Burnside Rare Books

The Recluse [H. P. Lovecraft's Copy]

Lovecraft, H. P.; W. Paul Cook [Editor]; Donald Wandrei; Clark Ashton Smith; et al

Athol, MA: W. Paul Cook, 1927.

H. P. Lovecraft's own copy of the first and only issue of the legendary amateur periodical published by W. Paul Cook. Lovecraft has penned the title of his contribution, "Supernatural Horror in Literature" and the page number, and signed his name on the upper edge of the front cover. This marks the first appearance of Lovecraft's essay, now considered a classic of literary criticism.

78 pp. Bound in serviceable black cloth lettered in gilt on the spine, original olive green wraps preserved within. Near Fine with light soiling and foxing to wraps, old repaired tear to left edge of front wrap, offsetting from repair tape to following page, and toning and thumbing to contents. Front board lightly scuffed; tight and sturdy binding commissioned by small press publisher and collector Gerry de la Ree. Housed in a custom clamshell case, green cloth over quarter green morocco, blue morocco title label lettered in gilt to spine.

The New England writer and publisher William Paul Cook was a friend and supporter of H. P. Lovecraft and encouraged the literary research that Lovecraft synthesized into his famous essay "Supernatural Horror in Literature." The essay occupied pages 23 through 59 of The Recluse, a periodical Cook began for his own amusement. The contributors, who included Clark Ashton Smith, Donald Wandrei,and Vrest Orton, were not paid, and Cook never got around to publishing a second issue. A loss to the world, no doubt, but the first issue alone -- printed in a run of just 100 copies -- made an outsized impact. The ultimate copy of this rare and influential publication. Joshi I-B.ii.335. Item #140947931

Price: $48,000