Copyright Details

• Copyright 1943, 1944 by McCall Corporation

• Copyright 1944 by W. Somerset Maugham

• Printed in the United States

• Your copy shows 1945 on the edition page

This is a wartime/early post-war book club or trade reprint, issued soon after the novel’s initial 1944 publication by Doubleday, Doran.

It is not a first edition, since the true first was published in 1944 by Doubleday.

📘 Book History

The Razor’s Edge is one of Maugham’s most influential novels, written late in his career and published during WWII. The book explores themes of:

• Eastern philosophy

• The meaning of life

• Post-war disillusionment

• Spiritual awakening

The protagonist, Larry Darrell, seeks enlightenment after traumatic wartime experiences. The novel became a bestseller and was later adapted into two major films (1946 and 1984).

Blakiston’s edition circulated widely among wartime and postwar readers who wanted inexpensive or readily available copies during paper shortages.

📚 Description of Contents

This edition contains:

• The full text of the novel

• Epigraph from the Katha Upanishad:
  “The sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over…”

• A facsimile reproduction of Maugham’s signature on the front free endpaper (printed, not hand-signed)

• Standard Blakiston typography and layout

• No illustrations beyond publisher marks

The facsimile signature is a common feature of mid-1940s reprints and should not be mistaken for an autograph.

📦 Physical Condition

Covers

• Black cloth boards with embossed Blakiston device

• Noticeable rubbing, scuffing, and edge wear

• Spine shows some fading

• Corners slightly bumped

• No dust jacket present

Interior

• Paper shows typical 1940s toning

• Title page, copyright page, and signature page all intact

• Binding appears firm

• No major foxing visible, though mild discoloration in margins

Overall condition: Good– (G–) due to exterior wear, but internally clean.

⭐ Special Features

• Early 1945 printing of one of Maugham’s most enduring novels

• Includes printed signature facsimile

• Wartime-era publisher uncommon for this title

• Represents a transitional period when publishers shared printing rights due to rationing

• Historically interesting but not rare

Collectors generally prize first editions and jacketed copies; Blakiston printings are valued for readership rather than rarity.