Watership Down.

London: Rex Collings,, 1972. An instant classic First edition, first impression, of the author's first novel. Initially turned down by several publishers, the book was finally accepted by the small firm of Rex Collings, with a first printing of 2,500 copies. It was soon recognized as a major work of British post-war literature. Watership Down won both the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Award for children's fiction. The novel was adapted into an animated film in 1978, and two animated television series, the first running from 1999 to 2001, the second airing in 2018. Adams (1920-2016) remains "a significant figure in the development in children's literature, namely in the establishment of the 'crossover' novel which, though intended for younger readers, can reach out to adults through maturity of theme, complexity of thought, and sophistication of language" (ODNB). Octavo. Original brown cloth, spine lettered and front cover decorated with rabbit vignette in gilt. With dust jacket. Single page map within text and colour folding map at rear. Slight vertical crease to spine, edges a little rubbed; price-clipped jacket spine panel rubbed, short closed tears to spine ends, couple of paper repair to flap folds and short split to front flap fold: a near-fine copy in very good bright jacket.