenn Lord (1931-2011), long time agent for the REH copyright owners. He said he acquired it from August Derleth. Note the book includes a signature from August inside the front cover.
This volume is tighter than one would expect from a book its age. This is due to the book being carefully disassembled and reassembled by Donald Grant, publisher and book maker. He disassembled the book so that he could shoot each page to create a new edition for Grant Press, in 1965, photo-offset from the original pages. Grant then expertly reassembled the book, giving it an as-new feel.
The story features the humorous adventures of Breckinridge Elkins, a super-hillbilly who would have easily bested Conan in a brawl, weapons or no, then made Conan buy the beer in the destroyed tavern. Breck is dumb as a brick, but very loyal to family and friends, utterly fearless, and tells his misadventures in the first person. This was one of REH's most successful characters during REH's lifetime, selling steadily for years.
As for condition, please refer to the photos. More photos can be provided if desired. As can be seen, there is a bit of spotting on the outer edges of the pages. Pages are still quite supple, no foxing. The book has a nice tight binding, sitting just a bit off from square. If further specific detail on condition is desired, please contact the seller.
As for shipping, arrangements will need to be made with seller. Reasonable shipping costs will be included with the winning bid. At a minimum, tracking and insurance and signature. If the winning bidder is attending Howard Days in Cross Plains, TX, in June, personal delivery may be possible.
This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire the best copy of the most sought after REH publication, and one of the most sought after first editions of the 20th century.
