First edition, first printing. Signed by Roald Dahl and also signed with an original drawing by Quentin Blake. Publisher's original red cloth with gilt titles to the spine, in dustwrapper. Brilliantly illustrated by Quentin Blake with black ink wash drawings throughout. A lovely fine copy, the binding square and firm, the cloth and gilt bright and fresh. The contents are clean throughout and without foxing or previous owner's marks. Complete with the fine ever so slightly rubbed dustwrapper that remains without fading, loss or tears. Not price clipped (£3.50 to the front flap). Housed in a bespoke quarter red morocco solander box with titles in gilt to the spine.
Inscribed by the author in blue ink on the front endpaper "To Ben / love / Roald Dahl / 1980". Overleaf on the half title, the illustrated has inscribed "for Ben / best wishes / Quentin Blake / 2010" around which he has penned an original illustration of the mischievous Muggle-wump hanging from the printed title. One of the author and illustrator's best loved books, rare in this wonderful double presentation state. Muggle-wump first appears in The Enormous Crocodile (1978) before cropping up again with family members (and sticky glue) in The Twits.
Stock code: 23381
£17,500