The Silence of the Lambs, Thomas Harris — 1st Edition
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Publication: London, William Heinemann Ltd, 1989
Formatting: 8vo, pp. [vi], 295.
Condition Report: Near Fine. The publisher's original black cloth binding remains firm, tight, and square, with sharp corners. The spine features unoxidised silver-gilt lettering alongside the publisher's windmill motif. The text block is robust, showing no signs of shelf-leaning, though the page edges exhibit uniform, light age-toning typical of the paper stock from this era. Internally, the pages are crisp, clean, and free of foxing or previous ownership inscriptions. The dust wrapper is likewise Near Fine, presenting brightly with minimal signs of edge-wear and featuring advance praise from Clive Barker and Roald Dahl on the rear panel, now fully protected in a clear archival film sleeve.
Catalogue Note: This is the First UK Edition, first impression of Thomas Harris's landmark psychological thriller. While the true first edition was published in the United States by St. Martin's Press the previous year, this 1989 Heinemann printing represents the book's first appearance in the British market.
The book is unillustrated, save for the iconic death's-head hawkmoth motif adorning the original dust wrapper.
Though not a particularly rare title on the open market, it has become increasingly uncommon to find copies in such crisp, well-preserved condition, as the paper stock utilised for this edition is highly prone to heavy tanning and brittleness over time.
Clarice Starling, a brilliant young FBI trainee, is pulled from her studies and thrust into a harrowing psychological game when she is tasked with interviewing Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a brilliant psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer confined to a maximum-security asylum. The FBI hopes Lecter's dark, unparalleled insight into the criminal mind will help them catch 'Buffalo Bill', a vicious serial killer who skins his victims. In exchange for his clues, Starling must offer up her own deepest, most agonising secrets, forging an intimate and terrifying bond with a master manipulator. A masterclass in suspense from the author of Red Dragon, The Silence of the Lambs is a defining cornerstone of modern thriller fiction.
Book Condition: Near Fine
Book Authors: Thomas Harris
Book Publisher: William Heinemann Ltd
Book Language: English
Narrative Type: Fiction
Genre: Thriller & Suspense
Book edition: First Edition
Signed: No
Book Pages: 295
Book Publication Year: 1989
Book Publication Date:
Book Binding: Hardcover
Illustrator: N/A
Book Series: Hannibal Lecter Series
Country/region of manufacture: Bungay, Suffolk, United Kingdom
Book Dimensions:
Book Condition Guide
| 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. |
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