MAUGHAM, W. Somerset (1874-1965). Of Human Bondage, London, 1915, 2 half titles, original blue cloth gilt (lightly stained, without the exceptionally scarce dust-jacket). FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE. RARE.

MAUGHAM, W. Somerset (1874-1965). Of Human Bondage, London, 1915, 2 half titles, original blue cloth gilt (lightly stained, without the exceptionally scarce dust-jacket). FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE. RARE.

Starting bid£300
Estimate £400 - £600
Absentee deadlineDec 3, 2025, 5:00:00 PM

MAUGHAM, William Somerset (1874-1965).  Of Human Bondage. London: William Heinemann, 1915. 8vo (188 x 120mm). Half titles, one before and one after the title, small publisher's woodcut device on the title (occasional light mainly marginal spotting). Original blue cloth lettered in gilt with Maugham's ancient Moorish symbol on the upper cover (some light staining, inner hinges splitting, without the dust-jacket). Provenance: "Kitty S. [?]U. Gordon, [?]Buggacott, 1915" (indistinct signature and name-place on the verso of the front free endpaper); "Mrs Richards" (biro signature on the recto of the front free endpaper). FIRST EDITION of this semi-autobiographical novel which is widely-considered the author's masterpiece, FIRST ISSUE with publisher's advertisements facing the first half title ("Works by William Somerset Maugham"), further publisher's advertisements also facing the title ("New Six Shilling Novels"), and with the misprint "help" on p.257. There are no advertisements at the end. We have been unable to locate any examples of copies of the first edition in a dust-jacket, or even the fragments of one, either at auction or in the trade; most copies of the original jacket were withdrawn since it represented the main character's club foot on the wrong leg. Boxall (Ed.) 1001 Books (2006) p.272; Stott The Writings of William Somerset Maugham: A Bibliography (1956) A21a. RARE.