Prelude to a Million Years [Signed, Numbered]

New York: Equinox, 1933. First Edition. Hardcover. Very good. One of 920 copies of this wordless short story printed from the original wood blocks (i.e., a series of 30 original prints by Lynd Ward).

As with all of Ward's 1930s work, this belongs with other social realist novels of the period. The story follows a sculptor carving the nude likeness of his lost love in stone. He sets out to find her, is caught up in police violence against protestors (a common Ward theme), and eventually finds her in a flophouse, passed out, naked, and surrounded by liquor bottles. He leaves and in the last image is shown crying over the statue.

The book was issued by the Equinox Cooperative Press, of which Ward was a member. The press was formed by a group of writers and artists to see into print works that traditional publishers wouldn't touch.

30 leaves with woodblock prints, printed on sheets folded and bound Japanese style. First edition (first printing). This is copy 86 of 920, signed by Ward. The book is very good, with some wear to the corners; the string binding is one-third missing, as is the very scarce foil slipcase. There is a gift inscription dated 1933 on the first blank.