Thomas Pynchon – Mortality and Mercy in Vienna (London: Aloes Books, 1976)

A highly desirable copy of this elusive Thomas Pynchon pamphlet, published by Aloes Books in 1976. One of a very limited run, this slender stapled chapbook is among the earliest separate printings of Pynchon’s work—issued long before he achieved cult literary status.

This copy presents beautifully: *tight, bright, and clean*, with only the faintest trace of age toning and a light surface mark to the front cover. Staples are firm with no rust, pages crisp and unmarked. The white cover remains sharp, the sepia photograph image clear and unfaded—a superb survival of a fragile format rarely seen in such condition.

A genuine collector’s piece from the countercultural London small-press scene of the 1970s, capturing Pynchon’s early experimental brilliance. These pamphlets were never distributed widely and were sold mainly through avant-garde bookshops and readings. Today, they seldom appear on the open market, and even less so in this state.

📘 Condition: Fine to Mint — tight staples, clean pages, slight staining to cover.

📖 Format:** Staplebound pamphlet.

An essential addition for any serious Pynchon collector — a small but significant piece of postmodern literary history.