Alexandria Quartet

London: Faber and Faber, 1957. Justine, Balthazar, Mountolive and Clea]. London: Faber and Faber , [1957-1960].

First editions. Four octavo volumes. 253, [1, blank] pp.; 250 pp.; 320 pp.; 287, [1, blank] pp. Justine is a first edition with a first issue jacket. The jacket is unclipped and priced 15s. The spine contains no hand-print and the review for "White Eagles Over Serbia" is the last review on the rear panel. Balthazar, Mountolive, Clea are also first editions in first issue jackets.

Justine in original orange cloth. Spine stamped in blue and lettered in gilt. Top edge blue. Some very minor foxing to edges of text block. Spine (truncated) of jacket slightly sunned and rubbed. Balthazar in original blue cloth. Spine stamped in red and lettered in gilt. Minor foxing to top edge of text block. Jacket with sunning to spine and along edges. Mountolive in original yellow cloth. Spine stamped in purple and lettered in gilt. Some light foxing to edges of text block and to edge of cloth. Clea in bright orange cloth. Spine stamped in green and lettered in gilt. Text block edges with some foxing. All volume in the original pictorial dust jackets, unclipped. A near fine set of Durrell’s major work and all appear to be unread.

"While [living in] Cyprus [in the 1950s], Durrell began writing Justine, the first volume of The Alexandria Quartet. He would eventually complete the four books in France. The Quartet was published between 1957 and 1960 and was a critical and commercial success. Durrell received recognition as an author of international stature." (Biography, International Lawrence Durrell Society).

HBS 68771.

$3,750. (Inventory #: 68771)