PBA Galleries

(8vo), blue cloth, dust jacket.  First UK Edition.

Inscribed on blank page at front by Saroyan to David Battan, major West Coast autograph, rare document, and rare book dealer: "For David Battan - writer, collector, interpreter of handwriting, with thanks for copies of sad old letters I sent to various people - William Saroyan Fresno November 11 1980 1pm. 62? years ago today I sold the noon extra edition of the Evening Herald and felt the sorrow of the occasion -Armistice, peace - perhaps there is something in this collection about it."

David Battan (1937-1987) was well known in Fresno, a major West Coast autograph, rare document and rare book dealer. He had also written a well received book on Handwriting Analysis, for which William Saroyan wrote a holograph foreword. He and Saroyan were very good friends, and Battan was working on a Saroyan biography at the time of his death.