PUZO, Mario (1920-1999). The Godfather. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969.

8vo. Original pictorial wrappers (some rubbing to flap folds and edges, a few tiny chips or creases to extreme edges, slight dampstain to verso of front wrapper, spine panel toned); quarter morocco folding case. Provenance: Pat Denny (signature on flyleaf).

FIRST EDITION, PROOF COPY in wrappers. SIGNED BY PUZO on front free endpaper. Puzo's novel, set in the violent realm of the Mafia underworld, was the basis for the 1972 film starring Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The movie won the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Script, and Best Actor, and is considered the greatest mob movie of all time. "Mario Puzo's novelistic work is in the strong, rich vein of American Naturalism; his literary forebearers are Frank Norris, Crane, Dreiser, Lewis, and James T. Farrell" (Vinson 1133). RARE: According to online records, we trace no proof copies of Puzo's work at auction in at least 25 years.