My understanding is that at some point in the past a book of cryptic
crosswords created by Stephen Sondheim was published.  I would like to
buy a copy of that book.  It doesn't have to be in pristine condition,
but it should not be marked up, i.e. the puzzles have not already been
partially or completely finished.  It's for a gift.  Thank you.

Somewhere around the house I have a copy of Sondheim's crossword
puzzle book, but it has been scribbled in extensively! This is a
remarkable collection of very difficult and clever puzzles, and it has
become a collector's item that is extremely hard to find in any
condition. I used to work in a used book store, and only once did this
book ever pass through our shop. The copy we had was (like my own
personal copy) written in.

My best suggestion is that you go on Amazon's waiting list:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0006XSVO8/qid=1127513872/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i2_xgl14/104-1623761-3898368?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

This may help a little. I located my copy of the book, and I've
scanned the cover so you'll know what it looks like. This may be
helpful if you visit used book stores in search of the elusive
Sondheim puzzle book:

http://www.mortalwombat.com/Special/sondheim_puzzles.jpg

It's a spiral-bound paperback, about the size of the standard spiral
notebook that students use. There is a companion volume called
"Richard Maltby's Crossword Puzzles" that is quite similar (although,
in my view, not quite as fiendishly clever). The Maltby book has a red
cover. For the devoted puzzle buff, both books are well worth having.
Good luck!

You might want to consider this book of cryptic puzzles from
"Harper's." Similar material, and this one is actually available!

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1879957051/qid=1127516146/sr=8-5/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i2_xgl14/104-1623761-3898368?v=glance&s=books&n=507846