The Song Book of Quong Lee of Limehouse, Thomas Burke — 1st Edition

£45.00

The Song Book of Quong Lee of Limehouse, Thomas Burke — 1st Edition

Name: The Song Book of Quong Lee of Limehouse, Thomas Burke — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5160
Price: 45.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1920

Formatting: Small 8vo, pp. 40.

Condition Report: Very Good. The fragile original patterned paper covers remain remarkably bright and structurally sound, avoiding the severe spine degradation typical of this publication. There is some expected minor rubbing, slight creasing, and light shelf-wear to the overhanging (yapp) edges, alongside a gentle bump to the spine tail. The printed paper spine label and the pictorial front cover label are both fully intact, clean, and unchipped. Internally, the binding is tight and square. The text block is pleasingly crisp, with only faint, scattered foxing largely confined to the fore-edge and the preliminary leaves. A highly presentable, well-preserved surviving copy.

Catalogue Note: This is a true First Edition, First Impression, as indicated by the publisher's statement on the verso of the title page. Bound in its distinctive orange and grey chevron-patterned paper covers, the volume features an attractive, albeit uncredited, pictorial title label to the front cover.

Due to the inherently fragile nature of these paper-covered bindings, surviving copies of this work frequently suffer from major spine loss, detached covers, or severe edge chipping. Consequently, finding an intact, aesthetically pleasing example on the open market has become increasingly uncommon.

Penned by Thomas Burke, an author renowned for his vivid, often sensationalised depictions of London's East End, this collection of evocative free verse is written from the perspective of Quong Lee, a fictional Chinese shopkeeper residing in London's Limehouse district. Following the massive success of Burke's earlier work, Limehouse Nights (which inspired D.W. Griffith’s film Broken Blossoms), these verses offer an atmospheric, poignant exploration of the immigrant experience. Through Quong Lee’s observant eyes, Burke captures a world of cultural displacement, fleeting beauty, dockside noises, and the stark, shadowy realities of early twentieth-century Chinatown.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Thomas Burke

Book Publisher: George Allen & Unwin Ltd

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Poetry

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 40

Book Publication Year: 1920

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Patterned Paper Covers

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.