{"product_id":"the-picnic-and-other-stories-walter-de-la-mare-1st-edition","title":"The Picnic and Other Stories, Walter de la Mare — 1st Edition","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublication:\u003c\/b\u003e London, Faber and Faber Ltd, 1941\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormatting:\u003c\/b\u003e Cr 8vo, pp. 158.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition Report:\u003c\/b\u003e Near Fine. The original grey cloth binding is remarkably well-preserved, remaining square and tight with sharp corners and unbumped spine ends, while the turquoise tooling to the front board and spine remains notably bright and unoxidised. The text block is firm, with internally clean and bright pages that show only the faintest hints of marginal age-toning typical of wartime paper stock. The accompanying dust-wrapper is entirely intact and unclipped (retaining the 3\/6 net price on the front flap), though it exhibits some mild shelf-wear, slight rubbing to the extremities, and a degree of uniform toning and gentle dusting across the panels and spine. Despite these minor external signs of age, the book presents exceptionally well as a sound, highly attractive example.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCatalogue Note:\u003c\/b\u003e This is a true first edition, first impression, published in September 1941 by Faber and Faber Ltd as part of their acclaimed 'Sesame Books' series. Issued during the constraints of the Second World War, the volume retains its original dust-wrapper, complete with the series' advertisements for both prose and poetry titles on the rear panel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWartime publications from this era often suffer from the use of economy paper and fragile bindings, making surviving copies in such sound condition particularly desirable. While de la Mare's works were widely read, encountering this specific wartime first edition with its fragile dust-wrapper intact, and without severe fading or loss, is uncommon on the open market.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA captivating collection by the master of the subtle and the uncanny, \u003ci\u003eThe Picnic and Other Stories\u003c\/i\u003e gathers several of Walter de la Mare's most evocative tales. With his characteristic blend of quiet melancholy, psychological depth, and lingering mystery, de la Mare explores the delicate boundaries between the ordinary and the extraordinary. From the poignant tragedy of unrequited hope in the titular story to other profound explorations of human solitude and memory, this collection showcases the author's exquisite prose and his unique ability to illuminate the shadows of the human experience.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Broadhursts Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54482856509779,"sku":"4022","price":24.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/1469\/6787\/files\/20260729_154539.jpg?v=1785842929","url":"https:\/\/broadhurstsbooks.com\/products\/the-picnic-and-other-stories-walter-de-la-mare-1st-edition","provider":"Broadhursts Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}