H.L. MENCKEN. [16 works published by Knopf, by, or on Mencken, or with his contributions]. 1919-27.

Alfred KNOPF (publishers). - Henry Louis MENCKEN (1880-1956). [Selection of works, some by Mencken, some with contributions from him, some on him].  New York: Alfred Knopf, publisher, 1919-1927. 16 works, various sizes. Various bindings, many in excellent condition, see below). Provenance: Alexander F. Haas collection (most with reference numbers at the front, added by Haas). (16)

An interesting selection, all from publisher Alfred Knopf, mostly first editions (see below), generally in better than average condition.

‘H. L. Mencken was unquestionably the most provocative and influential journalist and cultural critic in twentieth-century America. … Edmund Wilson wrote: “Mencken’s mind . . . has all the courage in the world in a country where courage is rare.” That courage may sometimes have been coupled with an inflexible stubbornness that led him into positions hard to defend. But to succeeding generations of writers and readers, Mencken was the figure who had risked charges of heresy and sedition and almost single-handedly brought America into a new cultural era. To read him is to be plunged into an era whose culture wars were easily as ferocious as those of our own day, in the company of a critic of vast curiosity and vivacious frankness..’ (https://loa.org/books/331-prejudices-first-second-third-series).

Comprising:

1.In Defense of Women. New York: Knopf, 1924. Small octavo. Sixth printing. Cloth-backed boards, dust-jacket, excellent. Frey 9i.

2.The American Language. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1930. Large octavo. Reprint of the 3rd revised edition. Blue cloth, d/j. (d/j discolored, very lightly soiled, otherwise excellent). See Frey 10.

3.Ventures in Common Sense by E. W. Howe. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1919. Small octavo. First thus. Cloth-backed boards (v. small chip to head of spine, no d/j, otherwise excellent). Frey C4.

4.The American Credo. (With George Jean Nathan) . New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1920. Small octavo. First edition. Blue cloth, d/j. (Tears and chips to d/j, otherwise excellent). Frey A5a.

5.The Borzoi 1920 Being a sort of record of five years’ of publishing. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1920. Small octavo. First edition. Decorated boards (no d/j, some fading, otherwise excellent). “Willa Cather,” pp. 28-31 by Mencken, and G.J. Nathan “On H.L. Mencken” pp.34-36. Frey B14.

6.Youth and Egolatry by Pio Baroja. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1920. Small octavo. First thus. Cloth-backed boards (light worming to cloth, no d/j, otherwise excellent). Frey C5.

7.The Antichrist by F. W. Nietzsche. (Mencken edited and translated). New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1920. Small octavo, first thus. Cloth-backed boards, no d/j, otherwise excellent. Frey C6.

8.The Antichrist by F. W. Nietzsche. (Mencken edited and translated) . New York: Alfred A. Knopf, September 1923. 12mo. (Short tear to title). Decorated cloth, d/j (very slight discoloration to d/j, otherwise excellent). Not in Frey, later edition

9.We Moderns by Edwin Muir. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1920. First thus. Cloth-backed boards (light worming to cloth, no d/j, otherwise excellent). Frey C7.

10.Democracy and the Will to Power by James N. Wood. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1921. First thus. Cloth-backed boards (light discoloration to lower cover, no d/j, otherwise excellent). Frey C8.

11.Americana 1925. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1925. Octavo. First edition. Blue/black cloth, d/j (small hole to upper joint otherwise excellent).

12.The Borzoi 1925 Being a sort of record of ten years of publishing. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1925. Small octavo. First edition. Cloth-backed batik-patterned boards, with damaged d/j in twp parts. Excellent. “Mr. H.L. Mencken,” pp. 102-106 by J. Hergesheimer, and H.L. Mencken “Memorandum” pp.138-141. 

13.Americana 1926. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1926. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1925. Octavo. First edition. Blue/black cloth, d/j (rodent damage to cloth and d/j).

14.Literary Lights A book of caricatures by Gene Markey. N.Y.: Knopf, 1923.

15.Many Minds Carl Van Doren. N.Y.: Knopf, 1924.

15 .Book Reviewing by Wayne Gard [Borzoi Handbooks of Journalism]. N.Y. & London: Knopf, 1927.