Psmith Journalist. WODEHOUSE, P. G.

First edition, presentation copy, inscribed by the author to his biographer and bibliographer, David A. Jasen, on the front free endpaper, "To David from Plum. P. G. Wodehouse." David A. Jasen (1937-2022), ragtime scholar, performer, and a leading Wodehouse authority, shared a passion for music with the prolific humourist who was also famed during his lifetime as a musical lyricist. Jasen acknowledged that only Wodehouse's close friends and family knew him as "Plum", and his personal bond with the author was immortalized when Jasen became the dedicatee of Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves (1963). Psmith Journalist was originally serialized in The Captain magazine between October 1909 and February 1910. Wodehouse repurposed parts of the story for his respective 1912 American and British novels, both titled The Prince and Betty. This edition prints the original story, without the love interest, which Jasen described as "the best version of the three". Jasen 15a; McIlvaine A15c. Octavo. Frontispiece, and 11 plates by T. M. R. Whitwell. Original blue cloth, spine and front cover lettered and decorated in black, gilt, white, and yellow. Spine slightly toned, ends and corners bumped with minor wear, rubbing and a few faint splash marks to cloth, short closed tear to foot of half-title, foxing to outer leaves. A very good copy.