PALE FIRE (First UK edition - second impression)

Second impression of the first UK edition, published in November 1962 - the same month as the first impression. Dustwrapper designed by Larry Carter. ***A very good copy in black cloth-covered boards with silver titles to the spine. The silver is still beautifully bright, having been protected by the dustwrapper. Head and tail of spine uncreased. Corners sharp. Boards nice and clean with no marks. The book would be described as near fine, but for some foxing spots affecting the fore-edge of the page block - bleeding very slightly into the margins of a few pages, and some darkening and marks to the top edge. Binding square and tight with just a hint of a reading lean. No reading creases to the spine. Internally near fine with no inscriptions - just a very small Foyles bookseller's label on the front pastedown, hidden by the front flap of the dustwrapper. Pages clean with no marks, no creases or tears. Paper stock very slightly tanned. ***In a very good dustwrapper, which has not been price-clipped, retaining the original publisher's printed price of 21s net. The dustwrapper is virtually complete, with just small areas of loss at the top and tail of the spine and top corner tips. There is however none of the edge wear and creasing normally found with this title. There is a small mark at the bottom of the back panel. The front panel of the dustwrapper is extremely clean. The spine is darkened and slightly discoloured. ***204mm x138mm. 315 pages. ***Contents: Foreword, Pale Fire: A Poem in Four Cantos, Commentary, Index. ***An example of metafiction, the novel is written by a fictional poet: John Shade, as a 999-line poem titled "Pale Fire", and has a fictional foreword, detailed commentary and index written by the fictional poet's neighbor and academic associate, Charles Kinbote. ***'That wayward genius, Vladimir Nabokov, has finished his first new novel since LOLITA. The many addicts of his very distinctive attitude to life, literature and the English language, have felt that seven years was far too long to wait: but PALE FIRE will prove to have been well worth waiting for.' (Quote taken from the front flap of the dustwrapper) ***A second impression of the first UK edition in very good condition. Copies of this work in the original dustwrapper are now very hard to find. For some reason, the dustwrappers of this edition are very prone to tears and chipping. The book itself is also prone to foxing, probably due to the paper stock used. ***Of interest to collectors of Vladimir Nabokov and literary twentieth century literary first edition titles. ***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.…