About this Item
Fifth impression of the first UK edition, published in October 1962. The book first appeared in the UK in May 1958, and there were new impressions in May 1958, March 1959 and June 1960 before this fifth impression. With a different dustwrapper design to the earlier impressions - replacing the line drawn Len Deighton design with the author photograph by William Eichel (Courtesy of 'Mademoiselle'). ***Very good in scarlet cloth-covered boards with black titles to the spine, replacing the gilt titles that were found on earlier impressions. Edges of boards just very slightly rubbed, with a small crease to the fore-edge of the front board. Head and tail of spine slightly creased. Slight crease to the corner-tip of the back board, otherwise corners sharp. Page block edges slightly foxed, with a slight abrasion to the fore-edge of the page block. Internally also very good with a neat contemporary ownership name and date on the top corner of the front pastedown, hidden by the flap of the dustwrapper. Pages lovely and clean with no foxing. No off-setting to the endpapers. Paper stock nice and white. No creases or tears. No annotations. Spine tight with no reading lean. ***In a very good colour illustrated dustwrapper, which has not been price-clipped, retaining the original publisher's printed price of 18s net, and correctly stating 5th impression. The dustwrapper is largely complete, with just some loss at the head and tail of the spine and the top corner of the front panel. The lettering is unaffected. Edges of dustwrapper slightly rubbed and creased. There is some rubbing mainly to the edges of the foldovers. The spine of the dustwrapper is lightly faded (being a sun-sensitive red colour). The back panel of the dustwrapper is discoloured and marked (being a white background). ***Interestingly, there is a Jack Kerouac 'signature' on the back panel, but on comparison with other Kerpuac signatures, it does not appear to be his handwriting - but this cannot really be proven either way. However, we would err on the side of caution and say it is 'probably' not the author's signature (please see scans). ***204mm x 140mm. 310 pages. ***Sunday Times: "Kerouac is the chronicler - if not indeed the prophet - of the beat generation. and his picaresque, biting and sometimes mystical book is the required text." ***The Times Literary Supplement: "He has enormous energy, the kind of self-absorption which is quite unselfconscious, a talent for descriptive prose and a passion for the American landscape --- What is interesting and sometimes absorbing about his book is his portrait of the physical size of America, his enthusiasm for the great highways, the little towns strung out across the West, the neon-lit cities thousands of miles apart." ***Yorkshire Post: "On the Road is a portent, an astonishing experience not to be missed." (Review quotes taken from the front flap of the dustwrapper) ***A nice copy of the fifth impression of the first UK edition, in a newly designed dustwrapper. Early impressions of "On the Road" are becoming increasingly hard to find in their original dustwrappers, especially in collectable condition. This is a very good copy, perhaps enhanced by the 'signature' on the back panel of the dustwrapper! Of interest to collectors of Jack Kerouac, The Beats, and iconic twentieth century literary titles. A scarce literary modern classic. ***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.
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