Books

London: Michael Joseph, 1937. First Edition. Hard Cover. Dust Jacket. Signed by Author. First UK Edition. Publisher's green cloth with silver lettering to the spine. FLAT-SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR ON THE HALF-TITLE PAGE. A VG+ copy in a D/W that is VG indeed with some minor chips and tears to extremities (not affecting any lettering), and with the fold of the front flap a trifle worn. Flat-signed copies (as opposed to the more common first editions signed on a book-plate) are exceedingly uncommon. The First Hornblower.

The Happy Return is the first novel in the Horatio Hornblower series by C.S. Forester. The book portrays the adventures of the fictional naval officer Horatio Hornblower during the Napoleonic Wars as he sails to Central America on a secret mission for the British government.

Identifying first edition can vary, but common methods include checking the publisher's information page for the words 'First Edition', along with dates or numbers that indicate first printing.