THOMAS, Dylan (author). Paul COX (illustrator). The Outing. London; J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd. 1985. Signed

Royal 8vo.; original tangerine linson boards lettered in gilt to spine, double-page pictorial endpapers, in colours, with pictorial dustwrapper with wrap-around design by Cox; pp. [28]; illustrated by Paul Cox in alternate, and lively, full-colour and monochrome, including double-page spreads; a fine copy in a fine unclipped dustwrapper (£5.95) with just a tiny bruise to spine head.

First edition thus, first printing; inscribed by the illustrator to the title-page, “To Martha, with lots of love from Paul”.  A short tale, originally titled “A Story”, drawn from “A Prospect of the Sea” which was first published in 1955, again by Dent.

A celebration of the joys of life, being an account of a day-trip, by charabanc, of a group of Welshmen, and one young boy, to Porthcawl. They never make it there due to dozens of enticing pubs along the way, but indulge in a riot of singing, the telling of tall stories, and drinking.