WODEHOUSE, P. G. (1881-1975). Much Obliged, Jeeves. London: Barrie & Jenkins, 1971.

Ira Gershwin's copy of the penultimate Jeeves and Wooster novel: presentation copy, inscribed by the author ‘To Ira and Lee with love from Plum, P.G. Wodehouse, Christmas 1971’. Ira Gershwin was a celebrated American lyricist and a frequent collaborator with Wodehouse. The two first worked together in 1926 on the hit musical Oh, Kay! The warm inscription dated 45 years after the pair’s first collaboration attests to their enduring friendship; one that would ultimately last until Wodehouse’s death four years later. The present novel was released in the year of Wodehouse’s 90^th birthday which is whimsically commemorated by Oscar Lancaster in his illustration for the dust-jacket, which displays Jeeves kindly preparing a cake with 90 candles. McIlvaine A94a.

Octavo. Original blue boards, spine lettered in gilt (corners lightly bumped); original dust-jacket, upper cover designed by Osbert Lancaster, lower cover with photograph of Wodehouse with his cat and pipe (corners and spine ends, spine sunned). Provenance: Ira (1896-1983) and Leonore Gershwin (1926-1983; authorial presentation inscription on title).