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Log from the Sea of Cortez, The
London: Heinemann, 1958. Item #06579
Steinbeck & Ricketts in the Gulf of California
A Scientific Journey Recast as Literature
STEINBECK, John. The Log from the the Sea of Cortez. The narrative portion of the book Sea of Cortez with a profile “About Ed Ricketts”. London: Heinemann, 1958.
First U.K. edition. Octavo (8 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches; 210 x 140 mm.). lxvii, [1, blank], [1], [1, blank], 282 pp.
Publisher’s blue cloth over boards, spine lettered in gilt. Corners a little bumped, slight fading (approx. 1/8 inch) at foot of spine, and some very light foxing. Original color printed dust jacket with minimal rubbing at extremities. Blue pencil inscription dated “19.9.58” on verso of front free endpaper. A very good copy in an excellent dust jacket.
A reworking of Steinbeck’s earlier collaborative expedition narrative with marine biologist Ed Ricketts, originally published as Sea of Cortez (1941). In this later version, Steinbeck presents the narrative portion alone, accompanied by his moving biographical essay on Ricketts, written after his friend’s death.
The result is a more personal and reflective work - part travel narrative, part scientific observation, and part elegy - capturing both the ecological richness of the Gulf of California and the intellectual companionship that shaped Steinbeck’s thinking.
(Goldstone & Payne: see A40, U.S. edition; U.K. issue not separately enumerated.).
Price: $550.00