The Guardians, J. I. M. Stewart — 1st Edition

£40.00

The Guardians, J. I. M. Stewart — 1st Edition

Name: The Guardians, J. I. M. Stewart — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5773
Price: 40.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Victor Gollancz Ltd, 1955

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 253.

Condition Report: Near Fine. The original maroon cloth binding remains tight, square, and remarkably well-preserved, featuring bright, unoxidised gilt lettering to the spine; it shows only the faintest suggestion of gentle bumping to the spine ends. Internally, the book is crisp and exceptionally clean, entirely free from previous ownership inscriptions, with just a touch of very faint, scattered spotting along the text block edges that does not intrude into the margins. The original, unclipped yellow dust jacket (priced 12/6 net) is vibrant and highly attractive; it presents only minimal shelf-wear and slight, natural age-toning to the spine panel, alongside a few negligible handling marks to the rear, avoiding the severe sun-fading and heavy soiling typical of Gollancz jackets from this period.

Catalogue Note: This is the first edition, first impression of J. I. M. Stewart’s second mainstream novel, presented in its iconic, unclipped Gollancz yellow dust jacket. Stewart, who simultaneously enjoyed immense popularity writing classic detective fiction under the pseudonym Michael Innes, utilized his own name for his more literary, academic novels.

Early Stewart novels in their original dust jackets are becoming increasingly uncommon on the open market, particularly in such tightly bound, well-preserved condition.

The signature Gollancz yellow jackets are notoriously prone to severe sun-fading, soiling, and chipping, making this vibrant, intact survivor highly desirable for collectors of mid-century British literature.

Following the critical success of Mark Lambert's Supper, J. I. M. Stewart returns to the literary world with The Guardians, a witty, character-driven comedy of manners. Drawing on his deep immersion in the academic milieu (Stewart was a distinguished Oxford don), the novel explores the intricacies of scholarly legacy, the guardianship of secrets, and the gentle absurdities of the mid-twentieth-century intelligentsia. With his trademark subtlety and satirical eye, Stewart weaves a narrative that is both an elegant homage to traditional English academic life and a sharp dissection of human ambition.

Book Condition: Near Fine

Book Authors: J. I. M. Stewart

Book Publisher: Victor Gollancz Ltd

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Modern Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 253

Book Publication Year: 1955

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.