THE INNOCENT VILLA

[BARNABY CONRAD]. THE INNOCENT VILLA. ASSOCIATION COPY SIGNED & INSCRIBED BY AUTHOR. Avon Books, New York, 1953. First Edition, First Printing. First Edition in paperback. Avon #537 with the original 25 cents price on front cover. Condition: Near Fine / Very Good. With micro chips to extremities and mild creases typical of pulp fiction books of this age, otherwise appears unread, pages are bright, clean and binding tight. Colors on cover and type on spine still vibrant and punchy. Conrad Barnaby was a world famous writer, bullfighter, boxer, night club owner, pianist and painter. Signed and inscribed by Barnaby Conrad to L.A. journalist Nick Beck, "For mi amigo Nick, from Barnabé[y]". Signed on the ffep with the last letter of his name written as é instead of y which he seldom did.His very first novel about an American diplomat in love with a gypsy and about the violence and danger of the bull ring. Hewrote the second novel, a classic 1952 book titled "Matador" which John Steinbeck said was the best book written that year. His night club in San Francisco, El Matador, hosted many famous celebrities and he was friends with Ernest Hemingway. He is the only American to battle bulls in all three countries of Spain, Mexico and Peru. Newspaper clipping of provenance included. Beautiful GGA cover art. Classic romantic, adventure pulp and scarce signed collectible. As of this writing today this is the only known signed copy of this paperback by Barnaby Conrad.