[LONDON, Jack (1876-1916) and STRUNSKY, Anna (1877-1964)]. The Kempton-Wace Letters. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1903. 8vo. [vi], 1-256, [3, ads], [3, blank] pp. Publisher's full green cloth, front board and spine decoratively stamped in black, front board lettered in white, spine lettered in gilt (spine a bit toned and edgeworn, hinges cracking). Near fine. Housed in later blue cloth slipcase lettered in gilt (worn).FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY LONDON TO HIS CLOSE FRIEND, CHARLES WARREN STODDARD ON THE FFEP.: ?To dear Charles Warren Stoddard, ?Indeed, indeed, Repentance oft before I Swore ? but was I sober when I swore?' Jack London The Bungalow, June 6, 1903." London quotes the Rubaiyat in the inscription. With a manuscript note by Stoddard (unsigned) tipped-in after the inscribed ffep: ?These Letters were written by two hands ? namely: - ?Dane Kempton' by Anna Strunsky, a Russian Jewess. And Herbert Wace by Jack London." Strunsky and London were close friends and fellow socialists. They wrote this anonymous novel, which explores various ideas about love in a series of letters between the fictional characters mentioned above. It appeared early in London's career, being published in the same year as The Call of the Wild. Stoddard was an author and editor, having written several travel books; Stoddard and London were close friends and frequently corresponded, with Stoddard taking a fatherly role in London's generally chaotic life. A wonderful association copy. BAL 11875. Measurements: 10"L x 8"W x 2"H.