Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Naipaul, V. S.. A House for Mr. Biswas (UK HB 1st - 1961). Published by Andre Deutsch, 1961, 1961.
Price: US$51.45 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: 1st edition/1st impression. With mild wear and a small amount of foxing; without inscription
Seller: Mike Conry, WORCESTER, United Kingdom
Naipaul, V.S.. A House for Mr Biswas. Andre Deutsch, London, 1961.
Price: US$65.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: 531 pages, name on front endpaper, slight foxing on endpapers. The dust jacket has only partially survived. Most of the front cover is present and the front and rear flaps have been backed onto this surviving front cover. Also included are 3 newspaper clippings about V.S. Naipaul from the 1970s. One article from 1971 says: "it can only be a matter of time before the world awards him the only major literary prize he has yet to win." It actually took him another 30 years to win the Nobel Prize.
Seller: Tinakori Books, Lower Hutt, New Zealand
V. S. Naipaul.. A House for Mr Biswas.. Andre Deutsch, London 1961, 1961.
Price: US$74.61 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First edition. Hardback. Original cloth with slight wear, slight fading to spine with lean, small stamp to endpaper, lacks rear endpaper, otherwise near very good. No dust jacket.
Seller: ROBIN SUMMERS BOOKS LTD, Aldeburgh, United Kingdom
Naipaul, V.S.. A House for Mr Biswas. Andre Deutsch, London, 1961.
Price: US$75.00 + shipping
Condition: Fair
Description: (UK) First publication 1961. Owner's inscription to end paper, no other markings, spine panel faded with several water stains, book is tight and square, pages, clean hinges solid, about Good only used copy; lacking the dust jacket. Hardcover, 531pp. A House for Mr Biswas is significant as Naipaul's first work to achieve acclaim worldwide. It is the story of Mohun Biswas, a Hindu Indo-Trinidadian who continually strives for success and mostly fails, who marries into the influential Tulsi family only to find himself dominated by it, and who finally sets the goal of owning his own house. In 1998, the Modern Library ranked A House for Mr Biswas number 72 on its list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century. Time magazine included the novel in its list of the 100 best English-language novels from 1923 to 2005. (2.0 JM HOQ 100/3 Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾"
Seller: J. W. Mah, Burnaby, BC, Canada
Naipaul, V. S.. A House for Mr Biswas.. Andre Deutsch. London, 1961.
Price: US$75.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: The book is bound in red boards with faded letters on a faded spine. There is very, very light wear on the spine tips & cover corners. The back cover has a stain in the centre near the spine. Previous owners ink signature on the front endpaper. The book has a very slight slant. The contents are clean & unmarked, the binding is tight. States: "First Published 1961".
Seller: Richard Peterson-Bookseller, Kingston, ON, Canada
Naipaul, V. S.. A House for Mr. Biswas (UK HB 1st - 1961). Andre Deutsch, 1961.
Price: US$77.18 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: UK hardback first impression of a modern classic. Good+ overall with bumped bottom corners and some dulling to spine of pink cloth. No jacket.
Seller: Hunter Books, Burnham, BUCKS, United Kingdom
Naipaul, V. S.. A House for Mr. Biswas. Andre Deutsch, 1961.
Price: US$108.06 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Flat signed by the author. The Russell Edition. 5th impression. Light wear to boards. Content is clean with spotting. Good DJ with some edge wear and toning
Seller: BoundlessBookstore, Wallingford, United Kingdom
V S Naipaul. A House for Mr Biswas. Andre Deutsch, 1961.
Price: US$150.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Ex-library, with typical markings (but nothing on the outside. Hinges strengthened; tape marks; former owner's name. No foxing or writing in the text. Spine a little rolled. The dust-jacket (in a removable plastic cover) has a little damage around the edges and some fading. The flaps have also been trimmed but it only cuts off a few bits of words.
Seller: Pegasus Books NZ, Wellington, NA, New Zealand
V.S.Naipaul. A House For Mr Biswas. Andre Deutsch, 1961.
Price: US$192.96 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: A House For Mr Biswas, V.S. Naipaul, Andre Deutsch, 1961, First Edition, First Impression, Ex-Library Listed as one of the 100 most influential novels by BBC News on 5th November 2019 and the author's first work to achieve worldwide acclaim. Lively, funny and malicious, Naipaul s 1961 novel is the story of a man who claws his way free of abject poverty, fighting his in-laws at every turn. It s an ecstatic evocation of Caribbean life. Naipaul went on to win the Booker Prize for "In A Free State", though "A Bend in The River" was even more acclaimed and later the Nobel Prize for Literature. As well as fiction he equally produced wonderful travelogues and contemporary commentaries, not least his trilogy on the development of India post WW2. Of all his works a first / first of "A House for Mr Biswas" is the scarcest and most sought after. This is an ex-library First Edition, First Impression in good condition. The binding is sound with a slight lean, the boards are bright with some shelf wear and slight nick to the top of the spine. The slightly toned end papers are clean without tears but contain library markings as do the publisher's pages. An opportunity to acquire a literary classic at a reasonable price. Will be despatched wrapped carefully in bubblewrap and in a cardboard box.
Seller: Grimes Hill Book Club, Wythall, United Kingdom
Naipaul. V.S.. A House for Mr. Biswas. Andre Deutsch, 1961.
Price: US$200.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: FIRST EDITION. London: Andre Deutsch, 1961. Near Fine in Fair dust jacket. Clean pages, slight lean to spine. Jacket unfortunately has clear tape along all edges and on verso, some wear and tear, price intact. The uncommon first edition of Naipaul's best-known novel.
Seller: Singing Saw Books, Portland, OR, U.S.A.
Nailpaul, V.S. A House for Mr. Biswas. London: Andre Deutsch, 1961.
Price: US$237.98 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: First Edition, First Impression of Naipaul's most significant literary work, covering the alienation of a man from birth and his quixotic ambition of home-ownership. This is the work that cemented Nailpaul's reputation, a slice of literary history. The dust jacket is in a slightly unfortunate condition, with tears to spine and front cover. However, an enterprising collector has saved it from ruin with a handsome mylar jacket, making it an altogether handsome if uneven volume. The spine has age-toning and the rear boards have some marks upon them. However, the binding remains in cheerful condition, unlikely to object to a spirited reading itself. Owing to its atypical condition, it is being offered for a competetive price.
Seller: Burley Fisher Books, London, United Kingdom
NAIPAUL, V.S.. A House for Mr Biswas. Andre Deutsch, London, 1961.
Price: US$300.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: 8vo. First UK edition (Andre Deutsch) in the (American) McGraw Hill DJ, with identical design (Stephen Russ). Jacket clipped at the bottom lower flap and with tape repair to verso at top of front panel, else a bright example.
Seller: Sanctuary Books, A.B.A.A., New York, NY, U.S.A.
Naipaul, V.S.. A House for Mr Biswas. London; Andre Deutsch;, 1961.
Price: US$385.91 + shipping
Description: First edition, first printing. Fine in red boards. Bears a short insciption note on the flyleaf. Lacks dustjacket.
Seller: timkcbooks (Member of Booksellers Association), Penzance, United Kingdom
V.S. Naipaul. A House for Mr Biswas. Andre Deutsch, McGraw Hill, 1961.
Price: US$400.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: For 2 First editions. First United Kingdom and first United States editions of this classic. The UK is in very good condition indeed, with like jacket. The US is ex-library in good condition - dust jacket is taped at extremities, and with the usual library infelicities.
Seller: Montreal Books, Westmount, QC, Canada
V.S. Naipaul. A House for Mr Biswas. Andre Deutsch, McGraw Hill, 1961.
Price: US$400.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: For 2 First editions. First United Kingdom and first United States editions of this classic. The UK is in very good condition indeed, with like jacket. The US is ex-library in good condition - dust jacket is taped at extremities, and with the usual library infelicities.
Seller: RPBooks, Champlain, NY, U.S.A.
VS. Naipaul. A House For Mr Biswas. Andre Deutsch, 1961.
Price: US$450.23 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: A House For Mr Biswas, V.S. Naipaul, Andre Deutsch, 1961, First Edition, First Impression Listed as one of the 100 most influential novels by BBC News on 5th November 2019 and the author's first work to achieve worldwide acclaim. Lively, funny and malicious, Naipaul s 1961 novel is the story of a man who claws his way free of abject poverty, fighting his in-laws at every turn. It s an ecstatic evocation of Caribbean life. Naipaul went on to win the Booker Prize for "In A Free State", though "A Bend in The River" was even more acclaimed, and later the Nobel Prize for Literature. As well as fiction he equally produced wonderful travelogues and contemporary commentaries, not least his trilogy on the development of India post WW2. In near fine condition, the binding is tight with a slight lean, the boards clean and the lettering on the spine bright. The slightly foxed end papers and pages are free from inscriptions. There is a small tear to the top edge of the front end paper. There is foxing to all the edges and a small dark mark to the fore edge. Of all his works a first / first of "A House for Mr Biswas" is the scarcest and most sought after, making this book an impressive addition to a library or a wonderful gift. Will be dispatched carefully wrapped in bubblewrap and a cardboard box.
Seller: Grimes Hill Book Club, Wythall, United Kingdom
V. S. NAIPAUL. A HOUSE FOR MR BISWAS. ANDRE DEUTSCH, LONDON, 1961.
Price: US$668.91 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: FIRST EDITION, FIRST IMPRESSION. HARDBACK VOLUME BOUND IN THE ORIGINAL RED CLOTH BINDING, ORIGINAL & CORRECT FIRST IMPRESSION UNPRICE CLIPPED DUST JACKET. BOOK MEASURES APPROX 8 x 5 INCHES. SOME LOSS TO JACKET AT TOP OF SPINE & APPEARS TO HAVE HAD SOME OLD TAPE REPAIRS, LITTLE LOSS TO BOTTOM OF SPINE ON JACKET, FEW SMALL MINOR TEARS TO EDGES OF JACKET & MINOR CREASE TO EDGES, FRONT HINGE COCKED SLIGHTLY FORWARD, INSCRIPTION TO FRONT ENDPAPER. OVERALL A VERY GOOD COPY WITH PAGES CLEAN & BRIGHT PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DUST JACKET HAS A CLEAR REMOVABLE COVER THAT MAY SHOW SOME REFLECTIONS IN IMAGES. EXTRA POSTAGE COSTS MAY APPLY TO OVERSEAS ORDERS. (HTL - 55)
Seller: Elder Books, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire, United Kingdom
Naipaul, V. S.. A House for Mr. Biswas. Andre Deutsch, 1961, 1961.
Price: US$750.00 + shipping
Description: 1st U.K. edition Near fine/near fine (not price-clipped; the only noticeable edgewear in the dj is at the top of the spine; light foxing on the textblock edges)
Seller: Reed's Rare Books, Palm Springs, CA, U.S.A.
V.S. Naipaul. A House for Mr. Biswas. Andre Deutsch, 1961.
Price: US$850.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: First UK edition, first printing (and thus true first edition) of Naipaul's masterpiece, consistently ranked as one of the 100 best English-language novels of the twentieth century. In the original striking dust jacket designed by Stephen Russ. London: Andre Deutsch, 1961. Publisher's original red cloth boards, gilt lettering to spine; pp. 531. A near fine copy in an about very good, unclipped dust jacket. Binding remains sturdy with a hint of a lean, minimal shelfwear to boards with a touch of sunning to spine tips. Internally clean and fine. The dust jacket shows some general shelfwear and chipping to extremities with closed tears to front panel, neatly reinforced with archival tape to verso, spine a bit sunned, a spot of minor discoloration to back panel. Presents well, protected in archival mylar.
Seller: Kevin Sell, The Rare Book Sleuth, IOBA, Minneapolis, MN, U.S.A.
V.S. Naipaul. A House For Mr Biswas. Andre Deutsch, 1961.
Price: US$964.78 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: A House For Mr Biswas, V.S. Naipaul, Andre Deutsch, 1961, First Edition, First Impression with Second Impression Dust Jacket Listed as one of the 100 most influential novels by BBC News on 5th November 2019 and the author's first work to achieve worldwide acclaim. Lively, funny and malicious, Naipaul s 1961 novel is the story of a man who claws his way free of abject poverty, fighting his in-laws at every turn. It s an ecstatic evocation of Caribbean life. Naipaul went on to win the Booker Prize for "In A Free State", though "A Bend in The River" was even more acclaimed, and later the Nobel Prize for Literature. As well as fiction he equally produced wonderful travelogues and contemporary commentaries, not least his trilogy on the development of India post WW2. Of all his works a first / first of "A House for Mr Biswas" is the scarcest and most sought after. This is a First Edition, First Impression in very good condition. The binding is straight and tight, the boards clean and the gilt lettering on the spine bright. The end papers and pages are free from tears or inscriptions. There is a small mark to the top edge. The clipped beautifully illustrated and iconic dust jacket, protected in a clear, removable cover is a second Impression cover. In very good condition with its bright colouring retained , there are nicks to the top edge of the spine and rear top edge and a large tear to the base of the rear cover. An opportunity to acquire a twentieth century literary classic that would make an impressive addition to a library or a wonderful gift. Will be despatched, fully insured and by courier, carefully wrapped in bubblewrap and in a cardboard box.
Seller: Grimes Hill Book Club, Wythall, United Kingdom
Naipal, V.S.. A House for Mr. Biswas. Andre Deutsch - London, UK., 1961.
Price: US$1200.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: London: Andre Deutsch, 1961. First Edition. 531pp. This book is bright, no marks or inscriptions, with insignificant toning. The wonderful dust wrapper has some loss, particularly on the ends of the spine, along with some color loss. The Nobel Laureate's fourth novel and his most acclaimed work. Set in the Hindu community in postcolonial Trinidad and Tobago - where Naipaul was born - A House for Mr. Biswas is the life story of a man who wanted only a home, but who was a magnet for misfortune, oppression and humiliation, a wanderer with no place he could call his own, with no family except that which he was to attempt to create out of the engulfing world of the Tulsis.' Mohun's survival is a triumph of resilience and persistence and humor, an epic of dignity and self-respect doggedly clung to." (Time 100). Listed on both 'Modern Library' and 'Time's' 100 great novels of the twentieth century.
Seller: Bynx, LLC, Orlando, FL, U.S.A.
NAIPAUL, V.S.. A House for Mr Biswas. London: Andre Deutsch, 1961.
Price: US$1286.37 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: First edition, first impression. Octavo, pp 531. Bound in red cloth covered hard boards, gilt lettering to the spine; in the original dust jacket which is unclipped, though the 21s price has been obscured with some blue pen. Book is in Near Fine condition, binding tight and square, clean and unmarked internally. Jacket is Very Good Plus, some minor wear at the extremities, gentle lightening to the pink on the spine, the price on the front flap obscured with blue ink, the price on the rear flap removed leaving a tiny hole in the paper. A lovely copy of the Nobel Laureate's finest work.
Seller: Picture This (ABA, ILAB, IVPDA), Sunningdale, United Kingdom
V.S. Naipaul. A House for Mr. Biswas. Andre Deutsch, London, 1961.
Price: US$1500.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First UK Edition/First Printing. Hardcover. Very good book in a very good unclipped dust jacket. The red cloth book has some softening to the spine ends and light spine fading. The jacket has some chips to the upper spine and front panel, wear to the edges. This fourth novel, set in Trinidad brought the Nobel Prize winning author worldwide acclaim.
Seller: MDS BOOKS, Mississauga, ON, Canada
Naipaul, V.S. A House For Mr. Biswas.. Andre Deutsch, London, 1961.
Price: US$4200.00 + shipping
Description: First edition of the author's magnum opus. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by V.S. Naipaul on the title page. Near fine in a very good dust jacket with a small chip to the crown and foot of the spine. Jacket design by Stephen Russ. "For sheer abundance of talent there can hardly be a writer alive who surpasses V.S. Naipaul. Whatever we may want in a novelist is to be found in his books: an almost Conradian gift for tensing a story, a serious involvement with human issues, a supple English prose, a hard-edged wit, a personal vision of things.[He is] the world's writer, a master of language and perception" (The New York Times Book Review). Listed on both Modern Library and Time's 100 great novels of the twentieth century.
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
Naipaul, V.S.. A House of Mr Biswas. Andre Deutsch, London, 1961.
Price: US$4500.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: First edition, first printing. Signed by Nobel laureate V. S. Naipaul on the title page. Bound in publisher's original rose paper-covered boards with spine lettered in gilt. Near Fine with a lean to the binding, light sunning and light wear at edges, and foxing heaviest at textblock edge, preliminary and terminal pages. Pages toned. In a Good unclipped dust jacket with chipping to edges, soiling and slight fading to the spine.
Seller: Burnside Rare Books, ABAA, Portland, OR, U.S.A.
Naipaul, V.S. A House For Mr. Biswas.. Andre Deutsch, London, 1961.
Price: US$4800.00 + shipping
Description: First edition of the author's magnum opus. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by V.S. NaipaulÂon the title page. Near fine in an excellent dust jacket with a small chip to the foot of the spine and some light wear. Jacket design by Stephen Russ. "For sheer abundance of talent there can hardly be a writer alive who surpasses V.S. Naipaul. Whatever we may want in a novelist is to be found in his books: an almost Conradian gift for tensing a story, a serious involvement with human issues, a supple English prose, a hard-edged wit, a personal vision of things.[He is] the world's writer, a master of language and perception" (The New York Times Book Review). Listed on both Modern Library and Time's 100 great novels of the twentieth century.
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
Naipaul, V.S. A House For Mr. Biswas.. Andre Deutsch, London, 1961.
Price: US$5000.00 + shipping
Description: First edition of the author's magnum opus. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by V.S. Naipaul on the title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with a touch of rubbing. Jacket design by Stephen Russ. An exceptional example. "For sheer abundance of talent there can hardly be a writer alive who surpasses V.S. Naipaul. Whatever we may want in a novelist is to be found in his books: an almost Conradian gift for tensing a story, a serious involvement with human issues, a supple English prose, a hard-edged wit, a personal vision of things.[He is] the world's writer, a master of language and perception" (The New York Times Book Review). Listed on both Modern Library and Time's 100 great novels of the twentieth century.
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
Naipaul, V.S. A House For Mr. Biswas. Andre Deutsch, 1961.
Price: US$7500.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: First Edition, First Printing. A beautiful copy SIGNED by V.S. Naipaul. This ORIGINAL dustjacket has minor wear to the spine and edges NOT effecting any lettering. The boards are crisp with minor wear to the edges. The pages are clean, with NO marks or bookplates in the book. Overall, a wonderful copy of this First Edition SIGNED by the author. We buy V.S. Naipaul First Editions.
Seller: Magnum Opus Rare Books, Missoula, MT, U.S.A.