W. Somerset Maugham. The Narrow Corner. London: William Heinemann, 1932.

Price: US$250.00 + shipping

Condition: Fair

Description: Signed. First Edition. SIGNED; signed by author Somerset Maugham on bookplate pasted down to the fpep. First Edition. Poor gilt and black-stamped navy cloth; lacks backstrip (the remaining fragments of the spine are laid in); rubbing and light fraying to corners; some foxing to first few pages; bookplate of Arthur Leonard Ross (Emma Goldman's lawyer) on fpep; occasional faint soiling throughout, but overall internally in nice condition. Pasadena's finest new and used bookstore since 1992.

Seller: Book Alley, Pasadena, CA, U.S.A.

MAUGHAM W. Somerset. The Narrow Corner. , 1932.

Price: US$881.63 + shipping

Description: First edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth. London, William Heinemann. A presentation copy inscribed by Maugham ?For Millie & her descendants from William S.? A near fine copy, slightly sunned on the spine.

Seller: Maggs Bros. Ltd ABA, ILAB, PBFA, BA, London, United Kingdom

Maugham, W[illiam] Somerset. THE NARROW CORNER. William Heinemann Ltd., London, 1932.

Price: US$1500.00 + shipping

Description: Octavo, pp. [1-8] 1-293 [294-296: blank] [first and last leaves are blanks], original blue cloth, front and spine panels stamped in black and gold, Heinemann windmill device stamped in black on rear panel. First edition. A presentation copy with brief signed inscription by Maugham to Gilbert Norcutt on the front free endpaper. A story set in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) where a sullen young Australian, cruising the almost forgotten islands of the Malay Archipelago after killing a prominent politician in Sydney, has a passionate love affair on an island which causes further tragedy. A film based on Maugham's novel was made in 1933. It was directed by Alfred E. Green and featured Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Patricia Ellis and Ralph Bellamy in the leading roles. Stott A44a. Top edge of text block just a bit foxed, a nearly fine copy in good pictorial 7/6 dust jacket (designed by Youngman Carter) with chips from edges. Uncommon in jacket, and more so signed. (#156904)

Seller: Currey, L.W. Inc. ABAA/ILAB, Elizabethtown, NY, U.S.A.

Maugham, W. Somerset. The Narrow Corner. London: William Heinemann, 1932.

Price: US$1750.00 + shipping

Condition: Near Fine

Description: First edition, first printing. One of 10,000 copies printed. Inscribed by the author to first free leaf: "For / Fred Bason / a novel about the / Malay Archipelago / W. Somerset Maugham". Publisher's smooth blue cloth, lettered in gilt to front board and spine and stamped in black with the author's symbol and publisher's name; in the original black pictorial dust jacket with an illustration of a ship passing by dark houses. A near fine copy with a touch of toning to spine and rubbing to spine ends, a few faint white spots to rear board; in a near fine dust jacket, unclipped with a few scratches and light wear to extremities, shallow chips to spine ends. Overall, a beautiful copy. Stott A44a. Fred Bason (1907-1973), now best known as the author of A Bibliography of the Writings of William Somerset Maugham (1931), was a close friend and admirer of the noted English author. In a letter that also expressed Bason's thoughts - all negative - on one of Maugham's plays, the young Bason extended an invitation to the author to join him for tea, and so began their decade-long friendship. A secondhand bookseller and small-time writer himself, Bason saw Maugham as a mentor, and with his guidance published a few pieces in literary magazines. Early in their friendship, Maugham inscribed several books to Bason, given to him along with advice to sell them when the market was right. Finding this a profitable endeavor, Bason continued to request signed books from his once-mentor and friend, eventually leading to the end of their relationship. The Narrow Corner is a novel about three men who find themselves navigating the waters of the Malay Archipelago together. One, the captain of the boat staying out at sea to avoid his wife, and the others, an opium-smoking doctor making his way back to China, and a young, mysterious Australian man wanted for a murder. Largely an exploration of the characters and their backstories, the book is written in Maugham's characteristic vivid, straightforward prose. Notably, in 1933 the book was adapted for a film of the same name, directed by Alfred E. Green.

Seller: B & B Rare Books, Ltd., ABAA, New York, NY, U.S.A.

Maugham, W. Somerset. The Narrow Corner. William Heinemann, London, 1932.

Price: US$1999.99 + shipping

Condition: Very Good

Description: Blue cloth gilt titled to front and spine. First edition, first printing; one of 10,000 copies printed. Presentation copy inscribed by Maugham, reportedly to his lover, companion, secretary, and eventually, adopted son, Alan Searle: "For Alan, who bought me a bottle of ink from his friend Wm." Scattered foxing to block edge and pages, faintly askew, slight rubbing to cloth edges. The gilt is complete and bright. The DJ in mylar is rubbed to hinges, edgeworn, slightly soiled, with a closed tear to front panel. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; Signed by Author

Seller: curtis paul books, inc., Northridge, CA, U.S.A.

Maugham, W. Somerset.. THE NARROW CORNER.. WILLIAM HEINEMANN., LONDON, 1932.

Price: US$2500.00 + shipping

Description: INSCRIBED by Maugham to novelist & screenwriter Milton Lesser on the front endpaper- "For Milton Lesser, W. Somerset Maugham on his way through California March 4 1936." Near fine with board edges slightly rubbed, in a close to near fine dj., with minor wear to tips and spine ends, and several edge tears including a few small chips at crest of spine. (Lesser's tasteful bookplate on the front pastedown obscured by the flap) Maugham's third and last 'exotic' novel. An attractive copy of a title seldom located signed or inscribed. (B)

Seller: WAVERLEY BOOKS ABAA, Santa Monica, CA, U.S.A.