William Heinemann British first edition

The William Heinemann first British edition was published in 1964, very likely after the first American edition, which was published February 14, 1964.

It was "reprinted before publication," and also reprinted numerous times, in 1966, 1968, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1980, 1986, 1987, and 1988 for a Uniform Edition.

A bookshop displaying copies of WHEN THE LION FEEDS for sale

I own an exceedingly rare Uncorrected Proof Copy, which Wilbur signed for me.

My copies of WHEN THE LION FEEDS

The photos below depict the signatures that are within my copies

The copy of WHEN THE LION FEEDS below is NOT reprinted before publication, and is the one that Wilbur gave to his original agent, Ursula Winant. Here is an excerpt from Wilbur's website:

I sent the book off to my agent in London, Ursula Winant. Afterwards I heard that she phoned the Managing Director of the eminent publishing house, William Heinemann. His name was Charles Pick. She told him:

“Charles, I have a book which I will only let you read on three conditions. Firstly, you will give the writer an advance of a thousand pounds.” At the time this was an unheard-of sum for a first novel.

“Secondly, you will run a first printing of four thousand copies.” This was a respectable number for an established author.

“Thirdly, you will give him a 7.5 % royalty on future sales.”

Charles replied, “Send me the book, and we can talk about it later.”

He read the book over the next weekend and phoned my agent at her home on Sunday evening. He told her:

“Ursula, I cannot agree to a single one of your three conditions. Firstly, I am going to make the advance two thousand rather than one. Secondly I am going to order a first printing of ten thousand copies. Lastly I am going to pay him royalties of 10%.”

The copy below is NOT reprinted before publication, and is dated, and I have never seen an earlier date in an inscription within any Heinemann copy of WHEN THE LION FEEDS. This copy is dated February 21, 1964.

(Wilbur gave an American first edition to his sister, Adrienne, and dated it February 3, 1964).

The copy below is NOT reprinted before publication, and is the copy that Wilbur gifted to Tony Osborne, who was the operating manager for Kingstons-Rhodesia, a large book distributor back before Rhodesia became Zimbabwe.

The copy below is NOT reprinted before publication, and is signed "Wilbur A. Smith." Only a small number of copies were signed with Wilbur's middle initial included (A. is for Addison). Wilbur's explanation of why he ceased including the "A":

"I thought it [the inclusion of the A in his signature] looked pretentious and it certainly took up much time when I was signing."

The copy below is NOT reprinted before publication, and is signed "Wilbur A. Smith"

The copy below is NOT reprinted before publication, and is an association presentation copy to Tiny and Stuart (Cloete, the famous South African author)

The copy below is NOT reprinted before publication, and is inscribed and signed "Wilbur A. Smith"

The copy below is reprinted before publication, and is signed "Wilbur A. Smith."

The copy below is NOT reprinted before publication, and is dedicated, inscribed, signed, and dated. Wilbur did not include his surname since this copy was given to close friends.

The copy below is NOT reprinted before publication, and is signed just "Wilbur." On Facebook, I asked Wilbur's wife, Niso, if she could find anything out about who Kathleen is/was.

The copy below is NOT reprinted before publication, and is signed circa 1964.

Accompanying one of my copies of WHEN THE LION FEEDS that is signed "Wilbur A. Smith" is the letter below.

Below are images of signatures in copies that I do not own, but the signatures are nice examples nonetheless.

Below: A copy that is owned by Nick De Carteret, who was able to meet Wilbur at the farewell party that Macmillan threw for Wilbur at Mossiman's in Belgravia at the time Wilbur was switching to Harper Collins as his publisher