A MAN OF DEVON. By John Sinjohn.
Edinburgh and London: William Blackwood and Sons, 1901. 2 pp undated ads plus 32 pp ads dated April 1901. Original blue-grey cloth.
First Edition of Galsworthy's fourth book, which consisted of only 1,050 copies. This is a collection of four tales -- the last book to be written under Galsworthy's "John Sinjohn" pseudonym. One of the tales, "The Salvation of Swithin Forsyte," is considered a major turning point in Galsworthy's career: not only did he find the satirist within himself, but also he created the character whose family would become the foundation of Galsworthy's reputation.
This is a bright, near-fine copy, free of wear or soil, and (atypically) with its brittle original endpapers intact; its only flaw is minor bubbling of the cloth -- a trait unfortunately common to every copy of this book we have seen (apparently an inferior glue was used on the boards). Although FROM THE FOUR WINDS and JOCELYN do turn up in nice condition, the other two Sinjohn books, VILLA RUBEIN and this one, are very scarce in fine condition. Marrot pp 7-8; Fabes p. 4. Housed in a (rubbed) cloth clamshell case with leather label. Provenance: bookplate of Joan Whitney [Payson] -- heiress, philanthropist, collector -- and co-founding majority owner of the New York Mets. Item #14108
Price: $395.00