WAUGH, Evelyn
 
Decline and Fall, first edition, first state. Published by Chapman & Hall in 1928.
 
Description
 
First edition, first impression of Waugh’s first published work. In its first state dust jacket, designed, notably, also by Evelyn Waugh. Waugh’s father was the managing director of Chapman & Hall publishers, Evelyn had insisted on illustrating the work himself. Evelyn’s experiences at Lancing College and Hertford College, Oxford provided him with the raw comedic material for Decline and Fall. Unsurprisingly, imposture being a key theme.
The first printing is the most difficult of all to acquire in this condition; here with the errata, "Martin Gaythorne-Brodie" and "Kevin Saunderson"; unchanged on pages 168 and 169.
Price unclipped and the correct 7/6 NET.
Near fine. As yet the finest of the near-fine examples of this book we have encountered.
The copy is in its original red snakeskin cloth which bears some rubbing to the head and end slight also to the extremities. The binding is intact and the pages bright and clean. No inscriptions, barring a price, neat and in pencil to the end paper tip.
The jacket here is superb although there is fading to the spine as usual. It is renowned for its fragility and here survives exceptionally well. A very clean example indeed.