MIDNIGHT'S CHILDREN - SIGNED, WITH ORIGINAL ARTWORK BY BILL BOTTEN

London: Jonathan Cape, 1981. First U.K. Edition. Hardcover. Attractive copy of Rushdie's second book, a magical realist novel set in modern India. Winner of the Man Book Prize in 1981, awarded the "Booker of Booker's" Prize in 1993, and in 2008 voted the "Best of the Booker's" for most outstanding novel published in the last 40 years. A distinctive copy, reproducing Botten's dustjacket art; when Random House acquired Jonathan Cape in 1987, the majority of Botten's original artwork for dustjackets was lost - including that of Midnight's Children. The only other example known to us was commissioned by Peter Straus in 2010, and acquired by the Morgan Library in 2012 for their Man Booker Prize collection. It remains among the most striking and easily-recognizable works of art associated with the Booker Prize. First Impression, bound from American sheets. Octavo (24.25cm); light gray paper and burgundy cloth-covered boards, with titling and author's initials stamped in silver on spine and front cover; dustjacket; [10],11-446pp. Signed by the author on the title page. This copy has been embellished by Australian artist and dustjacket designer Bill Botten, who has reproduced his front panel artwork in miniature (5" x 6.5") in pen, ink, graphite, and acrylic wash; signed in pen at lower margin. Moderate hand-soil to boards, light wear to backstrip, else Very Good+ and free from foxing. Dustjacket is unclipped (priced £6.95), with gentle sunning to blue portion of spine panel, and some pinpoint wear; Near Fine. With the wraparound band, folded at center, with some mild rubbing to extremities.