Invisible Man, Ralph Ellison — 2nd Impression

£400.00

Invisible Man, Ralph Ellison — 2nd Impression

Name: Invisible Man, Ralph Ellison — 2nd Impression
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5115
Price: 400.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Victor Gollancz Ltd, 1953

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 439.

Condition Report: Very Good. The publisher's original red cloth boards remain impressively bright and clean, retaining sharp corners and exhibiting only the faintest signs of shelf-wear to the extremities. The binding is notably tight, square, and structurally sound. Internally, the text block is clean, displaying the light, uniform age-toning typical of Gollancz stock from this period, alongside a neat contemporary owner's inscription in ink dated February 1953 on the front free endpaper. The original printed dust jacket has been exceptionally well-preserved; despite the notorious fragility of the publisher's yellow paper stock, it presents with only mild, even sunning to the spine and minor rubbing and edge-wear at the spine ends and corners, remaining completely free from significant chipping or tears. The jacket is now securely housed in a protective Mylar sleeve.

Catalogue Note: This is the first United Kingdom edition, second impression, published in January 1953 by Victor Gollancz, remarkably issued within the very same month as the true first UK printing.

Ellison's seminal and highly acclaimed work, which won the US National Book Award for Fiction in 1953, was introduced to the British public in this format. This Gollancz edition is particularly notable for its striking, purely typographical yellow dust jacket, a standard design for the publisher that contrasts sharply with the pictorial E. McKnight Kauffer jacket of the US first edition.

The contemporary ownership inscription on the front free endpaper, dated February 1953, underscores the book's early acquisition, coinciding exactly with its initial UK release window. Early impressions of this classic African American novel that retain such a well-preserved original dust jacket are increasingly scarce on the open market.

Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man is a defining masterpiece of twentieth-century literature and a profoundly influential exploration of race, identity, and individuality in America. The narrative follows an unnamed African American protagonist as he navigates the complex and often surreal socio-political landscapes of the Jim Crow South and mid-century Harlem. Experiencing systemic marginalisation, betrayals, and the ideological blind spots of various political factions, the narrator ultimately embraces his "invisibility," not as a physical condition, but as a metaphor for the refusal of society to see him beyond their own projections and prejudices.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Ralph Ellison

Book Publisher: Victor Gollancz Ltd

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Classic Fiction

Book edition: Second Impression

Signed: No

Book Pages: 439

Book Publication Year: 1953

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.