New York: Simon and Schuster, 1974.

A pre-publication look at the legal and moral fallout of the Pentagon Papers. Peter Schrag’s contemporary analysis of the Daniel Ellsberg trial was a critical strike against government secrecy during the height of the Nixon era. As an 'Advance Review' copy, this specimen represents the text in its rawest form, distributed to critics before the book hit the shelves in July 1974.

KEY FEATURES
+++ Format: Advance uncorrected proofs issued by Simon and Schuster.
+++ Imprint: Simon and Schuster, New York, 1974.
+++ Context: Focuses on the Pentagon Papers, the Espionage Act, and the rituals of the Secret Government.
+++ Specs: 5 by 11 inches; tall, narrow "galley" format typical of 1970s review copies.

CONDITION Good. Housed in original wraps. The front panel remains present and legible, but the rear panel is lacking. The spine shows wear consistent with the tall, fragile format. The text block is secure; internal pages are clean and free of the usual reviewer markings.

Historical Significance —
The publication marks a pivot point in American political journalism. Schrag documents the shift from the "gentlemanly" secrecy of the mid-century to the radical transparency necessitated by the Vietnam War. As a proof copy, it represents the information as it was first leaked to the press for review, mirroring the very theme of the book.

Material & Bibliographical Utility:
The tall, 11-inch blue wrap format is the distinctive S&S proof style of the mid-1970s. For the bibliographer, these proofs are essential for comparing pre-publication text against the final edited version, often catching last-minute legal redactions made due to the sensitive nature of the Ellsberg case.

Price: $34.00