Murphy

Samuel Beckett. Murphy. London: George Routledge & Sons, 1938. First edition. Octavo (7.4375 x 5 inches; 189 x 127 mm). [4], 282, [4, advertisements] pages. Publisher's smooth green cloth, spine lettered in gilt (first-issue binding); all edges of the text block trimmed; plain endpapers. Spine slightly leaning; minor reddish stain to the backstrip near the lower edge of the front joint and along the bottom edge of the front board; light wear to the spine ends and corners with two very short closed tears at the crown; corners softly bumped; occasional light rubbing with a few thin, light blemishes down the center of the backstrip. Faint discoloration to rear pastedown from binding glue with a couple minor ripples; slightly over-opened at the first few signatures (particularly B and E), gatherings just slightly sprung. Very good. The author's first published novel. Federman & Fletcher 25. (#10005).