Description
GOLDING, William. The Lord of the Flies. London: Faber and Faber, 1954. First edition, first printing. Dedicated to Tom (William Golding’s cousin), from Mother (William Golding’s aunt). Very good.
In addition: a letter in its original envelope from William Golding to his cousin, Thomas W. Curnoe, dated 12th October 1983, handwritten and signed. Fine.
Book: red cloth boards with white debossed titling, tight book block with minor spine rolling. Dust jacket with 2cm tear at spine heel and other small closed tears on top edges is however unclipped with price of 12s 6d visible. No marks excepting the dedication which reads, “To Tom with Best Wishes for Xmas 1954 With Love from Mother”. The initial print run of The Lord of the Flies, of which this is one, was limited to 3,000 copies.
Letter & Envelope: watermarked ‘conqueror’, cream A4 notepaper sheet, with printed header of Golding’s Salisbury address, his residence at the time. Date, letter and signature handwritten by William Golding to both sides in blue ink. Folded into thirds in its original envelope which is date-stamped and postmarked by ‘Salisbury, Wilts’ at 7:30pm on 12th October 1983; name and address handwritten by Golding, ‘W. Golding’ written in top left-hand corner by recipient. First class Royal Mail 16p ‘Machin’ series stamp attached and postmarked.
Letter Transcript
[printed in navy ink as headed notepaper]
Ebble Thatch Bowerchalke Salisbury Wiltshire
Broad Chalke 275
[handwritten in blue ink by William Golding]
12th October
Dear Tom,
It was wonderful to hear from you – I too remember to old days with astonishment that they are so long ago – but also a kind of affection.
We’ve missed each other entirely by accident. I’ve always thought of you as the family Tycoon what with race horses and the rest and have tended to back off!
Anyway I hope we may meet somewhere, sometime and I’m sure you would like to too.
It was very good to get congratulations from you and I was touched near enough to tears.
With every best wish
Bill Golding
Envelope Transcript
[handwritten in blue ink by Thomas W. Curnoe]
W. Golding
[handwritten in blue ink by William Golding]
T. Curnoe Esq.
Tregarth
90 Burnmill Road
Market Harborough
Leicestershire
LE16 7JG
William Golding wrote this letter to his cousin Tom Curnoe in acknowledgement of Tom’s congratulations on Golding having won the Nobel Prize in Literature. The letter from Golding is dated and post-marked 12th October 1983, being written shortly after the announcement of the award on 6th October 1983 and before its presentation at the ceremony in Stockholm on 10th December 1983.
William Golding’s mother, Mildred Golding (nee Curnoe) and Thomas W. Curnoe’s father, Thomas W. T. Curnoe were siblings. The book and letter are being brought onto the open market for sale by Thomas W. Curnoe’s granddaughter, being William Golding’s first cousin twice removed.