The Catcher in the Rye.

New York: Bantam Books, 1972. 12mo paperback, red covers with author and title in yellow. Ownership inscription of “Maria Rondinone” at head of first page. Housed in a custom black cloth clamshell box, with red morocco title label at spine.

Popular reprint for use especially in schools during the 1960’s and ‘70’s, warmly inscribed by Salinger, as follows: “To Maria from two old friends, Matthew and J.D. Salinger June 14, 1973.” The family of the recipient, Maria Rondinone, owned a popular Italian restaurant in Claremont, New Hampshire, only a few miles from Salinger’s home in Cornish. The restaurant, Tony’s Pizza, was popular with area residents. Salinger often took his two children, Matthew and Margaret, to Tony’s for Friday night dinners. At the time of the inscription, Maria Rondinone attended Stevens High School in Claremont. She became friendly with the Salingers, and Matthew especially (who was nearly the same age), as a result of repeated visits to her family’s restaurant. The inscription demonstrates that despite Salinger’s notoriety as a recluse, he regularly engaged and was friendly with ordinary folks in Cornish and the surrounding towns.

CONDITION: front cover detached, small chip at head of spine, lightly worn at extremities.