Puckoon, Spike Milligan — 1st Edition

Name: Puckoon, Spike Milligan — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4199-RM-F-VG-7
Price: 140.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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£140.00

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Publication: London, Anthony Blond, 1963

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 156.

Condition Report: Very Good. Original cloth binding remains structurally sound, tight, and square, demonstrating no significant lean and exhibiting minimal shelf-wear. Internally, the pages are bright and complete, remaining free of foxing or heavy handling marks. The accompanying unclipped dust wrapper, retaining its '18s net' price, is complete and visually striking, though shows moderate signs of handling, including a small closed tear and minor chipping along the upper edges and spine extremities.

Catalogue Note: True first edition, first impression of Milligan’s debut full-length novel. The text is brought to life with original line illustrations provided by the author and others, perfectly capturing his distinct, absurd comedic vision. The dust wrapper features the iconic, original artwork by 'Artie'.

A contemporary gift inscription in blue ink on the front free endpaper reads, "To Jane, lots of love from Mum & Dad, Nov. 1963." Confirms the book was purchased and gifted within the very same year as its initial release. While this title was heavily reprinted over the decades, finding an original first impression with its dust wrapper intact is highly desirable. Notably, the red lettering on the spine of this specific wrapper has remained relatively unfaded—a common flaw in surviving copies of this edition where the red ink is notoriously prone to sunning.

Puckoon is Spike Milligan’s uproarious and absurdist masterpiece, taking direct aim at the chaotic and tragicomic realities of the 1922 Partition of Ireland. When the newly drawn border bisects the fictional, sleepy Irish village of Puckoon, cutting straight through the local pub, the churchyard, and the daily lives of its eccentric residents, pure, unadulterated hilarity ensues. At the heart of the madness is the work-shy Dan Milligan, who finds himself reluctantly tangled in a farcical bureaucratic nightmare, navigating passport controls simply to buy a pint and becoming embroiled in increasingly ridiculous smuggling schemes.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Spike Milligan

Book Publisher: Anthony Blond

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Humour Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 156

Book Publication Year: 1963

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Cloth

Illustrator: Spike Milligan; Artie

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.