Smith, Wilbur (1964) ‘When the Lion Feeds’, UK signed first edition with very early signature

Wilbur Addison Smith (1964) ‘When the Lion Feeds‘, UK first edition, first printing, published by William Heinemann. Signed by the author on the title page with his earliest signature “Wilbur A. Smith”. The author later dropped using the ‘A’ to save time during signings.

Condition: a very good copy. The front free endpaper sheet sees evidence of removed tape. It is not sticky but the glue has left an imprint. Similarly, the rear endpaper had a bookseller ticket pasted at some point which has detached but left the glue ghosting which had bled through the next page. There are no other internal markings, no previous owners’ scribbles. The dust jacket is price clipped as the vast majority of specimen, and otherwise near fine with the spine not browned as usually encountered.

The true first edition and first printing of Smith’s first novel which launched his stellar career.