H.M.S. ULYSSES

First edition, first printing. Signed by the author. Publisher's original red cloth boards and gilt titles to the spine, in the John Rose illustrated dustwrapper. Map endpapers. A very good copy, the binding square and firm with a little bumping to the spine tips and corners, the cloth with just a couple of small marks is otherwise bright and fresh. The contents, with toning to the closed text block edge, are otherwise clean throughout and free previous owners' marks. Complete with the rubbed and nicked dustwrapper that has several short closed tears, the largest of which is at the bottom of the upper spine fold. Not price clipped (12s 6d net to the front flap).

Inscribed by the author in blue ink on the title page "To James Whyte / appreciatively / Alistair MacLean [underlined]". The author's debut novel, written at the publisher's request (and huge advance) after he won a short story competition for the maritime adventure 'Dileas' the previous year (1954). Drawn heavily on his experiences in the Royal Navy during World War II, 'H.M.S. Ulysses' was a runaway success from the get go, selling a remarkable 250,000 copies in hardback in the UK in the first six months of publication.