LUMN, Peter [Bernard Malamud] & NORRIS, Faith. Kim of Korea.

New York: Julian Messner, 1958.

8vo.; in red cloth, with dust-jacket; jacket heavily torn and missing several sections of the spine.

First edition, second printing of Malamud's scarcest book. In fact, Kim of Korea was unknown in Malamud's lifetime. His authorship was revealed only after his death when his library was catalogued by this firm. The only copy we encountered when documenting the library was a first edition, first printing.  We had no knowledge of there being a second printing; nor were we successful in ever locating a copy in the market.  Malamud, curiously, permitted a photograph of himself to appear on the rear of the jacket alongside one of Faith Norris, though he maintained the pseudonym of Lumm—a clear, abbreviated play on his last name. 

Malamud’s own copy, inscribed on title page by his wife Ann Malamud: “Personal property of Bernard Malamud / Ann Malamud”. 

This children’s book, co-written by Malamud under the pseudonym Peter Lumn, tells the story of Kim, a ten-year-old orphan from Seoul, who travels across Korea looking for an American soldier who promised to adopt him and bring him to America. It is Malamud’s second book, published after The Natural. Faith Norris taught at Oregon State University with Malamud. With illustrations by Kurt Wiese.