By Wilbur Smith
First Edition 1964

2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the publication of Wilbur Smith’s debut novel,
When the Lion Feeds.

Here are key aspects regarding the 1964 Heinemann UK First Edition of When the Lion Feeds by Wilbur Smith:

The Breakthrough Debut: This was Wilbur Smith’s published debut novel, written while he was working as a tax auditor in Salisbury (now Harare) after a previous unpublished attempt. The astronomical success of this book allowed him to resign from accounting and write full-time.

The "A." in Wilbur A. Smith: Early UK printings prominently feature his middle initial on both the dust jacket and title page as Wilbur A. Smith. He dropped the middle initial "A." (for Addison) in later years because he felt including it was pretentious and slowed down book signings.

Dust Jacket Design: Designed by Neil/Leila Godfrey, featuring the distinct orange/red and white block typography over tall grass.

The "Reprinted Before Publication" Issue: The success of the book took Heinemann by surprise. True first-state/first-printing copies state "First published 1964" on the copyright page without the line "Reprinted before publication", which was added almost immediately to subsequent impressions as demand exploded in early 1964.

Price Point & Binding: The true UK first edition was issued in green cloth boards with gilt lettering on the spine, priced at 30s net on the front inner flap.

Launch of the Courtney Series: This novel introduced Sean and Garrick Courtney, launching what became one of the most successful, multi-generational saga series in modern adventure fiction.

Banned in South Africa: Shortly after release, the publication was temporarily banned by the South African Board of Censors under strict apartheid-era obscenity laws for "indecency," which ironically drove up readership and black-market demand for imported Heinemann copies.

Markings to the back end board.
Sellotape on half title page.

R5,000