First edition, first impression in scarce first issue dust wrapper with 8s 3d price intact; rebound in blue library cloth, with boards trimmed & trimmed dust wrapper a few mm taller than book. Dust wrapper sunned to spine, with some loss and chipping to the head & tail of the spine, extremities & rear cover discoloured, small historic cut through spine label visible to verso, flaps smart with just a little age-toning to upper edge. Minor discolouration to extremities & edges of book, spine a touch faded, ownership inscription having been crossed out to front pastedown, edges spotted & some age-toning internally. A scarce example in the first issue jacket; it is believed that the bulk of the first edition stock of this work was lost in bombing on Heinemann publishing house during the Second World War.