Preliminary identification
Photo reference
3 uploaded photos
Overview
A lushly written travel memoir by socialite and explorer Leila Hadley, chronicling her 1970s journey through India to reconcile with her daughter. This edition is a collaboration between Turtle Point Press and the legendary Manhattan bookstore Books & Co.
Story
In 1978, socialite Leila Hadley traveled to India to find her estranged daughter, who had joined a Buddhist monastery. Named for a childhood wish to be 'the sea, the jungle, or else a cloud,' the book captures a 'cosmic play' of family and faith.
Maker / Origin
Leila Hadley was a world-class traveler who once sailed the globe with her six-year-old son. She was a fixture of New York's literary scene, married to Henry Luce III, and co-founded the Wings Trust for women explorers.
Condition & Value
The dust jacket appears intact with minor shelf wear; the interior pages shown are clean. Excellent preservation of the dust jacket's color and the binding's integrity will maintain its value. First editions in good condition with dust jackets typically sell for $15–$30; signed copies or those in pristine condition can reach $45.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.