Merry Begins. 1947. First Edition. By MALLORY, Clare [pseudonym of Winifred Constance McQuilkan Hall]. Merry Begins.

Merry Begins. 1947. First Edition

By MALLORY, Clare [pseudonym of Winifred Constance McQuilkan Hall]. Merry Begins.

Melbourne & London: Geoffrey Cumberlege, Oxford University Press, 1947. True First Edition / First Printing. Hardcover (no dust jacket).

The highly scarce, celebrated 1947 debut novel by New Zealand children's author Clare Mallory. Introducing protagonist Merry Arundel at the Mary Tremayne Ladies' College in Dunedin, this volume stands as a landmark and highly collectable example of mid-century Australasian girls' school fiction.

• Binding & Cloth: Original publisher's tan cloth boards. Core structural binding remains firm, although slightly agape. Displays minor edge-wear to the extremities.
• Interior: 291 pages. Text block leaves are in Very Good (VG). No inscriptions, light creasing.
The front free endpaper (ffep) has the remnants of a removed vintage presentation/school prize plate.
• Edges: Shows light foxing/age-toning to the closed outer text block edges.
• Overall: Very Good (VG) unjacketed collector's copy of a difficult-to-find New Zealand classic.

ALL PHOTOS ARE OF THE ACTUAL BOOK. 

All books are sent with free courier postage within New Zealand.