In a Narrow Grave: Essays on Texas [Second printing]

Austin, TX: Encino Press, 1968. Second Printing. Hardcover. Good/Good. McMurtry's first collection of essays, covering Texas history, Texas writers, cowboys, and as a coda to The Last Picture Show, sex in Archer City, Texas. At the time, McMurtry was best known as the writer whose first book Horseman, Pass By had been made into the movie, Hud.

This first edition of In a Narrow Grave was very badly copyedited and dozens of errors made it through to the printed page, the most notorious typo was "skycrapers" on p. 105, line 12. The errors, inexplicably overlooked in the proofs, were glaringly obvious in the published book. The book was quickly withdrawn from distribution and a new, corrected version printed. This is the corrected version, technically the second printing (although some optimistic booksellers like to call it the second issue). The sheets from this printing were also used for a signed, limited edition of 250 copies.

xviii, 177, [1] pages. Corrected second printing after a supressed first printing (no indication of printing on the title page and skyscrapers spelled correction on page 105, line 12; in a dust jacket priced at $7.50 with "wtih" in the third line of the fifth paragraph of the front flap).

A good-only copy. For some reason, this book attracts water, stains of all, kinds, foxing, and most every other kind a problem that can afflict books. This copy is a good example, with an ugly dampstain along the top of the page block and the jacket edges. The cloth is foxed. This copy is, however, signed by McMurtry on the front free endpaper.