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Dial Press, New York, 1954, First Edition, First Printing with no further printings indicated. SIGNED and inscribed at the ffep by Eddie Condon and Dick Gehman, "Ralph - Here's some of our local fog, Eddie [and] Dick". A characteristic Condon wise-crack, an amiable shot presumably aimed at the jazz critic contributors to the book. Inscribed to and from the library of Ralph J. Gleason, an influential pop and jazz critic, author, producer of the acclaimed Jazz Casual television series and a founding editor of Rolling Stone magazine. In grey quarter cloth with red marbled paper boards, spine ends are slightly compressed, offsetting to endpapers at hinge as usual, mild toning to page edges, else near fine, tight, clean. Difficult dust jacket is about very good, unclipped, with original price of $5.00 to front flap, lightly rubbed, chipping to spine ends and front corners, soiling and several short closed tears to rear panel. A classic jazz anthology from the 50's, co-edited by jazz bon vivant, club owner, impressario, guitarist/banjoist and band leader, Eddie Condon. Includes essays by prominent jazz writers including Gleason, Leonard Feather, Marshall Stearns, Whitney Balliett and Nat Hentoff. Also includes contributions by writers not ordinarily associated with jazz, including James Jones, Shelby Foote and Murray Kempton. First printings of this title in the dust jacket are increasingly scarce and copies signed by both editors very uncommon, a nice signed association copy with the signature of traditional jazz's most indefatigible standard-bearer. J1487