Hand-Signed by Tony Hillerman

Hillerman, Tony (1925–2008)

Finding Moon [Original color drawing by Ernest Franklin]

New York: HarperCollins, 1995. First Edition, First Printing.
A premier collector’s specimen of Tony Hillerman’s 1995 standalone novel, distinguished by a unique collaborative element. While famous for his Navajo Tribal Police series, Hillerman here pivots to a gripping narrative set against the chaotic backdrop of the fall of Vietnam.

This specific copy is a "triple-threat" acquisition: it is a stated First Printing, it is hand-signed by Tony Hillerman on the title page, and it features an original color drawing by Ernest Franklin on the half-title page. Franklin, the iconic Navajo artist whose illustrations became synonymous with Hillerman’s work, has contributed a detailed original rendering of a Vietnamese man poling a boat—a direct visual bridge to the novel's protagonist, Moon Mathias, and his journey through Southeast Asia.

KEY FEATURES
+++ Original Art: A unique, hand-drawn color illustration by Ernest Franklin on the half-title page, depicting a traditional river scene in Vietnam.
+++ Signature: Boldly signed by Tony Hillerman on the title page.
+++ Limited Presentation: Housed in the publisher’s original embossed slipcase, a format reserved for high-value presentation and gift copies.
+++ Literary Context: A rare departure for Hillerman, proving his mastery of the thriller genre outside the American Southwest.

SPECS
+++ Edition: First Edition, First Printing (Full number line).
+++ Format: Octavo; ix, 319 pp.
+++ Binding: Black cloth-backed blue boards; titles and cover decoration stamped in copper; map endpapers.
+++ Jacket: Original pictorial dust jacket.
+++ Housing: Publisher's matching embossed slipcase.

CONDITION: FINE / FINE / FINE --- An archive-quality example. The book is tight, square, and appears unread. The dust jacket is bright with no fading or edge-wear. The embossed slipcase is structurally sound and clean. The Franklin illustration remains vibrant with no fading to the pigments.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE ---
Tony Hillerman’s partnership with Ernest Franklin is one of the most celebrated author-illustrator collaborations in modern Western literature. Franklin’s ability to translate Hillerman’s prose into a visual medium became a hallmark of "Hillerman Country."

Finding Moon represents Hillerman at the height of his powers, exploring themes of family and redemption far from the Four Corners. This copy, containing an original Franklin drawing of a non-Southwestern subject, is a significant rarity, documenting the artist's versatility and his deep personal connection to Hillerman’s broader literary output.

Item #21681

Price: $295.00