Franklin Library leather edition of Kurt Vonnegut's "Slapstick or Lonesome No More," a Limited edition, one of the FIRST EDITION SOCIETY series, with a 'facsimile signature' by KURT VONNEGUT, published in 1976. Bound in tan leather, the book has gold French moire silk end leaves, hubbed spine, acid-free paper, Symth-sewn binding, satin book marker, gold gilding on three edge--in near FINE condition.  Kurt Vonnegut, who lived from 1922-2007, was an American novelist and short story writer with a career spanning over 50 years.  Born in INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, he attend CORNELL University but dropped out and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1943.  He was then deployed to Europe to fight in WW II and was captured by the Germans at the BATTLE OF THE BULGE. In a "Special Message," Vonnegut wrote: "With this book, written by me at the age of fifty-three, I cease to be Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., and become what my father was---simply Kurt Vonnegut.  Father died seventeen years ago, and I should have dropped the "Jr." then. Some of us make permanent museums of our head junk, which we call "books." I, in fact, earn my living by creating such museums."  Hi, ho."  In the Prologue, Vonnegut said:  "This is the closest I will ever come to writing an autobiography. I have called it "Slapstick" because it is grotesque, situational poetry---like the slapstick film comedy, especially those of Laurel and hardy, of long ago." Hi ho. Later Vonnegut wrote: "Until the eve of our fifteenth birthday, Eliza and I never heard anything bad about ourselves. . .Dr. Mott seldom commented on anything but our appetites and our excretions.  Our parents brought us toys from F.A.O. Schwarz---guaranteed by that emporium to be education for three-year olds." When mother planned a graduation party for me at the Ritz in Boston, across from the Public Gardens, she and I never dreamed that Eliza would somehow hear of it, and would come all the way from Peru. Cousin Grace was a Daffodil-13, and "once a Daffodil, always a Daffodil." 257 pages.  I offer Combined shipping.