The Legend of the Wondrous Hunt, John Arany — 1st Edition

£75.00

The Legend of the Wondrous Hunt, John Arany — 1st Edition

Name: The Legend of the Wondrous Hunt, John Arany — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6569
Price: 75.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Trübner and Co., 1881

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [viii], 69.

Condition Report: Very Good. The original red pebble-grained limp cloth binding remains structurally sound, exhibiting mild rubbing to the extremities, slight bumping to the corners, and minor wear at the spine ends. The gilt lettering to the front board remains remarkably bright and unoxidised, though the rear board displays some faint, dark mottled staining near the joint. The text block displays conspicuous scattered foxing to the endpapers, preliminary leaves, and title page, which gradually lessens throughout the remainder of the pages. The leaves are otherwise free from major tears or loss, offering a highly respectable and well-preserved example of an inherently fragile 19th-century production.

Catalogue Note: This is the First English Edition of "The Legend of the Wondrous Hunt," constituting the celebrated sixth canto of John Arany's epic poem Buda Halála (The Death of King Buda). Translated from the Magyar by E. D. Butler, an Assistant in the Department of Printed Books at the British Museum and a foreign member of the Kisfaludy Society, this work represents a foundational effort to introduce Hungarian mythic verse to a Victorian British audience.

The volume features dual-language elements, presenting the original Hungarian text alongside English translations, supplemented by miscellaneous traditional folk pieces.

Due to its delicate limp cloth format and limited contemporary print run, surviving copies are notably scarce on the open market, particularly those that have evaded significant structural deterioration or heavy sunning to the boards.

A landmark 19th-century translation bringing the mythic grandeur of Hungarian folklore to the English-speaking world. The Legend of the Wondrous Hunt forms a crucial segment of John Arany's epic masterpiece, chronicling the legendary origins of the Huns and Magyars through a captivating blend of heroism and magic. Accompanied by a curated selection of traditional poetry, E. D. Butler’s translation offers a fascinating window into Hungary's rich oral traditions, making it an essential and highly elusive volume for collectors of Eastern European literature and myth.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: John Arany

Book Publisher: Trübner and Co.

Book Language: English, Hungarian

Narrative Type: Antiquarian

Genre: Poetry

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 69

Book Publication Year: 1881

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.