Watership Down.

£8,750 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books

major literary association copy An association copy of the first order, inscribed by the author in black ink on the front free endpaper to American novelist Russell Hoban: 'To Russell Hoban / with every good wish / from / Richard Adams / May 1973'. Russell Hoban was, at the time, the premier children's book writer, who revolutionised 20th-century animal fantasy by developing a deeply sophisticated form of literary anthropomorphism. A fine literary association copy of Adams' first novel, inscribed to the master of the genre. First edition, first impression, inscribed by the author; 8vo; internally fine; publisher's russet cloth, titles to spine and device to upper cover gilt, slight vertical crease to spine, spine ends and corner tips fractionally bumped, faint spots to top edge, with the unclipped pictorial dustjacket, a few inked or pencilled notes by Hoban on the verso of the front flap of the jacket recording typographical errors, short tears to spine ends at folds, not affecting text, spine and lower panel slightly sunned, light creasing to extremities; an excellent copy in very good dustjacket.

• Binding: Hardcover

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