Rebecca with original letter | 1938, first edition, first impression with the rare dustjacket, alongside a letter from Du Maurier quoting the famous first line & para.

Last night, I dreamt I went to Manderley again....

Short of having the manuscript to Rebecca (impossible at this stage), this is arguably the only opportunity to have the famous opening to Rebecca written in Du Maurier's hand and signed by her.

A wonderful first edition, first impression of Daphne du Maurier’s classic Rebecca, published by Victor Gollancz Ltd in 1938, alongside an original, handwritten and signed Daphne Du Maurier letter in which she quotes the famous first line and paragraph of Rebecca. A collectors dream!

A masterwork of English gothic and suspense, Rebecca has captivated readers for generations and remains one of the most enduring and beloved novels of the 20th century. With that, it is no surprise it is one of the most sought after 20th century novels by collectors, especially copies with the all-too rare and original dustjacket.

Rebecca has inspired numerous adaptations, including the acclaimed 1940 film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture (one of this book dealers favourite films!)

Condition Report:

Book Condition: Very Good +

• Covers: The original black cloth boards are well-preserved with bright gilt lettering on the spine. The boards show minimal wear, with light bumping to the corners and spine ends.
• Spine: The spine remains straight and firm, with some fading of the gilt titles. There are neat repairs to splitting along the joints, maintaining the book's structural integrity.
• Text Block: Internally, the pages are clean, with a few light splash stains on the edges of the endpapers and spotting on the fore-edge. These minor flaws do not detract from the overall appearance and readability of the book.
• Binding: The binding is tight and secure, with no loose or detached pages, ensuring the book's durability.

Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good +

• First State Dust Jacket: This copy retains the original, rare first state dust jacket, a significant factor in its collectibility and value.
• Spine: The spine of the dust jacket is browned, with chips at the spine ends and a slightly larger chip at the spine head. Despite these imperfections, the jacket remains intact and visually striking.
• Edges and Surface: The jacket shows some nicks and light surface marks at the extremities, with a few minor nicks. However, the jacket overall remains bright, preserving the classic design elements that make this edition so distinctive.

Letter Condition: Fine

Autograph letter signed ("Daphne du Maurier") to a recipient named Martin, reading:

"Your grandmother has asked me to write the opening passage of one of my books and send it to you. As 'Rebecca' seems to be the most popular of my novels, I have chosen the first lines from chapter one. "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again. It seemed to me I stood by the iron gate leading to the drive, and for a while I could not enter, for the way was barred to me. There was a padlock and a chain upon the gate. I called in my dream to the lodge-keeper, and had no answer, and peering closer through the rusted spokes of the gate I saw that the lodge was uninhabited". I hope you enjoy the story if you read it".

One page with folding marks, 4to.

Place and Date: Kilmarth, Cornwall, 5 April 1976.

Size: 25.5 x 20.5cm