Reversing the usual pattern where it is an author’s first book that makes the big money, it is the last of the 38 books featuring Richmal Crompton’s most famous children’s book creation that has for many years been one of the most expensive purchases for collectors.
The first ‘William’ book had appeared way back in 1922, but by the time William the Lawless was published in 1970 young master Brown was out of fashion and the print run was small.