A Mainsail Haul, John Masefield — 1st Edition

£40.00

A Mainsail Haul, John Masefield — 1st Edition

Name: A Mainsail Haul, John Masefield — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5658
Price: 40.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Elkin Mathews, 1905

Formatting: 12mo, pp. [viii], 128.

Condition Report: Very Good. The original green paper wrappers remain well-preserved for their age and fragility, though they exhibit the expected moderate tanning to the spine and minor creasing and chipping along the overhanging extremities. The binding remains sound and secure, with no loose leaves. Internally, the untrimmed pages show scattered foxing, primarily concentrated at the preliminary and terminal leaves, as well as along the text block edges, but remain otherwise clean and highly readable. The original tissue guard protecting Jack B. Yeats’s frontispiece is fully intact. A contemporary previous owner's signature, dated 1905, is pencilled to the prefatory page, adding a touch of period provenance without detracting from the book's overall presentation.

Catalogue Note: This is a true First Edition, first printing, issued in the scarcer 'One Shilling Net' green paper wrappers. A parallel cloth-bound issue was published simultaneously, in keeping with the publisher's standard dual-format pricing structure of the era. The volume features a striking frontispiece by the renowned Irish artist Jack B. Yeats, whose collaboration with Masefield adds significant cross-collecting appeal between maritime literature and Irish art.

Surviving examples of this fragile wrappered issue from 1905 are decidedly uncommon, particularly without severe loss to the spine. The book serves as an early and important milestone in Masefield's literary career, preceding his appointment as Poet Laureate by over two decades.

Drawing deeply on John Masefield's own early experiences at sea, A Mainsail Haul is a captivating collection of maritime short stories, sailors' yarns, and nautical folklore. Blending gritty realism with the mythic romance of the ocean, these tales capture the authentic voice of the turn-of-the-century seaman. It stands as a vivid testament to Masefield's lifelong fascination with ships and the men who sailed them, offering readers an atmospheric voyage into the heart of British maritime heritage.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: John Masefield

Book Publisher: Elkin Mathews

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Anthologies & Short Stories

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 128

Book Publication Year: 1905

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Paper Wrappers

Illustrator: Jack B. Yeats

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.