Pianos of Sympathy.

Norfolk: New Directions, 1936. First edition. 16mo. [16 pp]. Fine in printed wrappers. The first book of the press, issued as “New Directions Pamphlets, Number One.” In his introductory note the publisher, James Laughlin, names the author, “the first American surrealist writer.” More than half a century later, in his afterword to Andrews’ posthumous THE SURREALIST PARADE (New Directions, 1990), Laughlin recalled that “Wayne became my friend at Harvard…about 1935” and “the original ‘Pianos’ was…printed in an edition of 300 copies by the Vermont country printer who did the Harvard Advocate. But its unusual aroma quickly pervaded Harvard Square, and it was necessary to rush out a second printing.” WITH: the second printing of this work, bound in red wrappers as issued, adding the subtitle, “A Surrealist Shortstory,” and with the rear cover entirely reset with different text. Near fine. For the pair: