Watership Down

Watership Down by Richard Adams.

London: Rex Collings, [1972]. First edition, first impression of Richard Adams' first novel, uniquely bound in a style typical of the 1970s and specially commissioned by the author as a wedding gift to a friend or acquaintance. Together with a signed photograph of Richard Adams. A unique association copy.

Notes

Initially turned down by several publishers, the book 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).

Description

Unique presentation binding, labelled "A WEDDING GIFT FROM THE AUTHOR"

Carrying a handsome gold-blocked inscription label with the message: 'A WEDDING GIFT FROM THE AUTHOR' to the decorative inside paste-down, this coveted first edition was presumably commissioned for a rebind by Richard Adams and offered as a wedding gift to a friend or acquaintance. Quarter-bound in straight-grained red morocco with contemporary hand-marbled paper boards, Fancy Paper Company endpapers and cane head and tail bands.  Housed in a customised and matching hand-marbled slipcase.

Accompanied by Richard Adam's signature

Sold together with the book comes a signed black-and-white photograph of Richard Adams taken by Peter Hirst-Smith in 1990, inscribed in blue ink "Yours sincerely, Richard Adams". This photograph originally came separately from the book.

Provenance

This unique example was acquired around 1985 as part of a larger lot from Christie's and has been in the hands of the same book collector until very recently.

Condition

First edition, first impression. Octavo. Pp. viii, 413. Rebound. Housed in a customised hand-marbled slipcase. Together with a signed photograph of the author, inscribed and signed in blue ink.

Lightest touch of wear to boards and spine. Edges showing mild foxing and thumbing. Slight offsetting to FFEP caused by the inscription label. Minor foxing and thumb marks sporadically throughout. A small (approximately 1cm) tear to lower left of the map and some small spots of ink to rear of map. Else a clean, uninscribed copy in a tight, square binding.

In a very lightly bumped and worn slipcase that is structurally sound with no splits, nor heavy bumps.

Together with a photograph of Richard Adams taken by Peter Hirst-Smith in 1990, inscribed and signed by the author: "Yours Sincerely, Richard Adams", showing two lightly creased corners; else fine.