Roma: Botteghe Oscure VI 1950. First (separate) edition of Agee's autobiographical first novel, printed for private circulation in its entirety. One of an unrecorded number of offprints from Marguerite Caetani's distinguished literary journal Botteghe Oscure, this edition of The Morning Watch is decidedly rare. Presentation copy, inscribed on the front free endpaper: "to Bob Edwards / with warm good wishes / Jim Agee". The novel was not published until 1951 when Houghton Mifflin brought it out in the United States. A story of adolescent crisis, based on Agee's experience at the small Episcopal preparatory school in the mountains of Tennessee called St. Andrew's, one of whose teachers, Father Flye, became Agee's life-long friend. The title alludes to Jesus' vigil in the Garden of Gethsemane on Good Friday, when his disciples were enjoined, but failed, to keep the watch with him. 8vo, original printed wrappers. Wrappers dust-soiled, small area of discoloration on front free-endpaper, otherwise a very good copy, without the glassine dust jacket. Books inscribed by Agee are rare.