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Exit Lady Masham by Louis Auchincloss (RARE, SIGNED LIMITED FIRST EDITION), 1983 📜✍️👑

Name: Exit Lady Masham by Louis Auchincloss (RARE, SIGNED LIMITED FIRST EDITION), 1983 📜✍️👑
Brand: Wall Antiques
Price: 300.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$300.00

Sale Sold out

1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️

This is a rare, signed first edition of Exit Lady Masham, a powerful novel by the celebrated American writer and lawyer Louis Auchincloss. Published in 1983, this book is a primary historical document that captures the unique voice and keen social observations of a literary master. As a signed limited first edition from a prestigious publisher, this volume is a premier acquisition for any serious collector of modern literature, social commentary, or books with a documented provenance.

The book is a compelling look at the subtle power dynamics and the moral complexities of a privileged world.
This edition is a tangible connection to the enduring legacy of a celebrated author whose work has a sober chord beneath the bawdy escapades.
The Franklin Library's letter to the collector emphasizes the historical context of Auchincloss's writing and the enduring legacy of his work.

2. About the Artwork/Book/Object 📖✍️✨

Exit Lady Masham is a work of fiction that delves into the lives of the American upper class. The narrative is a compelling look at the subtle power dynamics and the moral complexities of a privileged world. The book’s classic design and its narrative depth make it a valuable piece of modern literature.

The novel, known for its elegant prose and a focus on social manners and human ambition, is a testament to Auchincloss's unique literary style.
The book's classic Franklin Library design, with its full-leather binding and gilded page edges, is a testament to the high-quality publishing of the era.
The original marbled endpapers are intact and vibrant.

3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️

Louis Auchincloss (1917-2010) was an American novelist, historian, and a practicing lawyer. A master of social realism, he was known for his elegant and perceptive novels about the New York aristocracy. Auchincloss, a member of a prominent New York family himself, wrote with a sense of authority and insider knowledge that gave his work a unique authenticity. He was a prolific writer whose work was a major influence on a generation of writers and readers who were fascinated by the world he so meticulously chronicled.

Auchincloss, in addition to being a novelist, was a practicing lawyer for most of his life, a career that gave him a unique perspective on the world of wealth and privilege.
He wrote his novels initially under the pseudonym Andrew Lee, the name of an ancestor who cursed any descendant who drank or smoked.
The Franklin Library, a publisher of deluxe, signed first editions, worked with Auchincloss to produce this book. The company's letter to the collector provides unique insights into Auchincloss's life and artistic process.

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

Published in 1983, this book is a "time capsule" of the 1980s, a time of immense social and economic change in America. The book's narrative, with its focus on the lives of the wealthy, reflects a growing public interest in a world that was at once glamorous and morally complex.

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This book is intended for a curator of modern literature, a scholar of American social history, or a private collector of unique first editions. It is an ideal acquisition for an individual who values a book's historical significance and its documented personal history. The author's signature makes this a perfect fit for a collection that cherishes the intimate story behind an artifact. The book appeals to a collector who is interested in the intersection of literature and social commentary.

A true bibliophile would appreciate the high-quality binding and the rich intellectual history contained within its pages.

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

As a rare signed limited first edition of a respected and well-regarded author, this book is a rare and desirable asset. The presence of the author's signature elevates its rarity, transforming it from a mere book into a non-replicable piece of literary history. The price is a direct reflection of the book's enduring cultural influence, its physical integrity, and the scarcity of a signed copy.

The book's value as a literary and physical artifact makes it a strong acquisition.
This is a unique and non-replicable asset class that is unlikely to reappear on the market for years to come.

7. Condition 🔎📚✨

This volume is in pristine, collector-grade condition.

The book is a deluxe edition with a full-leather binding, gilded page edges, and elaborate decorative motifs on the cover and spine.
The original marbled endpapers are intact and vibrant.
The overall condition is an honest and transparent portrayal of a well-cared-for volume that was likely a cherished part of a home library.

8. Translation of Inscriptions/Ephemera (Conditional) ✍️📜🔤

This book's unique provenance is documented by a personal inscription from the author on the title page, which reads: "To Barbara W. Tuchman, who has made history far more fascinating than any fiction". The signature provides a direct, physical link to the book's author and a a unique historical artifact.

The book is a signed limited first edition that has been privately printed and personally signed by Louis Auchincloss for members of The Signed First Edition Society.

9. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

Louis Auchincloss, in addition to being a novelist, was a practicing lawyer for most of his life, a career that gave him a unique perspective on the world of wealth and privilege.
The book's dedication to Barbara W. Tuchman, a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, is an exceptional feature that connects two giants of American historical and literary writing.
The book's title is a reference to the historical figure of Abigail Masham, a close friend of Queen Anne, who was known for her behind-the-scenes influence in the royal court.
The Franklin Library, a publisher of deluxe, signed first editions, worked with Auchincloss to produce this book.