Old Gimlet Eye: Adventures of Smedley D. Butler
New York: Farrar & Rinehart Incorporated, 1933.
First edition, first printing. Signed by Smedley Butler, the book's subject, on the half title, inscribed to a friend and dated August 25, 1933. [x], 310 pp. Bound in publisher's blue cloth with black lettering, red topstain. Near Fine in Fair dust jacket, missing chips at head and bottom corner of front panel, tear along spine panel, darkening and dampstaining to spine panel as well
A rare signature from Butler on his military biography. He was an extremely popular figure who was the most-decorated Marine in history at the time of his retirement. In the '30s Butler underwent a political reawakening, condemning war and its profiteers with his classic book War is a Racket. He also had helped to expose a plot by American industrialists to stage a fascist coup against FDR. This aborted plot was hushed up at the time but in later decades more information emerged corroborating Butler's allegations and he has gained a cult following in recent years.
Price: $2,500