"Hungry man, reach for the book: it is a weapon. "
— Bertolt Brecht
P. G. Wodehouse (Pelham Grenville Wodehouse) | First Editions
1881 - 1975
Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, KBE (15 October 1881 – 14 February 1975) was an English author, and one of the most widely read humorists of the 20th century. His early novels were mostly school stories, but he later switched to comic fiction, creating several regular characters who have become embedded in the consciousness of generations growing up in the earlier part of the 20th century. They include: the feather-brained Bertie Wooster and his sagacious valet, Jeeves; the immaculate and loquacious Psmith; Lord Emsworth and the Blandings Castle set; the Oldest Member, with stories about golf; and Mr Mulliner. Wodehouse worked extensively on his books, sometimes having two or more on the go simultaneously. He would take up to two years to build a plot and write a scenario of about thirty thousand words. After the scenario was complete, he would write the story. Early in his career, Wodehouse could produce a novel in about three months, but in old age his production slowed to around six months.
During and after the First World War, together with Guy Bolton and Jerome Kern, Wodehouse wrote a series of Broadway musical comedies. These were an important part of the development of the American musical, and show Wodehouse to be a rather multi-talented fellow.
See below our stock of P. G. Wodehouse First Editions, fine bindings, sets and other collectible material.
The Play's the Thing.
New York, NY: Brentano's, 1927. [Hungarian Drama] FIRST EDITION IN ENGLISH. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.[8] 139 [1]. Publisher's brown cloth with titles blocked with designs in blue and green to spine and upper board. Fore-edge untrimmed. With the green dust-jacket titled in a darker green. Lightly browned throughout. Dust-jacket..... More
![Item #60851 The Labours of Hercules [in] The Strand Magazine. Volumes 98 and 99, numbers 587 to...](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/60851.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1638292264)
The Labours of Hercules [in] The Strand Magazine. Volumes 98 and 99, numbers 587 to 597.
London: George Newnes, November 1939 to September 1940. [Literary Magazine] First appearance. Eleven magazine issues in their original colour-illustrated paper covers, priced at 1s. Octavo (25 x 19cm), pp.[7-8] 104 [9-16]; pp.[1-2] [15-16] 105-208 [17-24]; pp.[8] 209-312 [9-16]; pp.[8] 313-416 [9-16]; pp.[12] 417-520 [13-20]; pp.[12] 521-624 [13-20]; pp.[12] 104 [13-20];..... More
![Item #61295 "Q.Q." Detective Stories [in] The Strand Magazine. Volumes 68 and 69, numbers 405 to...](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/61295.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1646412243)
"Q.Q." Detective Stories [in] The Strand Magazine. Volumes 68 and 69, numbers 405 to 408, and 412 to 413.
London: George Newnes, September 1924 to May 1925. [Literary Magazine] FIRST APPEARANCES. Six parts in their original colour illustrated paper covers, priced at 1s. Octavo (25 x 17cm), pp.[52] 215-318 [53-68]; pp.[64] 319-422 [65-80]; pp.[68] 423-530 [69-84]; pp.[96] 531-670 [97-132]; pp.[68] 319-424 [69-86]; pp.[52] 425-528 [53-68]. With frequent black and..... More
![Item #61336 My Sword For Lafayette [in] The Strand Magazine. Volumes 29 and 30, numbers 171 to...](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/61336.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1646412244)
My Sword For Lafayette [in] The Strand Magazine. Volumes 29 and 30, numbers 171 to 179.
London: George Newnes, March to November 1905. [Literary Magazine] FIRST APPEARANCES. Nine parts in their original light blue paper covers, priced at 6d. Octavo (25 x 17cm), pp.[92] 241-360 [93-100]; pp.[92] 361-480 [93-100]; pp.[84] 481-600 [85-92]; pp.[72] 601-720 [73-84]; pp.[68] 120 [69-84]; pp.[56] 121-240 [57-72]; pp.[72] 241-360 [73-88]; pp.[100] 361-480..... More
![Item #61296 Sergeant Sir Peter's Cases [and] Jeeves and the Spot of Art [and] Jeeves and the Kid...](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/61296.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1646412243)
Sergeant Sir Peter's Cases [and] Jeeves and the Spot of Art [and] Jeeves and the Kid Clementia [and] Jeeves and the Old School Chum [and] Indian Summer of an Uncle [and] Tuppy Changes His Mind [and] Gala Night [in] The Strand Magazine. Volumes LXXVIII and LXXIX, issues 468 to 474.
London: George Newnes, December 1929 to June 1930. [Literary Magazine] FIRST APPEARANCES. Seven parts in their original colour illustrated paper covers, priced at 1s. Octavo (25 x 17cm), pp.[80] 664 [81-90]; pp.[32] 104 [33-40]; pp.[36] 105-208 [37-44]; pp.[36] 209-312 [37-44]; pp.[40] 313-416 [41-48]; pp.[32] 417-528 [33-40]; pp.[36] 529-640 [37-44]. With..... More
![Item #58997 The Adventure of the Dying Detective [and] The Horror of the Heights [and] How it...](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/58997.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1612201522)
The Adventure of the Dying Detective [and] The Horror of the Heights [and] How it Happened [and] The Poison Belt, Chapter 6 [and] To the South Pole: Captain Scott's Own Story [and] Back to Back [and] Keeping Watch [and] The Weaker Vessel [and] Bits of Life [and] The Journal of Aura Lovel [and] Keeping it from Harold [and] The Torch [and] Wet Magic [in] The Strand Magazine. Volume 46, complete.
London: George Newnes, July to December 1913. [Literary Magazine] FIRST APPEARANCES. Octavo (24 x 18cm), pp.iv; 802; viii. With frequent black and white, and occasional dichromatic, illustrations. Publisher's cyan cloth with gilt titles to spines and black titles and decoration to uppers. All edges speckled red. Ink library stamps of..... More
![Item #57769 Three of Them [and] Jeeves and the Chump Cyril [and] The Film that was Never Shown...](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/57769.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1601136904)
Three of Them [and] Jeeves and the Chump Cyril [and] The Film that was Never Shown [and] The Magic Plus Fours [and] Billy Bones [and] The Forbidden Subject [and] First Aid for Dora [in] The Strand Magazine. Volumes 55, 56, 64, and 66; numbers 328, 331, 332, 366, 384 and 392.
London: George Newnes, April, July, August, and December 1918, December 1922, and August 1923. [Literary Magazine] FIRST APPEARANCES. Six magazines. Octavo (27 x 19cm), pp.44; 265-344; 45-52; pp.20; 76; 21-32; pp.16; 77-152; 17-34; pp.64; 361-484; 65-82; pp.84; 487-628; 85-118; pp.48; 105-212; 49-64. Liberally illustrated in black and white throughout. Publisher's..... More
![Item #57768 Punchard's Agency [and] Jeeves and the Unbidden Guest [and] The British Campaign in...](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/57768.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1599499083)
Punchard's Agency [and] Jeeves and the Unbidden Guest [and] The British Campaign in France [and] Uneasy Money [and] The Man-Trap [in] The Strand Magazine. Volume 53, numbers 315, 316 and 317
London: George Newnes, March to May 1917. [Literary Magazine] FIRST APPEARANCES. Three magazines. Octavo (27 x 19cm), pp.50; 209-312; 51-58; pp.50; 313-416; 51-58; pp.40; 417-512; 41-48. Liberally illustrated in black and white throughout. Publisher's blue paper covers, titled in red and navy, and priced at 7d. Presented in a navy..... More
![Item #58790 The Mystery of J.H. Farrer [in] The Strand Magazine. Volume 40; numbers 238 and 239....](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/58790.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1611596104)
The Mystery of J.H. Farrer [in] The Strand Magazine. Volume 40; numbers 238 and 239.
London: George Newnes, October and November 1910. [Literary Magazine] FIRST APPEARANCE. Two octavo magazines (27 x 19cm), pp.[84] 385-508 [12]; [85-108]; pp.[90] 509-636 [91-116]. With frequent in-text illustrations. Publisher's pale blue paper covers titled and illustrated in dark blue, stapled twice, and priced at 6d. Presented in a black fleece-lined..... More
Much Obliged, Jeeves.
London: Barrie and Jenkins, No date [1971]. [Classic Humour] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (21 x 14cm), pp. 191; [1]. Publisher's blue cloth lettered in gilt to spine, illustrative dust-jacket with author's photograph to back designed by Osbert Lancaster with printed price of £1.60 to front flap. Light rolling to spine, wearing..... More
The Girl on the Boat.
London: Herbert Jenkins, No date [1922]. [Classic Humour] FIRST UK EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.312; [8], publisher's advertisements. Publisher's illustrated orange cloth. Toning to flyleaf and previous owner's inscription in black ink, wear to publisher's cloth on back board, rolling to spine, bumping to corners. Very good. Sam Marlowe..... More
Bachelors Anonymous.
London: Barrie and Jenkins, 1973. [Classic Humour] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (21 x 14cm), pp.190; [2]. Publisher's dark green cloth lettered in gilt to spine, humorous illustrative dust-jacket designed by Osbert Lancaster with printed price of £1.95 to front-flap. Light toning to edges of textblock, water staining to back board which..... More
Laughing Gas.
London: Herbert Jenkins, 1936. [Comic novel] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.312; [8], adverts. Publisher's red cloth with black titles, top edge red, illustrated dust-wrapper priced 7/6. Bright and clean inside, edges a little dusty/spotted, jacket is bright with small chip at crown and a few resulting creases tears..... More
Sunset at Blandings.
London: Chatto and Windus, 1977. [Classic Humour] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (21 x 14cm), pp.213; [3]. Publisher's light blue cloth, gilt titles to spine, mapped endpapers, pictorial dust-jacket designed by Ionicus, with printed price £3.95. Occasional in-text illustrations. A fine copy of the book in near-fine jacket which is slightly sunned..... More
Spring Fever.
London: Herbert Jenkins, no date [1948]. [Classic Humour] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.256. Publisher's orange cloth with black titles to spine and upper board. With the dust-jacket illustrated by Frank Ford priced 8/6. A stunning, as-new copy. Fine. A typically-Wodehousian farce set at the Earl of Shortlands' Beevor..... More
Spring Fever.
London: Herbert Jenkins, no date [1948]. [Classic Humour] LEATHER-BOUND FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.[2] 256 [2]. Recently re-bound in green half morocco, with gilt titles to spine, raised bands, and matching cloth over boards. A crisp, clean copy showing some toning to edges, presented in an attractive new..... More
Something New.
New York, NY: D. Appleton and Company, 1915. [Classic Humour] FIRST US EDITION. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.[6]; 347; [3]. With four photogravure plates after F.R. Gruger, including a frontispiece. Publisher's red cloth with gilt titles to spine and upper board, green and gilt scarab devices to upper board. Textblock..... More
![Item #54730 Jeeves and the impending Doom [within] The London Omnibus. Introduction by Carl Van...](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/54730.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1568109519)
Jeeves and the impending Doom [within] The London Omnibus. Introduction by Carl Van Doren.
New York, NY: Doubleday Doran and Company, Inc., 1932. [Classic Humour] FIRST ANTHOLOGY EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm). Publisher's pale green cloth blocked in dark green, pictorial dust-wrapper priced at $2.50. Jacket just a touch dusty and marginally sunned to spine else a particularly fine copy which appears to be..... More
The Adventures of Sally.
London: Herbert Jenkins, No date [1923]. [Classic Humour] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.312; [8], publisher's advertisements. Publisher's pictorial orange cloth, titles in brown to upper and spine. Previous owner's name written in black ink to flyleaf, toning to edges of textblock, bumping and rolling to spine, a lovely..... More
Barmy in Wonderland.
London: Herbert Jenkins, 1952. [Classic Humour] LEATHER-BOUND FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.[2] 222 [4]. Recently re-bound in tan half calf, with gilt titles to spine, raised bands, and matching cloth over boards. Toning to edges, with spotting also to edges, and to the first few leaves. Presented in..... More
Barmy in Wonderland.
London: Herbert Jenkins, 1952. [Classic Humour] FIRST EDITION, first impression. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp. 221; [3]. Publisher's red cloth lettered in black to spine, humorous illustrative dust-jacket with printed price of 9/6 to front flap. Toning to edges of textblock, very small amount of discolouring to publisher's cloth on..... More
Big Money.
New York, NY: George H. Doran Company, 1931. [Humour] FIRST US EDITION, early issue with 'Ganville' for 'Grenville' on copyright page, title appears to be a cancel, in 1932 [A.L. Burt] dust-wrapper. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.[vi] 316. Publisher's orange cloth blocked in black, 'Doubleday Doran' imprint on spine, top..... More
Big Money.
London: Herbert Jenkins, 1931. [Humour] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.314; [6], adverts. Publisher's orange cloth, lettered in black. Supplied with later printing of the dust-wrapper. No inscriptions, contents clean, edges toned, some splashes to covers, spine sunned. Jacket is priced 5s. net and dates from 1949/50 (The Mating..... More
Blandings Castle and Elsewhere.
London: Herbert Jenkins, 1935. [Humour] FIRST UK EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.312; [8 of advertisements]. Publisher's turquoise cloth blocked in black, in pictorial dust-jacket designed by Abbey, priced 7'6 on spine. Contents and edges clean, ink ownership to flyleaf, cloth with some discolour through bleaching, clean, bright jacket expertly..... More
Blandings Castle. And Elsewhere.
London: Herbert Jenkins, 1935. [Classic humour ] FIRST EDITION. Crown octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.252; [4], advertisements. Publisher's blue-green cloth blocked in black. A few reading marks else contents clean. Edges toned, date stamp to free endpaper, pale cloth discoloured as usual, spine sunned. A good, used copy without the..... More