STEINBECK, John (1902-1968). Of Mice and Men. New York: Covici-Friede, 1937.

8vo. Half-title; title printed in brown and black. (Slight marginal toning.) Original beige cloth, stamped in brown and black, top edge stained blue (spine slanted and darkened, some minor soiling, a tiny hole in the upper hinge); dust jacket (clipped not affecting price, slight soiling and scuffing, spine panel darkened, a few short tears with the head of spine reinforced with cellotape verso); morocco-backed folding case. Provenance: Alan J. Blau (presentation inscription, see below).

FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE, including the line on p.9: "...and only moved because the heavy hands were pendula." as well as the bullet between the 8s on p.88, with the top edge stained blue. In the FIRST ISSUE DUST JACKET with $2.00 price.

INSCRIBED BY STEINBECK TO BLAU on the front flyleaf: "For Alan J. Blau John Steinbeck." Steinbeck's novella portraying the lives of George Milton and Lennie Small, migrant farm workers in California during the Great Depression, was based on his own experiences working alongside migrant farm workers in the 1910s. Goldstone & Payne A7a.