City of Night, John Rechy — 1st UK Edition

£68.50

City of Night, John Rechy — 1st UK Edition

Name: City of Night, John Rechy — 1st UK Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4222
Price: 68.50 GBP
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£68.50

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Publication: London, MacGibbon & Kee, 1964.

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 381.

Condition Report: Very Good. The binding remains firm and remarkably tight, exhibiting minimal shelf-wear to the extremities. The text block is pleasingly square, with edges displaying only mild, uniform age-toning. Internally, the preliminary pages are notably clean and bright, completely free from foxing, stains, or prominent reading wear. The original dust jacket maintains its striking, high-contrast photographic artwork. The jacket exhibits slight rubbing to the panels and minor chipping at the spine ends and corners, but it remains entirely intact and presents beautifully in a protective sleeve.

Catalogue Note: First UK edition, first impression of Rechy's seminal novel, preceded by the American copyright in 1963. The text was printed in Great Britain by Thomson Printers Ltd, located in Belfast and London. The distinctive wrap-around dust jacket features an evocative, neon-drenched photographic design that perfectly encapsulates the nocturnal, urban themes explored within the narrative.

As a foundational and pioneering work of 20th-century LGBTQ+ literature, early UK printings that retain their original dust jackets in such well-preserved condition are becoming increasingly scarce on the open market. This copy is exceptionally bright, making it a highly desirable acquisition for collectors of queer history and counter-cultural fiction.

Drawing heavily from John Rechy's own lived experiences, City of Night is a groundbreaking, unvarnished journey into the queer underground of mid-century America. The novel follows an unnamed young man, driven by a profound sense of isolation, as he travels from New York to Los Angeles, working as a street hustler. Along the way, he navigates a twilight world of neon-lit streets, encountering a vivid cast of drag queens, johns, and fellow outcasts. Unflinching and profoundly empathetic, it remains a landmark achievement that redefined the boundaries of modern literature.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: John Rechy

Book Publisher: MacGibbon & Kee

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Modern Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 381

Book Publication Year: 1964

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Cloth

Illustrator: N/A

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.