PRESENTATION COPY OF THE FOUNTAINHEAD, INSCRIBED BY AYN RAND TO "PILAR," LIKELY HER FRIEND, PILAR CAPULETTI, THE WIFE OF RAND'S FAVORITE ARTIST

RAND, Ayn. The Fountainhead. Indianapolis and New York: Bobbs-Merrill Company, (1943). Octavo, original red cloth, original dust jacket. Housed in a custom clamshell box.

Later printing, presentation copy, of Rand’s best-selling and unforgettable celebration of the individual spirit, likely inscribed to Pilar Capuletti, Rand's friend and the wife of her favorite artist: "To Pilar—who has proved that she will deserve this book—with my best wishes for your future—Ayn. April 27, 1956."

From 1935 to 1943, Rand worked as a secretary in an architectural firm, and while there wrote The Fountainhead, her first Objectivist novel and her first bestseller. "Reviews of her third novel were generally unfavorable, but it still became a word-of-mouth bestseller. It is the story of Howard Roark, an architect who is such an individualist and so honorable (that is, so true to himself) that when one of his designs is modified (in his view, adulterated) by mediocre minds, he destroys his own work. For the rest of her life Rand expanded on this theme" (ANB). "Rand has taken her stand against collectivism, 'the rule of the second-hander, the ancient monster,' which has brought men 'to a level of intellectual indecency never equalled on earth.' She has written a hymn in praise of the individual" (Lorine Pruette). Rand would also write the screenplay for the film version of the novel, released in 1949 and starring Gary Cooper and Patricia Neal. Later printing, without listing of printing number on copyright page. See Perinn A3. This copy is inscribed to Pilar, likely Pilar Capuletti, the wife of Rand's favorite painter, José Manuel Capuletti. Rand was a devoted collector of Capuletti's work (Dalí-esque in style) and she wrote to him frequently to express her admiration. Pilar and José Manuel were also Rand's personal friends. Rand often wrote to both in a single letter and even invited them to spend Thanksgiving with her in New York. In 1966, she wrote, "to the extent that one may detect certain dominant values in different cultures, one could say the work of Capuletti has the passionate intensity of Spain, the elegance of France, and the joyous, benevolent freedom of America." Ink owner inscription on verso of page inscribed by Rand.

Front inner paper hinge expertly reinforced, a few spots of soiling mainly to inscription page, light expert restoration to extremities of binding, most mild toning to spine. Dust jacket with mildest toning to spine, one short closed tear to front panel. A desirable inscribed copy.