DEMELZA - A NOVEL OF CORNWALL 1788-1790 (Scarce first printing in near fine condition)

Winston Graham

Published by Ward, Lock & Co., Limited, London, 1946

About this Item

Scarce first printing of the true first edition, published in 1946. There was a second printing in 1947 and then the book went out of print. The scarcest title in the series. ***A near fine copy in orange-red cloth-covered boards, with black titles to the spine. The boards are beautifully clean and unmarked, with only light fading to the spine. The boards still retain a nice colour. No significant bumping or creasing at all. Head and tail of spine uncreased. No tears to the fragile cloth. Binding square without any reading lean. Spine tight. Page block edges clean with none of the usual foxing. Internally the book is also near fine, with a neat contemporary gift inscription to the front free endpaper. There is none of the usual offsetting to the endpapers and no foxing to the pages. The book was produced to War Economy Standard and is very fragile, printed on thin paper and bound in very thin boards. However, thus copy has no creases or tears to the pages. Without the scarce dustwrapper. ***190mm x130mm. 384 pages. ***'This is a story of Demelza Poldark and of Cornwall towards the close of the eighteenth century. A brilliant and realistic novel, rich in romantic incident and in the colour of the time.' (Quote taken from the front flap of the dustwrapper of another copy which we have previously sold - this copy does not have its dustwrapper) ***'"Demelza" is the second of twelve novels in Poldark, a series of historical novels by Winston Graham. It was published in 1946. "Demelza" continues the story of Ross Poldark and his wife, Demelza. It opens in May 1788, six months after the final events depicted in "Ross Poldark". While the first novel ends on a note of triumph for Demelza, the second novel in the series closes with the tragic death of Demelza's first child. Book One covers May to November 1788 in fifteen chapters. Book Two covers April to May 1789 in fourteen chapters. Book Three covers July 1789 in eleven chapters. Book Four covers Christmas 1789 through January 1790 in eleven chapters. "Demelza" and the preceding novel in the series "Ross Poldark" have been analyzed by scholars who say that as the most popular fictional representations of Cornwall, they helped define a Cornish national identity.'(Wiki) ***A true first printing of the second of the twelve novels in the "Poldark" series, and one of the rarest titles in the series. Published to War Economy Standard so very few copies have survived the past 75 years - and virtually none remain in this near fine condition. An exceptional example and a very desirable item for collectors of the Poldark series of novels. ***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. Seller Inventory # 8624

Bibliographic Details

Title: DEMELZA - A NOVEL OF CORNWALL 1788-1790 (...

Publisher: Ward, Lock & Co., Limited, London

Publication Date: 1946

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Near Fine

Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket

Edition: First Edition