All of my later American first editions have very good to fine original dust jackets. It is gratifying to have two of my absolute favourites – The Lion and the Unicorn: Socialism and the English Genius and Critical Essays– in very good, original covers too. The facsimile covers are stunning and I am pleased to have the American printing of Orwell’s last novel in an original dust jacket. This includes both the American and UK editions of Nineteen Eighty-Four * - which were printed less than a week apart - and Animal Farm, which had a very small print run (or at least the UK version did). A signed copy of any first edition by Orwell will sell for an astronomical price. Recent auctions at Sotheby’s suggest George Orwell (1903-1950) will continue to be an extraordinarily importantwriter to collectors for the foreseeable future.Īll first editions published - both in the USA and UK during Orwell’s lifetime - are on my shelves in facsimile or original dust jackets. What is the curious attraction of first editions? This link will give you an idea of the prices Orwell’s books fetch when housed in their highly sought after dust jackets, especially works published during the 1930s.
I would never have guessed, when I started collecting all those years ago, that my Orwell library would make it possible to read and research during the COVID-19 lockdowns when accessing materials became all but impossible. I steadily added to my collection with many books being bought inexpensively online, including quality first editions, often from far afield, some in much sought after dust jackets. Decline of the English Murder and Other Essays, Homage to Catalonia and a favourite collection, Inside the Whale have been with me from this time at university too. I read Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four at school and over the next few years bought my own copies. My first Orwell was a battered copy of Down and Out in Paris and London found in a secondhand bookstore for a dollar. Jacintha Buddicom remembering her childhood friend, Eric Blair (George Orwell) “He said that reading was a good preparation for writing any book could teach you something, if only how not to write one.”