William Somerset Maugham

MAUGHAM, William Somerset (1874-1965). The Casuarina Tree. London: William Heinemann, 1926.

One of the key books of the modern movement (Connolly): an excellent first edition with authorial presentation inscription and rare original dust-jacket. The Casuarina Tree is a collection of six short stories, all of which are set in the British colonies of the Far East. The title refers to the casuarina tree, a type of pine found in the East, and serves as a symbol for the British colonialists

Octavo. Original dark blue cloth, spine and front cover lettered in gilt, author’s design on upper cover stamped in black (negligible wear to edges, head/ and tailcap lightly bruised); original pictorial dust-jacket designed by Ralph Keene (extremities lightly soiled, top edge lightly sunned, occasional tiny tears and nicks to top and bottom edge, largest tear measuring 20mm); housed in modern blue quarter morocco slipcase. Provenance: 'With best wishes W. Somerset Maugham' (authorial presentation inscription on front free endpaper).