The Bad Seed
By William March
 
First UK edition, first impression: London: Hamish Hamilton Ltd., 1954.
 
Octavo. Original turquoise cloth, spine lettered in silver. With the original dust jacket.
 
The binding square and firm, the silver lettering bright. Edges toned and a little spotted; a few occasional spots to contents, with some off-setting to the endpapers. Brief previous owner inscription to the front endpaper and a small owner’s stamp to the lower edge. A very good copy.
 
The price-clipped dust jacket shows a little loss and chipping at the spine ends and corners; light soiling and general toning to front with some browning to verso, nevertheless a very good example.
 
March’s enduring psychological study of childhood evil, first published in the United States earlier the same year, and the basis for the celebrated 1956 film adaptation. The UK edition is considerably scarcer than its American counterpart, particularly in the dust jacket.