First edition, first printing. Signed by the author. Inscribed presentation copy. Publisher's original blue cloth with silver titles to the spine, in the Brian Netscher illustrated dustwrapper. A near fine copy, the binding square and firm, the cloth bright and fresh, with just a little rubbing to the spine tips. The contents, with a presentation inscription by the author, are otherwise clean throughout. Complete with the very good or better, lightly rubbed, nicked and creased dustwrapper, which has a few dust marks to the panels and a small closed tear to the tail of the spine. Not price-clipped (21/- net and £1.05 to the lower front flap).
The author's second novel. Inscribed in black ink on the front endpaper "For my old pal Robert / belatedly from Author Aix / 1981". Aiken's father was Pulitzer Prize Winner and former United States Poet Laureate, Conrad Aiken (1889-1973). His sisters, Joan Aiken (1924-2004) and Jane Aiken Hodge (1917-2009) were also prolific authors.
Stock code: 29722
£75
London: Robert Hale.
1970