The Colour Of Magic (Signed By Colin Smythe) by Pratchett, Terry - 1983

The First UK Printing published by Colin Smythe (Gerrards Cross) in 1983. The BOOK is in Very Good+ condition. Original green covers with gilt tiling to the spine. A little fading to the spine, corners and upper edges in places. Mild pushing at the spine ends. A slight lean is present. Textblock is lightly toned and spotted. Some light marks to the edges of a few pages. There is a little easing of the hinge at the title page with just the beginning of exposure of some of the webbing. The binding remains tight. There is a previous owner's bookplate (unfilled) to the front upper end paper (see images). One corner of this bookplate has slightly lifted and there is underneath, evidence of a previous owner's inscription in green ink. There are NO stamps, erasures or other markings to suggest that this has ever been a library copy. Two WRAPPERs are present for this title. Both are originals and are in Very Good condition with edge-wear , rubbing and a little loss at the spine ends. Some creasing and a few closed tears are present (see images). Both have a little staining to the verso which is just about discernible to the upper rear cover of one of the wrappers (the one with the additional blurb). Both wrappers are unpriced. Both wrappers are protected in removable Brodart archival covers. The book has been signed on the the title page by Colin Smythe (the Publisher). The book was typeset in the UK, but printed in the USA through St Martin's Press, as at that time printing costs were cheaper there than in the UK. There were only just over 500 copies printed (with 400 copies of these thought to have ended up in libraries). Colin Smythe did not like the blurb St Martin's Press printed on the front flap of the wrappers and so most copies were covered over by a blurb more to his liking. One of the two wrappers present with this copy has the blurb present whilst the other is the much scarcer wrapper which escaped this process. A very scarce title - the first in the 'Discworld' series. We have not handled a copy with such attributes before especially with the signature of Colin Smythe. Collectible. Ashton Rare Books welcomes direct contact.