New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1927. First edition. First edition, first impression, number 45 of 50 copies, signed by the author. Of the first edition of Death Comes for the Archbishop, there were three issues: 50 copies on Japan Vellum, 175 copies on rag paper and 20,000 trade copies. Original cream parchment boards, lettering to spine in gilt, decorations to spine and front cover in gilt, publisher's device to rear cover in gilt, top edge gilt. Publisher's green card slipcase with paper label to spine. Housed in a custom brown morocco-backed folding box. Spine very slightly bumped and toned, many gatherings unopened; a near-fine copy. Extremities of slightly soiled slipcase worn, else a very good example.

“Willa Cather’s best known novel is an epic – almost mythic – story of a single human life lived simply in the silence of the southwestern desert. In 1851, Father Jean Marie Latour comes to serve as the Apostolic Vicar to New Mexico. What he finds is a vast territory of red hills and torturous arroyos, American by law but Mexican and Indigenous in custom and culture” (Vintage). It was first published serially in Forum between January and June 1927. Crane records that there were over 200 alterations made for the first publication in book form.

Crane A16.a.i. Near Fine in Very Good slipcase. Near Fine in Very Good dust jacket. (Item #4484)