{"product_id":"the-poetical-works-of-john-keats-1939-oxford-edition-with-handwritten-poetry-original-dust-jacket","title":"The Poetical Works of John Keats — 1939 Oxford Edition with Handwritten Poetry \u0026 Original Dust Jacket","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA wonderfully atmospheric 1939 edition of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Poetical Works of John Keats\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, edited by H. W. Garrod and published by Oxford at the Clarendon Press.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is a substantial hardback volume in deep Oxford-blue covered boards, with gilt lettering to the spine and the Oxford device impressed into the front board. The original cream dust jacket has remarkably survived with the book, although it is now very distressed and incomplete.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhat makes this particular copy especially interesting, however, is what a previous reader has left behind.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWritten by hand on the front endpaper in blue ink is a short verse beginning:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Then read from the treasured volume\u003cbr\u003e The poem of thy choice…”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTucked inside the book is also a folded sheet containing a handwritten poem headed \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Byron’s Grave at Hucknall Torkard”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, reflecting upon Lord Byron’s burial and literary reputation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe handwriting on the loose sheet appears very similar to that of the verse written inside the book and may be by the same person, although I have been unable to establish the writer’s identity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI have also been unable to trace the Byron poem to a published source. It may therefore be an original composition or a handwritten transcription from a less readily traceable source; I make no claim as to its authorship.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe folded manuscript will remain with the book exactly as found.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA characterful vintage copy showing its age and history.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe original dust jacket is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eheavily distressed\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, with substantial loss to the lower front, tears, edge losses, foxing, discolouration and general wear. I have deliberately left it untouched rather than attempting any repair.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe hardback beneath remains handsome, with age-related rubbing and wear. There is foxing and spotting to the endpapers and some age-related marking, while the pages internally are generally clean and the binding remains a substantial, usable volume.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere is handwritten poetry to the front endpaper, as described above, together with the separate folded handwritten poem retained inside the book.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePlease study all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition description.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDetails\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTitle:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e The Poetical Works of John Keats\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e John Keats\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEditor:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e H. W. Garrod\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Oxford at the Clarendon Press\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDate:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 1939\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFormat:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Hardback\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePages:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 572 pages, plus introductory material\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDust jacket:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Original, heavily distressed\/incomplete\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAdditional material:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Handwritten verse to endpaper and separate folded handwritten poem headed \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eByron’s Grave at Hucknall Torkard\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is not a pristine collector’s copy, but something I find rather more appealing: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ea book which still carries traces of the person who once read and treasured it\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, with the handwritten verses adding a small and mysterious piece of private literary history.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA lovely find for a reader of Keats and the Romantic poets, a collector of literary ephemera, or anyone drawn to old books which have acquired stories of their own.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eA handmade Moss \u0026amp; Maye bookmark will be tucked inside the book.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Moss \u0026 Maye","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57857904017790,"sku":null,"price":46.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0995\/3830\/5406\/files\/B718898B-46BF-4B3B-AE59-DD471758730A.jpg?v=1786906848","url":"https:\/\/mossandmaye.com\/products\/the-poetical-works-of-john-keats-1939-oxford-edition-with-handwritten-poetry-original-dust-jacket","provider":"Moss \u0026 Maye","version":"1.0","type":"link"}