Biggles in the Gobi, Captain W. E. Johns — 1st Edition

£60.00

Biggles in the Gobi, Captain W. E. Johns — 1st Edition

Name: Biggles in the Gobi, Captain W. E. Johns — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6120
Price: 60.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

Write Review

In stock

£60.00

Shipping is calculated at checkout.

Publication: London, United Kingdom, Hodder & Stoughton, 1953.

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 160.

Condition Report: Near Fine. A particularly sharp and well-preserved copy. The publisher's original red hardcover cloth binding is remarkably clean and square, with unoxidised black lettering and a ram skull vignette to the front board and spine. The corners remain sharp and the spine ends are firm without bumping. The text block is solid and tight, though the fore-edge and bottom edge exhibit moderate foxing and toning, which lightly encroaches onto the margins of the preliminary leaves and endpapers. The original red top stain remains vibrant. The unclipped dust jacket, priced at 7/6 net, is unusually bright and crisp, exhibiting minimal signs of shelf-wear beyond very faint rubbing to the extreme corners and head of the spine. The delicate white rear panel shows only mild handling marks. A handsome, highly collectible copy.

Catalogue Note: First edition, first printing. The English-language text block bears the correct copyright page designation, "FIRST PRINTED - - 1953", confirming the true first state. This quintessential mid-century adventure is handsomely illustrated with a colour frontispiece and five further full-page colour plates by long-time Biggles artist Leslie Stead.

The dust jacket features a famous facsimile signature from Captain W. E. Johns to the rear panel, accompanying an open letter to readers introducing the character Gimlet.

While standard reading copies of this title frequently appear on the market, locating a true first edition in such an exceptionally bright, unclipped dust wrapper has become increasingly uncommon for collectors.

In this gripping instalment of the legendary aviation series, Detective Air-Inspector Bigglesworth and his dedicated Air Police fly east into the treacherous heart of Asia. Tasked with a perilous rescue mission, Biggles and his crew must navigate the unforgiving landscape of the Black Gobi desert to extract a group of eleven smuggled people hidden near the ancient Caves of a Thousand Buddhas. Facing relentless pursuit from hostile forces and the looming threat of the Red Chinese, the team must rely on their wits, mastery of the skies, and unyielding courage to survive.

Book Condition: Near Fine

Book Authors: Captain W. E. Johns

Book Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Adventure

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 160

Book Publication Year: 1953

Book Publication Date: October 8, 1953

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Leslie Stead

Book Series: Biggles

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.