Oscar and Lucinda, Peter Carey — Advance Proof Copy

£225.00

Oscar and Lucinda, Peter Carey — Advance Proof Copy

Name: Oscar and Lucinda, Peter Carey — Advance Proof Copy
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6049
Price: 225.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

Write Review

In stock

£225.00

Shipping is calculated at checkout.

Publication: London, Faber and Faber Limited, 1988.

Formatting: 8vo, advance proof in printed wrappers.

Condition Report: Very Good. The original green printed paper wrappers remain uncommonly bright and crisp, avoiding the heavy sunning and fading that frequently afflicts this delicate paper stock. The binding is remarkably tight and secure, presenting a square, entirely uncreased spine that strongly suggests the volume has remained unread. There is some minor shelf-wear and light rubbing to the extremities, alongside very faint, sporadic soiling to the white text block edges. Internally, the visible preliminary pages remain cleanly intact, free from any major blemishes or foxing. An excellent, highly presentable survivor of a fragile pre-publication format.

Catalogue Note: Uncorrected advance proof of the first UK edition, preceding the standard commercial trade release. Issued in the publisher's iconic green repeating 'ff' monogrammed paper wrappers, this pre-publication state provides a rare bibliographical insight. Notably, this state harbours numerous textual variations from the finalised, Booker Prize-winning text, making it an essential artifact for serious collectors of contemporary literature.

The proof features a unique title page presented as a photographed artwork mockup, prominently bearing the printed header "ARTWORK," further underscoring its early stage in the production process. The front wrapper explicitly bears the projected publication date of 18 April 1988.

As pre-publication copies were produced in strictly limited numbers solely for the use of reviewers, agents, and industry insiders, they are inherently scarce on the open market, particularly in such uncreased condition.

Peter Carey's Oscar and Lucinda is a sweeping, Booker Prize-winning tour de force of nineteenth-century eccentricity and obsession. It chronicles the fateful intersection of two idiosyncratic gamblers: Oscar Hopkins, a highly anxious, Plymouth Brethren minister fleeing his past, and Lucinda Leplastrier, a fiercely independent Australian heiress who purchases a Sydney glass factory. Brought together aboard a ship bound for New South Wales, their shared compulsion for betting culminates in an audacious and seemingly impossible wager: to construct a cathedral entirely of glass and transport it safely across the rugged, untamed landscape of the Australian Outback. Rich in Dickensian characterisation and colonial critique, it stands as a triumphant landmark of modern fiction.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Peter Carey

Book Publisher: Faber and Faber Limited

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Modern Fiction

Book edition:

Signed: No

Book Pages:

Book Publication Year: 1988

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Paper Wrappers

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: Chatham, Kent, 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.