Man Devon by John Sinjohn, First Edition (4 results)

Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition. [Galsworthy, John) Sinjohn, John (pseud.) A MAN OF DEVON. Edinburgh and London: William Blackwood and Sons, 1901. FIRST EDITION of the author's fourth and rarest book, a first edition which, in terms of survival and as a condition-rarity, ranks #1 out of all Galsworthy's major works. This is the NEAR FINE (one corner bumped, tiniest bit of wear) copy which belonged to Florence Henniker, Thomas Hardy's collaborator and love-interest, a woman who was part of Galsworthy's literary circle (her bold ink ownership signature on half-title). An excellent ASSOCIATION COPY and particularly desirable in the light of Galsworthy's later refusal to reprint or acknowledge any his first four "John Sinjohn" pseudonymous books (which fictionalized poorly-veiled personal life details, including the illicit affair he had with his cousin's wife). Curious Florence Henniker may have found out about Galsworthy's authorship of A MAN OF DEVON on the sly as Galsworthy did not present, as far as we know, a single copy of the four Sinjohn first editions to friends or family. This copy's provenance further includes the legendary collection of Oliver Brett, 3d Viscount of Esher (1881-1963, bookplate). A MAN OF DEVON consists of four short stories, one of which contains the first appearance of a Forsyte Character: "The Salvation of Swithin Forsyte." This short story was the seed that launched the nine legendary Forsyte novels as well as two TV miniseries (1967 & 2002). So here you have it: his rarest book in superb original condition, with an alluring association, and the first place one can read the story that launched a literary saga which still has relevant and iconic value to our 21st century. Signed by Author(s).

Hardcover. Condition: Good. 1st Edition. First Edition (first printing) of probably his most uncommon book. 8vo. 306pp + [ii] + xxxii publisher's catalogues at rear. Blue cloth lettered in gold at the spine and in black at the upper board. Top edge dust soiled. Spine ends and corner tips rubbed. The cloth a little dust soiled, and the spine lettering just fractionally defective. W.H.Smith subscription library label partly removed from the front free endpaper (but with no further indications of institutional ownership). The binding cracked and tender at the half-title, and with some spotting and soiling to occasional leaf margins. Quite a bright copy of a notoriously scarce title: the author's fourth book and the final one published under his 'John Sinjohn' pseudonym. Includes the story 'The Salvation of Swithin Forsyte', the first appearance of a Forsyte character, entering here five years before 'A Man of Property'.

Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. First Edition. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Good to very good (cloth rubbed, sl stains). Sm 8vo [8]+306+ads Marrot, pp7 -8; One of 1050 copies printed. Beautifully housed in a custom maroon half morocco slipcase; matching folding chemise.None.

8vo. 306 pages, [4] ads, 32-page ads. Original cloth, lettered in black on front cover, in gilt on spine. First edition of the fourth and last of the Galsworthy novels written under the "Sinjohn" pseudonym. One of 1050 copies printed. With bookplate of C. H. St John Hornby, founder and owner of the Ashendene Press and founding partner of W. H. Smith. A fine association copy: the two were friends since their university days and Galsworthy's pseudonym Sinjohn was derived from his friend's name. Marrot, pp. 7-8. Cloth lightly buckled on front cover, light wear at extremities, title lightly spotted, generally a solid, presentable copy.