Evelyn Waugh — Helena

London, Chapman & Hall, 1950 . First edition. Cloth. The first edition of Evelyn Waugh's historical novel about the life of Helen of Constantinople, in the publisher's original unclipped dust wrapper. The first edition, first impression, correctly identified with '5081/4' to the colophon. In the publisher's original unclipped dust wrapper. This was the sole historical novel by Evelyn Waugh, and follows the quest of Helena of Constantinople - the mother of Roman Emperor Constantine I - to find the relics of the cross on which Christ was crucified. In the publisher's original cloth binding with unclipped dust wrapper. Externally, fine. Handling marks and light rubbing and spotting to fore edge of dust wrapper rear wrap, with light handling marks to back strip. A touch of sunning to dust wrapper back strip. Closed tear to front wrap tail. Internally, firmly bound. Pages clean and bright, but with annotation in ink to tail of page 145. Near Fine . Ill.: None. Near Fine/Very Good Indeed.