Three Nails, H. A. Manhood — 1st Edition

£40.00

Three Nails, H. A. Manhood — 1st Edition

Name: Three Nails, H. A. Manhood — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4812
Price: 40.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, The White Owl Press, 1933

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 55.

Condition Report: Very Good. The original red cloth boards remain structurally sound and rigid, with sharp corners and only faint, expected rubbing to the spine tips and extremities. The black lettering and original "3/6" price on the spine remain clear and unrubbed. The binding is tight, square, and secure. Internally, the pages are crisp, bright, and free of foxing; however, the most notable physical characteristic is a prominent patch of heavy black ink offsetting to the front endpapers. This dark offsetting perfectly mirrors the woodcut illustration of the dust jacket, indicating that the jacket (or its front panel) was stored flat inside the front cover for an extended period, transferring the rich black ink onto the paper. The accompanying dust jacket, featuring Alfred Lowe's striking artwork, remains vividly dark and largely uncreased as a result of being stored internally, though this preservation came at the direct cost of the endpaper offsetting.

Catalogue Note: First Edition, first printing (the standard trade issue, distinct from the 125-copy signed limited edition). This copy is notable for retaining the scarce, striking original dust jacket, illustrated with a macabre woodcut by Alfred Lowe.

The White Owl Press was a small, short-lived independent publisher, and the survival of this fragile jacket, especially with its heavy black inking intact and completely free of sun-fading, is uncommon on the open market. The presence of the original 3/6 price stamped directly at the foot of the book's spine is a charming bibliographic detail typical of this edition's binding.

Harold Alfred Manhood (1904–1991) was a British author who famously favored rural isolation, living much of his life in a converted railway carriage in the Sussex countryside, where he brewed his own cider and wrote stories that infused quiet rural settings with the weird and the supernatural. Three Nails is a chilling, compact domestic horror tale narrated by an unnamed young boy. It delves into the dark intersections of religious mania, infidelity, and cruelty, ultimately culminating in a macabre modern-day crucifixion.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: H. A. Manhood

Book Publisher: The White Owl Press

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Horror & Ghost Stories

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 55

Book Publication Year: 1933

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Alfred Lowe

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.