FOUR QUARTETS (First edition - ninth impression - variant with corrected typesetting error - this copy with original newspaper obituary and a lock of hair!)

Ninth impression of the true first edition, published in July 1952 (the book was first published in 1944). This edition differs from previous editions in that the cloth-covered boards are beige not grey, the dustwrapper is yellow rather than cream, and the 'Books by T. S. Eliot' on the back of the dustwrapper are listed under Poetry, Prose and Plays rather than just Poetry and Prose. ***This copy is a variant with the typesetting error on p.12 corrected - apparently, in this printing, the section heading V for "Burnt Norton" was mistakenly printed at the head of page 12, instead of further down the page. At least half of the print run has this error, with most of the remainder having a cancel leaf inserted. However, this copy appears to have a bound in correctly typeset page (please see scans). ***Very good in beige-coloured cloth-covered boards with gilt titles to the spine. The gilt titles are still nice and bright, not oxidised. The boards are clean without any marks. No bumps or creases - just slight rubbing at the top and tail of the spine. Corners sharp. No reading lean to the binding. Spine tight. Page block edges quite clean. Internally, the book is also very good, with dark offsetting to the front and rear free endpapers. There is a contemporary ownership bookplate - ex-libris Sylvia Lawrence - affixed to the front pastedown. No annotations. Pages clean. No creases or tears. ***In a very good lemon-yellow, black and red printed dustwrapper, which is virtually complete, with just very slight loss at the top and bottom of the spine, but not affecting the titles. There is also some light rubbing and creasing at the edges, and uneven browning to the front panel. The dustwrapper has not been price-clipped, retaining the original publisher's printed price of 7s 6d net. There is some fading and browning to the extremities of the dustwrapper, and the spine is rubbed and slightly discoloured. ***44 pages. 226mm x 146mm. ***Contents: Burnt Norton; East Coker; The Dry Salvages; Little Gidding. ***A ninth impression of the true first edition, in its original dustwrapper, both in very good condition. This example is quite unusual in having the typesetting error corrected. A nice copy of this classic work. ***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.…