The Shining by Stephen King - 1977

First edition, first impression (Heinemann, 1967). Illustrated by Janet and Anne Grahame-Johnstone. Signed, inscribed and dated by the author in the year of publication on the front blank: 'To Cicely Courtneidge, from Dodie Smith "Dear Octopus", Theatre Royal, Haymarket, 1967'. The inscription refers to Smith's play 'Dear Octopus', which was revived in 1967 for the fiftieth wedding anniversary of the comedy actors Dame Cicely Courtneidge and Jack Hubert. Dodie Smith's married name, 'Mrs Beesley', Dodie Smith's married name is also written in ink in another hand to the front flap of the dust jacket. Additionally a postcard from the author is loosely inserted: 'Dearest Cis, Here is "The Starlight Barking" as a tiny first night present. It's also intended as a get well present to your dear poodle - I trust you'll be able to use Bill's line and say "The dog liked it". Bless you and thank you for your lovable, funny and altogether admirable performance as "Dora". Much love as ever, Dodie". 8vo, publisher's… Read More

First UK edition, first impression (Collins Clear-Type Press, 1958). Originally published in the US the previous year. Signed and inscribed by the author to front endpaper verso: 'for the children of Battersea with Best Wishes... Dr Seuss'. Rare thus.Publisher's original turquoise pictorial boards. Rubbing to edges and to spine with some bumping to corners; very slight bowing to upper board; contents clean and free from names and inscriptions.A good copy of an edition that is rare to find bearing a unique inscription from the author.

First Canadian edition, first impression (McClelland and Stewart, 1985). Signed and inscribed by the author to half-title: 'For Nancy - Best Wishes - Margaret Atwood'. Featuring striking dust jacket artwork by Tad Aronowicz. The true first edition, preceding that of the UK and the US. Winner of the Arthur C. Clarke Award and more recently adapted into a successful TV series.

Quarter-bound in maroon cloth with cream boards and white lettering to spine. A fine and clean copy with some of the seemingly always present rubbing to the spine ends.

The original and unclipped dust jacket has a nick to spine foot, but is otherwise beautifully crisp and sharp.

A uniquely superior example of a classic of dystopian fiction.

First US edition, first impression (Harper & Row, 1970) in first state dust jacket with the exclamation mark after 'Latin America' on upper flap. Originally published in Spanish in 1967. Original green cloth with lettering to spine in gilt and green endpapers and paste-downs. A small area of light browning to front endpaper with very minor traces of rubbing to spine tips, near fine otherwise. The original and unclipped dust jacket has very mild traces of edge wear in places with a very small chip to bottom of lower panel, a couple of tiny nicks to edges and a price fairly inconspicuously pencilled under the original jacket price. A beautiful copy of the novel's first appearance in English, housed in an attractive drop-back box.

A complete set of first editions, first impressions.'Puzzle for the Secret Seven' has been signed by the author to an adhesive label bearing her photograph affixed to the reverse of the front endpaper.
All books and dust jackets are very good, or better than very good in some cases. 'The Secret Seven' has some spotting and dust jacket is price-clipped, as is the dust jacket of 'Good Work Secret Seven'. 'Well Done Secret Seven' and 'Fun for the Secret Seven' have gift inscriptions to the front paste-down and front endpaper verso respectively. The 'This Book Belongs to' label present on the half-title pages has been filled in in the cases of 'Secret Seven Mystery', 'Fun for the Secret Seven', and 'Puzzle for the Secret Seven'. 'Go Ahead Secret Seven' has an owner label to front endpaper and some brown tape reinforcement to edges of dust jacket verso.
A very good set indeed. Rare in such good condition as a complete set with the additional appeal of the author's signature to one of the volumes.

This used paperback book is in very good condition. The pages are clean and neat. The binding is tight. The boards are clean inside and out.

First edition, first impression (Heinemann, 1967). Illustrated by Janet and Anne Grahame-Johnstone. Signed, inscribed and dated by the author in the year of publication on the front blank: 'To Cicely Courtneidge, from Dodie Smith "Dear Octopus", Theatre Royal, Haymarket, 1967'. The inscription refers to Smith's play 'Dear Octopus', which was revived in 1967 for the fiftieth wedding anniversary of the comedy actors Dame Cicely Courtneidge and Jack Hubert. Dodie Smith's married name, 'Mrs Beesley', Dodie Smith's married name is also written in ink in another hand to the front flap of the dust jacket. Additionally a postcard from the author is loosely inserted: 'Dearest Cis, Here is "The Starlight Barking" as a tiny first night present. It's also intended as a get well present to your dear poodle - I trust you'll be able to use Bill's line and say "The dog liked it". Bless you and thank you for your lovable, funny and altogether admirable performance as "Dora". Much love as ever, Dodie". 8vo, publisher's… Read More

First edition, first impression with 'violent' for violet on p. 317, and no name on the street sign on the upper board. Illustrations by Sidney Paget. Some light spotting, floral endpapers, publisher's light blue cloth with gilt edges. Spine ends repaired with some of the often-seen rubbing and soiling to the boards and spine and previous owner's bookplate to front paste-down.

First US edition, first impression (Harper & Row, 1970) in first state dust jacket with the exclamation mark after 'Latin America' on upper flap. Originally published in Spanish in 1967. Original green cloth with lettering to spine in gilt and green endpapers and paste-downs. A small area of light browning to front endpaper with very minor traces of rubbing to spine tips, near fine otherwise. The original and unclipped dust jacket has very mild traces of edge wear in places with a very small chip to bottom of lower panel, a couple of tiny nicks to edges and a price fairly inconspicuously pencilled under the original jacket price. A beautiful copy of the novel's first appearance in English, housed in an attractive drop-back box.

Fifth edition (Chapman & Hall, 1844). Issued the year after the first edition, which was published in December 1843. Hand-coloured etched frontispiece and a further three plates by John Leech with four wood-engravings by W.J. Linton. Two pp advertisements at rear. Gilt edges with publisher's original cinnamon vertically ribbed cloth stamped in blind and gilt. Previous owner name to half-title dated 1844. Small stain on page 25 and one plate detached. A little light soiling/spotting to leaves here and there with some rubbing to edges. Hinges starting and binding a little exposed towards the rear of the book, but all pages, save for the one aforementioned plate, still firmly in place. A very good example.