I Heard a Sailor, Wilfrid Gibson — 1st Edition

£130.00

I Heard a Sailor, Wilfrid Gibson — 1st Edition

Name: I Heard a Sailor, Wilfrid Gibson — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6662
Price: 130.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1925

Formatting: 8vo, pp. x, 134.

Condition Report: Near Fine. The binding is exceptionally firm and tight, with the original brown cloth remaining entirely unworn and retaining razor-sharp corners, justifying its high grade. The white paper title label pasted to the spine is fully intact and highly legible, showing only the lightest, even age-tanning that is completely natural for paper of this vintage. Internally, the book is remarkably crisp and bright, completely free of foxing, internal marks, or prior ownership signatures, allowing the text to present beautifully. The text block features traditional untrimmed deckle edges to the fore and bottom, with the top edge exhibiting only the expected, light dust-darkening typical of the era without marring the overall aesthetic. Crucially, the fragile original paper dust jacket mirrors this Near Fine state; it remains unclipped and structurally whole, suffering only from minimal surface rubbing and trivial edge-wear, standing as a phenomenally preserved example of a fragile 1920s wrapper that usually perishes or chips heavily.

Catalogue Note: First edition, first impression. This volume is bound in the publisher's original brown cloth, but it is the presence of the remarkably preserved original dust jacket that elevates this copy. Uniquely, both the cloth binding and the dust jacket spine bear identical, pasted-on white paper title labels; a charming and fragile production choice typical of the publisher's poetry output from this period.

The dust jacket itself features a striking minimalist design, presenting the title, author, and an interlocking 'M' publisher's logo sharply printed on the front panel. The volume is unillustrated, allowing Gibson's verse to take centre stage. The book remains completely devoid of prior ownership signatures, bookplates, or inscriptions, ensuring the unread crispness of the text block remains undisturbed.

Given the ephemeral nature of interwar paper wrappers, locating a copy of Gibson's poetry retaining its dust jacket in such a pristine, unchipped state is exceptionally difficult.

While naked cloth copies circulate with some regularity, the scarcity of a fully jacketed, collector-grade copy on the open market cannot be overstated.

I Heard a Sailor represents a mature and reflective collection from Wilfrid Gibson, a foundational member of the Dymock Poets who masterfully captured the shifting moods of early twentieth-century Britain. Moving away from the stark, visceral realism of his celebrated World War I trench poetry, this collection weaves evocative themes of rural working-class life, deep-seated memory, and the enduring human spirit against the backdrop of an ever-changing English landscape. Gibson's rhythmic, unpretentious verse offers a hauntingly beautiful meditation on the quiet tragedies and triumphs of everyday people.

Book Condition: Near Fine

Book Authors: Wilfrid Gibson

Book Publisher: Macmillan and Co., Limited

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Antiquarian

Genre: Poetry

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 134

Book Publication Year: 1925

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

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.