Damnable Opinions, Llewelyn Powys — 1st Edition
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Publication: London, Watts & Co., 1935
Formatting: 8vo, pp. xi, 116.
Condition Report: Very Good. The original red cloth boards remain structurally sound, boasting a binding that is pleasingly square and exceptionally tight. The front board is accented by a bright, unoxidised gilt ankh emblem, while the black lettering to the spine and upper board remains bold and entirely legible. There is uniform, moderate sunning to the spine, softening the cloth to a lighter reddish-brown, accompanied by faint rubbing and minor rolling to the spine head and tail. The boards show only indistinct mottling and light shelf-wear to the extremities. Internally, the book is highly commendable; while there is mild to moderate offset-toning and scattered foxing restricted to the endpapers, along with minor spots of foxing at the immediate gutter of the frontispiece and title page, the main text block is uniformly bright, crisp, and free from any egregious marginalia, exhibiting only typical, light dust-soiling to the text block edges.
Catalogue Note: First Edition. This copy retains its evocative photographic frontispiece of a convalescing Llewelyn Powys, taken in 1934, prominently situated opposite the title page. The binding features a distinct gilt-stamped ankh to the upper board, a symbol historically significant to Powys’s personal and philosophical leanings.
The provenance includes a distinctly contemporaneous stamped address to the front paste-down reading "18 Marchmont Crescent, Edinburgh," accompanied by a discreet previous ownership signature, establishing a clear footprint of early Scottish ownership.
First editions of this title in the original cloth are decidedly uncommon on the open market, particularly when retaining such tight, uncompromised bindings.
In Damnable Opinions, Llewelyn Powys delivers a fiercely provocative and eloquently written collection of essays that aggressively challenge the orthodoxies of early twentieth-century religion and morality. Armed with his characteristic iconoclasm and philosophical hedonism, Powys dissects topics ranging from the Oxford Movement to the enduring influence of the Epicurean tradition, urging his readers to cast off the restrictive moral frameworks imposed by the Church. A masterclass in subversive literature from one of the era's most unapologetic radical thinkers, this work stands as a fervent defence of natural enjoyment and earthly paganism.
Book Condition: Very Good
Book Authors: Llewelyn Powys
Book Publisher: Watts & Co.
Book Language: English
Narrative Type: Non-Fiction
Genre: Philosophy
Book edition: First Edition
Signed: No
Book Pages: 116
Book Publication Year: 1935
Book Publication Date:
Book Binding: Hardcover
Illustrator: N/A
Book Series: N/A
Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom
Book Dimensions:
Book Condition Guide
| 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. |
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