The Devil to Pay. by SAYERS, Dorothy L - 1939

London: Victor Gollancz Ltd,, 1939. First trade edition, first impression. It was preceded by the first acting edition printed for the first production of the play at Canterbury in June 1939. Provenance: from the publisher's archive of Victor Gollancz (1893-1967), one of the revolutionary figures of 20th-century publishing. Everything about Gollancz was distinctive, from his business practices - he flouted convention, backed newcomers extravagantly, and held unique sway over the Book Society choices - to the appearance of his books. The famous yellow jackets, a collaborative design between Gollancz himself and the typographer Stanley Morison, bristle with blurbs, recommendations, and reviews in black and magenta. Prior to its acquisition by Peter Harrington, the archive was shelved together from first publication, though occasionally moved from warehouse to warehouse over the decades. The copies were retained by Gollancz as "archive" or "file" copies and most are stamped in ink with rubber stamps, usually on the front panel of the dust jacket, the front free endpaper, and the title page. Octavo. Original blue cloth, title to spine in gilt. With dust jacket. Spine faded, boards spotted, edges foxed; an excellent copy in the slightly toned and spotted jacket.