Navy cloth binding with silver title on the spine and front board. Copy No. 55 of 200.

We provide an in-depth photographic presentation of this item to stimulate your feeling and touch. More traditional book descriptions are immediately available. 

•    Note: This book carries a £5.00 discount to those that subscribe to the F.B.A. mailing list

Please view our photographs and read the rubric on the inside. Pests: A Play in Three Acts by Len Deighton, which was published by Chris Martin (London/Mansfield Woodhouse) in 1994. (This copy was obtained from Chris Martin’s wife). 

The value of Pests: A Play in Three Acts (1994, published by Chris Martin) varies significantly depending on which of the three original formats.

 Pests: A Play in Three Acts by Len Deighton, which was published by Chris Martin (London/Mansfield Woodhouse) in 1994. 

Here are the key details about this highly rare publication:

• The Work: It is a 56-page drama set in the trenches of the First World War and stands as the author’s only published play. 
• History: Deighton originally wrote the script around 1961 for television. It was bought by ABCtv, retitled Long Past Glory, and broadcast in 1963 as part of the Armchair Theatre anthology series starring John Le Mesurier and Maurice Denham. Decades later, the sole surviving manuscript was recovered and printed in book form with a new preface by Deighton. 
• The Edition: It was released as a highly collectible limited edition of only 226 copies. A subset of 50 special copies were bound in quarter cloth and marbled paper boards, housed in a slipcase, and signed by Len Deighton. 

Current Market Values as at September 16th 2026

Current listings from specialized rare book dealers like AbeBooks and Harrington Books value the different editions as follows:

1. The Standard Edition (Numbered 51–200): Typically valued between £20 and £50. These copies are bound in blue boards and were originally signed by the publisher, Chris Martin, rather than Deighton. 
2. The Special Limited Edition (Numbered 1–50): Typically valued between £125 and £170 (though some pristine or unique copies, such as low numbers or dedicated publisher copies, are listed as high as £295). This issue is bound in quarter cloth and marbled paper boards, housed in a matching slipcase, and signed by Len Deighton. 
3. The De-Luxe Edition (Lettered A–Z): Valued as part of premium collections or individual rarities, an entry for the ultra-rare lettered issue (only 26 copies printed, bound in marbled paper boards, signed by Deighton) often commands upwards of £200 to £300+ when sold individually. 

This copy of PESTS is an excellent copy (no 55) which during the next 3 years FBA would hope to sell for £60+.