More book images |
Tedious Brief Tales Of Granta & Gramayre (Rare Dustwrapper)by 'Ingulphus' aka Arthur GrayFirst edition in ultra-rare pictorial dustwrapper
Book DescriptionUK 1st edition. Original pictorial boards depicting a cowled, beckoning skeleton. 93pp, last two pages still uncut. Short poem plus nine highly regarded fictional supernatural ghost stories set in and around the University Of Cambridge by the then Master Of Jesus College. Arthur Gray was a friend and contemporary of the ghost-story writer M.R. James; both had their work published in 'The Cambridge Review' before it later appeared in hardback book format. The book has a little age-browning to the endpapers and one small ink name to the front freee endpaper but is otherwise in bright, fine codition. The dustwrapper has a very slightly toned spine, light chipping to the spine ends and an unobtrusive 1cm closed tear to the bottom edge. Nevertheless, we have no reservations about describing the dw as in near fine condition. A remarkable survival of a very handsome, large format book, itself a cornerstone of any serious ghost story collection. NB. The initial print run was likely to be in the low to mid hundreds, and just like Heffers' publication of E.G. Swain's 'Stoneground Ghost Tales' in 1912, was most likely part-funded by the author (Swain contributed 75% of the publication costs for his own book, for example). 'Tedious Brief Tales' sold out however, and was quickly reprinted, bringing the total print run up to circa 1,000 copies. In 1993 it was reprinted by the Ghost Story Press in a limited edition of 300 copies; this edition was produced without a dustwrapper but repeated the origial front design. In 1996 Jesus College reprinted the book as 'The Everlasting Club' (a story from the collection) in red cloth but with the cowled design of a skeleton on the front. This was produced in a run of 2,000 copies and retailed at £6; the College were quite understandably unhappy to discover that speculative bookdealers piled in to snap up most of the copies which were quickly listed for circa £30-40 in catalogues and online. As a result they no longer sell copies direct; nor have they filed copies with the British Library. Running out of ideas, the Ashtree Press also saw fit to reprint the book yet again in 2008. So, the book has been reprinted at least four times, but wise collectors still chase the first edition since it has held its value very well in the last decade. Copies of the first in dw do very occasionally surface but to find one in such stunning collector's condition is very rare. Bookseller Terms of Sale
WE PREFER PAYMENT BY PAYPAL OR UK CHEQUE. Paypal address is enquiries@hauntedriver.co.uk All books offered are subject to prior sale so please check availability BEFORE ordering. Books will be sent tracked and insured. Books which have been seriously misdescribed may be returned subject to your contacting us within 48 hours of the book's arrival. However, we pride ourselves on the accuracy of our book descriptions, and have yet to receive a complaint or returned book. Finally.......please note that as keen collectors we also swap and buy books - please contact us for further details. |
Cart 0 items 
(GB)
