Skip to product information
1 of 18

ADAMS, Richard

Watership Down

Watership Down

London: Rex Collings, [1972]

Illustrated by

Regular price £1,490.00
Regular price Sale price £1,490.00
Sale SOLD
Taxes included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Watership Down by Richard Adams.

London: Rex Collings, [1972]. First edition, first impression of Richard Adams' first novel, in its original, unclipped dust wrapper.

The title refers to the rabbits' destination, a hill in the north of Hampshire, England, near the area where the author grew up. The story has its roots in the tales that Richard Adams made up for his young daughters during long car journeys. As he explained in 2007 in an interview with the BBC, he "began telling the story of the rabbits . . . improvised off the top of my head, as we were driving along." He based the struggles of the animals on the struggles he and his friends encountered during the Battle of Oosterbeek in 1944. The daughters insisted he write it down, "they were very, very persistent." After some delay he began writing in the evenings and completed it 18 months later.

Initially turned down by several publishers, Watership Down was finally accepted by the small firm of Rex Collings, with a first printing of only 2,500 copies. It was soon recognised as a major work of British post-war literature. Watership Down won both the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Award for children's fiction, and was adapted into an animated film in 1978, and two animated television series. Adams (1920-2016) remains "a significant figure in the development in children's literature, namely in the establishment of the 'crossover' novel which, though intended for younger readers, can reach out to adults through maturity of theme, complexity of thought, and sophistication of language" (ODNB).

Condition

First edition, first impression. Octavo. Pp. viii, 413. Original brown cloth, spine lettered and front cover decorated with rabbit vignette in gilt. With original, unclipped dust jacket.

Very good copy overall; lightest crush to spine tips, a few minor wear marks to spine, foxing to edges and prelims, a 3.5 cm stain to fore edge and a slight forward lean. Complete with map in very good condition. In like dust wrapper that is unclipped and shows £3.50 price to front flap, with only a light, faded mark and a little discolouration to spine. Now placed in an archival sleeve.

A very nice, increasingly rare copy indeed of this much loved classic.

Careful Packaging

We provide secure and careful wrapping to ensure that your book will arrive in the exact condition that is described in the listing.

All our books come wrapped in brown paper and twine as a standard. If this will be a gift, please let us know when checking out, and we will make sure not to add a packing slip. You are also welcome to let us know if you would like us to include a special, customised message with your parcel.

Shipping & Returns (UK)

All books are despatched within one working day. We offer standard or express delivery on all domestic orders of books placed through our website, with the shipping fee being calculated at check-out.

Standard shipping starts at £3.99 for a small parcel, £6.99 for a medium parcel, and £9.99 for a large parcel.

We do our best to describe items as accurately as possible. All our books can be returned within 30 days of receipt, whether they have been found to be not-as-described or you have simply changed your mind about the purchase. Returns are only free when items have been found to be not as described.

Shipping & Returns (International)

We are happy to ship worldwide. However, if your shipping destination is outside the UK, you will need to purchase from us via eBay, our marketplace site. This way, you will be able to pay all postage, taxes and import charges upfront at check-out, so you will not have to worry about any extra charges or additional paperwork when your items are delivered.

Ask us a question!

If you have any questions about this book, please send us a message or write to us at hello@sanchosrarebooks.co.uk, and we will make sure to get back to you as soon as possible with further information.

View full details

Explore the World of Sancho's Rare Books

Rare First Editions, Fine Bindings, Limited Books, Signed and Inscribed Titles

We buy and sell first edition books, rare, limited, signed and inscribed titles, fine and beautiful bindings, private and fine press books, including Folio Society, Lyra's Books, Golden Cockerel, Limited Editions Club, Heritage Press, and vintage, second-hand, antiquarian and illustrated classics, from the world’s greatest authors.

  • Ever-Expanding Stock

  • Absolute Guarantee

  • Worldwide Shipping

  • Gift-Wrapping