Celebrating Ronald Searle's Wicked World of Book Collecting

by Stephen J. Gertz

SEARLE, Ronald. Slightly Foxed -  But Still Desirable:
Ronald Searle's Wicked World of Book Collecting.
London: Souvenir Press, (September)1989.
First edition.

Happy belated 21st birthday to Slightly Foxed - But Still Desirable, cartoonist and illustrator Ronald Searle's satire on book collecting, specifically the condition terminology typically seen and understood by the Illuminati but Esperanto to those outside the trade or hobby; it looks like English, it reads like English, but it might as well be Martian.

A little dog-eared but otherwise acceptable copy.

Illustrated throughout with thirty full-page color drawings, it remains as fresh, charming, and delightfully irreverent as when originally published. In celebration of its coming of age, Booktryst presents a selection of its caricatures with the original captions.

A little thumbed, otherwise attractive copy.

A nice, bright set.

Cracked but holding.

Evidence of some insect damage.

Early manuscript notes.

Generally a little loose.

Leather labels and intricate decoration.

Lovingly thumbed by former owner.

Name on fly.

Slight splitting of paste-down.

Stitching a little loose.

Tail-edge shaved.

Somewhat spotted, but otherwise desirable.

Some worming of the epoch.

Some light surface abrasion.

Copies of the trade edition are currently selling for around $100. Copies of the signed limited edition of 150 bound in leather, in fine condition, however, will set you back $1000.

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Images courtesy of Ikahime at Flickr.
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