Samuel Beckett was an Irish avant-garde playwright, poet, and novelist who offered the world works with a bleak, tragicomic view on human nature. As a young man, he assisted James Joyce while the latter wrote Finnegans Wake. After decades of relative obscurity, he rose to immediate prominence with the performance of Waiting for Godot in 1953. Beckett was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1969. His most notable works include Murphy (1938), Molloy (1951), Malone Dies (1951), The Unnamable (1953), Waiting for Godot (1953), Watt (1953), Endgame (1957), Krapp's Last Tape (1958), and How It Is (1961).
London: Faber and Faber, 1956. First British edition, first printing, translated by Beckett himself. With the publisher's note tipped in. The English text of Beckett's most famous title, one of the great works of the world stage, and decidedly uncommon signed. A major innovation in modern drama, possibly the most..... Read More about Waiting for Godot
Price: $2,000
Paris: Les Éditions de Minuit, 1952. First trade edition (after 35 signed copies on large paper), one of 2,500 copies. Beckett's masterpiece, and one of the defining works of the 20th century. A major innovation in modern drama, possibly the most important play of the 20th Century, and certainly the..... Read More about En attendant Godot
Price: $2,500
[1965]. Signed by Beckett. Read More about Photograph of the author, Signed
Price: $2,000
Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana, 1958. First Edition. Read More about An Anthology of Mexican Poetry. Translated by Samuel Beckett. Compiled by Octavio Paz. Preface by...
Price: $150
New York: Grove Press, (1954). First edition in English (translated by the author), preceding the British edition. Beckett’s Masterpiece, Inscribed. First edition in English (translated by the author), preceding the British edition. Fine in fine dustwrapper with slightest toning at the spine and a tiny tear, housed in a quarter..... Read More about Waiting for Godot
Price: $25,000
New York: Grove Press, (1959). First American edition. Copy number 2 of 4 numbered copies marked hors commerce and signed by Beckett. Barney Rosset’s Copy. First American edition. Quarter cloth gilt and paper covered boards. Fine, issued without printed dust jacket. This is copy number 2 of 4 numbered copies..... Read More about Watt
Price: $25,000
[Paris: 1969]. Autograph manuscript entitled "Chien anagramme de niche", [in French: 'dog' is indeed an anagram of 'kennel'], being a dialogue in French between "A" and "B". A. Où suis-je? B. Où vous étiez hier. A. Où je serai demain B. Ce n’est pas sûr. “Although they are less easily..... Read More about Autograph Manuscript, Chien anagramme de niche, an abandoned fragment of Fin de partie
Price: $5,000
New York: The Limited Editions Club, 1989. Ryman, Robert. Edition limited to 550 numbered copies signed by Beckett and Ryman. Read More about Nohow On
Price: $2,750
Paris: The Traveller's Companion No. 71, [1959]. First Edition. Read More about Molloy, Malone Dies, and The Unnamable A Trilogy
Price: $400
New York: [1983]. Inscribed by Beckett. Inscribed, "to Bill Targ with all good wishes Sam Beckett". William Targ (1907-1999) was an editor and then head of Putnam's before founding his own imprint, Targ Editions; he was also a noted bibliophile and Beckett collector. His wife Roslyn Targ (1925-2017) was Beckett's..... Read More about The Harold Clurman Theatre and Lucille Lortel ... Present the World Premiere of Samuel Beckett's...
Price: $400
Paris: September 1973. Number 13 of 50 copies. Inscribed. Inscribed by Beckett at his contribution, "for Bill [Targ] from Sam". William Targ (1907-1999), was an editor and then head of Putnam's before founding his own imprint, Targ Editions; he was also a noted bibliophile and Beckett collector. His wife Roslyn..... Read More about "Equisse radiophonique" in Minuit No 5
Price: $500
Dublin: Black Cat Press in association with Faber and Faber, [1986]. First trade edition. With inscription from Beckett. With a slip mounted to f.f.e.p. inscribed, "For Bill [Targ] from Sam March 1987". William Targ (1907-1999), was an editor and then head of Putnam's before founding his own imprint, Targ Editions;..... Read More about The Beckett Country. Samuel Beckett's Ireland
Price: $450
[Paris]: Les éditions de minuit, [1969]. First edition, number 109 of 550 copies (of 742 total). Inscribed. Inscribed on the title page, "for William & Roslyn Targ from Samuel Beckett". William Targ (1907-1999), was an editor and then head of Putnam's before founding his own imprint, Targ Editions; he was..... Read More about sans
Price: $750
Paris: Les éditions de minuit, [1975]. First edition, number 58 of 150 copies. Inscribed. Inscribed on the title page, "for William Targ & Roslyn very cordially Sam. Beckett". William Targ (1907-1999), was an editor and then head of Putnam's before founding his own imprint, Targ Editions; he was also a...... Read More about pas moi
Price: $750
Paris: Les éditions de minuit, [1966]. #68 of 80 copies printed on pur fil Lafuma. Inscribed. Inscribed on the title page: "for Bill & Roslyn in friendship from Sam". William Targ (1907-1999), was an editor and then head of Putnam's before founding his own imprint, Targ Editions; he was also..... Read More about Comédie et actes divers
Price: $750
London: Calder & Boyars, [1970]. Number 90 of 100 copies, specially bound and signed by the author. One of 100 signed, additionally inscribed. One of 100 copies signed by Beckett, additionally inscribed, "for Bill & Roslyn with all good wishes from Sam". William Targ (1907-1999), was head of Putnam's before..... Read More about More Pricks Than Kicks
Price: $2,000
Paris: 1980. No 19 of 30 copies. INSCRIBED. Inscribed by Beckett at his contribution on page 2, "for Bill from Sam". William Targ (1907-1999), was head of Putnam's before founding his own imprint, Targ Editions; he was also a noted bibliophile and Beckett collector; his wife, Roslyn Targ (1925-2017), was..... Read More about "Un soir," in MINUIT 37, Janvier 1980
Price: $500
Paris: Les Éditions de Minuit, [1967]. FIRST EDITION. Read More about Têtes-Mortes
Price: $50
London: Faber and Faber, [1976]. Uncorrected Proof Copy. Read More about Footfalls
Price: $250
London: Faber and Faber, [1962]. First UK edition. Read More about Happy Days
Price: $150
London: Calder and Boyars, [1965]. Number 11 of 100 copies signed by the author. ONE OF 100 SIGNED COPIES, ADDITIONALLY INSCRIBED. Additionally inscribed on title-page "For/ Bill & Roslyn/ their friend/ Sam." William Targ (1907-1999), was an editor and then head of Putnam's before founding his own imprint, Targ Editions;..... Read More about Imagination Dead Imagine...translated from the French by the author
Price: $1,500
Paris: Les Éditions de Minuit, [1966]. FIRST EDITION, LIMITED ISSUE, number 73 of 112 copies reserved for publisher of 550 copies on Rives from an edition of 762 (there were 100 hors commerce and 112 reserved for the publisher). Read More about bing
Price: $225
Paris: 1970-73. To Jean Demélier. A group of brief responses to his friend, the French writer Jean Demélier (b.1940), thanking him for his letters, mentioning travel plans, arranging meetings, etc. In the note dated 5-11-70, Beckett punningly congratulates Demélier on his soon to be published first novel, Le Rêve de..... Read More about Collection of 6 autograph postcards signed and 1 autograph letter signed ("Sam"), to...
Price: $2,500
Paris: Bordas / Éditions de Minuit, 1947 [but 1954]. First edition in French, second issue. Inscribed to the Targs. First French edition, second issue. Inscribed on the title page, "For William & Roslyn Targ with all good wishes Sam Beckett." Beckett's first novel, written in English and originally published in..... Read More about Murphy
Price: $3,500
[London]: Privately Printed [by the Shenval Press], 1960. One of 70 copies “printed and distributed for the friends of T. E. H[anley]" Tindall was a Professor of English at Columbia at the time of this publication on Beckett's “semblables”. Read More about Beckett's Bums
Price: $150