DECLINE AND FALL - PENGUIN No. 75 (First Penguin edition - first printing - near fine in original scarce pre-war dustwrapper)

Evelyn Waugh

Published by Penguin Books (John Lane - The Bodley Head), London, 1937

About this Item

The first printing of the Penguin Books paperback edition, published in January 1937. One of ten Penguins that were published in that month - these were the last Penguins to bear The Bodley Head imprint on the covers. Later Penguins had this replaced with the relevant Penguin classification. The book was originally published in hardcover by Chapman & Hall in September 1928. ***A virtually fine copy in the iconic Penguin designed orange and white card covers used for fiction titles. Surprisingly, considering the age and fragility of these early Penguin paperbacks, there are virtually no faults to the book. No reading creases to the spine. No bumps or creases to the covers, which show very little wear, and which are extremely bright and clean, having been protected by the scarce dustwrapper. No tears. Internally the book is also near fine, with no inscriptions, and no creases or tears. The paper stock is lightly tanned, bu not as much as is usually found. Spine tight. ***In a lovely example of the original dustwrapper which is largely complete, with just small areas of loss to the top and tail of the spine (not affecting the lettering) and at the corner tips of the foldovers. The dustwrapper retains the original printed price of 6d net on the front panel and spine. The flaps are intact and uncreased. As to be expected for a book of this age and fragility, the dustwrapper is slightly rubbed and creased at the edges, but with none of the usual browning to the spine. ***182mm x 114mm. 256 pages. ***'"Decline and Fall" is a novel by the English author Evelyn Waugh, first published in 1928. It was Waugh's first published novel; an earlier attempt, titled "The Temple at Thatch", was destroyed by Waugh while still in manuscript form. "Decline and Fall" is based, in part, on Waugh's schooldays at Lancing College, his undergraduate years at Hertford College, Oxford, and his experience as a teacher at Arnold House in north Wales. It is a social satire that employs the author's characteristic black humour in lampooning various features of British society in the 1920s. The novel's title is a contraction of Edward Gibbon's "The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire". The title alludes also to the German philosopher Oswald Spengler's "The Decline of the West" (1918?1922), which first appeared in an English translation in 1926 and which argued, among other things, that the rise of nations and cultures is inevitably followed by their eclipse. Waugh read both Gibbon and Spengler while writing his first novel.' (Wiki) ***A first printing of the first Penguin edition of "Decline and Fall" by Evelyn Waugh. Surviving copies of Penguin Books from this period are seldom found now in presentable condition, especially complete in their original dustwrappers. This is an exceptional copy - potentially the best surviving copy of the first Penguin printing left in existence. A real collector's copy, and of interest to collectors of early Penguin Books and of the work of Evelyn Waugh. ***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.

Seller Inventory # PB490x

Bibliographic Details

• Title: DECLINE AND FALL - PENGUIN No. 75 (First Penguin edition - first printing - near fine in original scarce pre-war dustwrapper)
• Publisher: Penguin Books (John Lane - The Bodley Head), London
• Publication Date: 1937
• Language: English
• Binding: Original Wraps
• Edition: First Paperback Edition
• Printing: First Printing
• Condition: Near Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • Literature
  • First Editions
  • Collectable Paperbacks