Doctor Who and the Invasion of Time UK HB

Terrance Dicks. Doctor Who and the Invasion of Time. W H Allen 1979. First Edition. Hard Cover. Ex-Library (Good / Good). This a first printing of the UK first edition as indicated by the “W H Allen London 1979” statement on the title page with no subsequent printings / impressions on the copyright page. Simultaneously published in paperback by Target (and both actually published on 24th January 1980 not 1979 as stated!). Blue boards with immaculate gold blocking to spine, white endpapers. Head and tail of spine somewhat crunched / flattened. Upper right corner of front board slightly turned, lower right a little bumped. Both corners of rear board slightly turned. Book has a very slight lean and appears to have been gently read though there is still good resistance when opened. Front pastedown lightly soiled, signs of a pocket removal on FEP with half a library stamp visible (there are no other indications that this is an ex-library copy !), stain to the right edge also evident on the first half a dozen or so pages. Small pencil notation to the upper left corner of the rear endpaper. Pages are somewhat age discoloured as you would expect, most noticeably at the edges which show a little light soiling / staining, but for the most part is very clean. Some idiot has torn the corners off on seven pages (don’t ask me why) and a few pages have faint diagonal corner creases (what the hell is wrong with using a bookmark?). The DJ is not too shabby. Spine is a little sunfaded showing just a touch of creasing at the head and tail. Front panel is clean showing a couple of minor pressure creases / spots and two faint parallel scratch marks. Tips of the front and rear flap folds ever so slightly rubbed. Chip to the rear flap fold about three inches down (mark on verso suggests it might be due to a burn – don’t ask me how). Back panel is clean showing small sporadic pressure marks / spots. Front flap is a little soiled with some staining. £3.75 price has been clipped. A very rare hardback edition and as ex library copies go this is by far one of the better ones you will see, presenting very well on the shelf, and if not for the torn page corners and the small stamp on the FEP would be at least treble the price. If you are after a reasonably priced shelf filler or collecting on a budget you won’t be disappointed with this one.