BLACK BEETLES IN AMBER. San Francisco, New York: Western Authors Publishing Company, 1892. Octavo, pp. [1-3] 4-6 [7] 8 [9] 10-280, flyleaves at front and rear, inserted frontispiece (portrait of the author drawn by J. H. E. Partington), original decorated gray bevel-edged cloth, front and spine panels stamped in gold and blind, rear panel stamped in blind, floral patterned endpapers. First edition. Bierce's first collection of poems included items reprinted from his columns in the ARGONAUT, the SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER, and the WASP (with "considerable alterations" according to Bierce), as well as "seven dramas, all short, satirical, and in verse. The book failed to make money but did make enemies -- namely the objects of Bierce's poetic invective. Targets ranged from important men to others now known mainly because of Bierce's blasts." - Gale, An Ambrose Bierce Companion, p. 36. BAL 1111. Starrett 10. 1893 gift inscription on the recto of the frontispiece. Cloth rubbed at spine ends and corner tips, a bit of dust soiling to cloth, gold lettering a bit dull, a very good copy. (#154748).
Price: $300.00
No statement of printing.