Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Price: US$385.80 + shipping
Description: Leinenbände. 8vo. I: Eigenh. Widmung mit U. (Cape Ferrat, Juni 1930) auf dem fliegenden Vorsatz von: The Gentleman in the Parlour. A Record of a Journey from Rangoon to Haiphong. Garden City, N.Y., Doubleday, Doran & Company Inc., 1930. 8vo. 300 S. Schwarzer Orig.-Leinenband mit Deckelemblem und Rückentitel (geringfügig berieben). Erste amerikanische Ausgabe. Die Widmung lautet: For my only Charlotte | from W. Somerset Maugham | Cap Ferrat June 1930". II: Eh. Widmung wohl an dieselbe Charlotte und in deutscher Sprache. In: The Narrow Corner. London, Heinemann, 1932. 8vo. 4 nn. Bll., 293 S., 1 Bl. Dunkelblauer Orig.-Leinenband mit Rücken- und Deckeltitel in Gold (etwas bestoßen). Für meine geliebte Charlotte ihr Wilhelm." Durchgehend stockfleckig.
Seller: Kotte Autographs GmbH, Roßhaupten, Germany
MAUGHAM (W. Somerset). The Gentleman in the Parlour. William Heinemann, London, 1930.
Price: US$578.82 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: WITH A TYPED LETTER FROM MAUGHAM A Record of a Journey from Rangoon to Haiphong. First Edition. 8vo. [202 x 145 x 35 mm]. [2]ff, 276pp. Bound in the publisher's original black cloth, the spine lettered in gilt. (Slightly out of square, a few minor marks, endleaves browned). [ebc8066] London: William Heinemann Ltd, 1930. Some light spotting and foxing. With a Times Book Club label at the rear. With the ink signature of Kate Syrett. There is a loosely inserted type letter signed by Maugham to Kate Syrett, sent from the Dorchester Hotel on 20th October 1946, in the original envelope. He writes: "I see no reason whatever why you should not edit Jack's mauuscripts [sic] in any way you wish. His talented was ill regulated and I think you could probably greatly improve any work he has left by cutting out all irelevant matter. It would certainly greatly increase the chances of publication. Professional editors are tired, and impatient when they receive a manuscript that is rambling or verbose. they are very likely to discard it without realising that with a little attention it can be made very readable". Kate Syrett has written on the back of the envelope: "This was kind".
Seller: George Bayntun ABA ILAB PBFA, Bath, United Kingdom
Price: US$1500.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: First edition, first printing. Inscribed by the author to his friend Reggie Turner to front free endpaper: "For the idle Apprentice / Reginald / from his friend / WM". Publisher's smooth black cloth stamped in gilt to front board with a design of a dragon with a forked tongue and the author's symbol, title lettered in gilt, spine lettered in gilt and stamped with pagoda design; in the original matching dust jacket stamped in red over a beige background. A near fine copy with a few faint white spots to cloth, light foxing to front endpapers, front hinge starting at first free leaf but overall generally sturdy; in a near fine dust jacket with some light soiling and toning to extremities, rubbed to spine ends and corners. Overall, a beautiful copy inscribed by the author. Stott A39a. This copy is inscribed to Reginald "Reggie" Turner (1869-1938). Himself an author, Turner was a member of Oscar Wilde's literary circle that included writers like H. G. Wells, D. H. Lawrence, and W. Somerset Maugham. Notably, the friendship between Maughan and Turner began when Turner wrote an appreciative review of one of Maugham's earliest plays, Lady Frederick, which was first performed in 1907. The Gentleman in the Parlour is an account of Maugham's travels through Southeast Asia, beginning in what was then Burma, and ending in Haiphong, Vietnam. His detailed and charming descriptions of the people and places he encountered provide a vivid picture of the countries he visited. Maugham writes a disclaimer about the book to his readers at the beginning of his fourth chapter: "I am writing it for my own diversion and I hope that it will divert also such as care to spend a few hours in reading it. I am a professional writer and I hope to get from it a certain amount of money and perhaps a little praise."
Seller: B & B Rare Books, Ltd., ABAA, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$3215.69 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: First edition. Octavo, pp 276. Black cloth covered hard boards with gilt lettering to spine and upper board, gilt decoration of a Chinese pagoda to the spine and a dragon and the author's device to the upper board. In the original cream coloured jacket with the same titling and decoration as the book to the front panel and spine, unclipped (8s. 6d. net). SIGNED dedication to the front end paper: "For Gerald Kelly | W. Somerset Maugham". Sir Gerald Kelly (1879-1972, President of the Royal Academy 1949-1954) was a painter, best known for his portraits, and a long time and close friend of Maugham, both being of Irish descent. Maugham and Kelly both lived in Paris in the early 1900's where they enjoyed the bohemian lifestyle together. Maugham was able to fund Kelly's first extensive overseas trip, to Burma in 1908. Maugham sat for Kelly several times, including in 1911 for an oil painting titled The Jester which is in the collection of the Tate Museum in London. Maugham in turn based characters in several of his books on Kelly, including the painter Frederick Lawson in Of Human Bondage, and Lionel Hillier in Cakes and Ale. He also dedicated his 1928 novel, Ashenden, to Kelly. Maugham had originally intended to dedicate his 1909 novel, The Magician, to Kelly, but changed his mind as the book was largely based on a rather negative portrayal of Aleister Crowley and his then wife Rose Kelly, who was Gerald Kelly's sister. Book is in Near Fine condition, jacket is rubbed and worn, Good only.
Seller: Picture This (ABA, ILAB, IVPDA), Sunningdale, United Kingdom