ORWELL, George (1903-50). Down and Out in Paris and London, London, Victor Gollancz Ltd., 1933, 8vo, original black cloth (without the dust-jacket). FIRST EDITION. Fenwick A1a. RARE.

ORWELL, George (1903-50). Down and Out in Paris and London, London, Victor Gollancz Ltd., 1933, 8vo, original black cloth (without the dust-jacket). FIRST EDITION. Fenwick A1a. RARE.

Starting bid£700
Estimate £700 - £1,000
Absentee deadlineDec 3, 2025, 5:00:00 PM

"ORWELL, George" (i.e. Eric Arthur BLAIR, 1903-50).  Down and Out in Paris and London. London: Victor Gollancz Ltd., 1933 [but 1932]. 8vo (197 x 130mm). Half title (some light mainly marginal staining). Original black cloth, the spine lettered faintly in pale green (one chip to the head of the spine affecting one letter of the title, without the dust-jacket). FIRST EDITION of the author's first full-length book of many of which were sold to circulating libraries and hence are seldom found in good condition. "Still, I can point to one or two things I have definitely learned by being hard up. I shall never again think that all tramps are drunken scoundrels, nor expect a beggar to be grateful when I give him a penny, nor be surprised if men out of work lack energy, nor subscribe to The Salvation Army, nor pawn my clothes, nor refuse a handbill, nor enjoy a meal at a smart restaurant. That is a beginning" (Orwell's final paragraph). Fenwick George Orwell: A Bibliography (1998) A1a: "1,500 copies." RARE.