Sons and Lovers. A novel. by D.H.LAWRENCE - 1913

Duckworth, London, 1913. First edition, Roberts' first state, with the cancelled title page. 8vo. 423pp + xx publisher's catalogue at the rear. Navy blue cloth lettered in gold at the spine and upper board with gilt and blind rules. H.J.Massingham's review copy, with his inked ownership signature and date all but erased from the front free endpaper, some occasional pencilled margin notes and underlining, and a review inkstamp to the title page (Massingham's review of the novel appeared in the June 17th 1913 issue of the 'Daily Chronicle', where he called it "Far and away the best book [Lawrence] has yet written"). Cloth a little marked and chafed in places, with a two-inch tear to the head of the rear gutter. A minor slant to the binding, some dust soiling to the top edge, a little light browning to the free endpapers and a touch of minor spotting to several preliminary leaves. A small area of staining mars one text leaf, and the binding is a little tender at the penultimate advertising leaf. Really quite a crisp and bright copy of the author's first masterpiece. With the armorial bookplate of Oliver Brett, later Lord Esher. Roberts A4(1).. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Good.