The Widow in the Bye Street, John Masefield — 1st Edition

£40.00

The Widow in the Bye Street, John Masefield — 1st Edition

Name: The Widow in the Bye Street, John Masefield — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4020
Price: 40.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Sidgwick & Jackson Ltd., 1912

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [viii], 97, [1], 6.

Condition Report: Very Good. This first edition presents handsomely in its original red cloth binding, retaining an impressive structural integrity often lost in early twentieth-century volumes. The gilt lettering on both the spine and the front board remains remarkably bright and unoxidised, avoiding the dulling that typically afflicts this edition. While the spine exhibits very mild sunning, the red cloth retains a strong, vibrant hue overall, with sharp corners and negligible shelf-wear. The binding is decidedly tight, and the text block is firm, boasting clean, crisp pages throughout the main body of the poem. However, the condition is tempered by pronounced, rectangular offset browning (ghosting) to the free endpapers, likely the historic result of an acidic insert or dust jacket flap offset, along with mild, uniform age-toning to the untrimmed page edges. Despite these internal flaws, the book remains a highly attractive, secure, and entirely unsophisticated copy.

Catalogue Note: This is a true first edition of John Masefield’s celebrated narrative poem, issued prior to his appointment as Poet Laureate in 1930. The edition is presented in its primary red cloth binding, complete with the customary six pages of publisher's advertisements bound at the rear, and the verso of the title page correctly notes the Library of Congress copyright entry.

The volume is unillustrated, relying instead on an austere typographic layout characteristic of the period's poetic literature. It is unsigned and devoid of any significant historical provenance, standing as a straightforward, original example of the publication. While copies of this work are relatively accessible on the open market, locating a first printing that retains such vivid gilt tooling and a tight, unskewed binding, free from extensive structural wear—is becoming increasingly uncommon.

Set against the gritty backdrop of a rural English town, The Widow in the Bye Street is a tragic and gripping narrative poem that explores the devastating consequences of passion and fate. It tells the poignant story of an impoverished, devoted widow and her son, Jimmy. As Jimmy reaches adulthood, he inevitably falls under the spell of a fickle and manipulative woman, setting off a chain of events that culminates in jealousy, murder, and ultimate heartbreak. Masefield masterfully blends raw realism with the emotional resonance of lyrical poetry, delivering a powerful examination of maternal love and the inescapable tragedies of the working class.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: John Masefield

Book Publisher: Sidgwick & Jackson Ltd.

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Antiquarian

Genre: Poetry

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 112

Book Publication Year: 1912

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.