THE HAPPIER LIFE

First edition, first printing. Signed by the author. From the library of Professor Edwin A. Dawes, with his illustrated bookplate to the front pastedown. Original turquoise cloth lettered in gilt to the spine, in dustwrapper. An excellent, very near fine copy, the binding square and firm, the cloth and gilt sharp, the contents clean throughout. Small bump to the lower spine tip. In the near fine dustwrapper, a little toned to the spine, with a short (c. 8 mm) closed tear to the upper edge of the front panel, a tiny nick to the front panel's outer edge, and the merest wear to spine tips. Not price-clipped (£1.50 net to the front flap). A lovely copy of the author's second collection.

Signed by the author in black ink to the title page. 'The Happier Life', Dunn's second Faber collection, appeared three years his highly acclaimed debut, 'Terry Street'. This copy belonged to Edwin Dawes (1925-2023), Reckitt Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Hull, later serving as the University's Pro Vice Chancellor, and Dean of Science, as well as Chair of the Library Committee. Dawes knew both Dunn and Philip Larkin in their capacity as librarians at the university. Dawes became a close personal friend of Larkin and was later founder and chairman of the (posthumous) Philip Larkin Society. He was also an award-winning magician and historian of magic, which explains his distinctive Ex Libris bookplate showing an alchemist presiding over a steaming concoction with, at his left hand, a copy of Giovanni Battista Della Porta's 1558 'Natural Magick' (the figure bears an uncanny resemblance to Sigmund Freud). The design, he later explained, married his two passions of science and magic.