Quorum, Phyllis Bentley — 1st Edition

£24.99

Quorum, Phyllis Bentley — 1st Edition

Name: Quorum, Phyllis Bentley — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5772
Price: 24.99 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Victor Gollancz Ltd, 1950.

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 320.

Condition Report: Very Good. The book presents very well in its original bright blue cloth boards, which remain notably clean with sharp corners and vibrant gilt lettering to the spine. The binding is tight and square, and the top edge retains its original blue stain, though the text block edges exhibit some mild foxing and toning commensurate with age. The original, unclipped dust jacket retains the striking yellow hue characteristic of Gollancz, albeit with some minor handling soiling, scattered spotting, and slight darkening to the spine. There is minor rubbing and shallow chipping to the spine ends and fold corners, but it remains a highly presentable and well-preserved example overall.

Catalogue Note: This is a true first edition, first impression of Phyllis Bentley’s Quorum, complete with its iconic yellow dust jacket.

Gollancz’s bold typographical wrappers from this era are highly distinctive and collectable in their own right, yet they are notoriously fragile and prone to heavy soiling and fading. This particular copy remains unclipped, still displaying the original "10/6 net" price on the front flap, which is increasingly uncommon for jackets of this vintage.

While Bentley's earlier works (such as her renowned Inheritance trilogy) are more widely collected, finding her mid-century output in such well-preserved, original condition on the open market is quite unusual, presenting a solid acquisition for collectors of mid-20th-century British regional literature.

Set in the West Riding of Yorkshire, Bentley’s signature literary landscape, Quorum unfolds over the course of a single day, centring entirely around a committee meeting at the Highshaw Textile Mills. Through acute psychological insight, Bentley intricately weaves the personal histories, ambitions, and private struggles of the eight committee members, demonstrating how their individual lives inevitably bleed into and influence the business transacted. It is a masterful, character-driven exploration of provincial industrial life and the complex human dynamics underlying civic duty.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Phyllis Bentley

Book Publisher: Victor Gollancz Ltd

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Modern Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 320

Book Publication Year: 1950

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

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.