No statement of printing on copyright page, thus 1st UK edition/1st printing dated 1954 on title page, preceded by the simultaneous Farrar, Straus & Young hardcover/Ballantine softcover US release in 1953. Red cloth covered boards with gold titles to spine, dust jacket correctly priced at 12/6 net. Winner of the 1954 International Fantasy Award for best novel. Pringle's list of Science Fiction: 100 Best Novels.
Book: Very Good to Very Good +, spine ends pushed in, small bump to bottom corner of front board, spot in the middle of back board, faint black spotting to bards near the spine, binding is firm with no writing or creasing inside the book.
Dust Jacket: Very Good, unclipped, creasing to edges and general handling wear, spine panel just lightly sunned, spot on the back panel matching the one on the rear board, very light dust soiling to back panel, 5mm small tear to top front flap fold and 3mm small tear to top rear fold. Now in a removable dust jacket protector.