Walker and Company, New York, 1954
First Edition, First printing, Signed FINE book in a FINE dust jacket, appearing as unread with a binding that barely opens. Signed by Matheson on a laid in signature. “I am Legend”, first appearing in paperback in 1954, was a highly influential novel in the “Last Man” genre, telling the story of the sole survivor of an apocalyptic pandemic which turns humans into vampires. The inspiration for at least three films, including the movie starring Will Smith released in 2007. In 2012 the book was awarded the special Vampire Novel of the Century Award by the Horror Writers Association. Bleiler, Supernatural Fiction 1126. This novel has been described as “One of the central novels in shaping contemporary horror fiction”, and “Matheson’s attempt to give a scientific explanation of vampirism” which in turn re-sparked the vampire genre in more recent movies.
The book is FINE condition with crisp white cloth boards with unfaded black titles to the spine. The boards have sharp corners and No edgewear. The binding is very tight and square and still barely opens. The end papers are clean with no bookstore stamps, no owner names, and no inscriptions. The internal pages are clean, bright and flat with no writing, no stains, no bent pages, and no foxing. Internally appearing as unread! Signed by Matheson on a laid in signature. Please see detailed images.
The original first edition dust jacket is in exceptionally bright FINE condition with strong vibrant colors and a bright white background. The vibrant dust jacket has no edgewear, no rips, no chips, no rubbing, no stains, no fading and no foxing. The dust jacket is not price clipped and has the stated price of $4.95 on the front inner flap. A very striking dust jacket! Please see images. Very rare to find this book with a dust jacket in this condition!
A superb copy of this classic rare book.
