Collected Poems, Thom Gunn — Uncorrected Advance Proof

£85.00

Collected Poems, Thom Gunn — Uncorrected Advance Proof

Name: Collected Poems, Thom Gunn — Uncorrected Advance Proof
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6034
Price: 85.00 GBP
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Publication: London, Faber and Faber Limited, 1993.

Formatting: 8vo, pp. xvi, 495.

Condition Report: Very Good. The uncorrected advance proof presents cleanly in its original blue-and-black printed wrappers, with the binding remaining notably tight and square, suggesting it has seen little to no heavy reading. There is only minor shelf-wear to the extremities and slight dustiness to the text-block edges. Internally, the pages are bright, crisp, and predominantly clean, though a few pencilled proofreading marks to the copyright page reflect its pre-publication status. It is housed in an exceptionally scarce proof dust jacket, graded as Good; while it retains its bold geometric patterning and an unfaded portrait of the author, it exhibits some noticeable creasing, rubbing, and small closed tears along the top edge, particularly near the spine head, preventing a higher grade.

Catalogue Note: This is a remarkable pre-publication artefact of Thom Gunn's Collected Poems: an uncorrected advance proof copy in its original wrappers, issued ahead of the book's official publication on 6 September 1993.

What elevates this copy into the realm of extreme scarcity is the presence of an original proof dust jacket. Advance proofs are nearly always issued bare in their paper wrappers; encountering one clad in a trial dust jacket, featuring Ander Gunn's striking photographic portrait of the poet and pre-publication blurbs, is exceptionally unusual and represents a significant anomaly in the printing process.

Further distinguishing this copy are the faint proofreader's corrections pencilled onto the copyright page (such as highlighting typographical spacing and casing instructions). These editorial remnants provide a tangible link to the final stages of the book's production, making it an essential acquisition for serious collectors of Gunn's work or twentieth-century British poetry.

Thom Gunn's Collected Poems is a monumental volume that gathers the extraordinary output of one of the twentieth century’s most vital and uncompromising poetic voices. Spanning from his early association with The Movement in 1950s Britain to his liberating, countercultural awakening in California, the collection chronicles Gunn's stylistic evolution and his masterful command of both traditional metre and open form. From his gritty observations of motorcycle gangs and youth culture to his profound, devastating elegies for friends lost to the AIDS epidemic, this definitive compilation captures the fierce intellect, profound humanity, and unflinching candour of a poet who consistently sought to bridge the gap between classical rigour and the visceral realities of contemporary life.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Thom Gunn

Book Publisher: Faber and Faber Limited

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Antiquarian

Genre: Poetry

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 495

Book Publication Year: 1993

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Paperback

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.