PNIN (First UK edition - second impression - in complete dustwrapper)

Second impression of the first UK edition, published in November1957. The first impression appeared just a month earlier, preceded by the first American edition, which was also published in 1957. ***Near fine in black cloth-covered boards with white titles to the spine. The boards are beautifully clean and unmarked. Head of spine and top edge of front board slightly creased. No other bumps, creases or tears to the cloth. Page block edges clean. No reading lean to the binding. Spine tight. Internally also near fine, with a previous ownership name in ink on the front free endpaper. No other marks or annotations. Light offsetting to front and rear free endpapers. Pages clean. No foxing. ***In a very good illustrated dustwrapper, which has not been price-clipped, retaining the original publisher's printed price of £13s. 6d. net. The dustwrapper is complete, with none of the tears and chipping that is usually found with this title - just some very slight rubbing and loss at the head of the spine, and some slight lifting of the laminate at the bottom edge of the front panel (please see scans). Edges of dustwrapper slightly creased, nicked and rubbed. Light crease to the top corner of the rear inner flap. Dustwrapper very clean. ***202mm x135mm. 191 pages. ***'"Pnin" is Vladimir Nabokov's thirteenth novel and his fourth written in English; it was published in 1957. The success of "Pnin" in the United States launched Nabokov's career into literary prominence. Its eponymous protagonist, Timofey Pavlovich Pnin, is a Russian-born assistant professor in his 50s living in the United States, whose character is believed to be based partially on the life of both Nabokov's colleague Marc Szeftel as well as on Nabokov himself. Exiled by the Russian Revolution and what he calls the "Hitler war", Pnin teaches Russian at the fictional Waindell College, loosely inspired by Cornell University and Wellesley College -- places where Nabokov himself taught. "Pnin" was originally written as a series of sketches, and Nabokov originally began writing Chapter 2 in January 1954, around the same time "Lolita" was being finalized. Sections of "Pnin" were first published, in installments, in The New Yorker in order to generate income while Nabokov was scouring the United States for a publisher willing to publish "Lolita". It was soon expanded, revised, and published in book form.' (Wiki) ***Second impression of the first UK edition, in an original and complete dustwrapper. Decent copies of the first UK edition are very hard to find now, and most especially in a complete dustwrapper, which is prone to curling, tearing and chipping. Most copies are now found in damaged dustwrappers. ***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.…