Poems of Rural Life in Common English, William Barnes — 1st Edition

£65.00

Poems of Rural Life in Common English, William Barnes — 1st Edition

Name: Poems of Rural Life in Common English, William Barnes — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5315
Price: 65.00 GBP
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Publication: London, Macmillan and Co., 1868

Formatting: 8vo, pp. xii, 200.

Condition Report: Good. The original blue cloth binding remains fully intact but shows visible signs of handling and age, notably moderate rubbing to the board extremities and bumping to the spine head and tail. The spine itself is sunned, resulting in the fading of the gilt lettering and cloth colour. The binding remains relatively tight, though the hinges show the mild tenderness typical of 19th-century volumes. Internally, the pages exhibit age-related toning, particularly to the block edges and margins, but are largely free from significant foxing or tearing. A 'W.H. Smith & Son Library' blind stamp is present on the preliminary pages, alongside a neatly affixed typed ownership label to the front paste-down.

Catalogue Note: This is a First Edition of William Barnes's collection, published in 1868. Unlike his more renowned works penned in the Dorset dialect, this volume translates his bucolic vision into standard English, aimed at a wider Victorian readership.

The provenance includes a small, circular blind stamp from the W.H. Smith & Son Library (186 Strand), indicating its early life within their prominent circulating library system. Furthermore, the front paste-down bears the typed ownership label of 'Granville Garley, Manchester, 22.2.52', marking its mid-20th-century provenance.

While Barnes's dialect poetry often commands higher premiums, original 1868 printings of this 'common English' edition in the publisher's original blue cloth remain uncommon on the open market.

William Barnes (1801–1886) was an English polymath, priest, and poet, best remembered for his lyrical evocations of rural life in the West Country. While he typically wrote in his native Dorset dialect to preserve the region's linguistic heritage, Poems of Rural Life in Common English serves as an accessible entry point into his pastoral world. Imbued with a deep reverence for the rhythms of agrarian life, the passing of the seasons, and the enduring bonds of tight-knit communities, the collection offers a timeless, nostalgic snapshot of the 19th-century English countryside. An evocative piece of vintage poetry, this volume stands alongside the works of classic prose writers and contemporaries like Matthew Arnold in capturing the transitional spirit of Victorian England.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: William Barnes

Book Publisher: Macmillan and Co.

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Antiquarian

Genre: Poetry

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 200

Book Publication Year: 1868

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

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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.