Colin Dexter – Last Seen Wearing – SIGNED, DATED and INSCRIBED to his Mother – First Edition – 1976

A first edition, first printing of ‘Last Seen Wearing’ published by Macmillan in 1976. A remarkable association copy, inscribed by Dexter to his mother on the front free endpaper: “To my dearest and most wise mother, who expected nothing from me as a schoolboy except that I should work at my books – for which I am eternally grateful. Colin. 9.5.76.” Usual browning to margins, some spotting to edges and light foxing/soiling to endpapers. Original boards, a little sunned to upper and lower edges, spine ends and corners bumped. In the very good unclipped dust wrapper, with a little edge wear and some nicks. A photograph of Dexter’s mother (with a fag on) is loosely inserted. An exceptional and deeply personal copy of Dexter’s second Inspector Morse novel, warmly inscribed in the year of publication to the woman he credits with setting him upon a life amongst books.