POEMS BY ISAAC ROSENBERG (First edition in the scarce pre-war dustwrapper)

A true first edition, published in 1922, edited and selected by Gordon Bottomley with a 50 page Introductory Memoir by Laurence Binyon. Rosenberg's "Complete Works" wasn't published until 1937, and "Collected Poems" not until 1949. With a portrait frontispiece of Isaac Rosenberg. Inserted loosely in the book is an envelope dated 2 May 1944 postmarked Manchester - unfortunately, there is no letter inside! ***Very good in black cloth-covered boards with a paper label to the spine, which is completely clean and undamaged. The boards are clean and unmarked. No bumps or creases to the boards. Corners sharp. Fore-edge of page block just slightly foxed. Please note that the book would be considered to be near fine but for signs of some expert professional restoration to the spine along the edge with the rear board (please see scans). No reading lean to the binding. Spine tight. Internally near fine with no inscriptions. No foxing to the pages which are clean. No creases or tears. ***In a very good light blue printed dustwrapper, which retains the publisher's printed price of 6/- net on the spine. The dustwrapper is largely complete, with just some slight loss at the top of the spine, which has been reinforced on the back. Some wear and surface rubbing to the bottom of the spine of the dustwrapper. Just very light edge-wear to the extremities. No tears. No chips. Spine lightly browned with age and exposure to light and handling. Internal folds retain the original slightly darker blue and are uncreased. ***198mm x130mm. 186 pages. ***Contents: Introductory Memoir [by Gordon Bottomley], Moses - A Play, Poems from Camp and Trench, Fragments of "The Unicorn", Earlier Poems. Some of the poems appeared in a privately printed pamphlets "Night and Day", published in 1912, and "Youth" published in 1915. "Moses A Play" was originally published in 1916, completing the works published in the author's lifetime. [Taken from the Bibliographical Note] ***'Youth is still childhood: when we cast off every cloudy venture, and our thoughts are clear and mature; when every act is a conscious thought, every thought an attempt to arrest feeling; our feelings strong and overwhelming, our sensitiveness awakened by insignificant things in life; when the skies race tumultuously with our blood, and the earth shines and laughs; when our blood hangs suspended at the rustling of a gown. Our vanity loves to subdue--battle, aggressive. How we despise those older and duller--we want life, newness, excitement. (Isaac Rosenberg, circa 1916) ***'Isaac Rosenberg (25 Nov 1890 - 1 Apr 1918) was an English poet and artist. His "Poems from the Trenches" are recognized as some of the most outstanding poetry written during the First World War. On 21 Mar 1918, the German Army started its Spring Offensive on the Western Front. A week later, Rosenberg sent his last letter with a poem "Through These Pale Cold Days" to England before going to the front lines with reinforcements. Having just finished a night patrol, he was killed on the night of 1 Apr 1918 with another ten KORL soldiers; there is a dispute as to whether his death occurred at the hands of a sniper or in close combat. (Wiki) ***An original first edition of "Poems" by Isaac Rosenberg. Of interest to literary academics and collectors of Isaac Rosenberg's poetry, and First World War literature and poetry titles. The book is itself scarce, and copies with complete surviving dustwrappers are exceedingly scarce. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.…