CHANGE

First edition. One of 50 copies reserved for collaborators. Inscribed association copy. Signed by the author, illustrator, editor and publisher. Hardcover. Publisher's original cream paper covered boards with title in black on white to the upper board, and an envelope illustration by George Hardie to the lower board. With 22 drawings by George Hardie in black, white and cream throughout the text. Together with a handwritten note in black ink from the editor Simon Rae inscribed loosely laid in. A near fine copy, the binding square and firm with a touch of rubbing to the extremities, otherwise bright and fresh. The contents are clean throughout and without previous owners' marks.

Inscribed by the editor in black ink on the front endpaper "Frank / Take care / + all the best / Simon / 25th May 2000"; further signed by Craig Raine in purple ink, and George Hardie in blue ink at the rear. Initialed and numbered XXIX on the colophon by the publisher Trevor Weston. This example is one of the first 50 copies in hardcover from a total edition of 449 copies, reserved for presentation and distribution by the collaborators. The remainder of the edition was issued in pamphlet form. The sixth book in the first series of the Prospero Poets series. The handwritten note, on Simon Rae's personal stationary, reads "25th May 2000 / Frank, / Another book - I'm sorry - but / at least it's a thin one. / I can't imagine Faber without you; / but I'm sure you can. Hope you / have a great time, - and that / retirement doesn't rule out the odd / pint. / Every best wish / Simon". The recipient is Frank Pike, an editor at Faber and Faber for 41 years and from the 1960s onwards responsible for the Faber drama list, recruiting Tom Stoppard, Simon Gray, Brian Friel, Sam Shepard, and Alan Bennett, among others, as well as working closely with authors already publishing with the firm, notably Samuel Beckett.