This Was Ivor Trent, Claude Houghton — 1st Edition, Signed

£150.00

This Was Ivor Trent, Claude Houghton — 1st Edition, Signed

Name: This Was Ivor Trent, Claude Houghton — 1st Edition, Signed
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6036
Price: 150.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, William Heinemann Ltd, 1935

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 323.

Condition Report: Near Fine. The black cloth boards are remarkably sharp and well-preserved, featuring bright, unoxidised orange typography to the spine and deep blind-stamped tooling to the front board. The binding remains tight and square, showing virtually no shelf-wear across the extremities. Internally, the text block is clean and bright, save for some faint dust-soiling to the top edge and extremely light foxing to the page peripheries. The scarce original dust jacket is highly attractive and structurally sound, exhibiting only very minor rubbing and fractional chipping at the extreme spine tips. Crucially, the jacket retains the original publisher's wraparound band bearing the word 'SIGNED', which presents wonderfully around the panels despite a hint of age-toning, making this an exceptionally well-preserved example.

Catalogue Note: This is a true first edition, published in London by William Heinemann Ltd in 1935. Unillustrated, this particular copy boasts exceptional provenance, having been inscribed in ink by the author on the front free endpaper: "J.D. Hughes Esq., Yours sincerely, Claude Houghton.". J.D. Hughes was a highly respected Manchester bookseller and co-founder of the prominent firm Sherratt & Hughes, adding a significant associative weight to the presentation.

Of particular note for collectors is the presence of the original publisher's white wraparound band, printed with 'SIGNED' and a short promotional blurb referencing the author's previous work, which has miraculously survived.

While standard first editions of Houghton's works are relatively common on the open market, finding an inscribed presentation copy that retains its delicate wraparound band is a scarce occurrence, positioning this as a highly desirable acquisition for collectors of interwar British fiction.

This Was Ivor Trent is a deeply psychological and philosophical novel exploring the concept of a multi-dimensional man who serves as a living prophecy for a future super-race. To Rosalie Vivian, Trent is a god; to Vera Thornton, he is a devil; and to Denis Wrayburn, he heralds the dawn of a new mankind. Houghton’s narrative weaves together elements of early speculative science fiction and mystery, as the protagonist Rendell attempts to uncover the truth behind Trent's terrible vision in the fog, creating a cerebral thriller that questions the very nature of human perception.

Book Condition: Near Fine

Book Authors: Claude Houghton

Book Publisher: William Heinemann Ltd

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Science Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: Yes

Book Pages: 323

Book Publication Year: 1935

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardback

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.