Lawrence Durrell – The Alexandria Quartet [Justine/Balthazar/Mountolive/Clea] First UK Editions 1957-60

Description

All first edition, first printings, published by Faber between 1957-60 (with no mention of subsequent printings). Comprising: JUSTINE – A very good+ book with no inscriptions. Light erased inscription with one small previous owner’s stamp to the front endpaper. In a very good unclipped first issue wrapper (first issue does NOT have the hand imprint on the spine and is priced at 15s and not 16s). The wrapper has one small internal tape repair to a closed tear. Some small chipping to the spine tips and corners. With the rare, later, wrap-around band, giving reviews of the book. The rare first novel (one of 500 copies) of the Alexandria Quartet. BALTHAZAR – A first edition, first printing published by Faber in 1958. A fine book without inscriptions in a dust wrapper which has a couple of repairs to the spine tips and a little light spotting to the folds. Becoming scarce. MOUNTOLIVE – A first edition, first printing published by Faber & Faber in 1958. A near fine book without inscriptions. Some slight browning to the text block, however, clean internally and tightly bound. Some slight bumping to the head and base of the spine. One small stain to the front board. In a very good, unclipped wrapper showing chipping to the head and base of the spine and edges. Some slight loss to the top of the front panel and three very small, closed tears to the rear panel. CLEA – Published by: Faber and Faber in 1960. Bound in orange boards with gilt/gold lettering to the spine. Tightly bound – a fine book. In a near unclipped wrapper – a little browned to the spine. A rare set of all four first editions in the Alexandria Quartet and the author’s masterpiece.