LIZA OF LAMBETH.
[inscribed to Maugham's 1st bibliographer] Second Edition. London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1897. 6 pp ads dated 1897. Original pea green cloth decorated (with front cover vignette by Henry Bishop) in gilt. "Second Edition," which is to say, the second impression of the first edition (the true second edition, with a new setting of type, would be in 1904). This sad tale of the hopelessness of life in London's working-class neighborhoods novel is based on Maugham's obstetrical experiences as a medical student at St. Thomas's Hospital in Lambeth.
This second impression (number of copies unknown) was issued with the same title page date as the first; the only differences are that the second has "Second Edition" added to the title recto, and the brackets around "All rights reserved" removed on the title verso. This copy is in very good-plus condition (minor cover soil, a few light wrinkles on the (flat) spine, front endpaper cracked but tight) -- which is normal condition for a book that is difficult to find much better. Toole Stott A1a (see p. 17). Housed in a drop-spine box with leather labels.
This copy is a presentation copy from Maugham, signed on the half-title "To Frederick Bason | his to keep | [signed] W. Somerset Maugham". Also, loosely inserted is a leaflet promoting Bason's contribution to "The Saturday Book | Volume 24" -- which bears the inscription "Owing to being broke & miserable & alone in this Ble[eding?] World I have sold my Liza to M. Cook | July 1964 | [signed] Fred Bason." Born in Walworth in the East End of London, Bason (1908-1973) was quite a character -- promoting himself as "The Cockney Bookseller" (also an author and diarist and BBC personality) who rose from -- but still lived in -- the East End. He was buying and selling books as a teenager -- beginning a lifelong practice of contacting authors to sign their books, in order to increase their value.
In 1926 [age 17!] he wrote to Maugham care of his publisher to tell him that he had read the author’s play “The Unknown” AND DID NOT LIKE IT! He added that he would like to invite him to tea in Walworth. Incredibly, Maugham accepted the invitation, and so began a friendship that was to last for ten years and which was to benefit both parties in different ways... [Robinson, 17 Feb 2013].
Maugham began sending him gifts; a friend advised Bason never to accept an invitation to go alone to Maugham's hotel room. In 1931 Bason put together, and had published by the Unicorn Press, A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE WRITINGS OF W. SOMERSET MAUGHAM (with the assistance of Maugham, who contributed a Preface) -- the first Maugham bibliography. The two fell out two years later, in 1933 -- Maugham asked Bason to help him find a buyer for his manuscripts, and it became public knowledge through Bason -- which Maugham never forgave. This book must have been inscribed during those seven years 1926-1933; since Maugham knew that Bason was selling off the books authors inscribed to him, Maugham's "his to keep" in the inscription is ironic and in fact was probably intended to be cynical. This book also bears the discreet bookplate of Maugham collector Craig V. Showalter, with his initialed penciled note about Bason. Item #15924
Price: $1,650.00