The Desert Fathers, Helen Waddell — 1st Edition

£75.00

The Desert Fathers, Helen Waddell — 1st Edition

Name: The Desert Fathers, Helen Waddell — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5048
Price: 75.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Constable & Co Ltd, 1936

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [x], 312.

Condition Report: Very Good. The original dark blue cloth binding remains exceptionally bright and tight, presenting sharp, unbumped corners and virtually no shelf-wear, while the gilt tooling on the spine is brilliantly unoxidised. Internally, the book is square and firmly bound, with clean and bright pages throughout, free from any major blemishes or antiquarian markings. There is moderate, age-typical foxing present on the page edges, most notably to the fore-edge and bottom edge, which occasionally bleeds marginally onto the extreme edges of the leaves, though the blue-stained top edge remains distinct. The original dust jacket has survived completely intact with no major loss; it exhibits only mild, age-appropriate toning to the spine and extremities, alongside minor edge-rubbing and a tiny closed tear to the bottom front edge, ensuring the striking woodcut-style design remains crisp and highly displayable.

Catalogue Note: This is a true first edition of Helen Waddell’s celebrated translation, verified by the primary publication statement on the copyright page with no subsequent printings listed. The volume features a striking, woodcut-style title page border that mirrors the intricate design of the original dust jacket; a handsome typographical and illustrative flourish characteristic of the era.

Securing a true first printing in its original, fragile dust jacket is genuinely scarce on the open market. The survival of the pale jacket in such an intact, displayable state makes this a particularly desirable copy for collectors of early twentieth-century theology and medievalist literature.

Helen Waddell’s The Desert Fathers stands as a masterful and deeply humanizing translation of the Vitae Patrum. By curating the lives and sayings of the fourth-century Christian ascetics who fled to the Egyptian and Syrian deserts, Waddell brings to life a world of radical devotion, stark asceticism, and surprising gentleness. With her signature poetic sensibility and rigorous medieval scholarship, she captures the spirit of these early hermits, offering modern readers an enduring and profound window into the foundational era of contemplative Christianity.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Helen Waddell

Book Publisher: Constable & Co Ltd

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Antiquarian

Genre: Religion & Spirituality

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 312

Book Publication Year: 1936

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: Bungay, Suffolk, 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.