Daphne Du Maurier – The Apple Tree [featuring The Birds] – First Edition 1952 – With Accompanying Agreement From Victor Gollancz and Signed Three Times by Daphne Du Maurier

Description

A first edition, first printing published by Gollancz in 1952. A very good book without inscriptions in a very good unclipped wrapper with a little wear to the head of the spine. Contains the short story ‘The Birds’. Accompanying the book is the original agreement between Victor Gollancz and Daphne Du Maurier. The document relates to Du Maurier’s anthology The Apple Tree which was originally published by Gollancz in the United Kingdom in 1952. The collection of short stories included The Birds which served as the inspiration for Alfred Hitchcock’s film of the same name, released in 1963. It was also in this year that Du Maurier’s collection was republished under its current title of The Birds and Other Stories. Doubleday published the novelettes in America under the title Kiss Me Again, Stranger. The typescript document is a Memorandum of Agreement between Du Maurier and the publishers Victor Gollancz Limited and relates to a collection of short stories by the author entitled The Apple Tree. The agreement comprising twelve clauses, details the terms of copyright and exclusive licence for Victor Gollancz Ltd, to publish the work in the English language throughout the British Commonwealth and Empire and the rest of the world, excluding the United States of America. The document further states that the work will be published within six months of the date of the agreement at a price of 10s 6d and that a royalty of 17.5% will be paid to Du Maurier for all sold copies of the original English edition and royalties of 10% and 7.5% for cheaper editions, also detailing conditions regarding remainders and agreeing to send Du Maurier six presentation copies of the work on the first day of publication. The pages of the document are neatly stapled together at the head and pinned to the agreement are three additional unsigned typed memorandum notes, dated between 1953-60 and concerning alterations to royalty payments, an agreement with Doubledays for a Canadian edition etc., and also including a T.L.S. by a representative of Curtis Brown Ltd., Du Maurier’s literary agents, one page, 8vo, Covent Garden, London, 4th June 1952, to Victor Gollancz, reminding him that Du Maurier’s short stories ‘must not be published in Canada until after Doubleday’s publication date, which is the end of February 1953.’ Du Maurier, at the conclusion, and further signed twice with her initials D du M at the foot of two pages, three pages, folio, n.p. (London?), 21st July 1952. Accompanied by the original envelope. An important document with the addition of the book itself and the basis for one of Hitchcock’s most important films.