Daphne Du Maurier – Rebecca – First Portuguese Book Club Edition 1989 – with letter

A Portuguese first edition, first printing of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, published by Circulo de Leitores in 1989. A near fine copy without inscriptions, bound in hard cover boards, some fading to the pictorial front board and spine, a small bump to the rear board, some spotting to the spine. With a letter on Curtis Brown headed ivory paper addressed to Monty Baker-Munton Esq. Bentons, Bildeston, Ipswich, Suffolk, dated 4th January 1989. In full:

‘Dear Monty, We have received an offer from Portugal for a book club edition of REBECCA. Circulo de Leitores have offered £450 against a 4% royalty. I know this does not sound very much but it is pretty much a standard rate for Portugal and I doubt if they could offer much more. I do hope you will want to proceed with agreements and look forward to hearing from you. Best wishes, Yours, Jane Greenwood.’ Signed in blue ink and ‘Agreed by phone 9:89’ also in blue ink.

Monty “Bim” Baker-Munton was not a member of Daphne du Maurier’s family, but a close friend, trusted adviser and later an important administrator of her literary affairs. His wife, Maureen, had been secretary to du Maurier and personal assistant to her husband, Lieutenant-General Frederick “Boy” Browning. In the 1970s, du Maurier appointed Monty a trustee, a director of Du Maurier Productions and joint literary executor with her son, Christian “Kits” Browning.

He therefore helped manage du Maurier’s copyrights, publications and literary estate, both before and after her death in 1989.