THE BORDER TRILOGY: ALL THE PRETTY HORSES, THE CROSSING, CITIES OF THE PLAIN - SIGNED

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1998. First Editions. Attractive set of McCarthy's critically acclaimed Border Trilogy - his first encounter with mainstream success after writing five novels between 1965-1985. Beginning with the publication of All the Pretty Horses, for the first time in McCarthy's career, his publisher poured a considerable amount of money into marketing the novel, with pre-publication copies in five formats (including an attractive signed advance in a folding case) produced and widely-circulated. Few signings events were done for the novel, after which McCarthy, publicity shy and committed to a private life, would seldom do public events or book signings, opting to sign sheets to be tipped-in to subsequent books. All the Pretty Horses won both the National Book Award and National Book Critics Circle Award in 1992, and served as the basis for Billy Bob Thorton's 2000 adaptation starring Matt Damon and Penelope Cruz. First Printings, with The Crossing and Cities of the Plain each being the limited issue (one of 1,000 copies). Three octavo volumes (22cm); black paper and cloth-covered boards, with titling and author's initials stamped in gilt on spines and front covers; brown and red topstains; [x],302,[8]; [viii],426; [viii],291,[7]pp. All the Pretty Horses is signed by McCarthy on the title page, with other two volumes signed on the tipped-in limitation page, as issued. First volume shows modest rubbing to backstrip, with rear board corners gently tapped (though still sharp); contents clean; Very Good+ or better in a Near Fine, unclipped dustjacket, with a faint, shallow stain along the lower rear panel. Second and third volumes show some trivial wear to jacket extremities, with some faint spotting and a tiny scuff to lower edge of textblock on Cities; Near Fine in Near Fine, unclipped dustjackets.