Dahl, Roald (1988) ‘Matilda’, UK signed and inscribed first edition

Roald Dahl (1988) ‘Matilda‘,  first edition, first printing, published by Jonathan Cape. Signed and Inscribed by Dahl on the ffep in his characteristic big letters: “To Mel & Kim | Love | Roald Dahl | 1988”. Inscribed by Dahl in the year of publications in his hometown Great Missende as the small bookseller ticket on the front pastwdown shows. Condition: a near fine copy. The boards are clean, the lettering on the spine clear and NOT rubbed out. No previous owners’ scribbles, nor bookplates, nor stamps. The top and fore page block a little darkened and dusty commensurate with age. The dust jacket is not price clipped and NOT faded on the spine as often seen. Notice the small bookseller ticket “The Abbey Bookshop | Great Missenden | Buckinghamshire”. This makes the provenance stronger and a little special as Roald Dahl lived there since 1954. He probably supported the little bookshop by signing books and holding events at the location. Great Missenden also opened a Roald Dahl Museum in 2005. A wonderful association. Matilda is, among many wonderful Dahl stories, perhaps Roald’s most loved children’s novel. It was adapted as a film (1996) starring Mara Wilson and Danny DeVito. It is a hard book to find as a true signed first edition.