The Days Before, Katherine Anne Porter — 1st Edition

£30.20

The Days Before, Katherine Anne Porter — 1st Edition

Name: The Days Before, Katherine Anne Porter — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6738
Price: 30.20 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Secker & Warburg, 1953

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [x], 273.

Condition Report: Very Good. The original publisher's blue cloth binding remains exceptionally clean and tightly bound, displaying sharp corners and unoxidised silver gilt lettering to the spine that retains its original lustre. The text block is firm, with minor dustiness and light, scattered foxing primarily confined to the page edges, leaving the internal leaves clean, crisp, and unmarked by previous ownership signatures. The accompanying dust jacket presents well, showing standard signs of shelf-wear including light rubbing to the extremities, mild toning to the spine and rear panel, and minor nicks at the fold corners, yet it remains fully intact and visually striking.

Catalogue Note: This is the true first English edition of Katherine Anne Porter's acclaimed collection of essays, released the year following the American publication by Harcourt, Brace and Company. The dust jacket prominently features a striking charcoal-style portrait of Porter, adding significantly to the visual appeal of this mid-century production.

The rear panel of the dust jacket provides a fascinating historical snapshot of the publisher's Autumn 1953 catalogue, advertising contemporary works by literary giants such as George Orwell and Franz Kafka.

While the American first edition is relatively common on the secondary market, the first English edition in its original dust jacket is uncommonly encountered in such a well-preserved, highly collectable state.

In The Days Before, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Katherine Anne Porter gathers a remarkable selection of her non-fiction writings spanning three decades. Divided into three thematic sections, Critical, Personal and Particular, and Mexican, the collection showcases Porter's penetrating intellect, elegant prose, and deep reflections on literature, her own life, and the cultural landscape of Mexico. It stands as an essential companion to her celebrated fiction, offering readers an intimate window into the mind of one of the twentieth century's most masterful prose stylists.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Katherine Anne Porter

Book Publisher: Secker & Warburg

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Criticism & Essays

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 273

Book Publication Year: 1953

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.