[Rarebooks] FS: One of Shaw's scarcest titles, only 244 copies bound in cloth, two of them here

[Charles Agvent]

 From our new list of GEORGE BERNARD SHAW items, 130 pieces including 
manuscripts , letters, ephemera, and inscribed books.  See the entire list at: 
http://www.erols.com/agvent

SHAW,    George   Bernard.  AN   UNSOCIAL  SOCIALIST.   London:   Swan
Sonnenschein,  Lowrey  1887. First Edition. Decorated red  cloth  with
green  endpapers.  Laurence  A4a: "Only 244 copies seem to  have  been
bound  in  cloth."  Bibliographically,  the  most  complex  of  Shaw's
publications  and  one of his scarcest titles. The first state of  the
title  page has an error, and all but perhaps a handful of copies have
a  cancel title page, as does this one. The first state of the binding
has  the publisher's name misspelled on the spine and is bound without
the  six-page  appendix,  as with this copy. Laurence states  that  no
copy  with  the  error  on the title page and the  binding  error  was
located,  though  a  few  copies in a mixed  state  exist.  This  copy
corresponds  to Laurence's Fourth Issue. Pencil name on half-title and
title  pages. Gilt on spine rather faded but readable; some soiling to
covers  but  not  terrible with gilt bright on the front  cover.  Some
cracking to hinges but still tight. Very Good and scarce.     $1500.00

SHAW,    George   Bernard.  AN   UNSOCIAL  SOCIALIST.   London:   Swan
Sonnenschein,  Lowrey  1887. First Edition. Decorated red  cloth  with
chocolate  brown  endpapers.  Laurence A4a: "Only 244 copies  seem  to
have  been  bound  in cloth." Bibliographically, the most  complex  of
Shaw's  publications  and one of his scarcest titles. The first  state
of  the  title  page has an error, and all but perhaps  a  handful  of
copies  have a cancel title page, as does this one. The first state of
the  binding  has the publisher's name misspelled on the spine and  is
bound  without  the  six-page  appendix; this  copy  has  the  correct
spelling  but  is without the appendix. Laurence states that  no  copy
with  the  error on the title page and the binding error was  located,
though  a few copies in a mixed state exist. This copy corresponds  to
Laurence's  Fifth Issue. Pencil name of John Wise on half-title  page.
Gilt  on spine and front cover very strong and covers bright with  the
spine  a  bit darkened. Someone has clumsily repaired the front  hinge
by  applying  glue in the gutter with the result that the  front  free
endpaper  is  attached  at the gutter about a half inch to  the  front
pastedown,  really  the  only defect of note to this copy.  A  bright,
clean copy. Very Good and scarce.                             $1000.00


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CHARLES AGVENT
291 Linden Road
Mertztown, PA  19539-8750
Voice/Fax: 610-682-4750
agvent at erols.com
Visit our home page:  http://www.erols.com/agvent