277. Maugham (William Somerset) The Painted Veil, first edition, first issue, third state, with cancel title and list of 26 books to verso of title, signed presentation inscription from the author to C S Evans, additional presentation inscription from the author 'For Charley' to endpaper, very light browning to endpapers, original dark-blue cloth, corners and spine ends a little bumped, otherwise near-fine, dust-jacket, minor repairs and restorations to spine ends and corners, in effect a fine copy, preserved in custom drop-back box, [Stott A33c], 8vo, 1925.
'The first issue of the first English edition of The Painted Veil… consists at the most of 74 copies.' Stott.
The complex printing history of The Painted Veil stems in a large part from a number of complaints and threatened suits, the most significant of which came from the Hong Kong Government regarding the setting of the novel. This complaint was not made however until two printing runs of 4,000 copies each had been completed. The decision was made to alter the setting to the fictional Tching-Yen and a recall was ordered, only 74 copies remained unreturned.
C.S.Evans (1883-1944), director of Heinemann publishers and friend of Maugham's.
est. £1500 – £2000
A superb copy of one of Maugham's scarcest works.