Morris L. West.  THE SHOES OF THE FISHERMAN.  The Franklin Library, Franklin Center, Pennsylvania, 1980.  Black & white illustrations by Dennis Lyall.  9” x 6” octavo, 303 pages plus an introductory Special Message to Subscribers from the author.  No DJ as issued.  It is a Limited Edition volume, first edition thus, personally signed on the third flyleaf by the author, whose signature is protected with a tissue guard.

        This beautiful book displays absolutely no writing, folding, tearing, or nameplate from a previous owner.  The satin page marker has never been moved from the publisher's original placement.  It is clearly unread.

        Informed critics have noted that West seldom revised his original text.  His first handwritten version usually became the final printed product.  Once he became an established author, each of his new books sold over one million copies.

        The Shoes of the Fishermen, first published in 1963, relates the election and career of a Slav as pope, 15 years before the historic election of Karol Wojtyla as Pope John Paul II.  With uncanny prescience, West's sequel, The Clowns of God (not for sale here), described a successor pope who resigned the papacy, much like Pope Benedict XVI.

                              Franklin Library ~ Unsurpassed Elegance

    ~ Bound in fine genuine leather, selected for quality of grain and texture
    ~ Distinctive raised spine hubs
    ~ 22 kt gold stamped spine accents
    ~ Intricate gilt-stamped cover designs
    ~ All edges gilt
    ~ Specially milled archival acid-neutral paper to last for generations
    ~ Lavish, high quality bindings
    ~ Textured moire, elegantly marbled or aesthetically patterned endpapers
    ~ Permanent satin ribbon marker sewn in
    ~ Rigorous production standards to ensure superb craftsmanship and  enduring quality

 With the closing of The Franklin Library in 2000, books published by Franklin Library are now deemed to be out of print and have become prized collectibles.