MAUGHAM, William Somerset

Cosmopolitans

London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1936. Item #06507

A Signed, Limited Maugham
Elegance in a Small Edition of Just 175 Copies

MAUGHAM, William Somerset. Cosmopolitans. London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1936.

First edition thus, limited to just 175 numbered copies signed by the author (this copy no. 62).

Large octavo (8 5/8 x 6 inches; 219 x 152 mm.). [xvi], 1–302, [2, blank] pp.

Publisher’s red buckram over boards, spine with black cloth label lettered in gilt. Minimal fading to spine - still a fine copy, preserved in most of the original glassine wrapper and housed in the original black board slipcase.

A particularly attractive example of one of Maugham’s more refined limited issues, Cosmopolitans gathers a sequence of sophisticated tales unified by their international settings and acute psychological observation. The title itself reflects Maugham’s enduring fascination with expatriate life - Europeans abroad, social outsiders, and the subtle tensions of identity, class, and desire that arise in unfamiliar cultural landscapes.

Issued in a strictly limited edition of only 175 signed copies, this printing was clearly intended for collectors from the outset. Copies retaining the fragile glassine and original slipcase in such well-preserved condition are notably uncommon, as these ephemeral elements were seldom kept intact.

The production is characteristically restrained yet elegant: the red buckram binding, contrasted with the black spine label, reflects the understated refinement typical of William Heinemann Ltd. limited editions of the period. The generous margins and signed limitation further underscore its status as a presentation issue rather than a trade offering.

A desirable Maugham item - combining literary substance, scarcity, and condition - appealing equally to collectors of modern firsts and finely produced limited editions.

Price: $350.00