T.S. Eliot first editions

TS Eliot (1888-1965) was not just an essayist but publisher, playwright and acclaimed poet of the twentieth century.

He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1948.

Born in America, he moved to the UK at the age of 25, renouncing his American citizenship by the age of 39. It is believed that he changed the way that poetry was written in England, becoming the pioneer of the modernist poetry movement.

Contemporary writers that he considered his peers were Pound and Lewis (though he knew their limitations extremely well). The only one he looked up to was Joyce.

View TS Eliot First Editions at Shapero Rare Books

[ELIOT, T.S.]

The Criterion: A Quarterly Review. Vol. I. No. I.

First edition, first issue, first appearance of T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land; 4to; leaves slightly toned; original buff wrappers printed in red and black, slightly dust-soiled, front cover slightly sunned, slight loss to foot of spine, a few small nicks and chips to wrapper edges; together with subscription form to The Criterion.

£3,750
ELIOT, T.S.

The Sacred Wood

First edition, first state (without advertisements and with lettering of 'METHUEN' at foot of spine measuring 3 mm), signed by the author on the title-page, 8vo (176 x 113 mm, 7 x 4½ in), endpapers slightly toned, publisher's blue cloth, slightly bumped at extremities, second state dust-jacket (with sub-title to upper panel and 'Books by A. Clutton-Brock' to lower panel), spine lightly browned, spine ends and corners chipped, a very few short tears, light creasing to head, small ink stain to inside flap.

£2,225
ELIOT, T.S.

Notes towards the Definition of Culture.

First edition, first impression; 8vo; half-title, endpapers slightly browned, otherwise unmarked internally; publisher's blue cloth, gilt lettering to spine, spine and upper and lower edges slightly sunned, unclipped dustjacket, very slight wear to dustjacket, overall an excellent copy; 124pp.

£225
ELIOT, T.S.

Poetry and Drama.

First edition, first impression; 8vo; half-title, endpapers slightly browned, otherwise unmarked internally; publisher's red cloth, gilt lettering to spine, unclipped dustjacket printed in blue and red, top edge and spine of dustjacket slightly sunned, otherwise in very good condition, corners slightly rubbed, overall an excellent copy; 31, [5, blank]pp.

£175
ELIOT, T.S.

The Family Reunion.

First edition, first impression; 8vo; ownership inscription to front free endpaper date 'Day of Publication' with a poem written out in pencil beneath, foxing to endpapers; publisher's grey cloth, titles to spine in red, with the dust jacket. A very good copy in the tanned and little marked and stained dust jacket.

£125
ELIOT, T.S.

The Rock. A Pageant Play Written for Performance at Sadler's Wells Theatre 28 May - 9 June 1934 on Behalf of the Forty-Five Churches Fund of the Diocese of London.

First edition, first impression, hardback issue, one of 1000 copies. 8vo. Publisher's grey boards, titles to spine in blue. With the dust jacket. Some mild toning to the contents, a number of interesting contemporary pencil notes to a few pages, boards a little browned as often, very good ion the nicked, toned and lightly rubbed dust jacket with some archival tape reinforcement at the top edge.

£125
ELIOT, T[homas] S[tearns].

After Strange Gods: A Primer of Modern Heresy.

First edition, first impression; 8vo; publisher's black cloth, titles to spine gilt, with the dust jacket; some minor spotting to the end leaves as usual but an excellent copy in the little rubbed and slightly faded dust jacket with a couple of pieces of internal tape.

£425