Robert Giroux’s Copy of On the Road Scroll at New York International Antiquarian Book Fair

Robert Giroux’s personal copy circa 1951 of the famous scroll of Jack Kerouac’s On the Road is among the highlights from Peter Harrington at this year's New York International Antiquarian Book Fair running until April 7.

This is probably the first ever reproduction of the 120ft-long work. Giroux was Kerouac’s first editor and the first person to whom Kerouac offered On the Road – he was also the first person to turn it down. It was eventually published by Viking in 1957. Together 135 photocopied leaves, with original envelope, it is priced at US$260,000.

Also at Peter Harrington is a first edition of the Communist Manifesto, the founding document of communism, extremely rare, this newly discovered example becoming only the 28th copy known worldwide, and one of a handful remaining in private ownership (US$1,950,000).

Finally, the London-based rare book specialist is offering a working rehearsal script of West Side Story, used by Mickey Calin who created the role of Riff, inscribed by both author and lyricist on the title page, “To Clive Hirschhorn, Best wishes, Arthur Laurents, 4/21/99” and “To Clive Errol, Stephen Sondheim, 4/24/98”. The script provides a unique insight into the creation of one of the greatest of all Broadway shows and comes from the private collection of the theatre critic Clive Hirschchorn ($30,000).