The First UK printing published by Heinemann, London in 1970. The BOOK is in near Fine condition. Very light fading to the lower front edge and a small bump to the rear lower corner. Light toning and spotting to the text-block. Free from inscriptions. The WRAPPER is neatly price-clipped and is in Very Good++ or better condition. Light fading to the spine and a little toning to the edges and spine. Very light edge-wear. The wrapper looks very striking in the removable Brodart archival cover. The book has been signed (without dedication) by the author to the title page. This copy has the dedication page neatly razored out by the publishers. Virtually all copies had the dedication/foreword page excised by Heinemann prior to the book being offered for sale to the public. Tipped in to the front blank end-paper is a colour photocopy of a typed letter dated '5th June 1990' addressed to Laura Beadle at Heinemann Publishers. In this letter, the reasons for the publisher's decision to excise the dedication/foreword page are explained. The original letter clearly had been countersigned by Wilbur Smith at some time (This photocopy has not been signed by the author). The author's fifth novel and very scarce with such attributes.