PERFORMING FLEA - A Self-Portrait in Letters (First edition - second printing in the dustwrapper)

Second printing of the first edition, published in January 1954, as stated on the printer's page. The book was first published in 1953. ***Very good in light-blue cloth-covered boards with gilt titles to the spine and a gilt facsimile author's signature on the front board. The boards show some marks and fading at the extremities, but are generally clean and undamaged. Some minor marks and rubbing due to handling over the years. Head and tail of spine slightly rubbed but not torn at all. Some fading at the top of the spine where the dustwrapper is chipped, and browning at the edges. No reading lean to the binding. Spine tight. Page block edges clean - just very lightly foxed. Internally also very good with no previous ownership inscriptions. Some foxing and browning affecting the first and last few pages, but interior pages clean. No creases or tears. ***In a very good dustwrapper, which is largely complete, with just some small areas of loss at the top and tail of the spine, not affecting the lettering. There are also small chips at the top edge of the front and back panels at the corner tips, and general rubbing and creasing along the edges, especially at the top edge of the back inner flap. There are also some small black dots affecting the author's portrait on the front panel (please see scans). The dustwrapper has not been price-clipped, retaining the original publisher's printed price of 12/6 net on the front flap. No fading, even to the spine colour. No serious chips or tears. ***224 pages including a detailed Index. 220mm x 140mm. ***'Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse (15 Oct 1881 - 14 Feb 1975) was an English writer and one of the most widely read humorists of the 20th century. His creations include the feather-brained Bertie Wooster and his sagacious valet, Jeeves; the immaculate and loquacious Psmith; Lord Emsworth and the Blandings Castle set; the Oldest Member, with stories about golf; and Mr. Mulliner, with tall tales on subjects ranging from bibulous bishops to megalomaniac movie moguls. "Performing Flea" is based on a series of letters written by P. G. Wodehouse to William Townend, a friend of Wodehouse's since their schooldays together at Dulwich College. It was originally published in the United Kingdom on 9 October 1953 by Herbert Jenkins, London. The title alludes to a disparaging comment by the playwright Seán O'Casey, who, in a letter to The Daily Telegraph in July 1941, referring to Wodehouse's radio broadcasts from Berlin, wrote that "If England has any dignity left in the way of literature, she will forget for ever the pitiful antics of English literature's performing flea". The letters are introduced and annotated by Townend, who had provided Wodehouse with the story that inspired his character Ukridge. The letters were, in some cases, heavily revised by Wodehouse for the collection with the goal of making them more entertaining.' (Wiki) ***An uncommon P. G. Wodehouse title to find in the original dustwrapper, which is thin and fragile. A very good example. ***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.…