Tristessa, Jack Kerouac — 1st UK Paperback Edition

£50.00

Tristessa, Jack Kerouac — 1st UK Paperback Edition

Name: Tristessa, Jack Kerouac — 1st UK Paperback Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5006
Price: 50.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: Manchester, World Distributors (Manchester) Ltd, 1963

Formatting: 12mo, original pictorial wrappers, pagination unverified from photographs.

Condition Report: Very Good. The original pictorial wrappers remain bright and entirely unrestored, displaying excellent colour retention on the front panel with only very light rubbing to the extremities and a faint, superficial handling line. The spine remains square and completely unbroken by reading creases, a rarity for this fragile paperback edition, though it shows minor rubbing at the head and tail. The binding is remarkably tight, holding the text block firmly without the splitting often endemic to these Consul editions. Internally, the pages exhibit the expected even, uniform toning characteristic of the period's acidic paper stock, but remain entirely free of foxing, dog-ears, or internal markings, presenting a remarkably crisp and clean example overall.

Catalogue Note: First UK Edition, Paperback Issue (Consul Books #1235). This 1963 printing represents the true first British appearance of Kerouac's haunting novella. The copyright page notably contains a well-documented bibliographic idiosyncrasy: it erroneously states that the book was originally published in Great Britain by Andre Deutsch. In reality, the Deutsch hardcover edition did not appear until the following year, 1964, effectively making this Consul paperback the true first UK edition.

Handling this Manchester-published edition is a particularly nice addition to a Northern-based rare book inventory. This specific edition, bearing the distinctive "3/6" price roundel and striking cover art, is increasingly scarce on the open market in such well-preserved condition, as the fragile bindings and cheap paper stock typically resulted in heavy attrition over the decades.

Set against the gritty, neon-lit backdrop of 1950s Mexico City, Tristessa is Jack Kerouac’s raw and lyrical exploration of addiction, spiritual yearning, and doomed love. The semi-autobiographical novella follows Kerouac’s alter-ego as he becomes deeply infatuated with Tristessa, a beautiful but tragic Mexican prostitute entangled in the grip of a morphine addiction. Weaving together themes of Catholic mysticism, Buddhist acceptance, and the stark realities of poverty, Kerouac delivers a devastating and poetic meditation on human suffering, capturing a fragile beauty within the darkest corners of existence.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Jack Kerouac

Book Publisher: World Distributors (Manchester) Ltd / Consul Books

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Modern Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages:

Book Publication Year: 1963

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Paperback

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: Consul Books

Country/region of manufacture: Manchester, 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.