James Herbert - Collection of 20 Presentation Copies Inscribed to the Same Recipient "John", 1974-2012 - Including First Editions of Moon, Sepulchre, Creed, Portent, The Ghosts of Sleath, '48, Others and Once.
Language: English
Published by New English Library / Hodder & Stoughton / HarperCollins / Macmillan, London, 1978
- First Edition
- Hardcover
- Used
Seller: Belohlávek Books, Prestatyn, United KingdomBelohlávek Books
AbeBooks seller since August 1, 2026
Condition: Used - Near fine
£ 2,445.00
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
A remarkable twenty-volume collection of James Herbert presentation copies, spanning his career from his first novel, The Rats (1974), to his final novel, Ash (2012). Each contains a signed inscription or presentation card from Herbert to the same recipient, "John". Among plausible candidates for the 'John' named in the inscriptions are John Burke (1922–2011), the British horror and crime writer (a 1990 luggage ticket labeled J. Burke, closely resembling the writer's signature was found in one of the volumes); John Herbert, James Herbert's elder brother; and the crime/horror writer John Gilbert, who interviewed Herbert at his home in 1990. The recipient's identity remains unconfirmed. The books are consistently in excellent, apparently unread condition, with clean, unmarked text blocks apart from the presentation inscriptions. The chronological sequence and repeated personal references create an unusual prosopographical record of a relationship maintained across approximately twenty-five years. THE RATS (1974) - 3rd impression, 1986. "To John. Hope you'll continue to enjoy my stories. Regards from James Herbert. 9th June '87." THE FOG (1975) - 3rd impression, 1985. "To John. Keep reading the books! James Herbert." THE SURVIVOR (1976) - 2nd impression, 1985. "To John. Glad you enjoy the books! James Herbert. Sussex '86." FLUKE (1977) - 3rd impression, 1987. "To John. Many happy returns! James Herbert. 9th June '87." THE SPEAR (1978) - 1st edition, 1st impression. "To John. Regards from James Herbert. 1986." LAIR (1979) - 3rd impression, 1986. "To John. All best wishes. James Herbert. Sussex. 9th June '87." THE DARK (1980) - 1986 impression. "To John. All best wishes from James Herbert." THE JONAH (1981) - 1988 reissue/impression. Presentation inscription on an affixed card to John, signed by James Herbert. SHRINE (1983) - 2nd impression, 1986. "Happy Birthday John! from James Herbert. 9th June '87." DOMAIN (1984) - 4th impression, 1985. "To John. Happy Christmas. James Herbert. 1986." MOON (1985) - 1st edition, 1st impression. "To John, Every success for the future. James Herbert." SEPULCHRE (1987) - 1st edition, 1st impression. "To John. Don't blame me for your nightmares! All good wishes and hope you enjoy this one as much as the others (it's very sinister!). James Herbert. July '87." CREED (1990) - 1st edition, 1st impression. "To John. Hope this one raises a chuckle or two, as well as a scare. James Herbert. August '90." PORTENT (1992) - 1st edition, 1st impression. "To John. It's that time of year again! Happy reading! Regards. James Herbert. December '92." THE GHOSTS OF SLEATH (1994) - 1st edition, 1st impression. Presentation inscription on an affixed paper slip: "To John, Happy Christmas & a great New Year! James Herbert. Dec '94." '48 (1996) - 1st edition, 1st impression. Paper slip: signed James Herbert and dated November 1996, with seasonal wishes for 1997. OTHERS (1999) - 1st edition, 1st impression. Paper slip: "To John. A new chapter begins. All best. James Herbert. April '99." ONCE. (2001) - 1st edition, 1st impression. Paper slip: "To John, Something different again - hope you like it! All best. James Herbert." THE SECRET OF CRICKLEY HALL (2006) - later impression. Paper slip: "Hope you enjoy 'Crickley Hall'. Regards. James Herbert. 31st Oct '06." ASH (2012) - 1st edition; impression unstated on publication page. Paper slip: "To John, Have a great 2013! Best wishes. James Herbert." Particularly significant are the four books presented on 9 June 1987: Shrine explicitly says "Happy Birthday John!", Fluke "Many happy returns!", while The Rats and Lair were inscribed on the same date, Lair additionally recording Sussex. Sepulchre followed in July 1987 with Herbert hoping John would enjoy it "as much as the others". Subsequent Christmas and personal presentations demonstrate the continuity of the association.…
Seller Inventory # ABE-1790768069885
Bibliographic details
- Title
- James Herbert - Collection of 20 Presentation Copies Inscribed to the Same Recipient "John", 1974-2012 - Including First Editions of Moon, Sepulchre, Creed, Portent, The Ghosts of Sleath, '48, Others and Once.
- Author
- James Herbert
- Publisher
- New English Library / Hodder & Stoughton / HarperCollins / Macmillan, London
- Publication year
- 1978
- Condition
- Near fine
- Dust jacket
- Near Fine
- Signed
- Inscribed by Author(s)
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Language
- English
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Printing
- 1st Printing
- Item weight
- 12 kilograms
Belohlávek Books
Prestatyn, United Kingdom
AbeBooks seller since August 1, 2026
Shipping rates from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
| Item | 7 to 14 business days | 4 to 8 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 119.95 | £ 149.95 |
Payment methods
Store description
Independent bookseller with a particular emphasis on philosophy and theology, alongside literature, history, and related scholarly subjects. The stock includes collectible, unusual, and antiquarian volumes, with careful attention given to editions, provenance, bindings, dust jackets, annotations, and other features of bibliographical interest. Significant copies are described candidly and illustrated with detailed photographs so that buyers can assess condition accurately.
Specialty
Used, rare and collectible booksSeller's business information
Belohlávek Books
United Kingdom
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to Belohlávek Books, Prestatyn, United Kingdom, +44 07785435489, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.