MR. ALLENBY LOSES THE WAY (First UK edition, first impression - in the scarce post-war dustwrapper)

A first impression of the first UK edition, published shortly after the Second World War in 1946. With the fragile paper dustwrapper in remarkably complete and clean condition. ***Near fine in beige cloth-covered boards, with black titles to the spine. The boards are clean and unmarked. The head and tail of the spine are uncreased. Corners sharp. No reading creases to the spine. Very slight reading lean to the fragile binding. Spine tight. Page block edges clean. Internally also near fine, with no inscriptions. Pages clean and uncreased. No foxing or offsetting. No creases or tears. ***In a very good original illustrated dustwrapper, which has been corner square-price clipped on the front flap. The dustwrapper is remarkably complete, with no loss even to the top and tail of the spine and the vulnerable corner tips of the foldovers (please see scans). There is just some light rubbing, creasing and small nicks to the edges of the dustwrapper, with a 1cm closed tear to the bottom edge of the back panel. The white back panel is surprisingly clean and unmarked, and the spine is unfaded and not browned at all. The dustwrapper is very clean and unfaded. A very fragile item. ***192mm x 128mm. 251 pages. ***Contents: Part One: Innocence, Part Two: Experience, Part Three: Imagination. ***'With wartime London as its background, this story, which opens humorously and lightly, plays incessantly upon a theme which is of importance to these times; the theme of power exerted by one individual over another. Allenby is a type of the little man, who, discovering his individuality in middle life, rebels against the chaotic world which he had secretly never accepted, and embarks upon a lonely quest for eternal truth. Those who remember "Miss Hargreaves", "Playing with Punch", and other books by Frank Baker, will expect something fantastic from him. But this new novel is not entirely fantasy, neither is it escapist literature. It is offered as entertainment, no more than that; if a serious intention is discovered underneath its humour, so much the better.' (Quote taken from the front flap of the dustwrapper). ***'Francis Baker (22 May 1908 - 6 November 1983 was a British writer of novels and short stories, mainly on fantastic or supernatural themes. He was also an actor, musician and television scriptwriter. His best-known works are his novels, "The Birds" (1936) and "Miss Hargreaves" (1940), and his memoir, "I Follow But Myself" (1968).' (Wiki) ***A true first edition, published just after the Second World War to wartime economy standards, with 'Book Production War Economy Standard' printed on the printer's page. In the original thin and fragile dustwrapper. Extremely uncommon in the dustwrapper, and virtually unobtainable now in such a clean and complete dustwrapper. A collector's copy. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.…