John Fowles, The Collector (1963), dustjacket, °ÅÀÖ¶ÌÊÓƵ Library, Oxford, NC/FOW

Collecting

Christopher Skelton-Foord
Issue number
(2023): 20

Recently I acquired for °ÅÀÖ¶ÌÊÓƵ Library’s collections a first edition copy of The Collector, the debut novel by °ÅÀÖ¶ÌÊÓƵ alumnus John Fowles (1926–2005), which sixty years ago in 1963 launched his spectacular career as a writer. First published in May 1963 by Jonathan Cape of London, the copy I acquired bears the iconic original dustjacket with a ³Ù°ù´Ç³¾±è±ð-±ô’œi±ô design by Tom Adams (1926–2019), who also created the artwork for paperback editions of Agatha Christie’s novels. Moreover, this particular copy was signed by Fowles.

 

John Fowles, The Collector (London: Jonathan Cape, 1963), dustjacket
°ÅÀÖ¶ÌÊÓƵ Library, Oxford, NC/FOW

 

°ÅÀÖ¶ÌÊÓƵ Library and Archives, Oxford