[Smiley vs Karla trilogy] Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, [together with]; The Honourable Schoolboy and Smiley's People

London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1974, 1977, 1980 [November 1979]. [Espionage thriller] ALL FIRST EDITIONS, SIGNED in first volume. Three volumes complete, uniform octavos (22 x 14 x 11cm). Publisher's blue and black hardcovers lettered in gilt, purple top stain to first volume, peach-coloured endpapers to first volume, Hong Kong/China map endpapers to second volume (the earliest issue), photographic dust-wrappers. Signed directly to title page (without dedication) in blue ballpoint. A moderately used set with some acceptable wear, dustiness/spotting to edges, jackets not clipped, some edge wear, gently sunned to spines, a few short tears to crown of second volume with a few small tape strips to reverse side. Shows well. The author's masterwork, a thrilling elegy for post-imperial Britain. 'Tinker Tailor...' was the basis for the Oscar-nominated 2011 film starring Gary Oldman. From the collection of distinguished French literature scholar Artine Artinian (1907-2005), with his elegant bookplate to pastedown. Artinian edited and published the complete short stories of Guy de Maupassant, plus criticism and bibliography. Listed in The Observer's All-Time 100 Best Novels [2003] and The Times' NovelList 60 Greatest Books Poll [2013]. See also Haining: Crime Fiction, p.208.