First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original black cloth, spine and front cover lettered and decorated in bronze, dust jacket. London, Hodder and Stoughton, 1974.
With a bald inscription from the author "with best wishes John le Carré" across the title page, and further inscribed at the foot "And from his father, Ronnie Cornwell".
David Cornwell's prodigal father Ronnie was effectively a career conman, albeit a rackety one, and battened on to his son's status as a rising star. He not only suggested to David that he could now repay all his school fees, despite the fact that they had been very unreliably paid in the first place, but also happily signed books in the role of celebrity father.
Dust jacket price clipped and with very slight wear at extremities, a stain on the front fore-edge, and other signs of light handling.
