TAR BABY

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1981. First printing. Fine in very good plus jacket.. Inscribed first edition of this fourth novel by the Nobel prize-winning author, inscribed by Morrison in the year of publication to "dear friend" and fellow Random House editor Bertha Krantz. An interesting association of this multi-national love story, inscribed to Bertha "Bert" Krantz, copy-editor at Random House where Morrison famously worked from 1967-1983 (and broke barriers by becoming the first Black fiction editor for the company). During her time as an editor, Morrison would acquire and cultivate talented Black writers amidst an overwhelmingly white literary landscape. Said Morrison: "I didn't go to anything. I didn't join anything. But I could make sure there was a published record of those who did march and put themselves on the line."

Krantz herself spent 34 years at Random House, where she worked on several of Cormac McCarthy's novels ("Thank you for your corrections" - the author would write in a warm letter to Krantz - "I hope you understand that they are always welcome.") and, perhaps most notably, copyedited Ayn Rand's 1957 behemoth, ATLAS SHRUGGED. Substantive Morrison associations are decidedly scarce in the market - a desirable copy. 8.25'' x 5.75''. Original cream cloth boards, stamped in gilt to front board and spine. In original unclipped ($11.95) color pictorial jacket designed by R.D. Scudellari. Mackine deckle fore-edge. Dark blue topstain. [10], 306 pages. Inscribed by Morrison in brown on front fly-leaf: "To Bert / Dear friend and colleague / Toni / 3.18.81." Jacket with light edgewear and rubbing, faintest toning. Crisp, clean.