The Spirit of Man, Robert Bridges — 1st Edition

£42.70

The Spirit of Man, Robert Bridges — 1st Edition

Name: The Spirit of Man, Robert Bridges — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6533
Price: 42.70 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Longmans, Green & Co., 1916

Formatting: 8vo, unpaginated.

Condition Report: Good. The book is bound in quarter vellum over paper boards, which exhibit noticeable age-toning, handling wear, and a prominent transverse scuff and tear across the lower rear board. The vellum spine is darkened with rubbing to the extremities, though the gilt titling remains legible. The binding is reasonably tight, though slightly shaken from use, with corners showing typical bumping. Internally, the pages are generally clean, though the preliminary leaves and text block edges show expected age-related foxing, toning, and dust-dulling. Standard previous ownership signatures and dates are present on the front endpapers, but the primary text remains unobstructed and perfectly legible.

Catalogue Note: This is a First Edition of Poet Laureate Robert Bridges' highly influential wartime anthology, published in 1916. Crucially for literary historians and collectors, this volume holds significant bibliographic importance as it contains the first published appearances of several poems by Gerard Manley Hopkins. Bridges, who was Hopkins' literary executor, would later champion his friend's work and publish his poems in full in 1918.

The anthology is unillustrated and includes selections in both English and French, seamlessly blending philosophy and poetry.

While later impressions from 1916 and 1917 are relatively common, true first editions holding the inaugural printings of Hopkins' verse remain highly sought after by collectors of 20th-century poetry.

Compiled by the Poet Laureate Robert Bridges during the dark days of the First World War, The Spirit of Man was conceived as a source of spiritual and moral sustenance for a nation in crisis. Dedicated to King George V, this profound anthology weaves together philosophy, religion, and poetry from classical antiquity to contemporary writers. Bridges famously arranged the selections anonymously, only revealing the authors in an index at the rear, encouraging readers to immerse themselves in the unadulterated power of the words without prejudice. It remains a poignant artifact of wartime endurance and a masterful piece of literary curation.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: Robert Bridges

Book Publisher: Longmans, Green & Co.

Book Language: English, French

Narrative Type: Antiquarian

Genre: Poetry

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages:

Book Publication Year: 1916

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.