THE MIGHTY THING (First UK edition in pre-war dustwrapper - inscribed by the author]

A first printing of the first UK edition, undated but published in 1933, retaining the original pre-war dustwrapper. This copy has been warmly SIGNED and INSCRIBED by the author in the year of publication (please see scans). ***Very good in black cloth-covered boards with green titles to the spine. The boards are quite clean, having been protected by the dustwrapper, with just some fading at the edges, and a few light marks commensurate with age and handling over the last 90 years. Head and tail of spine uncreased, but there is a light vertical reading crease to the spine. No bumps or creases to the fragile boards, and no tears to the cloth. Corners sharp. The edges of the page block are just slightly darkened and marked. The binding has a slight reading lean. Spine tight. Internally also very good, with a flourishing gift inscription by the author on the front free endpaper, dated March 25th, 1933: 'To Lazby, To remember happy days in London - and in California one day, from Denny'. Someone has added in pencil 'novel of Wall Street'. The pages are white and clean, with just minimal sporadic foxing - the paper used is quite thick. No tears or creases. ***In a very good colour illustrated dustwrapper, which has virtually no loss - just a small chip at the bottom corner of the front flap where the printed price has been removed (although the 7/6 net price is also printed on the spine). The dustwrapper is in beautiful condition, with hardly any loss at all, just some rubbing and light creasing at the edges. The white spine of the dustwrapper is fabulously clean. The back panel, which is also white, is also extremely clean. No significant chips or tears - just a small closed tear at the bottom edge of the front panel. Dustwrapper bright. ***192mm x 135mm. 287 pages plus a comprehensive 40-page catalogue of John Long's New Books dated Autumn, 1932 at the back of the book. ***'This powerful and dramatic work deals with a theme which is profoundly interesting -- Post-War America. It transports the reader from the end of the War through the subsequent years of fabulous wealth and enormous conceit to the crash of 1929 and the present depression. (Quote taken from the front flap of the dustwrapper) ***'Denison Clift (1885 - 1961) was an American playwright, novelist, screenwriter and film director. He directed in both America and Great Britain, mainly during the Silent Era. Clift was educated at Stanford University. He began his career as a short story writer, novelist, and playwright. Clift entered the film industry in 1918, penning the screenplay for William S. Hart's "Wolves of the Rail". He began a contract writer with Fox, and was promoted director in 1920. Less than a year later, Clift was imported by a British firm in a larger movement to liven their domestic silent films by employing Hollywood directors. He directed a number of British films during the silent era, such as "Demos" (1921) and "The Love of Mary, Queen of Scots" (1923), with Fay Compton in the title role. Clift remained in Great Britain after the transition to sound films, occasionally directing small-budget melodramas- including "The Mystery of the Mary Celeste", which he also screen-wrote.' (Wiki) ***A beautiful first printing of the first UK edition, complete in its original 1930s thin, fragile dustwrapper in near perfect condition. Copies of Denison Clift's books n the original dustwrapper from this period are most uncommon. With this copy being warmly inscribed, it makes a real collector's item. The publisher's catalogue also provides a useful resource for the collector of John Long's books from the period, and each title listed has a synopsis of the plot. ***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. …