Exceedingly rare book: Go Caroline! by George Plimpton. Limited printing of eight copies. [Newport, RI]: privately printed by Arthur Blish, [1963]. Issued with quarto yellow self-wrappers, printed on yellow paper with decorative borders and illustrated seascapes, this copy bound as a hardcover in full brick-red buckram with “Go Caroline” in gilt on the front cover, 7.25 x 10.75, twelve pages. In fine condition, with a light scuff at the margin of the title page and very light rubbing to cover extremities. Plimpton’s short, charming story describes a day with the Kennedy family at Bailey’s Beach, Newport, focusing on Caroline’s playful exploits during the day. In the 1990 book The Best of Plimpton, the author writes that this was one of several sketches originally written for Harper’s Magazine but that Jackie requested it not be published—writing about the Kennedy children was off limits, regardless of how positive the story. However, the president so enjoyed the piece that Plimpton ‘had it privately printed for him and the family—a few copies.’ Of the eight copies printed, three were specially bound and presented to the president, first lady, and Caroline; the other five remained unbound. Unbound copies are located at the Library of Congress, New York Public Library, and the Amherst College Library. Arguably the rarest publication associated with the Kennedy family and seldom available to the public.
