Peake, Mervyn. Captain Slaughterboard Drops Anchor (SIGNED). Eyre & Spottiswoode, London, 1945.

Price: US$395.00 + shipping

Condition: Very Good

Description: Peake's first book -- the 1945 is actually the second edition, with color screens added to the internal pages, as most copies of the 1939 true first were reported "destroyed by enemy action early in the war." Large, slim octavo hand-signed to the blank FFE "Mervyn Peake '47." This copy acquired from the Old Aberdeen Bookshop, Aberdeen, whose proprietor informs us "The signature is genuine according to the lady who sold this book. Given to her mother by the author in Sark, Channel Islands, UK." And indeed, the distinctive autograph signature matches others available Online. None of the usual warping to the boards, here, though there's also no dust jacket, alas. Charming if somewhat odd pirate fantasy. (Actual relationship of the pirate captain and the Yellow Creature remains unclear, and thus possibly non-traditional.) Reduced from $1,200.

Seller: Cat's Curiosities, Pahrump, NV, U.S.A.