Wanderer

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1963. Hardcover. Near fine/good. First and Second Printings Before Publication" Sterling Walter Hayden (1916-1986, born Sterling Relyea Walter) was a man of many parts: a decorated Marine Corps officer, a WWII spy, a Hollywood leading man whose career spanned decades including roles in "The Killing", "Dr. Strangelove", "The Godfather", and "The Long Goodbye", among many others.

However, throughout his life, he had a love for the sea and for sailing (per Wiki, he "used his earnings [as an actor] to finance his numerous voyages as a sailor"). His first job, at age 16, was as mate on a schooner, and, later, as a fisherman on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland (ibid).

This volume, "Wanderer", is the story of a voyage taken (aboard his 98-foot schooner of that name) with photographer Dody Weston Thompson and his four childern - taken in defiance of a court order not to take the children out of the U.S. Per the jacket flap, " 'Wanderer' is the testament of a man who has tasted all that our society calls success - and despises it. His last attempt to escape from it launches this autobiography."

This volume inscribed by Hayden the year following publication thus: "For Mr. & Mrs. [name?] / with memories I know / you share of the islands / before the Bizniks destroyed / their soul. / Yours / Sterling Hayden / [??] / 1964".

___DESCRIPTION: Bound in full navy blue cloth over boards, front board with a blind debossed decoration (mirroring that on the title page), gilt lettering, rules and the same decoration stamped onto the spine, top edge stained red, photographic endpapers, the inscription on the verso of the first flyleaf as set forth above, title page with decoration and date of 1963, on the copyright page is printed "First and Second Printings Before Publication"; octavo size (8 1/2" by 5 5/8"), pagination: [i-viii] [1-3] 4-434. Dust jacket picturing Hayden piloting a ship on the front panel, profile head shot on the back panel, Hayden's biography on both flaps, summary of the book on the back panel, code of "10/63" at the bottom of the front panel.

___CONDITION: Volume near fine, the boards clean (other than an odd speck or two), straight corners without rubbing, a strong, square text block with solid hinges, the interior is clean and bright, and the sole prior owner marking being Hayden's inscription; the slightest lean to the text block, else fine. The dust jacket is, alas, good only; while the colours are bright and unfaded (including the red on the spine) it has been price clipped, there is some overall edgewear (including a rectangular chip at the top of the back panel, approx. 1 1/4" wide but only a quarter-inch or so tall), and the verso of the spine shows old dampstain, as well as a short closed tear.

___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs; please inquire for details.

___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help. (Inventory #: 23080401)