Ernest Hemingway

This is a magnificent signed first edition of Hemingway’s 1940 masterpiece For Whom the Bell Tolls, sumptuously encased in a custom archival clamshell box embossed with the same image of Hemingway sitting at the typewriter as photographed on the back cover, with title on spine in the same font and color as the book spine itself. Only 75,000 copies were produced in the first run, and few of these were ever signed by Hemingway.

True 1st edition, 1st printing, with the Scribner’s “A” on the copyright page. Beautifully signed by Hemingway on the full title page with sentiment but no inscription: “Very best wishes / Ernest Hemingway.” A fine fresh copy bound in original beige cloth with black lettering on red fields to the spine; author’s signature is stamped in black on the front board. Fore-edges of the leaves untrimmed; top edge brown. In good second state corrected dust jacket with photographer’s credit, correctly-priced ($2.75) though with portions of spine chipped or missing and mild creasing, as shown in images. Front and back covers separated from end papers but otherwise spine fully intact. A lovely copy of a landmark work by one of literature’s most beloved authors. Accompanied by Letter of Authentication issued by prominent forensic handwriting examiner, available for inspection to serious buyers.

For Whom the Bell Tolls tells the story of Robert Jordan, a young American in the International Brigades attached to a republican guerrilla unit during the Spanish Civil War. As an expert in the use of explosives, he is assigned to blow up a bridge during an attack on the city of Segovia. Hemingway biographer Jeffrey Meyers writes the novel is regarded as one of Hemingway’s best works, along with The Sun Also Rises, The Old Man and the Sea, and A Farewell to Arms.

In 1941 the Pulitzer Prize committee for letters unanimously recommended For Whom the Bell Tolls be awarded the prize for that year. The Pulitzer Board agreed; however, Nicholas Murray Butler, president of Columbia University at that time, overrode both and instead no award was given for letters that year.

All Vintage Memorabilia autographs are unconditionally guaranteed to be genuine. This guarantee applies to refund of the purchase price, and is without time limit to the original purchaser. A written and signed Guarantee to that effect accompanies each item we sell.