THE SHADOW OF THE HAWK (First edition - second cheap printing - in the scarce dustwrapper)

Second cheap printing of the true first edition. The book was first published in 1928, and reprinted in a Cheap Edition in 1938, reprinted once. ***Very good in light-red cloth covered boards with black titles to the spine and front board. The boards are undamaged, but the front and back board are heavily faded by exposure to damp at some point over the last 80 years. The spine is evenly faded, whereas the boards are mottled (please see scans). Despite the damp fading, the boards are in very good shape, with no creasing even to the fragile edges of the spine. No bumps or creases and no tears to the cloth. The edges of the page block are also foxed. No reading creases to the spine. Internally the book is also very good with no inscriptions or annotations. There is some sporadic foxing, mainly affecting the first and last few pages. Spine tight. ***In a very good colour illustrated dustwrapper, which is not price-clipped, retaining the original publisher's printed price of 3s. 6d. net. The dustwrapper is marked as Cheap Edition on the front flap. Most unusually, the dustwrapper is complete, with just a 2cm closed tear at the top edge of the front panel near the spine. There is no loss whatsoever, even to the fragile head and tail of the spine. There are two stains affecting the spine of the dustwrapper, which is also slightly marked and faded. The dustwrapper is only slightly rubbed at the edges. The front and back panels are unusually clean. The large inner flaps are completely uncreased. Dustwrapper complete and bright. ***190mm x 130mm. 284 pages. ***'Mr. Forester's new book is a rather unusual combination. The first part is well and convincingly carried out, but the rest is even better.' - Daily Express. 'Mr. Forester is a writer to watch; he has originality, though this amusing novel is not up to the level of his first book.' - Observer (Review quotes taken from the back panel of the dustwrapper) ***A third printing of the true first edition of "The Shadow and the Hawk", a pre-war novel by C. S. Forester, in a very rare complete dustwrapper. Copies of the first and early printings of this Forester title are extremely scarce in the dustwrapper. *** 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. …