GRESHAM, William Lindsay (1909-1962). Nightmare Alley. New York: Rinehart & Co., 1946.

8vo. Original black cloth, spine with titles in gilt on a green background, green top stain; original dust jacket (light sunning to spine, a hint of edgewear near head, few minor stains to rear panel and flap, else fine). Provenance: Neil W. Hibbard (private library stamp on front pastedown).

FIRST EDITION. Gresham would later claim that the genesis of the novel came from conversations he had with a former carnival worker while they were serving as volunteers with Loyalist forces during the Spanish Civil War. The first and most successful of Gresham’s novels, Nightmare Alley was adapted into a major motion picture in 1947 and again in 2021; the latter was nominated for four Oscars at the 94th Academy Awards.