The First UK printing published by Cassell in 1939.The BOOK is in near FINE condition.Original publisher's brick red cloth with electric blue titling.Slight bumping and fading to the spine tips.Very minor handling wear to edges.Binding remains tight and square.Faint offsetting to the end papers.Light toning and spotting to the text block.Free from markings and erasures. Presentation copy: Inscribed and Signed by the Author to the front blank end paper:'James Tucker, from, Anthony Powell,rather late in, the day, May, 1990'.The book has additionally been Signed by the Author to the title page.The recipient, James Tucker was a writer and bibliographer who had published 'The Novels of Anthony Powell' in 1976.Genuinely recognised as the author's scarcest title.Fewer than 1000 copies had been sold prior to the destruction in the Blitz of Cassell's stock at La Belle Sauvage near St. Paul's. Powell’s scarce fifth novel, set within the world of publishing and critiquing the fad for spiritualism. An extremely difficult first edition title to find in such good original condition, let alone as an inscribed association copy.Housed in a custom solander box.