Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
W. Somerset Maugham. The Razor's Edge (Signed Limited Edition). Doubleday, Doran, Garden City, 1944.
Price: US$1250.00 + shipping
Description: Limited Edition, one of 750 hand numbered copies (this being No. 739) SIGNED by the author. Good only, lacking the slipcase, with moderate offsetting on the endpapers, crown dampstained, and a partial ring stain on the front board.
Seller: Royal Books, Inc., ABAA, Baltimore, MD, U.S.A.
Maugham, W. Somerset. The Razor's Edge.. Doubleday Doran & Company, Garden City, NY, 1944.
Price: US$1600.00 + shipping
Description: First American edition, which precedes the British edition of Maughamâs 20th-century manifesto for human fulfillment. Octavo, bound in full morocco, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In fine condition. "Written after much painstaking research into Eastern philosophy and mysticism, The Razors Edge is Maughams 20th-century manifesto for human fulfillment. In it he mercilessly satirizes American and European materialism, and holds up the figure of the spiritual seeker as a model for those searching for meaning in existence" (Stringer). It was twice adapted into film, first in 1946 starring Tyrone Power and Gene Tierney, and Herbert Marshall as Maugham and Anne Baxter as Sophie, and then a 1984 adaptation starring Bill Murray.
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
Maugham, W. Somerset. The Razor's Edge. Doubleday, Doran & Co., New York, 1944.
Price: US$1700.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First printing. Limited Edition of 750 of which this is no. 286. Signed by the author on the limitations page. Brick red cloth binding with beveled edges. Top page edges gilt. Very Good. Two small faint spots on front cover. Spine slightly darkened. Internally Fine. Lacks the slipcase.
Seller: Brazos Bend Books, Houston, TX, U.S.A.
W. Somerset Maugham. The Razor's Edge. New York: Doubleday, Doran & Company, 1944.
Price: US$2150.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: One of 750 numbered copies signed by the author. Hardcover, bound in maroon cloth with bevelled edges in a slipcase. The slipcase is intact but faded and well rubbed along the edges; bookplate, else the text unmarked.
Seller: Moroccobound Fine Books, IOBA, Lewis Center, OH, U.S.A.
Maugham, W. Somerset. The Razor's Edge. Doubleday, Doran & Company , Inc., NY, 1944.
Price: US$2399.99 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: Brick red cloth titled in gilt, beveled board edge, TEG. True First and Limited Edition # 327/750 signed by Maugham to the limitation page. Near fine condition with slight fingerprints to boards and a small dampstain to top of textblock leading edge, just below gilt edge. Spine faintly toned, gilt slightly rubbed and spine is a bit concave. Housed in publisher's slipcase which is sunned and worn with cello tape to edges. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; Signed by Author
Seller: curtis paul books, inc., Northridge, CA, U.S.A.
Maugham, W. Somerset. The Razor's Edge; A Novel. Doubleday, Doran & Co., Inc, Garden City, 1944.
Price: US$2800.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: Octavo, 343pp. Red cloth, title in gilt over black morocco label. Stated "first edition" on copyright page. Top edge gilt. Lacking the scarce glassine dust jacket. Light sunning to spine, otherwise a fine example, free of any marks or notations. In the publisher's cardboard slipcase, sunning to side panels, solid binding, a very good example. This work is one of 750 signed by the author, being number 420, as stated on the limitation page. An attractive example.
Seller: The First Edition Rare Books, LLC, Cincinnati, OH, U.S.A.
MAUGHAM, W. Somerset. THE RAZOR'S EDGE. Doubleday Doran, Garden City, 1944.
Price: US$3125.00 + shipping
Description: The true First Edition published on 18 April 1944. The First American Trade Edition was published two days later, and the First English Edition was not published until July 1944. Number 158 of 750 numbered copies SIGNED on the limitation page by the author of this modern classic. Issued without a dustwrapper but with a slipcase, present here. Attractive bookplate on the front pastedown with slight offsetting to the front endpaper which has two small skimmed marks. A tight, clean copy, the spine evenly sunned with the black leather spine label intact with strong gilt lettering. Near Fine, without the glassine but with a Good slipcase, intact with splits
Seller: Charles Agvent, est. 1987, ABAA, ILAB, Fleetwood, PA, U.S.A.
MAUGHAM, W. Somerset.. The Razor's Edge.. New York Doubleday Doran & Co, 1944.
Price: US$3327.50 + shipping
Description: First edition, first issue, number 508 of 750 copies, signed by Maugham on the limitation page; 8vo; publisher's salmon cloth, gilt and black lettering piece to spine, top edge gilt, others untrimmed, as issued, minor rubbing to extremities and slight fading to spine, otherwise a near-fine copy. The true first edition published on 18th April 1944. The U.S. Trade edition was published two days later and the first English edition was not published until July 1944. Maugham's last major novel and a departure from his usual style. A disillusioned WWI veteran abandons his wealthy friends and lifestyle, while travelling to India seeking enlightenment. The basis for the 1946 film starring Tyrone Power and in 1984 that starring Bill Murray. Stott A63.a.
Seller: Shapero Rare Books, London, United Kingdom
W. Somerset Maugham. The Razor's Edge. Doubleday, Doran & Co, New York, 1944.
Price: US$3798.53 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: This limited edition numbered 675 of 750 is signed on the limitation page by the author. The book was issued with a slipcase and is lacking here. The true first edition was published on 18 April 1944. The First American Trade Edition was published two days later, and the First English Edition was not published until July 1944. Original red cloth boards with black and gilt lettering on the spine. Top edge is gilt. Minimal fading to the spine and very minor bumping so near fine. Publishers imprint on the upper cover. Signed on the limitation page. Clean contents.
Seller: Rare And Antique Books PBFA, Exeter, DEVON, United Kingdom
Maugham, W. Somerset. The Razor's Edge. Doubleday, Doran & Co, New York, 1944.
Price: US$3800.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First trade edition, first printing after a limited edition of 750 copies. Signed by W. Somerset Maugham and inscribed to a former owner in the year of publication on the front free endpaper. Bound in publisher's black cloth with spine lettered in gilt. Very Good with wear and soiling to cloth, spine lettering rubbed and spine rolled. Remnants of a formerly adhered postcard to front pastedown, pages toned. In a Very Good unclipped dust jacket with a large chip at the head and some fraying the tail, thin stain visible from the blindside at tail. While copies of the signed limited edition on the market are more than abundant, inscribed first trade editions are rather uncommon.
Seller: Burnside Rare Books, ABAA, Portland, OR, U.S.A.
MAUGHAM, W. Somerset. THE RAZOR'S EDGE. Doubleday Doran, Garden City, 1944.
Price: US$4375.00 + shipping
Description: The true First Edition published on 18 April 1944. The First American Trade Edition was published two days later, and the First English Edition was not published until July 1944. Number 89 of 750 numbered copies SIGNED on the limitation page by the author of this modern classic. Issued without a dustwrapper but with a slipcase, lacking here. Tight, clean copy with virtually none of the sunning and rubbing normally found to the spine. The black leather spine label is intact with strong gilt lettering. Near Fine, without the glassine or slipcase
Seller: Charles Agvent, est. 1987, ABAA, ILAB, Fleetwood, PA, U.S.A.
W. Somerset Maugham. The Razor's edge. Doubleday, Doran & Company, 1944.
Price: US$4500.00 + shipping
Condition: As New
Description: A beautiful SIGNED LIMTED edition #479/750. The glassine wrapper is intact though it does show some aging and some light wrinkling. The slip case is intact though the rear spine edge paper has parted and there is upside down L shape sun fading to the edges. Shrinkwrapped for protection
Seller: Copper Dragon Books, Cambria, CA, U.S.A.
Maugham, W. Somerset. The Razor's Edge. Doubleday, Doran and Company, New York, 1944.
Price: US$4500.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: First Edition, First Issue of this limited edition of 508 copies printed. This copy is authentically SIGNED by Maugham on the limitation page. The book is bound in the publisher's salmon cloth and is in great shape. The pages are clean with NO marks or bookplates. A wonderful copy of this TRUE FIRST EDITION in collector's condition.
Seller: Magnum Opus Rare Books, Missoula, MT, U.S.A.
Maugham, William Somerset. The Razor's Edge. Doubleday, Doran, Garden City, New York, 1944.
Price: US$5000.00 + shipping
Description: First trade edition. 1 vols. 8vo. Pre-Publication Copy, Inscribed. A prepublication copy sent by Stanford Cobb at Doubleday to Louis Cohn at House of Books, 16 December 1943, with a typed note, reading in part "The novel will not be published until April, but it is a book which we thought you would be particularly anxious to own, and we were fortunate in being able to get the book on press early." Nominally, the signed limited edition was published a couple of days before the trade edition, but this copy demontrates this to be a mere convention. The book was also inscribed by the author on the flyleaf in advance of publication: "For Louis Henry Cohn, W. Somerset Maugham, who knows? perhaps the author's last book. March 25, 1944" Capt. Louis Henry Cohn and Marguerite Cohn were proprietors of the House of Books, one of the first to specialize in modern literature, and in 1944 House of Books published Maugham's The Unconquered (Stott A62). The Razor's Edge was indeed Maugham's last novel. AN OUTSTANDING ASSOCIATION COPY OF A MAJOR WORK. Stott A63b Black cloth. Very good plus copy in worn dust jacket (torn across front panel, old repairs on verso)
Seller: James Cummins Bookseller, ABAA, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$5500.00 + shipping
Description: Rare W. Somerset Maughamâs original ink sketch showing his dust jacket design concept for his greatest novel, The Razorâs Edge, executed on a blank Western Union telegram form, which was followed by the publisher pretty much to the letter. A striking piece of literary history demonstrating that the authorâs intentions for the book were honored from the text to the jacket itself, including his signature Moroccan symbol, used on nearly all his books, including reprints; and an interesting example of a major authorâs notion of self-representation. In his autobiographical book, The Summing Up, Maugham wrote of the symbol: â[My father] took it into his head to build a house to live in during the summer⦠He ordered a great quantity of glass on which he had engraved a sign against the Evil Eye which he had found in Morocco and which the reader may see on the cover of this book." In near fine condition. The entire piece measures 8.25 inches by 6 inches. An exceptional piece of literary history. "Written after much painstaking research into Eastern philosophy and mysticism, The Razors Edge is Maughams 20th-century manifesto for human fulfillment. In it he mercilessly satirizes American and European materialism, and holds up the figure of the spiritual seeker as a model for those searching for meaning in existence" (Stringer). It was twice adapted into film, first in 1946 starring Tyrone Power and Gene Tierney, and Herbert Marshall as Maugham and Anne Baxter as Sophie, and then a 1984 adaptation starring Bill Murray.
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
Maugham, W. Somerset. The Razor's Edge. Doubleday, Doran and Company, New York, 1944.
Price: US$6000.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: SIGNED/LIMITED EDITION. A beautiful copy SIGNED by Somerset Maugham on the limitation page. The book is bound in the ORIGINAL cloth and is in excellent condition. The binding is tight with NO cocking or leaning and the boards are crisp. The pages are exceptionally clean with NO writing, marks or bookplates in the book. A superb copy SIGNED by the author. We buy SIGNED Maugham First Editions.
Seller: Magnum Opus Rare Books, Missoula, MT, U.S.A.