Captain Cat, Robert Holles — 1st Edition

£15.00

Captain Cat, Robert Holles — 1st Edition

Name: Captain Cat, Robert Holles — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4554
Price: 15.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Michael Joseph, 1960

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 221.

Condition Report: Very Good. The volume is securely bound in the publisher's original blue cloth, featuring sharp corners and bright, unoxidised gilt lettering to the spine, with only minimal bumping to the head and tail extremities. The text block is tight and firm; internally, the pages remain notably crisp and clean, entirely free of foxing or internal spotting, presenting only the slightest trace of uniform dust-toning to the top edge typical with the paper stock of this era. A neat, contemporary ownership signature in pencil, dated 'May 14th 1960', is present on the front free endpaper. The original, unclipped dust jacket (priced 15s net) is excellently preserved. It retains its vibrant colouring and structural integrity without any notable fading, exhibiting only very light rubbing to the corners, a few minuscule nicks at the spine ends, and faint handling marks to the rear panel, ultimately serving as a highly presentable example of this edition.

Catalogue Note: First edition, first printing. The book is presented in its original publisher's blue cloth and retains the striking pictorial dust jacket designed by Robert Bellamy.

A contemporary ownership inscription in pencil to the front free endpaper, dated 14th May 1960, the exact year of publication, provides a factual, period-accurate trace of provenance. Holles’s novel, deeply informed by his own early enlistment in the British Army's boy service, offers a gritty, compelling portrayal of military training, establishing it as a well-regarded piece of mid-twentieth-century military fiction.

While not exceedingly rare as a title, locating a true first edition complete with a bright, well-preserved, and unclipped dust jacket has become increasingly uncommon on the open market, making this an appealing copy for collectors of post-war British literature.

In 1941, at the age of fourteen, Robert Holles enlisted in the British Army on boy service out of a simple desire to wear a uniform. Captain Cat, his acclaimed second novel, draws heavily on these formative experiences. It is a powerful and chillingly realistic portrayal of military training and its profound influence on impressionable minds. Centred around the story of young Harry Bell, the narrative delves into the squalid, brutal, and occasionally humorous realities of a boys' training unit, offering a compelling and dramatic critique of systemic conformity and the chaotic transition from adolescence to adulthood.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Robert Holles

Book Publisher: Michael Joseph

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Historical Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 221

Book Publication Year: 1960

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: Tonbridge, Kent, 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.