The Man in Grey, Baroness Orczy — 1st Edition

£46.00

The Man in Grey, Baroness Orczy — 1st Edition

Name: The Man in Grey, Baroness Orczy — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4620
Price: 46.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication London, Cassell and Company, Ltd, 1918

Formatting 8vo, pp. 311.

Condition Report Good. The original dark crimson cloth binding remains entirely sound and secure, though the boards display moderate shelf-wear, slight surface rubbing, and minor scuffing typical of its vintage. The spine, elegantly lettered in gold, is slightly sunned with notable bumping and minor cloth fraying to both the head and tail. The blind-stamped lettering to the front board remains distinct. Internally, the text block is relatively tight, with the inner hinges uncracked and the endpapers holding firm. The pages are free from significant tearing but do exhibit general age-toning and mild scattered foxing, primarily restricted to the preliminary leaves and text-block edges.

Catalogue Note This is a true first edition of Baroness Orczy's historical espionage collection. The copyright page explicitly states 'First published 1918' with no indication of subsequent printings.

The volume features a contemporary ink ownership inscription to the front free endpaper reading 'Return to...' alongside a signature and the date '1918', serving as a pleasing, factual record of its early provenance shortly after publication. The book was issued without illustrations, relying entirely on Orczy's vivid, descriptive prose.

First editions of this particular Orczy title in their original cloth have become increasingly uncommon on the open market, particularly copies that have avoided institutional rebinding or severe structural damage.

Set against the turbulent backdrop of the First Empire, The Man in Grey plunges readers into the shadowy world of the Chouan conspiracies in Normandy. Baroness Orczy crafts a thrilling narrative around Fernand, a cunning and enigmatic secret agent serving Napoleon. Through a series of interconnected and fast-paced episodes, Fernand navigates a dangerous web of Royalist plots, political intrigue, and clandestine rebellion. Orczy’s masterful blend of historical detail and gripping mystery delivers a captivating tale of espionage and adventure.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: Baroness Orczy

Book Publisher: Cassell and Company, Ltd

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Historical Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 311

Book Publication Year: 1918

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.