A major publication at the time which was included by Cyril Connolly as one of the Key 100 books of the modern movement. A slightly surprising literary association copy with the author's signed presentation inscription to the front free endpaper, 'Inscribed fro Brian Aldiss the brilliant fellow J Betjeman V.X.MCMXLVIII'. The recipient would later become one of Britain's most celebrated writers of Science Fiction. At the time of the inscription, he was working in an Oxford bookshop that Betjeman patronised. Literary associations of Betjeman's major collections are rare.

First edition, first impression, INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR; 8vo; publisher's red cloth, white paper title label to spine printed in black, browning to the half-title leaf from loose inserts, spine faded, otherwise very good.