The Cotton-Pickers, B. Traven

£35.50

The Cotton-Pickers, B. Traven

Name: The Cotton-Pickers, B. Traven
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6746
Price: 35.50 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Allison & Busby, 1979

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 200.

Condition Report: Near Fine. The publisher’s original black paper-covered boards remain notably square, sharp, and tightly bound, with pristine, unrubbed corners and vivid, unoxidised gilt lettering along the spine. Internally, the text block is exceptionally clean, tightly sewn, and free from spotting or foxing, though exhibiting the customary light, uniform age-toning typical of the paper stock used in this edition. The unclipped dust jacket is crisp, bright, and vibrant, presenting in near-immaculate order with only the faintest hint of shelf-wear at the extreme corner tips and spine extremities, free from chips, tears, or fading.

Catalogue Note: Originally published serially in 1925 in the German socialist daily Vorwärts under the title Der Wobbly, this work was the enigmatic author’s first published novel. First published in English translation in Great Britain by Robert Hale in 1956, this 1979 Allison & Busby release represents the First Allison & Busby Edition, issued simultaneously in hardback and paperback formats.

The volume features an evocative pictorial dust jacket illustration capturing the agrarian Mexican setting.

Hardcover impressions of the Allison & Busby edition are notably scarce on the open market, as the vast majority of the print run was distributed in paperback or absorbed into circulating library collections.

Set against the backdrop of post-revolutionary Mexico in the 1920s, The Cotton-Pickers follows Gales, an American itinerant labourer and committed "Wobbly" (Industrial Workers of the World organiser) drifting across harsh terrains in search of subsistence. Moving restlessly from cotton fields to oil rigs, bakeries, and cattle drives, Gales encounters grinding exploitation at every turn, countering systemic injustice with mordant wit, spontaneous worker strikes, and unyielding solidarity.

Written with B. Traven’s signature cynicism, sharp political insight, and authentic working-class empathy, the novel stands as a vital precursor to The Death Ship and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, embodying the fiercely independent voice of one of modern literature’s most legendary literary enigmas.

Book Condition: Near Fine

Book Authors: B. Traven

Book Publisher: Allison & Busby

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Adventure

Book edition:

Signed: No

Book Pages: 200

Book Publication Year: 1979

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardback

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.