First edition, first printing. Inscribed by the author. Publisher's original blue cloth with gilt titles to the spine, in the Donald Green illustrated dustwrapper. An excellent near fine copy, the binding firm and the cloth and gilt fresh. The contents with a little toning of the paper stock are otherwise clean throughout and without previous owner's inscriptions or stamps. There is just a hint of spotting to the closed text block edge. Complete with the very lightly nicked dustwrapper that remains without fading or loss. Not price-clipped (15s net to the front flap).
Inscribed by the author in black ink on the title page "For [crossed out] David Posner / from / Graham Greene". A previous or joint recipient's name in the author's hand has been crossed through. A scarce signed and inscribed first edition of Greene's 1958 black comedy, adapted the following year into a film directed by Carol Reed, starring Alec Guinness as James Wormald, vacuum cleaner salesman turned MI6 operative.
Stock code: 20781
£4,250