Original Book Contract for "Our Government," signed by James M. Cain and Alfred A. Knopf

N.p. N.p., 1929. Purchase, Rights, and Royalties agreement between James M. Cain and Alfred A. Knopf for Cain's first book, "Our Government." SIGNED by both Cain and Knopf, with numerous hand corrections and initials by both parties, the most notable being a notation by Knopf on the first page that the contract was voided by way of a letter from Knopf in 1933.

On the last page, there is a typed notation that says, "Canceled by Mutual Consent and dated July 1949." Overall, it would appear that the contract was held in place from the time of the book's publication in 1929 through 1933, at which time it was superseded by a new one. The author's copy of his first book contract, one of probably 3-4 copies that have ever existed, preceded only by Cain's magazine and newspaper appearances, most notably in Mencken's "American Mercury."

Near Fine in an attractive, pre-folded, six-page contract document with a black ribbon tie, as issued.


[Book #59083]