Poetry London X, Tambimuttu (Editor) — 1st Edition

£55.00

Poetry London X, Tambimuttu (Editor) — 1st Edition

Name: Poetry London X, Tambimuttu (Editor) — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5062
Price: 55.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Nicholson & Watson, 1944

Formatting: 4to, pp. x, 264.

Condition Report: Good. The volume rests in its original beige cloth binding, which remains structurally sound but exhibits noticeable darkening, moderate soiling, and rubbing along the spine ends and board extremities. Internally, the text block is generally bright and tightly bound, though the endpapers bear pronounced rectangular browning and offsetting, likely the historic ghosting of an old protective wrapper. The original, unclipped dust jacket is in Poor condition; while the striking front panel artwork is largely retained, the wrapper suffers from heavy edge-wear, significant chipping to the spine, and a massive, V-shaped area of loss to the lower rear panel that heavily compromises the publisher's printed text. Despite these exterior flaws, the interior pages and vibrant lithographs remain crisp, clean, and entirely unaffected.

Catalogue Note: Volume 2, Number 10 of the celebrated literary periodical, published in December 1944. This wartime issue is heavily prized for its striking visual contributions, most notably eight full-page drawings for Samuel Taylor Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Mervyn Peake, and three original colour lithographs by Gerald Wildem, including a spectacular double-page spread illustrating T.S. Eliot's Rhapsody on a Windy Night.

The volume also boasts an impressive roster of literary contributors, featuring poetry and prose by Henry Miller, Stevie Smith, Lawrence Durrell, R.S. Thomas, and a moving memorial letter for the war poet Keith Douglas. Copies of this edition retaining the famously fragile wartime dust jacket, designed by Gerald Wilde and Lyne Birch, are scarce on the open market, even when heavily worn.

Founded in 1939 by the influential Tamil poet and editor M.J. Tambimuttu, Poetry London quickly established itself as a vital artery of the mid-twentieth-century British literary scene. This 1944 issue stands as a quintessential snapshot of late modernist and Neo-Romantic output during the Second World War. Uniting an eclectic array of established and emerging voices, it serves not only as a formidable literary anthology but as a visual triumph, pairing striking avant-garde art with profound poetic vision.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: Tambimuttu (Editor)

Book Publisher: Nicholson & Watson

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Antiquarian

Genre: Poetry

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 264

Book Publication Year: 1944

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Mervyn Peake and Gerald Wilde

Book Series: Poetry London

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.