Clancy Got Well — Jay R. Clancy (Judge Ray Harrison) — 1951 First Edition — Signed & Inscribed with 1953 Signed Letter
Offered here is a particularly appealing association copy of Clancy Got Well, the 1951 recovery memoir written by Des Moines judge Ray Harrison under the pseudonym Jay R. Clancy, accompanied by an original 1953 typed letter signed by Harrison.
Published by McGrevey Book Store in Des Moines, Clancy Got Well is Harrison’s personal account of alcoholism and recovery through Alcoholics Anonymous. Written during the early expansion of A.A. in the Midwest, the book offers a candid firsthand view of alcoholism, recovery, and the role of A.A. during a formative period in the Fellowship’s history.
The book itself reflects Harrison’s direct A.A. connection. Its dedication reads:
“This book is humbly dedicated to My A.A. Sponsor, Don F., and my wife.”
Signed & Inscribed by Ray Harrison
The front free endpaper bears the ownership name:
Curtis R. Wright
Below it, Harrison has personally inscribed the book:
Best Wishes from Clancy — Ray Harrison
The inscription is especially desirable because Harrison signs using both his pseudonym, “Clancy,” and his real name, Ray Harrison, directly connecting the authorial identity used in the book with the man behind it.
Original 1953 Ray Harrison Letter
Included with the book is an original typed letter on Ray Harrison — Attorney at Law letterhead, dated February 28, 1953, from his office in the Fleming Building in Des Moines, Iowa.
Addressed to “Dear Morris,” the letter concerns Harrison’s travel arrangements for an upcoming visit to Tyler, Texas. He details his Braniff Airways itinerary, travel expenses, and plans for the trip.
Of particular interest is Harrison’s opening line:
“What the hell, we alkies do things funny, two letters in one day.”
That informal reference gives the letter a distinctly personal recovery connection and offers a glimpse of Harrison speaking privately and humorously within the language of recovery.
The letter is signed in blue ink:
Ray
The letter dates to just two years after the publication of Clancy Got Well, making it a particularly appropriate companion to the signed book.
About Ray Harrison
Ray Harrison was a Des Moines attorney and judge who became closely associated with alcoholism recovery and education in Iowa. Writing as Jay R. Clancy, he used Clancy Got Well to share his own experience with alcoholism and recovery through Alcoholics Anonymous.
His later work remained closely connected with alcoholism treatment, rehabilitation, and public education, making Clancy Got Well an important early piece of Midwest recovery literature.
Book Details
Title: Clancy Got Well
Author: Jay R. Clancy — pseudonym of Ray Harrison
Publisher: McGrevey Book Store
Place: Des Moines, Iowa
Year: 1951
Edition: First Edition
Binding: Red cloth hardcover
Signed: Yes — personally inscribed by Ray Harrison
Provenance: Ownership name of Curtis R. Wright
Accompanied By: Original typed and signed Ray Harrison letter dated February 28, 1953
Condition
The book is in Good to Very Good vintage condition.
The original red cloth remains attractive, with black cover illustration and lettering. There is moderate edge and corner wear, light rubbing and soiling, and a small area of surface loss on the front board. The spine remains readable and the binding is intact.
The interior shows expected age toning and occasional spotting. The front free endpaper contains the previous owner’s name and Harrison’s signed inscription.
The accompanying 1953 letter remains in very good condition with original mailing folds, light age toning, and minor handling wear. The typed text and blue-ink signature remain clear and legible.
Please review all photographs carefully for the most complete representation of condition.
Collector Significance
Unsigned copies of Clancy Got Well are collectible as early independent literature connected to Alcoholics Anonymous, but this example is significantly more desirable because it combines several elements rarely encountered together:
- a 1951 First Edition
- a personal inscription from Ray Harrison
- Harrison signing with both “Clancy” and Ray Harrison
- an original signed 1953 letter
- a direct recovery-related remark within the correspondence
- two separate examples of Harrison’s handwriting and signature
Together, the book and letter form a compelling small archive connected to one of the more unusual early personal accounts of recovery through Alcoholics Anonymous.
