Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Price: US$2519.74 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First edition set published by Faber and Faber between 1957 and 1960. All four volumes are first edition and first print copies. The set consists of 1. Justine (1957) with the first issue dust wrapper without the hand print on the spine. This is a very good copy. It has a little loss and wear to the spine ends. There are small short tears to the corners. The spine is a shade browned. There is a piece of archival tape to the reverse of the jacket. Two of the corners of the book are bumped. The front free end paper has an impression of a previous owner's pencil inscription. This copy of Justine comes with its original book society wraparound band along with a card that is tucked into the front and signed by Laurence Durrell. 2. Balthazar (1958) is a very good or better copy. The spine of the jacket has browned and there is a patch of browning to the front and back panel. The book is in nice shape. 3. Mountolive (1958) is about near fine. With a browned spine and minor wear to the top. It is not price clipped and the book is excellent. 4. Clea (1960) is near fine. A superb copy with just one tear to the top of the front panel of the wrapper and a shade browned to the spine. The book and jacket overall are excellent. A presentable first print set overall. It is rare to find the promotional band and signed card.
Seller: The Plantagenet King ABA / ILAB, Birchington, KENT, United Kingdom
Price: US$4199.56 + shipping
Description: First editions, first printings. Four volumes. With an autograph letter signed. Beautifully bound in full red, blue, yellow and orange leather after the design of the original cloth bindings. Titles and decorative borders in gilt to the spines. Hand sewn endbands. All edges gilt. Housed in a bespoke black cloth slipcase. Justine with a little light spotting to the prelims and with a pocket to the rear pastedown to house the folded autograph letter. A fine set of the first printing of Durrell's critically acclaimed tetralogy, immaculately presented. The letter written from the author's Bellapaix home reads "Dear Vi / Just a brief note to tell you that we are thinking with deep sympathy of you, and that if there is anything we can do for you at this end you have only to ask / your sincerely / Lawrence Durrell". In 1998 the Modern Library ranked The Alexandria Quartet number 70 on its list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century. Further details and images for any of the items listed are available on request. Lucius Books welcomes direct contact with our customers.
Seller: LUCIUS BOOKS (ABA, ILAB, PBFA), York, United Kingdom
Price: US$8500.00 + shipping
Description: 4 volumes. 8vo, publisher's cloth in dust jackets. Justine retains the publisher's printed wraparound band. The four volumes are preserved in a custom quarter morocco folding clamshell box. First editions; first printings; in the first issue dust jackets. Justine: faintest of foxing to the fore-edge and top edge of the dust jacket; very light fading of the rose cloth; else a fresh unworn copy in a very sharp jacket with very slight fading to the spine. Balthazar: South African bookseller's tiny ticket to front pastedown; else a fine copy in a beautiful jacket with just a touch of fading to the backstrip. Mountolive: slightest of foxing to the fore-edge and top edge of the text block; else a fine copy in a fine jacket. Clea: a fine copy in a very near fine dust jacket. Justine is signed and inscribed by Lawrence Durrell on the front free endpaper.
Seller: Jeffrey H. Marks, Rare Books, ABAA, Rochester, NY, U.S.A.