FLYING COLOURS; [first separate edition, signed by Forester]

London: Michael Joseph, (1938). First edition thus: the first standalone edition issued just one day after the more common one combined with SHIP OF THE LINE (the previous book in the series). SIGNED BY FORESTER on the title page. 8vo red cloth boards stamped in silver on spine; 284 pages plus 3 pages of ads. Bright and near fine with creasing to cloth where bumped at base of spine, light foxing to page edges, and few minor splashes of faint foxing to preliminary pages; in very good or better dust jacket with internal foxing, shallow chip taking out "Joseph" in publisher's name at base of spine, flattened creasing and tear just touching edge of "F" in author's name on front panel, and a bit of uneven, mild toning to spine and rear panel. Includes the "Book Society" wraparound ban which shows only slight toning at spine portion. Scarce in this arguably more desirable edition -- especially so signed.