John Le Carré

The Karla Trilogy by John le Carré A complete set of first editions, first impressions of the three books comprising 'The Karla Trilogy'(Hodder & Stoughton, (1974-80). All are signed by the author to the title page. 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' also has the cut signature of Alec Guinness, who played George Smiley in the series adaptation in 1979, affixed to the title page. 'The Honourable Schoolboy' has a signed note from the author responding to a letter from the original owner, which reads as follows: 'I don't think this is true. Or if it is, the 'true first' never came my way! Happy Christmas & best wishes - John le Carré. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: Publisher's original black cloth with gilt lettering and motif to spine and upper board. Top-stain still present, but a little faded with a few isolated spots to fore-edge; contents clean and free from names and inscriptions. The original and unclipped dust jacket is notably and almost completely unfaded to the spine panel, save for a small portion of very minimal fading to the bottom; tiny nick to top of lower hinge with just a hint of isolated rubbing to extremities. A near fine copy. The Honourable Schoolboy: Publisher's original blue boards with lettering to spine in gilt and map endpapers. Free from spotting, names and inscriptions. The original dust jacket is unpriced (intended for export; small tear to top edge of lower panel and a tiny nick to foot of spine panel, with a couple of instances of trivial rubbing to extremities and a little colour transfer to top of spine panel verso. Smiley's People: Publisher's original blue cloth with gilt lettering to spine. Previous owner inscription to front paste-down, near fine otherwise in a fine dust jacket with none of the usual fading and just one tiny nick to top edge and very minor traces of rubbing. A beautiful, near fine set. Rare in this condition.