LORD OF THE FLIES

Advance or trial issue of the first edition, first printing. Signed by the author. Publisher's original dark greyish-blue cloth with white titles to the spine, in the Anthony Gross illustrated dustwrapper. A very near fine copy, the binding square and tight, the cloth bright and fresh. The contents, lightly spotted to the endpapers, are otherwise clean throughout and without previous owners' marks. Complete with the trial or proof state dustwrapper that is very lightly nicked at the extremities and with a few foxing spots to the upper panel and rear flap. There is a small ink inscription in blue ink to underside "Sept 17 / 54" (publication date). Not price-clipped (12s 6d net to the lower front flap). Housed in a bespoke, blue buckram solander case. Rare in this form.

Signed by William Golding in blue ink on the front endpaper. The author's debut novel of which 3,040 copies of the first edition were published. Gekoski records that "four copies have been located" in this advance, or trial-state binding, of which the present example is one. Of the three remaining copies, it is unrecorded how many, if any, retain the advance-state dustwrapper, (distinguished by its slightly oversized format and wider, unclipped flap corners at both front and rear), nor how many examples have been signed by the author. A stellar, possibly unique, example of an indisputable classic of twentieth century literature. (Gekoski & Grogan A2).