ANOTHER ROADSIDE ATTRACTION                by Tom Robbins                                                  Ballantine Books, First Paperback Prtg., 1972    Condition: Very Good Plus                                                                                                                                                 "Better than CATCH-22.  An extraordinary book." - Herbert Gold. 

This first novel by Tom Robbins was actually turned down by Doubleday while the book was a work-in-progress.  

The completed manuscript was finally accepted and published in 1971, but with only a 6,000-copy print run.  But word-of-mouth apparently created a demand for the novel -- whether Ballantine Books got wind of this or also ran a smaller-than-usual number of copies of the first paperback printing, I can't say.  It is apparent that, even though copies of the 1st hardback are readily available today (for hundreds of dollars), the first pb printing is tough to find.  I searched the Internet and found just one rather ragged copy of the 1st pb up for sale. 

Details about the copy I'm offering: Nowhere, including the front cover, is there a mention of another Robbins novel.  The back cover contains only praiseful blurbs about the  book.  The page opposite the title page lists 4 unrelated Ballantine books.  The copyright page states, "First Printing, August 1972".  

The copy has small (except for one) light corner creases, a spine wrinkle, some darkening near spine on jacket backs, slight page toning and 3 small "8"s on top page edges.  Otherwise a bright, square, firmly bound copy with no interior creasing, tearing, writing or markings.