The New Magazine Containing Alf, Bill and a Carpet and Alf's Carpet

Darlington, W. A. [William Aubrey]

Published by London Cassells and Herbert Jenkins 1926-1928, 1926

About this Item

6 issues of The New Magazine, Dec. 1926 May 1927, Darlington's own copies, containing alterations and annotations to the text in his hand, with some passages crossed out, probably during the initial phase of working the stories up into book form. The magazines are all firmly bound in the original illustrated wraps, which are somewhat rubbed, foxed and creased with loss at the spine ends. The text blocks are toned, stained and slightly dusty. Capitalising on the success of Alf's Button, which by then had received both film and theatrical adaptations, Darlington introduced the idea of Alf in possession of a magic carpet. The story appeared in greatly expanded and slightly altered form as the episodic novel 'Alf's Carpet' in 1928, a first edition of which is also present. This latter is inscribed to the front endpaper: "From the Author to his mother, with all his love, October 12th 1928". Below this is the later ownership stamp of Darlington's son-in-law, and Darlington has also signed his name to the title page. The recipient being Edith Darlington (née Bainbridge (1863-1944)). The book is firmly bound in lightly rubbed and marked orange cloth lettered and bordered in black, the extremities are slightly bumped. The text block is slightly foxed and toned with light dusty marks. Loosely inserted is the October 1928 issue of 'The Herbert Jenkins' Wireless' with a long segment of 'Alf's Carpet' to the front cover. The Laurence East designed dust jacket is the original, the issue of the Herbert Jenkins' Wireless notes it as being published at 7/6 but this jacket has one of Jenkins' green over-pricing labels reducing that to 3/6, it has a small amount of paper loss to the bottom of the spine and there are other more minor chips as well as several closed tears, some repaired with tape to the reverse, it is slightly grubby and rubbed. Issues of the New Magazine from this period are uncommon and this is a remarkable opportunity to own the author's own edited copies, along with a superb association copy of the later novelisation inscribed in the year of publication.

Seller Inventory # 7070

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The New Magazine Containing Alf, Bill and a Carpet and Alf's Carpet
• Publisher: London Cassells and Herbert Jenkins 1926-1928
• Publication Date: 1926
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Dust Jacket Condition: Dust Jacket Included
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)
• Seller catalogs:
  • Fantasy