Dodson, Owen

When Trees Were Green [Boy at the Window] SIGNED

New York: Popular Library, 1951.

Paperback. A signed handwritten postcard on the author's stationery accompanies this 1960s Popular Library edition of the first novel by queer Black poet, novelist, and playwright Owen Vincent Dodson (1914–1983), who was incredibly influential in the development of the Black Theater Movement. Responding to a white fan (with the same surname) of When Trees Were Green on his own stationery (with hand-corrected new address, Dodson wrote: "My dear Mrs. Dodson — Thank you for your letter about my book: When Trees Were Green. It is a wonderful feeling to a writer to know that his work is appreciated and has added his emotions to others. I hope your year will be pleasant. Best Wishes, Owen Dodson, Sept. 6, 1967." Generally considered to be autobiographical, When Trees Were Green, originally published under the title Boy at the Window, is a coming of age novel about a 9-year-old Brooklyn boy named Coin Foreman, called as "vivid as Catcher in the Rye" by the New York Times.

Signed handwritten postcard on author's stationery responding to a fan of When Trees Were Green, dated September 6th, 1967, taped in to front endpapers. Copyright states 1951, but more likely this Popular Library edition was published later, around 1967. 6 7/8" X 4 1/4". 143pp, plus ad. Rather heavy wear to color pictorial wraps, with creasing, lean to spine, spot of soiling to upper wrap, and small tear to tail of creased spine. All edges purple. Previous owner's name (same as recipient of postcard) to front pastedown. Binding is firm and sound. Pages are uniformly age-yellowed else clean and unmarked. Good. Item #12396

Price: $50.00