NO ORCHIDS FOR MISS BLANDISH.

London : Jarrolds (Publishers) London, [ca.1941]. First published in 1939 and here in a very early paperback edition advertising that the book had already reached its 164th thousand copies. George Orwell's famous "Raffles and Miss Blandish" essay appeared in "Horizon" in 1944 and propelled the book to an even greater level of notoriety, while the 1948 film, although only passed for screening after extensive cuts, caused national outcry, subsequently leading to an apology from the head of the British Board of Film Classification for having failed to protect the public. "Once or twice in a generation someone writes a book that establishes a new standard in literature; a book that starts a new trend of fashion; a book that everyone knows and talks about and which several million people read. And one which certainly must be included in that class is the world-famous 'No Orchids for Miss Blandish'" (Sunday Dispatch). Crown 8vo (18cm). 192pp. Original pictorial wrappers over thin card - a design by Merlin; chipped at foot of spine, with the loss of a few letters; lacks inner front flap of the wrappers; some minor marks, nicks and creases, with a short tear to the upper wrapper, but a good and sound copy. There would not appear to be any copy of this edition in any major library worldwide.