Confederacy of Dunces, A

Hardcover

First Person

Fiction

14

2018-06-26 17:20:47

Based on the provided images, here is an overview of the book, its historical importance, edition details, and value.
Book Overview
The book is ”A Confederacy of Dunces” by John Kennedy Toole, with a foreword by Walker Percy. The images show a hardcover edition published by Louisiana State University Press in 1980. The book’s cover art features the main character, Ignatius J. Reilly, wearing his signature hunting cap and holding a hot dog.
The novel is a comic and satirical work set in New Orleans in the 1960s. It follows the misadventures of the protagonist, Ignatius J. Reilly, an eccentric and indolent scholar who lives with his mother and despises modernity. His attempts to find work and his interactions with a cast of equally bizarre characters drive the plot.
Historical Importance
”A Confederacy of Dunces” is historically significant due to the tragic and remarkable story of its publication. John Kennedy Toole wrote the novel in the 1960s, but after multiple rejections from publishers, he fell into a deep depression and committed suicide in 1969 at the age of 31. His mother, Thelma Toole, discovered the manuscript and dedicated herself to getting it published. After years of persistence, she convinced author Walker Percy to read it. Percy championed the book, leading to its posthumous publication in 1980.
The novel’s publication was a critical success, and in a shocking turn of events, it won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1981. This made it one of the few books to win the award posthumously and cemented its place as a modern American classic. The novel is celebrated for its comedic brilliance and unique portrayal of New Orleans culture.
Edition Details
The images confirm that this is a first edition. However, it is a third printing. The copyright page clearly states, ”Copyright © 1980 by Thelma D. Toole” and ”Third printing.” This means that while it is from the initial 1980 publication run, it is not one of the very first copies printed. The very first printing was a small run of only 2,500 copies.
The images also show a stamp from the ”Montgomery County Library,” indicating that this copy was once part of a public library collection.
Value
The value of this book is highly dependent on its condition and whether it is a true first printing.
* First Printing: A first edition, first printing of ”A Confederacy of Dunces,” especially in fine condition with an unclipped dust jacket, is a highly sought-after collectible. These can be valued at several thousand dollars, with some recent sales fetching between $8,000 and $9,000.
* Later Printings: A first edition, but a later printing (like your third printing), has a significantly lower value than a first printing. The value of a third printing can vary depending on its condition, but it is typically in the range of $100 to $250. The fact that it was a library book, as indicated by the stamp, may also affect its value to a collector. The images show some wear on the dust jacket and the book itself, which would also lower the potential value.

Grove Pr

9780807106570

1

~$8.50

2025-11-18

2018-06-26 17:20:47