Books

New York: Harper and Brothers, 1933. First American Edition. Young Eric Blair's first book, a work he was sufficiently ashamed of that he asked Victor Gollancz to issue it under a pseudonym. The American edition was published about 6 months following the British, issued in a tiny print run of 1,750 copies, of which 383 were remaindered. The book sold poorly in the U.S., perhaps owing to the fact American audiences in the midst of the Depression did not want a reminder of life on the down-and-out. Rare in the dustjacket, seldom appearing in presentable condition in the trade and offered less than a handful of times in 30 years according to the auction record, those being restored with tape residue on verso. An important debut. Fenwick A.1d. First Printing. Octavo (21.5cm); light purple cloth, with plum-colored stripes and titles stamped in black on spine; illustrated endpapers; dustjacket; 292pp. Hint of a forward lean, with faint foxing to text edges; clean throughout - Near Fine.…

George Orwell’s 'Down and Out in Paris and London' is a gritty memoir splitting its narrative between the two cities named, exploring the underbelly of society and the life of the author's own experiences living in poverty. The book dives into themes of class, society, and the struggle for survival in an indifferent world.

One method of identifying the first edition of 'Down and Out in Paris and London' is by checking the publisher’s information on the copyright page. The first edition was published by Victor Gollancz in January 1933, and first printings can be identified by the absence of additional reprint or edition notices.