Jaws: A Novel [First Edition]

Stylishly signed and animated by Peter Benchley on signature cut lightly adhered at half-title page: "Peter Benchley." Very attractive signature with Benchley's humoured doodle of a man-eating shark. This volume is additionally signed by one star of the blockbuster, Richard Dreyfuss, on photo plate neatly adhered at front endpaper: "Richard Dreyfuss." Stated First Edition at copyright. Code O44 (044) at page 311 indicating a true first printing. 1974 at title page and copyright page. Full black cloth boards, some shelf wear, rub, spine concavity. Silver spine titles feature shark vignette as would appear through a hull's porthole. Deckled pages good; few with moderate crease, toning. Deep blue endpapers; some rub through blue to white, little light residue, pen mark behind front flap. Bind intact; some cant. First edition pictorial dust wrapper in deep dark bluish-black, moderate edge wear, rub, discoloration; unclipped J. 6.95, protected in fine clear sleeve. Classic cover art by Paul Bacon of swimmer in bikini above phallic great white image appearing enormously from bottom of image; bold cover and spine titles in red and white over black b.g. Red spine titles remain bright and unfaded; rather uncommon. Back panel features portrait by Alex Gotfryd of Benchley in turtle neck and sport coat. Rare solid first printing in near very good first issue dust wrapper. Presented here is the original and best tale of a monstrous great white preying upon a small resort town and the terrific voyage of three heroic men to end it. It was just another day in a small Atlantic resort until the terror from the deep came to prey on unwary holiday makers. The first sign of trouble - a warning of what was to come - took the form of a young woman's body, or what was left of it, washed up on the long, white stretch of beach. A summer of terror began! "Pick up 'Jaws' before midnight, read the first five pages, and I guarantee you'll be putting it down breathless and stunned, as dawn is breaking the next day" - Daily Express. Peter Benchley's 'Jaws' first appeared in 1974, creating a legend that refuses to die. For each generation, the ultimate nightmare begins again. Printed in the U.S.A. 311 pages. Insured post. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.…