First edition. The author's first novel, and one of the classic coming of age texts. “Jill, written at the age of twenty-one and a work of remarkable assurance, makes it clear that his novelistic gifts, had he chosen to develop them, were potentially as impressive as his abilities as a poet... This is a beautifully written and observed novel, firm in its characterization and delicate in its evocation of autumnal Oxford in 1940.” (New York Times, 1964) According to Bloomfield, it was the practice of the Fortune Press to bind up small quantities of any one title at a time using binding cloths which had been acquired cheaply. We believe this binding with uncut page edges so measuring slightly taller than others is one of the earliest variants. A copy inscribed to Bruce Montgomery and dated in the year of publication was in such a binding. The dustwrapper is slightly shorter than the book, but taller than the dustwrappers issued with the (presumably later) bindings in black cloth, also appears to be in an early state. However, all dustwrappers issued with the first printing of this book are notoriously fragile and very seldom survive, particularly so well preserved.