The Missing Masterpiece, Hilaire Belloc — 1st Edition

£70.25

The Missing Masterpiece, Hilaire Belloc — 1st Edition

Name: The Missing Masterpiece, Hilaire Belloc — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6805
Price: 70.25 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Arrowsmith, 1929

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 319.

Condition Report: Very Good. The original brown cloth boards are remarkably well-preserved, remaining structurally sound with tight hinges. The cloth exhibits only minimal rubbing to the extremities and slight softening at the corners, entirely avoiding the heavy fraying or damage often seen in bindings of this era. The spine displays typical mild fading to the lettering, though it remains entirely legible. The text block is firm and square. The top edge shows some expected age-toning and scattered light foxing, while the fore-edge and bottom edge remain largely clean. Internally, the pages are bright, crisp, and free from significant spotting or distracting blemishes, presenting an exceptionally neat and tidy copy.

Catalogue Note: This is a true first edition of The Missing Masterpiece, first published in 1929. It features forty-one line drawings by G.K. Chesterton, marking one of the celebrated artistic and literary collaborations between Belloc and Chesterton (affectionately known by their contemporaries as the "Chesterbelloc").

True first editions of this work in this condition, particularly without severe fading or structural wear to the original cloth boards, have become increasingly uncommon on the open market, making this a desirable acquisition for collectors of early twentieth-century British comic literature.

In The Missing Masterpiece, Hilaire Belloc weaves a sharp, satirical mystery surrounding a stolen painting that continually appears and disappears, causing endless frustration for its bewildered artist and a cast of eccentric characters. Illustrated with forty-one whimsical drawings by Belloc's great friend and literary counterpart, G.K. Chesterton, this 1929 novel offers a delightful blend of comedy, art-world absurdity, and classic "Chesterbelloc" wit.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Hilaire Belloc

Book Publisher: Arrowsmith

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Humour Fiction

Book edition:

Signed: No

Book Pages: 319

Book Publication Year: 1929

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: G. K. Chesterton

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.