THE STRANGER

Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1986. Overall very good plus.. Publisher's proof copy, with printed illustrations facing pages with tipped-in text captions sourced from internal galleys, and with another set of corrected galleys. This proof matches the majority of the final work except for the last spread, which includes annotations in pencil to correct the text that was revised after its production. "Every autumn since the stranger's visit, an odd thing happens" is changed to "Every autumn since the stranger's visit, the same thing happens." It is a subtle stylistic shift that speaks to Van Allsburg's careful building of an atmosphere that allows symbolic inference over explicit interpretation. In addition, the farewell message in the final sentence has been changed from "See you next year!" to "See you next Fall." An illuminating glimpse of both Van Allsburg's writing process and the multi-stage refinement involved in publishing a picture book. 9.25'' x 11.''. Original stapled printed sheets loosely laid into trial dust jacket (priced at $15.95). Illustrated with full-page color images by Van Allsburg. Text slips tipped onto blank facing pages. Final text slip with pencil corrections. [32] pages. Regular shallow edgewear to jacket. WITH: Original galley dated "Jun 13 1986" laid in, with inked note "Please attach to previously sent proofsheets" and an addition sticky note on verso of final leaf reading "Hanna - Herewith the correct text for the Van Allsburg galleys I sent you earlier.