A. P. Herbert — The Water Gipsies

London, Methuen, 1930 . First edition. Cloth. The first edition of A. P. Herbert's best known and most beloved work, a charming romantic comedy. In a lovely dust wrapper, with glassine. The first edition, first impression.In the the vibrant publisher's original price unclipped dust wrapper, with additional glassine also present.'The Water Gipsies' is A. P. Herbert's best known work. Set on the British waterways, the novel is a romantic comedy, telling the story of Jane Bell and her sister Lily, who operate a barge along England's rivers and canals.With eight pages of advertisements to the rear.The novel was written while Herbert lived on a boat on the Thames, during which time he advocated for an end to the monopoly the logging and coal industry held over the waterway. In the publisher's original cloth binding, with unclipped dust wrapper, and original glassine. Exceptionally bright, with light shelf wear to back strip tail. Light handling marks to dust wrapper back strip and rear wrap. Light chipping to back strip head, with edgewear to head of rear wrap. Small loss to head of front wrap. Glassine back strip age toned, with two horizontal closed tears to back strip. Chipping and small losses to glassine back strip head and tail. Internally, firmly bound. Pages clean and bright. Near Fine . Ill.: None. Near Fine/Very Good.