Jim’s Book: A Collection of Poems and Short Stories.

NY: Privately Printed, 1942. First edition. 72 pp. Very near fine in printed paper-covered boards with cloth spine. Lacks original unprinted glassine dust jacket. Dated (1980) and INSCRIBED by Merrill to his longtime editor at Atheneum Harry Ford and his wife Kathleen, “For Harry + Kathleen / – who will share the fate of / Paolo + Francesca if they / read further than this page / James.” Merrill’s first book, published by his father when James was sixteen.