Poems, Robert Crompton — 1st Edition (1/100 Print Run)

£500.00

Poems, Robert Crompton — 1st Edition (1/100 Print Run)

Name: Poems, Robert Crompton — 1st Edition (1/100 Print Run)
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5071
Price: 500.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: Liverpool, Walter Henry Peat, 1866

Formatting: 8vo, pp. viii, 210.

Condition Report Good. The original green blind-stamped cloth boards remain structurally sound, though they exhibit moderate shelf-wear, rubbing to the extremities, and minor fraying at the spine ends. The gilt lettering and ornate tooling on the spine have survived remarkably well, remaining bright and unoxidised. Internally, the volume shows its age and a fragile binding history; the inner hinges have been historically reinforced with red cloth tape to maintain stability. The text block is secure but features scattered foxing and age-toning throughout, alongside a rather pronounced dampstain affecting the upper gutter and inner margins of the preliminary leaves, including the frontispiece and title page. The front endpapers bear a standard previous owner's bookplate alongside two vintage photographic prints affixed to the pastedown and flyleaf. A characterful and robust survivor of an exceptionally fragile production.

Catalogue Note First edition. A volume of extraordinary scarcity, strictly limited to a microscopic print run of just 100 copies. This provincial collection of verse features a fine engraved frontispiece portrait of the author and is most notable for its prominent printed dedication: "By permission, to England's greatest novelist, Charles Dickens." Robert Crompton was a well-regarded local literary figure, journalist, and dramatist in the Bootle and Liverpool area who possessed significant theatrical ties, notably performing alongside Henry Irving.

The volume's provenance includes the bookplate of Bessie Cockburn, supplemented by curious Victorian-era printed illustrations tipped into the preliminary leaves. Entirely absent from the current open market and lacking from contemporary auction records, this represents a genuinely rare piece of regional Dickensiana and Victorian provincial poetry.

A fascinating artefact of 19th-century provincial literature, Robert Crompton's Poems offers a vivid window into the vibrant literary circles of Victorian Liverpool. Crompton, a talented local dramatist and journalist, distils his varied experiences into this collection of verse. Most remarkably, the work bears a proud printed dedication to Charles Dickens, a testament to the far-reaching influence of the era's greatest literary celebrity on regional writers. Surviving against the odds due to an exceptionally small print run of just 100 copies, this volume is both a tribute to a forgotten Bootle author and a truly scarce piece of Victorian literary history.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: Robert Crompton

Book Publisher: Walter Henry Peat

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Antiquarian

Genre: Poetry

Book edition: First Edition and Limited Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 218

Book Publication Year: 1866

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: Liverpool, 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.