Norman Collins — Penang Appointment

London, Victor Gollancz, 1934 . First edition. Cloth. A signed presentation copy of the very scarce first edition of Norman Collins's second novel. The very scarce first edition, first impression of this work, in the publisher's original price unclipped dust wrapper.Signed by the author to the front free endpaper with 'To Ellis Roberts from Norman Collins, 21. Aug. 34&apos.Interestingly, the front wrap remarks that 'as the author of this novel is the Deputy Chairman of the Company which is publishing it, we are precluded from giving our opinion of it here&apos. Norman Collins was a British writer, and television executive, who became one a major figure in the establishment of the Independent Television (ITV) network in the UK.At the time this novel was published, he was indeed Deputy Chairman of Victor Gollancz.With the withdrawn stamp of the University of California San Diego library to the head of the text block, and to the front pastedown.This thrilling novel was reviewed as 'an unsentimental journey to read and remember' by the News Chronicle. In the publisher's original cloth binding, with price unclipped dust wrapper. Bumping to spine head, with library stamp to head of text block. Library stamp to front pastedown. Presentation inscription to front free endpaper. Tide marks to dust wrapper back strip, with discolouration to back strip, and fading to front wrap. Spotting and faint pencil inscriptions to rear wrap. Small losses to back strip head and tail, with tape repairs to the reverse. Minor losses to tail of rear wrap. Internally, firmly bound. Pages clean and bright. Very Good . Ill.: None. Very Good/Very Good.