Books

First illustrated edition, signed limited issue, number 723 of 751 copies signed by both the author and artist, rare in the original jacket and slipcase. Of Human Bondage was first published in 1915. Maugham contributed a new foreword to this handsome illustrated edition. Randolph Schwabe (1885-1948) "was a draughtsmen, painter and etcher who was the Slade Professor of Fine Art at University College London from 1930 until his death. He served as a war artist in both World Wars, created designs for theatrical productions and illustrated a number of books" (Tate online). Large octavo. Original brown buckram, bevelled edges, spine lettered in gilt on brown ground, Maugham's sigil on front cover in gilt and brown, top edge gilt, others untrimmed. With dust jacket and original slipcase. Frontispiece and 23 collotype plates. Jacket price-clipped, toned, slight wear to upper edges; slipcase lightly toned with a little shelfwear: a fine copy in very good jacket. Stott A21d.

Of Human Bondage is a novel by W. Somerset Maugham. It is a semi-autobiographical story about the life of a young man, Philip Carey, who struggles to find his identity and place in the world.