£150
FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY, ALS loosely inserted, 8vo, pp. 327, [1]. Original blue cloth, front board and spine lettered in gilt. A little spotting. Binding slightly rubbed and bumped to extremities, spine sunned. Inscribed by the author in pencil to G H Beechens, dated Christmas 1927, on front flyleaf, autograph letter loosely inserted.
The first edition of this children's fantasy novel by John Masefield (1878-1967), which was followed by a sequel called 'The Box of Delights' seven years later. This copy is inscribed 'For G H Beechens, from his old pupil the author. Christmas 1927', with an autograph letter signed 'Jock' on letterhead from Hill Crest in Boar's Hill, Oxford. Beechens was perhaps a favoured teacher at Warwick School, then called King's School, where Masefield was a reluctant pupil for about three years before running away and boarding the HMS Conway as a cadet in training.
