Anthony Burgess – A Clockwork Orange – True First Issue 1962

First edition, first printing published by William Heinemann, 1962. Publisher’s original black cloth with titles in gilt to the spine, in the original first-issue dust wrapper, retaining the correct 16s net price to the front flap and with the characteristically wide flaps. The 16s-priced wrapper and black cloth binding are the first issue indicators.

A very good to near fine copy. The binding is firm and square, the black cloth remaining clean and the gilt bright. Page edges lightly toned with some spotting, principally to the upper edge. Internally clean, with no inscriptions. The dust wrapper is bright and attractive, with some rubbing and minor wear at the extremities, particularly to the corners and spine ends, and a small sticker shadow to the front flap. The wrapper is unclipped, retaining the original 16s net price.

Burgess’s most celebrated novel and one of the defining works of post-war British fiction, later adapted by Stanley Kubrick for his 1971 film. The English first edition preserves Burgess’s original twenty-first chapter, omitted from the first American edition. First-issue copies in their original 16s dust wrappers are increasingly difficult to find, particularly without ownership inscriptions.