ULTRA RARE Marblehead William Bill Brinkley Comic Book Early Work Spiral Bound 1953

$2,800.00
This rare 1953 spiral-bound humor book is the first known published work by Bill Brinkley, the author who would later gain national acclaim for Don’t Go Near the Water (1956) and The Last Ship (1988). Published by Fleming H. Revell Company, Marblehead predates Brinkley’s debut novel and is virtually absent from bibliographies, institutional records, and auction history.

Marblehead; an ordinary fellow; is searching to know who and why he exists. This inward adventure started with a simple question put to himself. Not just another "find yourself" book, yet this short story will make you feel upbeat and renew a strength within us all. Life constantly challenges us today, more than ever, to live or just exist, to ask questions or go with the flow. As an ordinary fellow, search with Marblehead on this inward adventure that lies within us all.

It is overall still in great condition, very minor wear on the pages/covers. The spiral bound is fully intact and has not torn any pages.

Price reflects the rarity & context surrounding this book. This book is seldom ever seen in the market as it was a limited print from his early works. It is in remarkable condition for its age & could be added into a collection or gifted to a museum for many more to see.

Brinkley’s Early Career and Context (1950s)

William Clark “Bill” Brinkley (1917–1993) was an American journalist-turned-novelist active in the 1940s–1980s . In the early 1950s – the time Marblehead was published – Brinkley was working as a writer and editor, which aligns with him producing a humor book. He served as a reporter for The Washington Post (1941–42, 1949–51) and then as an editor/staff writer for Life magazine from 1951 to 1958 . This period at Life had Brinkley crafting light, humorous feature stories, suggesting he was honing a comedic writing style. It’s entirely plausible that Marblehead, published in 1953, was a product of Brinkley’s humorous writing during his Life magazine years. In fact, Brinkley’s archive at the University of Oklahoma contains his magazine articles from 1952–63, indicating he was actively writing short pieces then.
This rare 1953 spiral-bound humor book is the first known published work by Bill Brinkley, the author who would later gain national acclaim for Don’t Go Near the Water (1956) and The Last Ship (1988). Published by Fleming H. Revell Company, Marblehead predates Brinkley’s debut novel and is virtually absent from bibliographies, institutional records, and auction history.

Marblehead; an ordinary fellow; is searching to know who and why he exists. This inward adventure started with a simple question put to himself. Not just another "find yourself" book, yet this short story will make you feel upbeat and renew a strength within us all. Life constantly challenges us today, more than ever, to live or just exist, to ask questions or go with the flow. As an ordinary fellow, search with Marblehead on this inward adventure that lies within us all.

It is overall still in great condition, very minor wear on the pages/covers. The spiral bound is fully intact and has not torn any pages.

Price reflects the rarity & context surrounding this book. This book is seldom ever seen in the market as it was a limited print from his early works. It is in remarkable condition for its age & could be added into a collection or gifted to a museum for many more to see.

Brinkley’s Early Career and Context (1950s)

William Clark “Bill” Brinkley (1917–1993) was an American journalist-turned-novelist active in the 1940s–1980s . In the early 1950s – the time Marblehead was published – Brinkley was working as a writer and editor, which aligns with him producing a humor book. He served as a reporter for The Washington Post (1941–42, 1949–51) and then as an editor/staff writer for Life magazine from 1951 to 1958 . This period at Life had Brinkley crafting light, humorous feature stories, suggesting he was honing a comedic writing style. It’s entirely plausible that Marblehead, published in 1953, was a product of Brinkley’s humorous writing during his Life magazine years. In fact, Brinkley’s archive at the University of Oklahoma contains his magazine articles from 1952–63, indicating he was actively writing short pieces then.