Description
Finely bound first U.K. edition of John Brown’s Body by Stephen Vincent Benet, published in 1929.
Octavo, [6], 376pp, [2]. Full blue morocco, gilt trim on covers. Five raised bands, title in gilt on red morocco label, with gilt embellishments on spine. All edges gilt, with gilt turn-ins, and marbled endpapers. Finely bound by Riviere and Son, with bindery’s imprint on verso of free endpaper. Stated “New and cheaper (7/6) edition, 1929” on copyright page. Previous ownership bookplate on front endpaper. Solid text block, touch of wear to edges, sunning to spine, a near fine example.
The first edition of John Brown’s Body, consisting of just 500 copies, was published in New York by Doubleday, Doran and Company in October, 1928. John Brown’s Body received the 1928 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.
