ANTHEM [1st Edition ]

Edition: 1st Edition

Book Description

London: Cassell, 1938 The true first edition, first issue of the author's uncommon second book; one of an estimated 3,500 copies only. Bound in the original red & black mottled cloth, top edge stained black, with the original black end-papers in excellent condition. The very rare dustwrapper on this particular example omits British pricing & instead carries the words 'Colonial Edition' at the foot of the front flap. Perinn A2a. references William Dunn regarding 2 states of the dustwrapper; the apparent first, spine priced at 6 shillings net, & the second state omitting the spine price but with "Colonial Edition" printed on the lower front flap. However, Perinn might not have actually ever seen a copy of the Colonial edition & Bill Dunn had seen only the one copy, & deduced that the priced dustwrapper preceded the un-priced, which in fact is probably incorrect. The export market for British publishers like Collins & Cassell [which excluded the US] was sufficiently important that colonial edition dustwrappers often preceded, domestic dustwrapper printing & in this instance this may very well be the case. Either way, both dustwrappers are uncommon to say the least & extremely rare in condition. An excellent bright, fine copy, the rare dustwrapper with one small chip at the top of the front panel. The True First Edition, preceding the American edition by eight years because it was denied US publication. Missing from most Rand collections. . 1st Edition.