Deirdre Wed and Other Poems, Herbert Trench — 1st Edition
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Publication: London, Methuen & Co., 1901
Formatting: 8vo, pp. [vi], 105.
Condition Report: Very Good. The original green cloth binding is remarkably bright and clean, housed safely in a protective plastic sleeve. The gilt tooling and lettering on the spine, as well as the striking vignette on the upper board, remain wholly unoxidised and brilliant to the eye. The boards are tight and square, featuring sharp corners and virtually no shelf-wear to the extremities. The page block retains its charmingly uncut fore and lower edges, which exhibit expected age-toning and mild to moderate foxing characteristic of the era's paper stock. Internally, the binding remains remarkably firm and sound. The pages themselves are largely crisp and clean, save for some faint, scattered foxing that is primarily confined to the extreme margins and preliminary leaves. A highly presentable, structurally sound copy of an Edwardian volume.
Catalogue Note: This is the first trade edition of Herbert Trench's debut work, establishing his distinct poetic voice during the fertile period of the Celtic Revival. Crucially, this copy retains the scarce tipped-in errata slip preceding the contents page, a significant point of issue that confirms its early printed state.
The volume is beautifully presented in its original publisher's cloth, featuring an elegant gilt vignette on both the upper board and the title page. This illustration depicts a woman playing a Celtic harp beside a resting cow, serving as a fitting visual prelude to the mythic Irish themes found within. While individual copies of Trench’s work do occasionally surface on the open market, it is increasingly difficult to encounter this first edition in such an unblemished, vibrant binding.
Deirdre Wed and Other Poems is a stirring collection steeped in the mythology of the Celtic Twilight, marking the literary debut of Irish-born poet Herbert Trench. Anchored by the titular narrative poem 'Deirdre Wed', the work boldly reimagines the tragic romance and desperate flight of Deirdre and Naoise from the High King of Ulster. Through sweeping, lyrical verses that evoke the rugged landscapes and passionate spirit of ancient Ireland, Trench captures timeless themes of love, fate, and mortality. An evocative and enchanting volume, it stands as a captivating piece for enthusiasts of the Irish Literary Revival and turn-of-the-century poetry.
Book Condition: Very Good
Book Authors: Herbert Trench
Book Publisher: Methuen & Co.
Book Language: English
Narrative Type: Antiquarian
Genre: Poetry
Book edition: First Edition
Signed: No
Book Pages: 105
Book Publication Year: 1901
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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