Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
SHAW, [George] Bernard. The Apple Cart: A Political Extravaganza. Constable, London, 1930.
Price: US$1000.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: 12mo, 77pp. A fine, fresh, unread copy in the publisher's light green cloth. In a very good example of the impossibly brittle dust jacket, split very neatly atthe front outer joint and repaired with archival tape on the verso. Some toning to extremities, and a few tiny chips, but presenting nicely. This copy SIGNED and INSCRIBED by Shaw on the half-title page, and scarce thus: "Inscribed to M. [Mr.] George R. Bolton, G. Bernard Shaw Letchworth 16th May 1931." Letchworth Garden City, just a dozen miles from Shaw's home in Ayot St. Lawrence, was a magnet for Shaw and a number of other pacifists and socialist-oriented writers, such as George Orwell. Some Google sleuthing indicates that a George R. Bolton was a working librarian at the time of this inscription in the town of Watford, quite close to both Letchworth and Ayot St. Lawrence. "The Apple Cart" is considered by many critics to be among Shaw's last great works; in some ways a departure from his Fabian politics, being a slightly reactionary monarchist critique of some of the more lurid aspects of democratic political institutions.
Seller: Cleveland Book Company, ABAA, Rocky River, OH, U.S.A.
Price: US$31250.00 + shipping
Description: Laurence A198a. The Best Edition of Shaw's Works, copy #740 of 1025 copies complete in 33 volumes in the original dustwrappers collecting his writings from his first novel-- IMMATURITY--to his famous plays--PYGMALION, MAJOR BARBARA, etc.--through and beyond his winning of the Nobel Prize in 1925. EACH of the 33 volumes is INSCRIBED and SIGNED by the author to actress Lillah McCarthy. The first volume, as are most of the others, is INSCRIBED "This one is Lillah's/G. Bernard Shaw." Volume 10, MAN AND SUPERMAN, is INSCRIBED: "This volume is very specially/dedicated to the/Creatrix/of/Ann Whitefield, who will/always be my/Ann Whitefield/Lillah McCarthy/G. Bernard Shaw 12th Dec. 1931." McCarthy became the leading lady in 1905 at The Court Theatre, managed by Granville Barker, her future husband, and financed by Shaw. Her first role was as Nora in Shaw's JOHN BULL'S OTHER ISLAND. She then caused a sensation as Ann Whitefield in his masterpiece MAN AND SUPERMAN, earning Shaw's respect for her talents so much so that he tailored the part of Jennifer in THE DOCTOR'S DILEMMA especially for her. When McCarthy married Barker, who played the male lead opposite her in several of Shaw's plays, Shaw was upset as he felt they were not a good pair. Though the couple successfully produced a number of other Shaw plays in the following years, Shaw was proven correct when Barker left her for another woman. McCarthy later married Sir Frederick Keeble, and the final volume of this set is INSCRIBED by Shaw "to Lady Keeble (Lillah)." Near Fine in Very Good dustwrappers. Sensational set
Seller: Charles Agvent, est. 1987, ABAA, ILAB, Fleetwood, PA, U.S.A.