DU MAURIER, Daphne (1907-1989). The Apple Tree: A Short Novel and Several Long Stories. London: Victor Gollancz, 1952. 8vo. [1]-264 pp. Publisher's maroon cloth, spine lettered gilt, in original unclipped ("10/6") illustrated dust jacket. FIRST EDITION, FIRST PRINTING OF THE FAMOUS COLLECTION BY THE AUTHOR OF 'REBECCA,' CONTAINING THE BASIS FOR HITCHCOCK'S 'THE BIRDS'. 

In 1963, the collection was re-published under the title of its most famous story, the subject of numerous adaptations for stage, screen, and radio, including the seminal Hitchcock film released the same year. It had been adapted for Hitchcock by Evan Hunter; "drawing from the relatively invisible literary talents of Daphne du Maurier and Evan Hunter," one critic wrote, "Alfred Hitchcock has fashioned a major work of cinematic art." Du Maurier disliked the film due to its change of location, swapping the English farm setting, where she had once seen a farmer swarmed by gulls as he plowed, for a California beach town. Paired with a First Canadian edition of Du Maurier's Early Stories.

Light spotting, soiling to jacket. Minor foxing to edges. Near fine.