The Red Pony, John Steinbeck — 1st Illustrated Edition

£90.00

The Red Pony, John Steinbeck — 1st Illustrated Edition

Name: The Red Pony, John Steinbeck — 1st Illustrated Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5956
Price: 90.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: New York, The Viking Press, 1945

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 131.

Condition Report: Near Fine. The volume is tightly and squarely bound in its original publisher's beige cloth, presenting beautifully on the shelf. The boards exhibit minimal handling wear, retaining sharp blue ruling and a notably clean spine label with no fading or oxidation. The extremities show barely perceptible rubbing, and the hinges remain perfectly sound. Internally, the book is exceptionally well-preserved; the pages are bright, crisp, and entirely unmarked, showcasing Wesley Dennis’s vivid watercolour illustrations without any foxing or age-related toning, which fully justifies the high condition grade. The original pictorial cardboard slipcase is present but exhibits standard signs of wear, including moderate rubbing, bumping to the corners, and minor edge-wear with slight peeling to the top right of the pasted illustration label, yet it remains structurally intact and highly functional. A remarkably clean and presentable copy.

Catalogue Note: First illustrated edition, published by The Viking Press. Originally printed in 1937, this beloved novella was reissued in this enhanced format featuring the evocative watercolour illustrations of Wesley Dennis, which beautifully capture the spirit of the text and the Californian landscape.

Notably, the copyright page indicates that this edition was produced in full compliance with the War Production Board's conservation orders, a fascinating historical artefact of its 1945 wartime publication date.

Copies are highly sought after by collectors when found in such an exceptionally clean, well-preserved state and retaining its original publisher's slipcase.

John Steinbeck's The Red Pony is a poignant, classic coming-of-age novella set on a sprawling Californian ranch. Through a series of episodic, interconnected tales, the story follows young Jody Tiflin as he navigates the harsh realities of life, death, and responsibility, guided by the seasoned ranch hand Billy Buck. From the awe of receiving a spirited red pony to the profound lessons learned through loss and nature's unforgiving cycles, Steinbeck weaves a masterful, emotionally resonant narrative that captures the bittersweet transition from the innocence of childhood to the sobering truths of adulthood.

Book Condition: Near Fine

Book Authors: John Steinbeck

Book Publisher: The Viking Press

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Classic Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 131

Book Publication Year: 1945

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Cloth

Illustrator: Wesley Dennis

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: New York, United States

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.