The Aubrey/Maturin novels, complete in 20 volumes. ALL SIGNED. Master and Commander; Post Captain; H.M.S. Surprise; The Mauritius Command; Desolation Island; The Fortune of War; The Surgeon's Mate; The Ionian Mission; Treason's Harbour. . . by O'Brian, Patrick - 1969

Philadelphia, London, & New York: Lippincott, Collins and Stein and Day (1969-1999)., 1969. First editions. Master and Commander; Post Captain; H.M.S. Surprise; The Mauritius Command; Desolation Island; The Fortune of War; The Surgeon's Mate; The Ionian Mission; Treason's Harbor; The Far Side of the World; The Reverse of the Medal; The Letter of the Marque; The Thirteen-Gun Salute; The Nutmeg of Consolation; Clarrisa Oaks; The Wine-Dark Sea; The Commodore; The Yellow Admiral; The Hundred Days; Blue at the Mizzen. Master and Commander and H.M.S. Surprise are Lippincott first American editions; The Mauritius Command and Desolation Island are Stein and Day first American editions; the remaining 16 are Collins and Harper Collins first English editions. This set of books comprising the entire Aubrey/Maturin series, all signed, came from the collection of the late Richard Mattie. Mattie was decidedly the most resourceful and one of the most passionate collectors I have had the fortune of knowing in my 30+ years of book selling. Patrick O'Brian was the focal point in his large collection, and getting the books signed was an accomplishment of epic proportions. O'Brian was a noted recluse who lived in rural France and eschewed most public contact including even interviews. At the strong behest of his American publisher, O'Brian did make several trips to the United States in the mid to late 90s and did, at this time, sign copies of his later novels (Clarissa Oaks through Blue at the Mizzen). But at no time did he do a public signing for all of his large, significant opus. In April 1999 O'Brian did a "Patrick O'Brian Mediterranean Cruise" aboard the ultra-posh, exclusive Sea Cloud. Also aboard as speakers were Walter Cronkite and Bernard Cornwell. Mattie learned of this cruise and he and his wife went, along with his O'Brian collection. But getting the books signed took all of his resourcefulness. O'Brian gave one brief talk the first night out but that was his only public appearance. Mattie befriended O'Brian's personal secretary and publicist who was traveling with the author. He explained his plight and she told him that O'Brian strongly disliked signing books but she would see what she could do. She came back the next day and said that she could probably get him to sign three books a day and this, then, is what they did. Mattie left the cruise having gotten the entire set (plus several others) signed. Along with the O'Brians is Mattie's personal limited cruise-specific copy of Sea Cloud by Kurt Grobecker and Peter Neuman; signed by the Captain and Annemarie Victory (the owner) as well as by various other crew members and passengers. There are no auction records since 1995 for individual early titles in the series signed let alone for a entire set signed. This is almost certainly a singular offer with the most unimpeachable provenance. All of the books are near fine to fine in near fine to fine DJs. The Djs on Master and Commander, H.M.S Surprise and The Mauritius Command have very shallow edge wear and the one on The Far Side of the World has some spinal sunning and the book has a remainder star bottom edge. The Ionian Mission has faint tape ghosts on top of the cover boards. Each book is SIGNED on the title page with the author's printed name stricken through by O'Brian.. Signed by Author(s). 1st Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine/Dust Jacket Included.