Description

GRAHAM GREENE’S OWN COPY OF STAMBOUL TRAIN,
BOLDLY SIGNED BY HIM, WITH A TYPED NOTE CONFIRMING GREENE’S OWNERSHIP, ALSO SIGNED BY HIM

GREENE, Graham. Stamboul Train. London: William Heinemann, 1932. Octavo, original black cloth, original dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box.

First edition, second issue (as often), signed on the title page by Graham Greene. Graham Greene’s own copy, with a typed signed note reading: “March 10, 1990. This is to certify that this copy of: Stamboul Train is my own personal file copy, and bears my ownership signature. (signed) Graham Greene.”

Better known as Orient Express, the name it was published under in America and adapted into a film with in 1934, Stamboul Express is one of Greene’s best-loved thrillers. In 1974, Greene wrote, “In Stamboul Train for the first and last time in my life I deliberately set out to write a book to please, one which with luck might be made into a film. The devil looks after his own and I succeeded in both aims.” This work originally went to the publisher with the character of Quin Savory named “Q.C. Savory.” However, J.B. Priestley, upon reading an advance copy, angrily asserted that the character was clearly based on him and was libelous. He immediately threatened to file suit. Greene quickly rewrote the character and the book was published with substantial alterations. Though a few copies of the first issue still exist, the issue was suppressed as soon as Priestley made his objections known and, thus, is quite scarce. Accordingly, the first edition, second issue, is often mistakenly referred to as the first edition by both booksellers and collectors. Miller 10.

Book with just a bit of foxing to text, only minor rubbing to cloth, fragile dust jacket with shallow chipping to spine head affecting spine title. A near-fine author’s copy, rare and desirable signed and with laid-in ownership letter signed by Graham Greene.