The author's first book

Peake, Mervyn ~ Captain Slaughterboard Drops Anchor : Signed And Doodled By The Author

Eyre And Spottiswoode, London : 1945

The second UK printing published by Eyre & Spottiswoode, London in 1945. The first post-war edition, second overall (The original edition, published by Country Life in 1939, is notably rare, as explained on the jacket blurb of the present edition 'the original edition of this book was published early in the war but destroyed by enemy action. The artist has coloured the plates for this edition'). The BOOK is in near Fine condition. The original publisher's beige cloth is very clean with titles in green to front board. A very light crease to the upper corner of some pages. Some very light tape remnant marks to the lower front and rear endpapers presumable where the tape from an old wrapper protector has offset. The pictorial WRAPPER is complete and is in exceptional near fine condition with just a small closed tear to the lower rear wrapper edge and a similar one to the upper front edge (The latter has a small tape remnant to the verso where this tear has been previously reinforced). The wrapper colouring remains very bright and the rear white panel remains very clean. The wrapper artwork remains striking in the removable Brodart archival cover. With an original ink sketch by Peake on the front free endpaper, showing a pirate and inscribed 'Best wishes, Mervyn Peake, Jul 1963'. Captain Slaughterboard was Peake's first book and is illustrated throughout in black and white (with spot-colour highlights), printed on blue, pink, yellow, white, and grey paper. An exceptionally scarce title in such condition, more-so with such attributes. Collectible.

BINDING: Hardcover
CONDITION: Near Fine
JACKET: Near Fine