The American Express

by Gregory Corso

illustrated by the Author 

First edition, signed.  Paris:  The Olympia Press, 1961 

Softback is overall in VERY GOOD- condition.

• Green wraps with black text and frame. 
• Wraps show some wear, creasing, smudges, chips, scuffing, edgewear.  Corners are softened and worn.  See photos.  
• Spine has black text and is sunned, creased, with chipped ends.  See photos.  
• Binding is secure, first two gatherings are a little tender.  See photos. 
• End papers have a gift inscription and author signature.  See photos. 
• Illustrations, line drawings in the text, are bright and clear.  
• Interior is gently age-toned, exhibits some marginal toning, some smudges, some creased corners, light edgewear. 
• Inside pages are free of writing and intentional marks. 
• Text block edges have some marks. 
• PS2026.0211

241 pages. 4 3/8 x 6 7/8 inches

First Edition.  Publisher's green paper wraps with ornamental frame in black and white, black titles.  Pocket-size book shows some signs of wear and reading, edgewear to the covers and scuffing to spine shoulders.  Interior is gently toned.  Type is generous and highly readable.  Illustrated throughout with ink line drawings by the author.  Condition is Very Good-.

The American Express is the first and only novel by American poet and author Gregory Corso (1930-2001).  Inspired by his days in Europe spent anxiously waiting for royalty checks and advances that were slow to appear, this freewheeling and farcical tale is the account of a birth in AmEx, and what came of it.

The American Express is Number 85 in The Traveller's Companion series, published by the Olympia Press in Paris.  Olympia Press was a Paris-based publisher, launched in 1953 by Maurice Girodias.  It published a mix of erotic fiction and avant-garde literary fiction, and is best known for issuing the first printed edition of Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita.  

In its heyday Olympia Press specialized in books which could not be published without legal action in the English-speaking world.  Note: on the back cover of this volume is printed "Not to be sold in USA or UK."  A total of 94 Olympia Press publications were promoted, numbered, and packaged as "Traveller's Companion" books, usually with simple text-only covers.  

First Edition, printed in Paris.  Signed and inscribed, with a drawing, by author on free end paper.

Please see photos. More photos available upon request.

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