“I WAS RAVISHED WITH THE BEAUTY OF THE WORLD”: SIGNED LIMITED FIRST EDITON OF RAZOR’S EDGE, ONE OF 750 COPIES SIGNED BY MAUGHAM

MAUGHAM, W. Somerset. The Razor's Edge. Garden City: Doubleday, Doran, 1944. Octavo, original beveled red cloth, black morocco spine label, top edge gilt, uncut, original slipcase. $4500.

Signed limited first edition, number 628 of only 750 copies, of this “20th-century manifesto for human fulfillment,” signed by Maugham.

"Written after much painstaking research into Eastern philosophy and mysticism, The Razor's Edge is Maugham's 20th-century manifesto for human fulfillment. In it he mercilessly satirizes American and European materialism, and holds up the figure of the spiritual seeker as a model for those searching for meaning in existence" (Stringer, 561). Considered exotic in its time, The Times praised Maugham's craftsmanship, noting, "age and art have refined Maugham's feelings to a vanishing point. The Razor's Edge is a crowning triumph of that virtuosity." Without fragile glassine, rarely found. Stott 50.

Light rubbing and toning to slipcase. Book lovely and about-fine, with only a bit of toning to spine.