(7) Books, John Graves (Texas) Some First Editions & Signed

Lot description

(lot of 7) Books by John Graves (Texas, 1920-2013), including: (1) "The Last Running," John Graves, drawings by John Groth, The Encino Press, Austin, 1974, 48 pages, signed at the second inside page, the book numbered 44 of 300, comes with slipcase, excellent condition, approx 9.25" x 11.5" x 0.75"; (1) "The Last Running," John Graves, Lyons & Buford Publishers, 1990, 59 pages, signed at the back "For Connie, who has run some Indians & buffalo too, through her tireless typewriter, Affectionately, John Graves, Dec. 1990," approx 10.25" x 8.25" x 0.50"; (1) "Hard Scrabble," John Graves, Alfred A. Knopf, 1973, 1974, 267 pages, author signed first inside page, dust cover, approx 8.5" x 6" x 1.25"; (1) "A John Graves Reader," University of Texas Press, 1996, signed at the first title page "For Connie, a mainstay of literary effort and an absolute love. With much affection, John Graves, 10/23/96," with dust cover, approx 9.5" x 6.5" x 1"; (1) "Goodbye to River: a Narrative," John Graves, Alfred Knopf, 1960, first edition, signed at the first title page "For Connie, one of my best telephone friends, With Love, John Graves, 12/1/92," 306 pages, dustcover, approx 8.5" x 6" x 1.25"; (1) "From a Limestone Ledge," John Graves, Alfred Knopf, 1980, first edition, signed at the first inside page "For Connie, who presides, with much affection, John Graves, Dec. 1990," 228 pages, dustcover, approx 8.75" x 6" x 1"; (1) "Goodbye to a River," John Graves, The Book Club of Texas, 1989, 237 pages, Mylar dust cover, excellent condition, approx 11" x 8" x 1"; 11lbs total (for shipping purposes only) Provenance: From the estate of Connie Todd (Constance Clare Todd, Austin, Texas, 1941-2024). For many years, Connie Todd was the personal assistant to prominent Austin-based book publisher, photographer, and author Bill Wittliff (William Dale Wittliff, American, active in Austin, Texas, 1940-2019). Bill Wittliff wrote celebrated screenplays such as "Lonesome Dove" (1982), "Legends of the Fall" (1994), and "Barbarosa" (2000), and founded the regionally-oriented publishing company, Encino Press, with his wife Sally in 1963. Connie Todd later served as the founding director of the Wittliff Collections at Texas State University from 1997-2010, transforming it into an internationally-acclaimed collection through noteworthy acquisitions such as the Cormac McCarthy archive. After retiring from Texas State, Connie Todd spent time traveling the world with friends and family.