Finishing the Hat, Stephen Sondheim — 1st Edition

£45.00

Finishing the Hat, Stephen Sondheim — 1st Edition

Name: Finishing the Hat, Stephen Sondheim — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6382
Price: 45.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Virgin Books, 2010

Formatting: 4to, pp. 445.

Condition Report: Very Good. This copy presents very well, retaining a remarkably tight and square binding that indicates careful, likely infrequent, reading. The boards are clean and sharp, with only the most marginal bumping to the lower tips. The pages remain crisp and exceptionally bright throughout, completely free of the age-toning or foxing that can sometimes afflict heavy art-paper volumes. The original unclipped dust jacket is similarly well-preserved, exhibiting only faint, superficial surface rubbing to the panels and negligible edge-wear along the upper extremities. The preliminary leaves host a neat, contemporary ink gift inscription to a previous owner, which is contained entirely to the front free endpaper and does not detract from the overall tidy presentation of the text block.

Catalogue Note: This is a true first edition, first printing of the UK edition, clearly identified by the complete number line (2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1) on the copyright page.

Richly illustrated throughout with black-and-white photographs, manuscript drafts, and archival theatrical ephemera, this volume serves as a tactile and visual archive of Sondheim’s working process. The book was printed and bound in Italy, ensuring a high-quality reproductive standard for the internal imagery.

While the US Knopf edition is frequently encountered on the secondary market, the UK Virgin Books true first printing is slightly less ubiquitous. Unsigned copies in this presentable condition remain highly desirable to musical theatre enthusiasts and collectors of modern theatrical history, particularly those seeking clean copies with intact, unclipped wrappers.

An indispensable masterclass in the art of lyric writing, Finishing the Hat offers an unprecedented, deeply personal glimpse into the creative mind of Stephen Sondheim, one of the most influential figures in the history of musical theatre. Covering his illustrious output from 1954 to 1981, including iconic works such as West Side Story, Company, Follies, and Sweeney Todd, Sondheim curates his collected lyrics alongside a treasure trove of attendant comments, rigorous principles, and famously sharp-witted grudges and anecdotes. Far from a mere retrospective, it is a brilliant, provocative, and uncompromising dissection of the craft of songwriting, cementing his legacy not just as a composer, but as a peerless dramatist.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Stephen Sondheim

Book Publisher: Virgin Books

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Music

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 445

Book Publication Year: 2010

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: Vicenza, Italy

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.