Books

(Secker & Warburg May 1945). First UK Edition in first issue dustwrapper priced 6s. to the front flap. Publisher's original green cloth with spine lettered in white. Boards exceptionally bright, clean and un-faded apart from a slither of fading to the tip and tail of the spine matching light chipping to the dustwrapper. Overall a lovely near fine copy with no former owner's inscriptions. The dustwrapper is a VG+ example with a 3 cm tear to the top of the front panel (which has been neatly stabilised to the verso by a skilled paper conservationist) and a couple of other short, closed tears to the top edge. There is minor, shallow chipping to the tip and tail of the spine (not affecting the lettering) and the usual rubbing to the edges of the spine (often seen with this title). Unusually the dustwrapper is not printed on the customary Searchlight books paper to the verso. However, for the avoidance of doubt, we can confirm that this dustwrapper and book have clearly been together since the book was published (as the miniscule fading to the spine tips matches perfectly the light chipping to the dustwrapper). Secondly the dustwrapper is definitely NOT from a Second Edition as there is no mention of Second Edition to the front flap (and there is no tell-tale erasure had it been there in the first place). What differentiates this copy is how clean the back cover is. Rest assured there has been no restoration to the miniscule chips to the dustwrapper which is as natural as you would hope to find. The first edition of Animal Farm (4,500 copies) was delayed from May to August 1945 and was an immediate success. One of the most important books of the last century and widely perceived as George Orwell's masterpiece allegory of Soviet totalitarianism. Photographs/scans available upon request.

Animal Farm is an allegorical novella by George Orwell, first published in England on 17 August 1945. The book tells the story of a group of farm animals who revolt against their human farmer, hoping to create a society where animals can be equal, free, and just. However, the revolution is hijacked by the pigs, who become just as oppressive as the humans. Animal Farm is an allegory for the Russian Revolution and the subsequent Soviet Union.