Watership Down. by ADAMS, Richard - 1972

London: Rex Collings,, 1972. First edition of the author's first novel First edition, first impression, of the author's first novel. Watership Down was initially turned down by the major publishing houses, before publication by Rex Collings in 1972. It was quickly established as a major work of British post-war literature. Sales exceeded 100,000 copies in the first year, and Adams was awarded both the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Award for children's fiction. The novel was adapted into an animated film in 1978, and two animated television series, the first running from 1999 to 2001, the second airing in 2018. Octavo. Original brown cloth, titles to spine and rabbit design to front board gilt. With dust jacket. Colour folding map at rear. Contemporary ownership inscription to front free endpaper. Foot of spine very slightly bumped, foxing to top edge, light browning to endpapers, else a very good copy indeed with contents clean and unmaked. Spine of dust jacket slightly sunned and extremities slightly rubbed, otherwise a very good dust jacket, bright and not price-clipped.