Catherine Herself (Winifred Herself) Manuscript, Typescript

[CAMBRIDGE, nd. Ca.1917). First Edition. Very Good. Quarto. WINIFRED HERSELF is actually the working title for "Catherine Herself". Original carbon typescript, ribbon bound into three gatherings: 1-153, 158-337 and 340-527 pp. several endleaves to the second gathering detached, torn and frayed; gaps in collation noted above a consequence of detached leaves now absent; wanting at least one leaf at end; some other creasing and fraying but in all a very good and clean draft of James Hilton's precocious first novel, here still bearing its preliminary working title. At least two lines of carbon type are erased and a new line typed directly onto the carbon typescript (an example of this is on page 522). About 3 dozen words or phrases were typed directly between the lines of carbon print, doubtless by the author. According to Kunitz & Haycraft, Hilton wrote this novel when he was a 17 year old undergraduate at Christ's College, Cambridge and it was published in 1920 by T. Fisher Unwin, a year before he graduated. In all probability, apart form the character name change, this typescript represents a text which is at variance from the published form. In spite of the interruptions in collation, this is an important manuscript from the very earliest days of a career that included the later substantial successes, notably "Lost Horizon." Housed in a gray cloth clamshell with blue morocco spine label gilt.