Author: Richard Adams. Illustrated by John Lawrence.
Title: Watership Down.
Publisher: Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England, Penguin Books Ltd / Kestrel Books, 1976. First Illustrated Edition by John Lawrence.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 9.5 x 6 inches.
Pages: x-550 pages+map
Binding: Fine original publisher’s half cloth binding, brown cloth spine with gilt lettering and rabbit device. Fine original illustrated dust jacket present under a protective removable mylar cover. Housed in the near fine original publisher’s illustrated slipcase. Overall very well preserved and attractive.
Content: Near fine content (bright, tight and clean - as shown). Signed by the illustrator John Lawrence on the half-title page. Light staining to the bottom outer edge, not affecting the inner text block. Complete with the folding map at the end, present and in excellent condition. A handsome and well-kept example of this important illustrated edition.
Illustrations: Illustrated throughout by John Lawrence with numerous color and black-and-white drawings and decorative chapter headpieces. Complete with the folding map of the Watership Down area at the end, as issued.

Estimate: (USD 500 — 750).

The book: First published in 1972, Watership Down quickly became one of the most enduring and beloved works of modern English literature. Blending epic storytelling with myth, folklore, and a deep reverence for the natural world, Richard Adams’ novel follows a band of rabbits in their perilous journey toward freedom and survival.

This first illustrated edition, published in 1976, represents a landmark presentation of the text, pairing Adams’ narrative with the evocative and sensitive artwork of John Lawrence. Lawrence’s illustrations deepen the pastoral and mythic atmosphere of the novel, capturing both the gentleness and the darker undertones of the story. The inclusion of the folding map further enhances the immersive quality of this edition, making it a particularly desirable copy for collectors.

The author: Richard Adams (1920–2016) was an English novelist whose debut work, Watership Down, achieved extraordinary international success, winning the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize. Though initially conceived as a story told to his children, the novel transcended its origins to become a modern classic, admired for its narrative depth, moral complexity, and literary ambition. Adams’ work continues to be widely read and studied, securing his place as one of the most influential British authors of the twentieth century.

The illustrator: John Lawrence (born 1933) is a distinguished British illustrator and artist, renowned for his expressive line work and deep engagement with literary illustration. His illustrations for Watership Down are widely regarded as definitive, balancing realism with lyricism and emotional nuance. Lawrence’s signed contributions to this edition add a significant layer of collectibility, making this copy especially appealing to both literary and illustration collectors.