CITY OF ILLUSION. Caldwell, Idaho: The Caxton Printers, Ltd., 1941. Octavo, [1-8] 1-382 [383: colophon] [384: blank], tipped in title leaf printed in red and black with limitation statement and Fisher's signature on the verso, publisher's full black leather lettered and ruled in gold, top edge gilt, other edges trimmed. First edition, first edition. Number 48 of 100 numbered copies signed by Fisher. The Caxton issue of 1100 copies, of which 100 were numbered and signed by Fisher, was issued simultaneously with the trade issue published by Harper & Brothers. This copy is inscribed by Fisher to book collector Ingle Barr on the front free endpaper. A historical novel based on real people, "the novel describes the heyday and decline of Virginia City, Nevada, and the famous Comstock silver mining. Although it had some deft touches, the novel seems too easy. Fisher was writing too fast, and he and his publishers, Harper and Brothers, parted company" (Joseph M. Flora). "A melodramatic, over-sexed picture of flush days in Virginia City, Nevada" (Coan and Lillard). Erisman and Etulain, eds., Fifty Western Writers: A Bio-bibliographical sourcebook, p. 115. Coan and Lillard, American Fiction, fifth edition (1967), p. 17. Barr's bookplate is affixed to the front paste-down. Some tanning to the margins of the endpapers (apparently offsetting from the binding), edges of spine panel and corner tips rubbed, a very good copy. (#177721).
Price: $250.00
First edition so stated on copyright page.