Honey & Wax Booksellers Archives

New York Holiday

First edition of this insider's guidebook to New York City, one of many popular travel titles by Eleanor Early. Ambitious and independent, Early launched her journalistic career in Boston before joining the New York Times in the late 1930s. Her sharp-witted observations, delivered with the candor and warmth of a close friend, would define her articles and books on cooking, history, and travel, including her bestselling series on American cities. In New York Holiday, Early interviews the Empire State Building's publicist, exposes the seedy Chinatown walking tour racket, and offers the inside scoop on the nightclub scene: "The Stork is a place that everyone in the world appears to have heard about. . . .Tex McCrary says it is one of the few plush-rope places where, once an out-of-towner gets inside, 'the waiters don't keep making him feel as though the crude oil or the hayseed are still showing on his folding money.' Swanky, in other words, but not snooty." This copy is inscribed and signed by Early to "Jane Cochems" with Early's characteristic "x" following her signature. A fun inscribed example of mid-century New Yorkiana, in near-fine condition. Single volume, measuring 8 x 5.5 inches: [8], 376. Original black cloth, spine lettered in silver and orange, original unclipped color pictorial dust jacket. Presentation inscription from Early in blue ink to half-title. Edgewear to lightly sunned jacket, a few small chips to jacket spine ends and corners.