The First UK printing published by George Allen and Unwin Ltd, London in 1937. The BOOK is in Very Good++ condition with the publisher's teal cloth and titling to the spine and upper cover in yellow. Light pushing at the spine tips. The yellow top-stain is present with some spotting to the text-block. Some light offsetting and spotting to the prelims. A neat previous owner's penned name to the front blank end-paper. The WRAPPER is complete and is in Very Good+ condition.Some edge-wear with a loss to the spine ends not involving any lettering. Some small chips to the upper edges and a larger triangular chip to the lower rear panel (see images). The spine is toned with some light spotting to the panels and flaps. Some light small stains in places. Some closed tears to the spine folds. The wrapper artwork by Kirby remains striking in the removable Brodart archival cover. The rare first edition in English of Capek's classic science fiction novel, which extensively satirises contemporary European politics, including colonialism, fascism and Nazism, segregation in America, and the arms race. Seldom found in the wrapper. The novel was translated into several languages within a year of being published and was the basis for a number of stage adaptations between 1981 and 2010. During the Second World War, it was blacklisted in Germany by the Nazis in 1940 and in 1941 by Nazi-occupied Norway. The first copy we have handled.