Justine or The Misfortunes of Virtue, Marquis de Sade — 1st Ed

£59.90

Justine or The Misfortunes of Virtue, Marquis de Sade — 1st Ed

Name: Justine or The Misfortunes of Virtue, Marquis de Sade — 1st Ed
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6759
Price: 59.90 GBP
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Publication: London, Neville Spearman Limited and The Holland Press Limited, 1964

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 287.

Condition Report: Very Good. The publisher's original burgundy cloth binding remains tightly bound and structurally sound, boasting sharp corners and brilliant, unoxidised gilt tooling to the spine that shows virtually no signs of shelf-wear. Internally, the hinges are perfectly secure and the text block is exceptionally crisp. The pages remain bright and clean, free from internal foxing or handling marks, with only a touch of mild dust-toning restricted to the top edge of the text block. The accompanying original dust jacket is highly presentable; it remains entirely intact with vibrant, unfaded colours to the front and spine, exhibiting only very light rubbing to the spine tips and a touch of surface grubbiness to the plain white rear panel. Overall, a highly attractive and robust copy.

Catalogue Note: This 1964 joint publication by Neville Spearman and The Holland Press represents the first edition thus, featuring Alan Hull Walton’s unexpurgated English translation of Sade's infamous 1787 manuscript. The edition is notable for its scholarly rigour, seamlessly incorporating expansions and selected variants from the subsequent 1791 and 1797 printings alongside Walton's extensive bibliographical notes and introduction.

The volume is prefaced by an atmospheric engraved frontispiece depicting classical figures in a state of distress, perfectly setting the visual tone for the philosophical and transgressive narrative within.

True hardcover first printings of this specific translation, particularly those retaining their original dust jackets in such well-preserved condition, have become increasingly uncommon on the open market compared to the ubiquitous Corgi paperback reprints that followed a year later.

Originally written in 1787 while the Marquis de Sade was imprisoned in the Bastille, Justine or The Misfortunes of Virtue remains a highly controversial cornerstone of transgressive literature. The narrative follows the relentless and tragic life of Justine, a young woman who resolves to live a life of unwavering virtue, chastity, and religious devotion. Despite her moral purity, she is subjected to a staggering sequence of abuses, betrayals, and degradations at the hands of a corrupt society that openly champions vice. Sade uses her perpetual suffering as a dark, satirical vehicle to philosophically explore the triumph of libertinism over traditional morality, violently challenging the Enlightenment's optimistic view of human nature, divine justice, and the rewards of a virtuous life.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Marquis de Sade

Book Publisher: Neville Spearman Limited and The Holland Press Limited

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Classic Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 287

Book Publication Year: 1964

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.