Birds, Beasts And Relatives Signed By Gerald Durrell

DURRELL, Gerald. Birds, Beasts and Relatives. London: Collins, 1969. First UK edition. Octavo. Original red cloth, in the original pictorial dustwrapper. Presentation copy, inscribed and signed by Gerald Durrell on the front free endpaper: “for Vivien / who has translated so much for us / with best wishes. / Gerald Durrell.” An unusually appealing association inscription, evidently presented to a woman who had undertaken substantial translation work for Durrell or his organisation; although the recipient has not yet been securely identified, Durrell’s wording clearly records a direct working connection. Birds, Beasts and Relatives is the second volume of Durrell’s celebrated Corfu trilogy, following My Family and Other Animals, and recalls further episodes from the Durrell family’s years on the island. Binding tight and firm. Pages generally very nice and clean. A very good plus copy, in a very good original dustwrapper, slightly nicked, chipped and rubbed, now protected in an easily removable clear archival sleeve. A desirable signed first edition with a notably personal and potentially important association.…