NIKOLAI GOGOL. Inscribed to the Thompsons de Nabokov, Vladimir - 1944

Norfolk, Connecticut: New Directions Books, 1944. First Edition. First Edition. Signed by Author. First edition, First State with five titles to advertisement page & four titles to rear flap of the Alvin Lustig designed dustwrapper which is also first state with the $1.50 price unclipped. 12mo., [i] + [vi] + 1-174. A very good copy, the spine ev er so slightly darkened with a couple of very small stains at the heel, the dustwrapper a very good & bright example with a narrow 3/16ths bit of loss at the crown. An outstanding copy of Nabokov's extensive & very important early essay of his countryman, as this copy is inscribed by the master & embellished with one of his famous butterfly sketches to his dear friends of over 40 years, the Thompsons: "To Lisbeth and Bertrand with the author's love / Cambridge, Mass / Sept. 1944". The book was published by New Directions, August 15th, 1944 making this a very early inscription. Genuine Nabokov presentations are uncommon especially those of a personal & generous nature. Julian A22.1 Nabokov's distinguished contribution [the fifth] to the Makers Of Modern Literature Series By New Directions. Preceded by works on: Joyce, Woolf, Forster & Lorca.