"THE DICTIONARY DEFINITION, IN THE PUBLIC MIND, OF THE GOREYESQUE"

GOREY, Edward. The Vinegar Works: The Gashlycrumb Tinies; The Insect God; The West Wing. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1963. Three volumes. Square octavo, original pictorial paper boards; housed in the original slipcase. $750.

First edition, of this early publisher's grouping of three Gorey titles, all first editions, including his most famous work, The Gashlycrumb Tinies.

"During his tedious time at Bobbs-Merrill, Gorey produced three classic works, one of which, The Gashlycrumb Tinies, would become his best-known title—the dictionary definition, in the public mind, of the Goreyesque. The Gashleycrumb Tinies; or, After the Outing; The Insect God; and The West Wing appeared in 1963, in a boxed set published by Simon and Schuster called The Vinegar Works: Three Volumes of Moral Instruction. It debuted a year after the arrival of Maurice Sendak's four-volume Nutshell Library. Since he knew Sendak and seemed to have kept abreast of chilren's book publishing, it's unlikely Gorey hadn't gotten wind of Sendak's wry take on Puritan primers and Struwwelpeter-type cautionary tales. Whether The Vinegar Works is his response we don't know, but the timing is suggestive" (Dery, Born to Be Posthumous, 224). Toledano A13.

Books fine, with only most mild toning to boards of The West Wing; mild rubbing to publisher's box. Very nearly fine condition.