Psmith Journalist
London: A. & C. Black, Ltd, 1915. First Edition. Hardcover. Presumed First Impression (no copyright page bound in, as per McIlvaine). Small, thick 8vo: viii,247,[1]pp, with a frontispiece and 11 full-page monotone illustrations by T. M. R. Whitwell. Publisher's blue pictorial cloth, lettered and decorated in gold, black, yellow and cream titles to spine gilt; without the scarce dust jacket. McIlvaine, crediting Gould, notes two binding states of the first issue with no priority established, both involving the publisher's name in black type at base of the spine: one standing 1/8" tall, the other 3/16". Our is the latter. An excellent copy, square and tight with mild rubbing and bumping to extremities. Contents are marginally toned but unmarked, plates spotless. Jasen 15a. McElvaine A15a. Fine-. Item #BB1851
First serialized in The Captain. The so-called second English edition (heavily revised) of The Prince and Betty, which first appeared in 1912. But comparison of the two manuscripts has shown that Psmith Journalist was actually written first, although not published until this edition of 1915. Regardless, Jasen calls Psmith "the best version of the three [McElvaine 14, 15a, and 16]." (The Prince and Betty appeared in two distinctly different versions, both published in 1912 by different publishers.) In Psmith Journalist, Psmith and Mike Jackson arrive in New York from Cambridge with their touring cricket team, encountering slum conditions and gang wars. N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, carefully preserved in archival, removable polypropylene sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).
Price: $724.00